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Baltimore Mayor developing $2 million plan for squeegee kids

Posted at 6:38 AM, Oct 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-23 08:06:44-04

The so-called 'squeegee kids' have been at intersections around Baltimore for decades.

Mayor Catherine Pugh says the kids have been around since the 1980's, but recently they have been making headlines in not a great way. 

A driver says one of the kids smashed his back window because he didn't want his window washed. Other similar stories recently caused downtown partnerships to start paying unarmed guards to monitor the kids.

Mayor Pugh announced on Monday she is developing a plan to give 100 young people, such as the squeegee kids, the opportunity to participate in the city's "Earn While You Learn" program.

She's looking to raise about $1.7 million to teach the young entrepreneurs how to run a business and manage their money, and also offer things like GED help and social services.

"My goal is to get them off the corner, to engage them in product activities with opportunities to make money, opportunities to work," explained Pugh. 

Last year, the city recruited about 25 young people for a special youth-works program and created 'pop-up' car washes. The mayor says while she believes it was successful, it was not completely sustainable.

She hopes this new program will get the squeegee kids off the streets, and keep them off.