The Baltimore City Green Party urges the City Council to approve - and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to sign - a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags as a first step to meaningful action on the climate crisis.  "In September 400,000 people - including many Baltimoreans - marched in New York City to call for serious new limits on pollution. The march was targeted at the United Nations, but the city of Baltimore can take action to address the climate crisis as well," said Ian Schlakman, 2014 Green Party nominee for U.S. House of Representatives, District 2.The Baltimore City Green Party urges city leaders to introduce and pass legislation to:-Ban garbage incineration through the city of Baltimore.-Establish car-free zones - which would allow pedestrian, bicycle and bus traffic only - throughout the city.-Establish sufficient recycling facilities so 100% of materials collected through the city's recycling programs are recycled without reselling to third parties or shipment outside the city.-Mandate new commercial and multi-unit residential construction install solar and/or wind power generation."The climate crisis is real and will not be solved without leadership from cities - like Baltimore - in which people of color and people living in the poorest neighborhoods are most affected by pollution," said Schlakman. "We urge city leaders to prove that we can improve the quality of life for the Earth and the people of Baltimore by taking responsibility for the resources we use and the waste we produce." 

 The Baltimore City Green Party is committed to nominating candidates for the 2016 city elections.Candidates are encouraged to begin developing campaigns immediately. Candidates are authorized to declare publicly that they are "seeking the nomination of the Green Party."Candidates are encouraged to establish a campaign finance entity and legally raise funds to support their campaign. Candidates are urged to familiarize themselves with state law regarding candidacy and campaign finance.According to state law, candidates must declare their intent to seek the Green Party's nomination for the next city and federal election on or before the July 1, 2016.After this date, the Baltimore City Green Party will hold a primary election to determine its nominees for Mayor, President of the City Council, City Council, and Comptroller.Nominees for President of the United States, U.S Senate and U.S. House will be determined under rules established by the Maryland Green Party.