Maryland House Speaker Outlines Plans To Help Baltimore

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- House Speaker Michael Busch wants to provide a steady funding stream of $18 million a year for five years to help fight urban blight in Baltimore.

The speaker outlined some details in a package of legislation Wednesday that he hopes will lead to a `renaissance' in Maryland's largest city.

While Gov. Larry Hogan has a plan to demolish deteriorated buildings in the city as well, he has proposed allocating the money in installments. Matt Clark, a Hogan spokesman, says while the administration shares the speaker's concerns about addressing blight, the governor is wary of mandated spending. But Busch, a Democrat, says it's important for funding to be stable over five years.

Last year's rioting after the death of Freddie Gray highlighted problems with urban blight in the city.

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