Peter Franchot
Pamela Wood of The Baltimore Sun reports that, as expected, the Board of Public Works has voted to get rid of the rule that prohibits the state from paying for portable air conditioning units in schools. This is a win for those pushing to get window AC units in Baltimore County schools that lack central cooling, but Wood noted there are more hurdles to overcome. Read the story here.
Of note: Comptroller Peter Franchot (who is one of three Board of Public Works members) compared the AC situation to the massive lead contamination of water in Flint, Mich., reportedly saying, “This is our Flint.” Lead poisoning can cause developmental delays, permanent brain damage, reproductive issues and many other health problems. Putting on my opinionator hat, I think he might be overstating things a bit.