For Immediate Release: May 17, 2020
Governor’s Office Denies Information to Reopen Maryland Group.
#ReopenMaryland #TransparencyNow
Riverdale, MD—Reopen Maryland, a 26,000-member online group, was denied access to information about the operation of the Governor’s Corona Virus Task Force as requested under Maryland’s Public Information Act.
The April 29 request, submitted to the Officer of the Governor, sought meeting minutes, documentation, and correspondence of the Maryland Coronavirus Advisory Team and Maryland Strong Recovery Team. The May 13 response (attached) contends that “the Maryland Coronavirus Advisory Team and Maryland Strong Recovery Team are not units or instrumentalities of the State, and therefore do not have public records available for inspection from custodians as described in the PIA. . .”
Reopen Maryland Chairman Tim Walters stated, “The freedoms of healthy Marylanders are being abridged by the Governor and by county executives on the advice of groups whose records are shielded from transparency.”
Nurse and co-organizer Evie Harris adds, “It is outrageous that advisors to the Governor operate secretly in the name of public health while running roughshod over economic, social, emotional, and spiritual health.”
Walters has filed other PIA requests and plans additional ones, including into the Governor’s actions
surrounding COVID spread in nursing homes. In particular, he has requested further information on whether, and to what extent, the state forced nursing homes to accept COVID-19 positive patients discharged from hospitals, as suggested by the Governor's April 5 executive order and corresponding directives from the Maryland Department of Health.
Harris observes that “well over 50 percent of Maryland COVID deaths have occurred in nursing homes after the danger was known from outbreaks in Washington state.”
Reopen Maryland held its third protest on Friday, May 15, a gathering on State Circle below the Capital. The group also is involved in litigation, one of 18 plaintiffs in Antietam Battlefield et al v. Hogan et al , a federal lawsuit naming the Governor and other state officials.
Reopen Maryland is a grass roots, nonpartisan group representing over 26,000 Marylanders. We advocate for an end to the overly broad, economically and socially destructive shutdown and lockdown policies that have injured countless Maryland families and businesses and had a chilling effect upon civil rights.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--Reopen Maryland WILL still be protesting in Annapolis tomorrow at 2:30pm #ReopenMarylandCapitalPicket
Reopen Maryland Response to Latest Hogan Executive Order – “More, Not Less!”
The leadership of Reopen Maryland met May 14 to reaffirm the organization’s stand that “more, not less freedom is what will lead us successfully out of the COVID crisis.” While there appear to be many concessions to natural rights in his May 13 order, Governor Hogan continues to advance the fiction he may exercise extra-constitutional restraints on commerce, social interaction and assembly, religious gathering and practice, and both public and private education, and do so with minimal transparency in the decision making process. As well as confusing reopening and economic recovery by kicking the can to county and municipal leaders, the order retains MANY restrictions and prohibitions that are deeply concerning. These include: Gatherings Larger Than 10 People.
Co-organizer, attorney and retired business process analyst Jim Wass says “Numbers mean things. Are we talking 10 people in a den? 10 people on a lawn? 10 people in a football stadium? This order should fail for vagueness.”. While such closures might make some sense based on the behavior of the virus, they lump in seniors with NO co-morbidities including those who use precautions. Nurse and co-organizer Evie Harris says, “This is so very sad. We are talking here about some people’s entire social lives. Why can’t we screen those who are vulnerable?”
Restaurants and Bars. Organizer and Chairman Tim Walters says: “Our country and its freedoms were founded with meetings in taverns and inns. Those gatherings were enshrined with the assembly of freedom contained the First Amendment.” Fitness Centers. Co-morbidities such as obesity and diabetes are associated with lack of exercise. Major chains have created mitigation plans to provide for safe use of their facilities. Theaters.
Co-organizer and construction professional Paul Brockman asks, “If adequate separation can be maintained in the White House press room, why not in theaters?” Malls. Co-organizer and consultant Jen Nussbaum observes, “Many malls were losing sales and tenants. The Governor’s order aggravates this commercial, social, and employment bloodletting.”
Reopen Maryland respects that extraordinary precautions might make sense for vulnerable populations such as nursing home residents (58 percent of Maryland deaths), but #OneSizeDoesNotFitAll in public policy. We call upon the Governor to immediately rescind provisions of his order that deny free men and women the opportunity to
Reopen Maryland Group Joins Federal Lawsuit Against Governor. #ReopenMDLawsuit
Riverdale, MD—ReopenMD LLC, a Maryland business entity formed to advance the values of 23,000-member online group Reopen Maryland, has joined with 17 other plaintiffs in a complaint in Federal District Court for the District of Maryland.
The suit, filed on Saturday, May 3, accuses Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and several other state officials of violating the rights of Antietam Battlefield KOA Campground and costing the business $50,000 per month in lost revenue.
Named as co-plaintiffs with the campground are 2 disabled veterans denied needed therapy and several clergy unable to adequately minister to their congregations. Also named are four Maryland legislators who assert they are hindered in their ability adequately serve their constituents as well as ReopenMD seeking redress for violation of its members’ civil rights.
The suit alleges: "The Governor's Orders violate the plaintiffs' right to not be subject to Martial Law by causing the Maryland State Police to arrest or threaten to arrest, or criminally summons, a citizen of Maryland, all while the Courts of Criminal and Civil Judicature are closed upon the orders of the Governor and citations thereto by Chief Judge Barbara, all in violation of Article 32 of the Declaration of Rights."
All plaintiffs seek injunctive relief removing or reducing COVID-related restrictions on their activities.
ReopenMD LLC was formed by Reopen Maryland organizers to serve as a party in litigation and to provide a mechanism for the supporters to contribute toward litigation.
ReopenMD Chairman Tim Walters says “We will continue to make our voices heard through online presence and physical demonstrations, but now we have a way to press our cause by supporting this cause and other litigation.”
The group has engaged two attorneys and plans to begin to accept contributions upon creation of a fundraising website.
The full Federal complaint, as filed, may be found at https://www.docdroid.net/g9MnDPg/federal-complaint1
Reopen Maryland is a grass-roots, nonpartisan group representing over 23,000 Marylanders. We advocate for an end to the overly broad, economically and socially destructive shutdown and lockdown policies that have injured countless
Maryland families and businesses and had a chilling effect upon civil rights.
Hogan Recovery Plan: Tone-Deaf to Marylanders’ Needs, Little Transparency or Attention to Emerging Studies
Riverdale, MD—This afternoon, Governor Larry Hogan unveiled his Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery. Much like prior communication from the Governor, this plan provides little transparency and leaves much to be concerned about.
We agree with the Governor on one key point: as he mentioned, “This is guesswork.” Destroying a state’s economy, restricting civil liberties, and straining families’ emotional well-being requires a far higher level of certainty than “guesswork.” It is time for the Governor and his team—all of whom are presumably still receiving their salaries—to consider the emerging research calling into question the expected fatality rate of this virus, to share their modeling and projections including confidence intervals and errors to date, and to transparently disclose the way that they are gathering and utilizing data. Reopen Maryland shared these requests in a public press release on April 22 and has yet to receive a response from the Governor.
We remain concerned about the Governor’s continued use of the DC/ Virginia/ Maryland region as a reference point. While regional and national concerns are understood, the Governor’s focus must be on the heartbreaking struggles of Maryland small business owners, whom he barely mentioned, and Maryland families and children. In considering reopening, we call upon the Governor’s task force, as well as the Maryland State Department of Education, to respond to recent findings that evidence for school closure to combat coronavirus is “very weak” and provides a minimal reduction in fatality at enormous social cost.
The Governor’s task force lacks stories and voices vital to understanding the correct path forward. We call on the Governor to immediately add to his task force multiple small business owners who have lost their income, as well as families of children with special education needs. These Marylanders, just as much as the well-heeled elites who still draw salaries, must have a voice in a recovery process that is funded with their tax dollars and affects their families.
Last, Reopen Maryland members are deeply concerned about the privacy and civil liberties invasion that will be the Governor’s contact tracing apparatus. Based on emerging data that the coronavirus has been in the United States far longer than initially known, reputable researchers are calling into question the utility of contact tracing at this point in the epidemic. Reopen Maryland calls upon Governor Hogan to immediately provide additional information about this aspect of the plan, including clarifying whether it is his intent to enforce quarantine for healthy asymptomatic contacts of infected individuals. Reopen Maryland also calls upon the Governor to provide details about his newly signed contracts for contact tracing, including public funds expended and their beneficiaries.
Reopen Maryland is a grass-roots, nonpartisan group representing over 20,000 Marylanders. We advocate for an end to the overly broad, economically and socially destructive shutdown and lockdown policies that have injured countless Maryland families and businesses and had a chilling effect upon civil rights.
Reopen Maryland Hosts Talk Radio Special To Highlight Marylanders’ Stories
Riverdale, MD—Reopen Maryland invites Governor Hogan and his staff, along with members of the public and media representatives, to tune in to the inaugural Reopen Maryland LIVE WITH EVIE talk radio event, on Sunday, Apr. 26 from 8-10 PM. Marylanders affected by statewide business closures, school closures, and restrictions on personal liberty will call in to share their stories and make their voices heard. Call-in information can be found at the Reopen Maryland Facebook page.
Media and members of the public, especially the Governor and his staff, are invited and encouraged to listen to this important program to better understand the devastating effects of Maryland’s shutdown. On April 21, Reopen Maryland publicly requested that Governor Hogan collect and publicly report data and narratives on Marylanders’ shut-down related financial, health, and social losses alongside COVID-19 case, hospitalization and fatality statistics. Reopen Maryland believes it is essential for government officials to hear and understand the impact of the policies they are enacting.
Reopen Maryland is a grass-roots, nonpartisan group representing over 20,000 Marylanders. We advocate for an end to the overly broad, economically and socially destructive shutdown and lockdown policies that have injured countless Maryland families and businesses and had a chilling effect upon civil rights.
Reopen Maryland Asks Governor for Near-Term Opening and Transparency.
Reopen Maryland Asks Governor for Near-Term Opening and Transparency.
Riverdale, MD--Six weeks into the COVID state of emergency, Marylanders lack important information and assurances. Broad, restrictive decisions have been made without consideration of less restrictive alternatives or review of newly emerging research. Claims used to justify restrictive measures, such as the Governor’s statement that we would look “a lot more like New York” by Easter, have been shown to be highly exaggerated. New cases and new deaths have been trending down for days in Maryland. States such as Georgia, with more cases, more deaths, and fewer tests completed, have announced plans to open for business as of May 1.
Accordingly, Reopen Maryland calls for the following:
● PHASE ONE ON MAY 1. Begin implementing the White House Phase 1 steps across all of Maryland on May 1, consistent with Presidential guidelines and the actions of other states experiencing downtrends in case data.
● MODEL TRANSPARENCY. Provide full public transparency regarding models used to justify shutdowns, including accuracy, confidence intervals, model error rate, authorship and revisions over time.
● LESS RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVES. Provide the evidence basis for current restrictions and immediately explore less restrictive alternatives to many of the shut-down and lock-down requirements, whose utility has been questioned in emerging studies.
● IMPACT ANALYSIS. Collect and publicly report data and narratives on Marylanders’ shut-down related financial, health, and social losses alongside COVID-19 case, hospitalization and fatality statistics.
Reopen Maryland organized a successful, well-attended protest on Saturday. Concerned Marylanders peacefully exercised their voice while collecting food for the hungry. Additional activities are contemplated and will be announced to the press as they occur.
Reopen Maryland is a grass-roots, nonpartisan group representing over 20,000 Marylanders. We advocate for an end to the overly broad, economically and socially destructive shutdown and lockdown policies that have injured countless Maryland families and businesses and had a chilling effect upon civil rights.