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On April 2nd, the Frederick City Council votes on the City Values Act -- legislation limiting how city employees cooperate with federal civil immigration enforcement. That vote cannot come soon enough. #CityValuesAct #FrederickMD

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The Council is reviewing what regulatory tools -- permits, licensing, zoning -- apply here. We are not going to make it easy for ICE to set up operations targeting our neighbors. #ImmigrantJustice

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2/ ICE wants desk space and private offices embedded in the same spaces where our small business owners and entrepreneurs work every day. The chilling effect on Frederick's immigrant community would be real. #FrederickMD #ImmigrantJustice

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Indivisible Frederick Forward ❌️👑 @indivisiblefredfwd.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

The federal government is soliciting contracts to place ICE agents in coworking spaces across the country. Frederick is on the list. We can't let this happen #FrederickMD #ImmigrantJustice

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Reposted by César Díaz

LAST CALL! Please take a moment to send an email and contact Senator Smith, Senator Ferguson and Chair Barlett's offices to ask them to pass the Community Trust Act and the Detention Center Zoning Requirement bills NOW.

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César Díaz @cdiaz.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

WYPR covered the meeting. Worth reading — especially the data from Frederick's nonprofits on service access drops. wypr.org/wypr-news/2026-03-19/immigration-enforcement-driving-fear-in-frederick-county #FrederickMD #ImmigrantRights

wypr.org

Immigration enforcement driving fear in Frederick County

Local non-profits report significant drops in residents seeking services, causing isolation and hurting trust.

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César Díaz @cdiaz.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

My focus: rent. Too many assistance programs are federally funded, which means immigration status requirements that exclude the people who need help most. We need more locally-funded programs with fewer barriers. That's something the City can act on. #FrederickMD #ImmigrantRights

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César Díaz @cdiaz.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Last week we held a joint Frederick City/County council session. We heard from local immigrant supporting non-profits about what our immigrant neighbors are actually dealing with. Fear of enforcement is keeping people from accessing basic services. #FrederickMD #ImmigrantRights

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Junk fees aren't the biggest piece of the housing affordability puzzle. But they're one piece the Council can act on directly. If you've dealt with fees that felt hidden or unexplained, that experience matters for local policy, share your experience #HousingAffordability

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The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has flagged rental fees as a significant driver of housing costs. Some cities and states now require landlords to disclose total move-in costs upfront, or ban fees with no clear service.

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Frederick's rental vacancy rate is 3.1%, well below the state average of 5.1%. (ACS 2023) That kind of market gives landlords leverage. And nearly half of Frederick renters are already cost burdened — spending 30%+ of income on housing. (City of Frederick Data Report, 2024) #HousingAffordability

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Landlords use fees to keep the advertised rent low while collecting more per unit. The fees are often buried in the lease. Some are disclosed only after you've applied and paid a nonrefundable application fee to find out. In a tight market, renters have little choice but to accept. #JunkFees

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Your rent is $1,400/month. Then you get the actual bill. Application fee. Admin fee. "Convenience" fee to pay online. Move-in fee. Utility billing fee. These are rental junk fees — charges that are mandatory, vague, or have no real service attached to them #HousingAffordabilty

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The City of Frederick, MD - Official Website | Official Website

We got a lot of good feedback last night around reporting and training for city staff. A new draft will be posted on the Frederick City website early next week. www.cityoffrederickmd.gov #FrederickMD #ImmigrantRights

cityoffrederickmd.gov

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The City already has stated values: equity, inclusiveness, dignity, justice. Right now those are words in a document. This ordinance makes them enforceable law. Silence and inaction are policy positions. This ordinance is ours. #FrederickMD #ImmigrantRights

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The ordinance has three core rules for City employees: don't help immigration enforcement access City facilities without a judicial warrant. Don't let City property be used for immigration enforcement. Don't ask about immigration status unless legally required. #FrederickMD #ImmigrantRights

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City services work when people trust them. Public health, housing code enforcement, emergency response, they all break down when residents fear that showing up might get them reported to federal immigration authorities. That fear is real right now. #FrederickMD #ImmigrantRights

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César Díaz @cdiaz.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Last night I introduced the Frederick City Values Act, an ordinance that would make our city's equity and inclusion commitments actual law, not just aspirational language. #FrederickMD #ImmigrantRights

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They sound like people who have never been evicted. I don't know about MN, but in Maryland evictions show on your public court record and will keep you from renting a new place.

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César Díaz @cdiaz.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

What is the reason they are giving ?

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Public input is essential. Residents can weigh in on: • Affordability requirements • Safety and quality standards • Where SROs should be allowed • Conversion of existing housing We will share hearing details soon. #Housing #AffordableHousing #HousingPolicy #FrederickMD

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Another key question: affordability. Should SROs be required to serve lower income residents? If so, at what income level? And for how long? Without clear rules, smaller units can still rent at market rates. #Housing #AffordableHousing #HousingPolicy #FrederickMD

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Questions we need to answer • How many people share bathrooms or kitchens • Management and cleaning standards • Inspection and enforcement rules • Tenant protections Details matter. Good policy depends on clear standards. #Housing #AffordableHousing #HousingPolicy #FrederickMD

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Why consider SROs in Frederick? Because many residents cannot afford a one-bedroom apartment at current rents Sharing space lowers costs. That tradeoff can expand options for seniors, working adults, and people stabilizing after homelessness #Housing #AffordableHousing #HousingPolicy #FrederickMD

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In Frederick we are considering SROs. What is an SRO? SRO stands for Single Room Occupancy. It is a small private room with shared kitchen or bathroom facilities. It can be one of the lowest cost housing options in a city. #Housing #AffordableHousing #HousingPolicy #FrederickMD

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We need more supply. We need affordability strategies. And we need transparent public processes. Housing policy isn’t one debate it’s land use, market realities, and lived experience all at once. We need to consider all of these as we tackle the housing crisis

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At the roundtable on rent stabilization, renters described steady increases that strain budgets and force hard choices. The housing study shows nearly half of our renters are cost burdened (30%+ of income on housing). The stories and the data align. #AffordableHousing #FrederickMD

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If phasing rules change, that shapes entire neighborhoods. That’s why public input and Council oversight are important. Growth decisions shouldn’t happen only at an administrative level. Process isn’t a delay tactic. It’s accountability. #LocalGovernment #Transparency

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At the workshop, we discussed proposed changes to mixed-use zoning phasing rules when housing can be built relative to commercial space. Yes, we need more housing. But how we adjust the rules and who decides matters. #LandUse #HousingPolicy #OpenGovernment

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