About Us
We are a non-partisan, non profit, volunteer grass-roots group of Catonsville citizens working together to protect our residential and village community, through education and advocacy. In other words, we are just every-day citizens that want the best for our community. Our efforts are strictly on a volunteer basis.
Our mission is to obtain and share information that concerns the quality of life in Catonsville, to study potential influences on our community, to work with Catonsville citizenry towards viable alternatives to potentially negative influences, and to advocate for well-supported solutions.
How and why did we get started?
Catonsville Voices got started in 2007, soon after two of us (Michael Abrams and his wife, Michele) met with an elected official to express concerns about the proposed development at Spring Grove (see Spring Grove Issue). The official told us that only a small minority of people in Catonsville opposed the development. Surprised to learn this, we sought the opinions of others in our community. It soon became apparent that many people shared our concerns, but that their voices were not being heard. Other neighbors joined our efforts to develop and distribute a petition. Within a few months, hundreds of us here in Catonsville signed the in-person petition, and shared our concerns. These signatures were sent to Governor O'Malley and the other members of the Maryland Board of Public Works in the spring of 2008. However, the petition effort continues, as the Spring Grove Issue remains a threat to our community. In late November of 2008, we put the petition online.
The paper petition pre-dated this website. Therefore, since we did not seek or otherwise request permission to list the names of all who signed the petition on the website, we haven't done so. But you have the option to write a comment about your concerns on the online petition, and you also have the option to have your name disclosed (or not) on the online petition.
Michele and Michael manage this website. Michele sends out emails via CatonsvilleVoices@gmail.com
We began to develop this website in November, 2008. Your input is welcome. Some of your contributions are evident on our website, such as the holiday photograph sent to us!