Over the last 15 years, the enrollment growth at Towson University has pushed many students into neighborhoods like Burkleigh Square, Towson Manor Village, and Knollwood-Donnybrook. Nearly every community in Baltimore County has rental properties, but the concentration of so many rentals serving a transient population has definitely destabilized the areas closest to Towson University.
I applaud the good work Towson University has done over the years to remind students of proper behavior. Most students and landlords are good neighbors, but there are still incidents that cause many sleepless nights in eastern Towson.
I sponsored the social host legislation to address these situations. Simply put, the bill creates a pilot program in eastern Towson where landlords and renters face penalties for unruly incidents. The bill resembles similar legislation passed by Baltimore City that seems to have made a difference in neighborhoods with problem rentals.
In two years, we will assess the effectiveness of the program to see whether the legislation worked. For now, I believe–as State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said in his testimony before the County Council–that this could be an effective tool in improving the quality of life of communities in eastern Towson.
I would like thank Towson’s community leaders, State’s Attorney Shellenberger, and other stakeholders for working with me on this important legislation, as well as the Maryland Multi-Housing Association for offering constructive advice and ultimately supporting the bill.