Legality of Cannabis by U.S. Jurisdiction

Jay Jalisi
Jalisi in 2018
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 10th district
In office
January 14, 2015 – January 11, 2023
Serving with Benjamin Brooks (D) and Adrienne A. Jones (D)
Preceded byEmmett C. Burns Jr.
Shirley Nathan-Pulliam
Succeeded byN. Scott Phillips
Personal details
Born (1965-11-17) November 17, 1965 (age 58)
Hyderabad, Pakistan
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
ResidenceReisterstown, Maryland
EducationUniversity of Karachi (M.D.)
Johns Hopkins University (M.P.H.)
ProfessionMedical doctor
Real estate investor

Hasan "Jay" Jalisi (born November 17, 1965) is an American politician who was a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 10, based in Baltimore County, from 2015 to 2023.[1] In 2022, he unsuccessfully ran for Maryland Senate, placing second to state Delegate Benjamin Brooks.[2]

Early life and career[edit]

Jalisi was born on November 17, 1965, in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. His family is from India and later moved to Pakistan, and then to Bangladesh, where his father taught at a medical school.[1][3] He graduated from B. V. S. Parsi High School in Karachi, Pakistan and later attended the University of Karachi, where he earned a M.D. degree in 1990. After graduating, he moved to the United States and worked positions at Harvard University and the Cleveland Clinic.[3] He came to Baltimore in 1997 to attend Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a M.P.H. degree in international health systems in 1998.[1] While at Hopkins, Jalisi got into real estate investing, using money from family members to buy an apartment building where he lived after learning it was in foreclosure.[3] He was previously a medical doctor and has co-authored two medical textbooks on diseases of the ears, nose, and throat, but eventually stepped back from his medical career to become a full-time real estate investor.[3][4]

In December 2013, Jalisi filed to run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 10.[5] He won the Democratic primary, receiving 17.4 percent of the vote, coming in second only behind Delegate Adrienne A. Jones.[6] Jalisi won the general election with 28.7 percent of the vote.[7]

In the legislature[edit]

Jalisi was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015.[1] Up until the appointment of Bilal Ali, he was the only Muslim serving in the Maryland General Assembly.[8]

In November 2019, Jalisi filed to run in the 2020 Maryland 7th congressional district special election to fill out the term of the late Elijah Cummings, and in the overlapping regular 2020 election for the same congressional seat.[9] He was defeated by Kweisi Mfume in the Democratic primary for both elections.[10][11]

In April 2022, Jalisi filed to run for Maryland Senate to succeed retiring Senator Delores G. Kelley.[2] He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing second to state Delegate Ben Brooks.[12]

Committee assignments[edit]

  • Member, Environment and Transportation Committee, 2015–2023 (housing & real property subcommittee, 2015–2018; motor vehicle & transportation subcommittee, 2017–2018; natural resources, agriculture & open space subcommittee, 2015–2023; local government & bi-county agencies subcommittee, 2019–2023)
  • Member, Judiciary Committee, 2015 (civil law & procedure subcommittee, 2015; criminal justice subcommittee, 2015)

Other memberships[edit]

  • Member, Maryland Legislative Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Caucus, 2015–2019 (treasurer, 2016–2019)
  • Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2015–2018
  • Member, Maryland Military Installation Legislative Caucus, 2017–2023

Legal affairs[edit]

In February 2015, Jalisi's daughter filed for a restraining order against him, accusing him of slapping her during an altercation at his wife's home in Lutherville, Maryland.[13][14][15] A temporary restraining order was granted, then extended on March 2 after neither Jalisi nor his attorney appeared in court.[16] On March 9, Jalisi and his daughter entered into a consent agreement without a finding of abuse, preventing him from visiting his daughter for a year.[17][18] Following the incident, House Speaker Michael E. Busch moved Jalisi from the House Judiciary Committee to the House Environment and Transportation Committee.[19]

In March 2019, an ethics committee investigation found that Jalisi subjected his staffers, particularly female employees, to bullying and verbal abuse over a span of five years. The report also said that Jalisi ignored repeated requests from House Speaker Busch and other top lawmakers to take anger management classes, which led to Busch withdrawing his use of state funds to pay his staffers.[20] Jalisi denied the allegations, denouncing the investigation as a "nasty smear campaign and a sham investigation".[21][22] On March 27, the House of Delegates voted unanimously to reprimand Jalisi.[23][24][25] In December 2020, a District Court Judge ordered Jalisi to pay more than $19,500 in back pay and damages to a former legislative aide who did not receive payment for the month he worked for his office.[26]

In October 2014, Jalisi was fined $2,500 for misusing campaign funds.[27]

Unsafe living conditions in Jalisi-owned housing[edit]

In October 2014, the Maryland Department of the Environment fined Jalisi $15,000 for lead paint hazards related to at least two apartments in a Baltimore condominium.[28]

In March 2021, a tenant filed a lawsuit against Jalisi's property management firm, HMJ Management Company, for failing to fix water leaks in her bathroom, causing her to slip on the wet floor and hit her head against the wall and a toilet paper stand. The toilet paper stand lodged in her throat and left her unable to call for help, requiring her to receive spinal surgery and leaving her with chronic neck and back pain that left her unable to work.[29][30]

Political positions[edit]

Crime[edit]

Jalisi introduced legislation in the 2016 legislative session that would limit strip-searches and shackling. The bill was amended to create a task force to investigate the Department of Juvenile Services' policies on strip-searching and shackling.[31] The bill passed and became law on May 19, 2016.[32]

Environment[edit]

In September 2017, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters gave Jalisi a score of 71 percent on its annual legislative scorecard, making him one of three Democrats not to receive a perfect score.[33]

Marijuana[edit]

In February 2022, Jalisi declined to vote on legislation that created a framework for legalizing recreational marijuana.[34] In April 2022, Jalisi again declined to vote to override a gubernatorial veto on the bill, citing religious reasons.[35]

Social issues[edit]

In April 2021, Jalisi voted in favor of a bill that would create a constitutional ballot referendum that would require lawmakers to live in the districts they represent. The bill passed both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly and will be decided by voters in the 2022 elections.[36]

Jalisi introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session that would prevent car insurance companies from using a person's credit score in setting a policyholder's premium.[37] The measure was unanimously rejected by the Economic Matters Committee in favor of identical legislation introduced by Delegate Melissa Wells.[38]

Electoral history[edit]

Maryland House of Delegates District 10 Democratic Primary Election, 2014[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adrienne A. Jones 8,995 25.4%
Democratic Jay Jalisi 6,146 17.4%
Democratic Benjamin Brooks 5,507 15.6%
Democratic Carin Smith 5,197 14.7%
Democratic Robert "Rob" Johnson 3,369 9.5%
Democratic Chris Blake 2,085 5.9%
Democratic Michael Tyrone Brown, Sr. 1,868 5.3%
Democratic Regg J. Hatcher, Jr. 1,121 3.2%
Democratic Frederick Strickland 1,104 3.1%
Maryland House of Delegates District 10 General Election, 2014[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adrienne A. Jones 24,104 29.6%
Democratic Benjamin Brooks 23,703 29.1%
Democratic Jay Jalisi 23,339 28.7%
Republican William T. Newton 9,906 12.2%
N/A Other Write-Ins 280 0.3%
Democratic (write-in) Michael Tyrone Brown, Sr. 68 0.1%
Maryland House of Delegates District 10 Democratic Primary Election, 2018[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adrienne A. Jones 11,005 28.4%
Democratic Jay Jalisi 10,790 27.8%
Democratic Benjamin Brooks 9,587 24.7%
Democratic Lauren Lipscomb 4,588 11.8%
Democratic Nathaniel M. Costley, Sr. 1,914 4.9%
Democratic Jordan F. Porompyae 903 2.3%
Maryland House of Delegates District 10 General Election, 2018[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adrienne A. Jones 33,830 27.4%
Democratic Benjamin Brooks 33,066 26.8%
Democratic Jay Jalisi 32,587 26.4%
Republican George H. Harman 8,525 6.9%
Republican Brian Marcos 7,706 6.2%
Republican Matthew Kaliszak 7,458 6.0%
N/A Other Write-Ins 159 0.1%
Democratic Primary, Congress, Special Election in Maryland 7th district, 2020[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kweisi Mfume 31,415 43.0%
Democratic Maya Rockeymoore Cummings 12,524 17.1%
Democratic Jill P. Carter 11,708 16.0%
Democratic Terri Hill 5,439 7.4%
Democratic F. Michael Higginbotham 3,245 4.4%
Democratic Harry Spikes 2,572 3.5%
Democratic Saafir A. Rabb 1,327 1.8%
Democratic Jay Jalisi 1,257 1.7%
Democratic Talmadge Branch 810 1.1%
Democratic Mark Steven Gosnell 579 0.8%
Democratic T. Dan Baker 377 0.5%
Democratic Charles Stokes 297 0.4%
Democratic Paul V. Konka 251 0.3%
Democratic Darryl Gonzalez 245 0.3%
Democratic Alicia D. Brown 180 0.2%
Democratic Leslie E. Grant 176 0.2%
Democratic Anthony Carter, Sr. 155 0.2%
Democratic Jay Fred Cohen 150 0.2%
Democratic Matko Lee Chullin, III 79 0.1%
Democratic Charles U. Smith 75 0.1%
Democratic Adrian Petrus 60 0.1%
Democratic Nathaniel M. Costley, Sr. 49 0.1%
Democratic Jermyn Davidson 31 0.0%
Democratic Dan Hiegel 31 0.0%
Democratic Primary, Congress, Maryland 7th district, 2020[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kweisi Mfume 113,061 74.3%
Democratic Maya Rockeymoore Cummings 15,208 10.0%
Democratic Jill P. Carter 13,237 8.7%
Democratic Alicia D. Brown 1,841 1.2%
Democratic Charles Stokes 1,356 0.9%
Democratic T. Dan Baker 1,141 0.7%
Democratic Jay Jalisi 1,056 0.7%
Democratic Harry Spikes 1,040 0.7%
Democratic Saafir A. Rabb 948 0.6%
Democratic Mark Steven Gosnell 765 0.5%
Democratic Darryl Gonzalez 501 0.3%
Democratic Jeff Woodard 368 0.2%
Democratic Gary Schuman 344 0.2%
Democratic Michael D. Howard, Jr. 327 0.2%
Democratic Michael Davidson 298 0.2%
Democratic Dan Hiegel 211 0.1%
Democratic Charles U. Smith 189 0.1%
Democratic Matko Lee Chullin, III 187 0.1%
Democratic Adrian Petrus 170 0.1%

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Jay Jalisi, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. August 20, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Gaines, Danielle E.; Kurtz, Josh (April 16, 2022). "Candidate Filing Deadline Creates Last-Second Drama". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Wood, Pamela (January 22, 2020). "Maryland Del. Jay Jalisi seeks to move past state ethics problems in run for 7th Congressional District seat". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  4. ^ Johnson, Jenna (January 13, 2015). "Meet the 2015 Maryland General Assembly's sizable freshman class". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  5. ^ "2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election State Candidates List". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Kurtz, Josh (May 15, 2017). "Monday Morning Dose of Politics". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  9. ^ Kurtz, Josh (November 20, 2019). "At Filing Deadline, Lawmaker Reprimanded by Colleagues Joins Congressional Race". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  10. ^ Barker, Jeff (February 4, 2020). "Kweisi Mfume wins Democratic nomination in Maryland's 7th District, seeks to replace the late Elijah Cummings". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  11. ^ Chason, Rachel; Portnoy, Jenna (April 28, 2020). "Baltimore's Kweisi Mfume wins his — and Elijah Cummings's — old House seat". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  12. ^ "2022 Maryland primary elections results". The Washington Post. July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  13. ^ Bridwell, Lindsey (March 4, 2015). "Delegate Accused of Domestic Violence". Baltimore Jewish Times. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  14. ^ Collins, David (February 27, 2015). "Delegate to answer domestic-violence protective order". WBAL-TV. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  15. ^ Sears, Bryan P. (February 27, 2015). "Police report: Delegate allegedly had altercation with daughter". The Daily Record. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  16. ^ "Temporary protective order against Jalisi extended". The Baltimore Sun. March 2, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  17. ^ Khan, Saliqa (March 9, 2015). "Delegate, daughter enter into consent agreement". WBAL-TV. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  18. ^ Wood, Pamela (March 9, 2015). "Baltimore Co. delegate agrees to protective order barring contact with daughter". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  19. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (March 10, 2015). "Maryland delegate agrees to protective order, get reassigned in House". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  20. ^ Hernández, Arelis R.; Wiggins, Ovetta (March 26, 2019). "Maryland lawmaker accused of berating, bullying employees". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  21. ^ Broadwater, Luke; Wood, Pamela (March 26, 2019). "Baltimore County Del. Jay Jalisi blasts ethics investigation as 'nasty smear campaign'". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  22. ^ Kurtz, Josh (March 26, 2019). "In Statement, Jalisi Blasts 'Smear Campaign' and 'Sham Investigation'". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  23. ^ Collins, David (March 27, 2019). "Maryland lawmaker reprimanded for 'bullying'". WBAL-TV. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  24. ^ Burnett, Ava-joye (March 27, 2019). "Maryland Del. Jay Jalisi Reprimanded For 'Bullying' Staff". WJZ-TV. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  25. ^ Kurtz, Josh (March 25, 2019). "Del. Jalisi Faces House Reprimand For Chronic Staff Abuse". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  26. ^ DeVille, Taylor (December 23, 2020). "Baltimore County Del. Jay Jalisi ordered to pay over $19,500, including wages never paid, to ex-employee". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  27. ^ Wood, Pamela (October 8, 2014). "Baltimore County delegate candidate fined for campaign finance violation". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  28. ^ Sears, Bryan P. (October 29, 2014). "Candidate faces fines for building violations". The Daily Record. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  29. ^ DeVille, Taylor (March 17, 2021). "Woman files lawsuit against Baltimore County Del. Jay Jalisi over 'disgusting conditions' at city apartment". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  30. ^ Miller, Jayne (March 16, 2021). "Delegate sued over condition of Baltimore apartment". WBAL-TV. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  31. ^ Green, Erica L. (November 3, 2016). "Maryland Juvenile Services recommends setting minimum detention age". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  32. ^ "Legislation - HB1634". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  33. ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 18, 2017). "Political Notes: Kamenetz's Day, Greens' Scorecard". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  34. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 25, 2022). "Cannabis Legalization Legislation Headed to the Senate". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  35. ^ DePuyt, Bruce; Gaskill, Hannah (April 1, 2022). "With Scant Enthusiasm, Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Legalization Bills". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  36. ^ Sears, Bryan P. (April 29, 2021). "Proposed amendment to Md. Constitution would clarify where lawmakers have to live". The Daily Record. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  37. ^ DePuyt, Bruce (February 28, 2022). "Lawmakers Hope to Block Use of Credit Scores by Auto Insurers". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  38. ^ DePuyt, Bruce (March 12, 2022). "House Democrats Advance Industry-Amended Auto Insurance Measure". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  39. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  40. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  41. ^ "Official 2020 7th Congressional District Special Primary Election results for Representative in Congress". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. February 21, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  42. ^ "Official 2020 Presidential Primary Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.

External links[edit]