Wikipedia

Jacob R. Day

This article is about the American politician. For American illustrator, see Jake Day.

Jacob "Jake" R. Day (born July 3, 1982) is an American politician. Born and raised in Salisbury, Day is a member of the Special Operations Detachment-NATO in the Maryland Army National Guard and US Army Special Operations Command. Day represented District 2 of Salisbury in the City Council, has served as the Council President from 2013 to 2015, and has served as the mayor of Salisbury from 2015 to 2023.[1]

Jake Day
Day in 2024
Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 2, 2023
Acting: January 18, 2023 – March 2, 2023
GovernorWes Moore
Preceded byOwen P. McEvoy (acting)
28th Mayor of Salisbury
In office
November 16, 2015 – January 27, 2023
Preceded byJames P. Ireton Jr.
Succeeded byJack Heath
President, Salisbury City Council
In office
2013–2015
Succeeded byJack Heath
Personal details
Born (1982-07-03) July 3, 1982 (age 42)
Salisbury, Maryland, US
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
ResidenceSalisbury, Maryland
Alma materUniversity of Maryland (BS)
Carnegie Mellon University (MA)
Oxford University (MS)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service2009–present
RankMajor
UnitUS Army Special Operations Command

On January 17, 2023, Governor-elect Wes Moore nominated Day to serve as the Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development. He took office on January 18, 2023.[2] He resigned as the mayor of Salisbury on January 27, 2023.

Background

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Day was one of the three children born to father Randy Day, the CEO of Perdue Farms from 2017 to 2023,[3] and mother Debbie, a retired teacher.[4] He grew up in Salisbury and pursued a career in architecture and urban design.[5] He earned master's degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Oxford.[4][1]

On July 8, 2015, Day announced his candidacy in the nonpartisan Salisbury mayoral election, challenging incumbent Democratic mayor Jim Ireton.[6] Ireton later decided against running for re-election, instead running for the Salisbury City Council in District 4.[7] He ran on a platform that included improving the city's infrastructure, attracting economic growth through business-first initiatives, and creating jobs.[8] Day ran unopposed, and was elected on November 3, 2015.[9]

Mayor of Salisbury

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Day was sworn in as the mayor of Salisbury on November 16, 2015.[10] He was subsequently re-elected in 2019.[11] He also served as the President for the Maryland Municipal League from 2021 to 2022.[12] During his time in office, the city experienced a nearly 30 percent growth in the number of manufacturing jobs, a 175 percent increase in the total existing housing in Salisbury, and a decrease in statistical crime rates in the city every year since 2017.[13] The city's S&P Global Ratings bond rating also improved to AA.[14]

Day announced that he would resign as mayor on January 17, 2023, the same day that Governor-elect Wes Moore nominated him to serve as the Maryland Secretary of Housing. He recommended Salisbury City Council president Jack Heath as the Acting Mayor, which was approved by the City Council that evening.[15] His resignation went into effect on January 27, 2023.[16]

Downtown revitalization

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Day walks through downtown Salisbury with Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford, 2022

As mayor of Salisbury, one of Day's biggest objectives was revitalizing the downtown area of the city,[3] saying in November 2015 that he hoped Salisbury would one day be able to compete with other small cities in Maryland such as Frederick.[4] His administration focused heavily on reshaping the city's streets, undertaking projects including the revitalization of the city's Main Street,[17] Fitzwater Street,[18] the Downtown Plaza,[19] the Riverwalk,[20] and Unity Square.[21] Some of this was in preparation for the National Folk Festival, which the city hosted annually from 2019 to 2022, and beginning in 2023 the Maryland Folk Festival.[13][22]

Day's administration also oversaw the launch of the "Housing First" policy in 2017, which places homeless residents in houses or apartments.[23] Salisbury was the first small city in the United States to adopt a Housing First program, which was previously adopted in larger cities including New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.[24] In September 2021, Day announced the "Here is Home" initiative to build a tiny home village to house the homeless.[25][26]

In March 2017, in an effort to keep Salisbury University graduates in the city, Day collaborated with SU President Janet Dudley-Eshbach to launch the Buy a Home, Build a Business program, which offered $5,000 of downpayment, legal guidance, business development advice, and closing cost assistance to graduates looking to start a business in Salisbury.[27]

In February 2018, Day announced a partnership between Salisbury, Salisbury University, and Spin for a dockless bike sharing program.[28]

In March 2019, Day adopted the Vision Zero policy, which sought to eliminate all pedestrian deaths and serious injuries caused by vehicles by January 2030.[29] As of November 2022, injury accidents have fallen 19 percent and all categories of accidents have declined since the policy's adoption.[13]

In June 2021, Day announced a collaboration between Salisbury and Bird, which debuted rentable electric scooters in the city, replacing the previous Spin bikes.[30]

COVID-19 pandemic response

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In March 2020, Day declared a state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic in Salisbury. In April, he implemented occupancy limits in retailers and commercial facilities to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, as well as social distancing protocols,[31] and worked with Annapolis mayor Gavin Buckley to support the #MayorsWithMasks initiative, which promoted the use of face coverings while outdoors.[32] In May, he announced a number of measures to protect small business and renters from the effects of the pandemic. These included a ban on rent increases under a state of emergency. an allotment of over $100,000 for those whose wages have been affected by the pandemic, and donating 5,000 masks to those living in low-income neighborhoods.[33][34]

2020 deployment

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Day was promoted to the rank of Major by U.S. Army Major General Lapthe Flora during a ceremony in a C-130 Hercules on November 28, 2020, at Camp Lemonnier.

Day enlisted in the United States Army in 2009. On May 28, 2020, Day announced that he would be deployed to the Horn of Africa for 10 months with the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa through the Maryland Army National Guard.[35] In his absence, City Administrator Julia Glanz acted as the mayor of Salisbury, effective from June 4, 2020, until his return on May 21, 2021.[36] He was promoted to the rank of Major, on November 28, 2020, during his deployment.[37] Day was deployed again in Estonia and Latvia from May to June 2022.[38]

At the time of his deployment, Day was one of three U.S. mayors deployed during their terms in office, including Pete Buttigieg from South Bend, Indiana and Brent Taylor from North Ogden, Utah.[37][39]

In April 2021, Day was named in a report from the Maryland National Guard Bureau Office of Equity and Inclusion, in which he was accused of receiving and not forwarding reports of discrimination against Sergeant Bruce Weaver, a Black soldier who alleges that his all-white trainers forced him to wear a chain, representing the "chain of command" during training at the Delaware Army National Guard officer candidate school, in 2015. The Maryland National Guard exonerated its personnel after multiple internal investigations and appealed the bureau's decision.[40] Day rejected any association with the claims, releasing a statement on social media saying "I am pained to have my name spoken in relation to the 2015 incident I was not even present to witness".[41]

Maryland Secretary of Housing

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Day as Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development, 2023

On January 17, 2023, Governor-elect Wes Moore nominated Day to serve as the Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development. He took office on January 18.[42][43] His nomination was unanimously approved by the Maryland Senate on February 17.[44]

During the 2024 legislative session, Day testified on the Moore administration's bills to increase federal funding and reducing barriers for affordable housing projects in the state, especially those around commuter rail stations, as well as legislation establishing a "Tenant's Bill of Rights" and providing additional protections to renters against evictions.[45][46] He also expressed skepticism toward proposals to impose rent caps to address the state's housing crisis, suggesting that it could dissuade developers from building more housing in Maryland, but added that he would not rule out a statewide rent stabilization measure in the future.[47]

The 2024 Legislative Session saw the Moore administration's housing bills passed into law, representing one of the most substantial housing legislative packages seen in Maryland in decades and a national benchmark in addressing the housing crisis.[48] The administration also achieved passage through the Maryland General Assembly of a Departmental bill establishing the Just Communities designation, reshaping Maryland's approach to racial justice, seeking to right wrongs such as redlining and urban highway construction.[49]

Personal life

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Day lives in the Camden neighborhood of Salisbury with his daughters named Lilly and Olivia.[4][5]

Political positions

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Environment

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In April 2017, Day said he opposed the Trump administration's decision to cut funding toward Chesapeake Bay cleanup programs from the federal budget.[50] In October 2021, he attended a virtual discussion hosted by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, where he emphasized the need for federal and state support to support their climate change mitigation and resiliency plans.[51]

In November 2022, Day signed into law a city ordinance that would ban plastic bags in retail stores and restaurants. The ban went into effect on July 1, 2023.[52]

Labor

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In May 2022, Day said he supported a proposed charter amendment to extend collective bargaining rights to all city employees.[53] The charter amendment was unanimously approved by the Salisbury City Council in September 2022.[54]

Social issues

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In 2014, after a Daily Times investigation found that minorities made up only one-sixth of the city's staff members despite making up 47 percent of the city's population, Day called for measures to increase government diversity.[8]

In July 2014, Day supported increasing Salisbury's city council districts from two to five, with two of the newly drawn districts being majority minority districts.[55] The district map, which was supported by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and the Wicomico County NAACP, was adopted by the Salisbury city council by a 4–1 vote in September 2014.[56]

In August 2017, following the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Day joined more than 300 municipal leaders in backing an initiative that called for implementing anti-hate and anti-bias education in schools and law enforcement agencies, ensuring aggressive enforcement of civil rights laws, and strengthening hate crime laws.[57]

In June 2017, Day called for the removal of a memorial of Confederate general John Henry Winder from the lawn of the old Wicomico County courthouse in Salisbury.[58] In January 2020, Day established the Lynching Memorial Task Force, a group that would research creating a permanent monument to commemorate African-Americans lynched in Wicomico County.[59] In July 2020, Day celebrated the removal of the Winder memorial,[60] and in June 2021, he dedicated a new memorial in its place to Matthew Williams, a Black man who was lynched in Salisbury in 1931.[61]

Statewide and national politics

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In October 2018, Day endorsed Governor Larry Hogan for re-election in the 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election.[62] In March 2021, he endorsed Comptroller Peter Franchot for Governor of Maryland.[63]

In November 2019, Day endorsed South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[64][65]

In July 2021, Day endorsed former state delegate Heather Mizeur in the 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Maryland's 1st congressional district.[66]

Electoral history

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Salisbury City Council District 2 election, 2013[67]
Candidate Votes %
Jacob R. Day 1,698 71.34
Deborah Campbel (incumbent) 680 28.57
Write-in 2 0.08
Salisbury City mayoral election, 2015[68]
Candidate Votes %
Jacob R. Day 1,413 96.58
Write-in 50 3.42
Salisbury City mayoral election, 2019[69]
Candidate Votes %
Jake Day 2,444 84.95
Wayne King 428 14.88
Write-in 5 0.17

References

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  1. ^ a b "Jacob R. Day, Maryland Secretary of Housing & Community Development". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Wood, Pamela (January 17, 2023). "As inauguration approaches, Gov.-elect Wes Moore names more cabinet secretaries". Baltimore Banner. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Cox, Jeremy (March 24, 2017). "New Perdue CEO takes over amid industry shifts". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Holland, Liz (November 5, 2015). "Jake Day looks to future". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Cable, Dana (November 6, 2020). "Salisbury Mayor Jake Day talks about his service in East Africa, looks forward to return". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Davis, Phil (July 8, 2015). "Council President Jake Day to run for Salisbury mayor". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Holland, Liz (August 10, 2015). "Ireton seeks Salisbury council seat rather than mayor". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Davis, Phil (July 8, 2015). "Exclusive: Jake Day talks platform for mayoral candidacy". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Bryan, Russo. "New Salisbury Mayor Jake Day: "We don't know our own brand, and we haven't identified it, nor embraced it'". The Dispatch. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  10. ^ Holland, Liz (November 16, 2015). "New mayor, council take oath of office". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Holland, Liz (November 5, 2019). "Salisbury Mayor Jake Day cruises to re-election". Bay-to-Bay News. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  12. ^ Ford, William J.; Kurtz, Josh (September 8, 2022). "Political notes: Braveboy joining D.C. forum, a new bipartisan index, a new leader at MML, and more". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c Jaime, Kristian (November 15, 2022). "What does a better Salisbury look like? Mayor Day shares vision with State of the City". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  14. ^ "Salisbury bond rating improves to AA". Delmarvanow. April 26, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  15. ^ "Jake Day makes farewell address; Jack Heath named Salisbury's Acting Mayor". Bay to Bay News. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Flaks, Rob (January 17, 2023). "Salisbury Mayor Jake Day accepts Housing and Community Development Sec. Position in Moore Administration, to step down from Mayor role on Jan 27th". WMDT. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  17. ^ Powers, Kelly (August 30, 2019). "One phase down: With food trucks parked, Salisbury looks toward Town Square project". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Powers, Kelly (February 25, 2021). "Fitzwater Street transforms — and Salisbury's just getting started on road changes". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  19. ^ Landon, Hunter (September 22, 2022). "Salisbury Prepares for Unity Square, Described as Downtown's New 'Living Room'". WBOC-TV. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  20. ^ Holland, Liz (August 23, 2018). "Downtown Salisbury is 'vibrant, lively'. Here's why". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  21. ^ Roberts, Lauren. "Salisbury's Unity Square celebrated with big ribbon-cutting for 3rd Friday: PHOTOS". The Daily Times. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  22. ^ "Salisbury to host Maryland Folk Festival in September 2023". 47abc. October 1, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  23. ^ Holland, Liz (May 18, 2017). "New 'Housing First' approach to fighting homelessness working in Salisbury, mayor says". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  24. ^ Holland, Liz (February 15, 2018). "He lived in a truck. Now he has a home thanks to 'Housing First' in Salisbury". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  25. ^ Lopez, Anissa (September 29, 2021). ""Here is Home:" New initiative announced for affordable and accessible housing in Salisbury". WMDT. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  26. ^ Decker, Cody (March 22, 2022). ""Here is Home" Breaking Records For New Housing Projects". WRDE-FM. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  27. ^ Holland, Liz (March 9, 2017). "City makes a bid to keep Salisbury University graduates". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  28. ^ Ryan, Meg. "Bike share program brings new rides to Salisbury". The Daily Times. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  29. ^ Swann, Sara (March 25, 2019). "Salisbury sets goal to eliminate pedestrian deaths and injuries by 2030". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  30. ^ Powers, Kelly (June 2, 2021). "Salisbury launches electric scooter program with the Bird App". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  31. ^ Powers, Kelly (April 4, 2020). "Salisbury Mayor Jake Day announces emergency order, new guidelines to be enforced". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  32. ^ Fominykh, Katherine (April 10, 2020). "Suddenly, masks are everywhere as coronavirus spreads. Send us photos of what you're wearing". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  33. ^ DePuyt, Bruce (May 18, 2020). "Salisbury Mayor to Announce Relief and Recovery Plan". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  34. ^ Powers, Kelly (May 19, 2020). "Salisbury looks toward coronavirus recovery with 'NEXT STEP' plan: Here's the breakdown". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  35. ^ Powers, Kelly (May 28, 2020). "Salisbury Mayor Jake Day to deploy with National Guard for about one year". Delmarvanow. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  36. ^ "Salisbury Mayor Jake Day welcomed home by large crowd at 3rd Friday". Delmarvanow. May 22, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  37. ^ a b Holland, Liz (November 30, 2020). "While on deployment, Day receives promotion to Major". Salisbury Independent. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  38. ^ Holland, Liz (June 7, 2022). "Salisbury Mayor Jake Day returns from deployment to Europe". Bay-to-Bay News. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  39. ^ Lange, Katie (February 1, 2021). "Face of Defense: Mayor Deploys During COVID-19 Crisis". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  40. ^ Powers, Kelly (April 15, 2021). "Salisbury mayor named in Maryland National Guard discrimination report". Delmarvanow. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  41. ^ Powers, Kelly (April 15, 2021). "Who is Jake Day? Salisbury mayor's record on diversity amid discrimination claim: Analysis". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  42. ^ Holland, Liz (January 17, 2023). "Jake Day will leave Salisbury mayor's post to join Gov. Wes Moore's cabinet". Bay-to-Bay News. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  43. ^ Mich, Bill (January 17, 2023). "Salisbury Mayor Appointed to Gov. Moore's Cabinet". WBOC-TV. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  44. ^ Janesch, Sam (February 17, 2023). "Final vote on Gov. Moore's pick to lead juvenile services agency delayed as other cabinet members approved". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  45. ^ Weingarten, Dwight A. (January 18, 2024). "Gov. Moore, Sec. Day tout housing package as eoconmic boost for state". Delmarvanow. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  46. ^ Weingarten, Dwight A. (April 9, 2024). "'The 2024 Legislative Session will never be eclipsed': Lawmakers wrap up for year". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  47. ^ Miller, Hallie (November 6, 2023). "Housing secretary says rent caps unlikely solution for housing shortage". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  48. ^ Reed, Dan (January 11, 2024). "Maryland's governor wants to tackle the state's housing shortage". ggwash.org. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  49. ^ Dye, Imany (February 15, 2024). "Key Bills Impacting Maryland's Communities in 2024". Maryland Nonprofits. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  50. ^ Davis, Phil (April 17, 2017). "As President Trump proposes $0 for Bay cleanup, Dems and advocates want $100M". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  51. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (October 26, 2021). "Cardin, Municipal Leaders Underscore Need for Coordinated Climate Change Responses". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  52. ^ Holland, Liz (November 16, 2022). "Salisbury ban of plastic bags clears council hurdle". Bay-to-Bay News. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  53. ^ Velazquez, Rose (May 6, 2022). "Salisbury firefighters to get collective bargaining contract, 'simply right thing to do'". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  54. ^ Orens, Kyle (September 14, 2022). "City Employees Receive Collective Bargaining Rights". WBOC-TV. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  55. ^ Cox, Jeremy (July 21, 2014). "Salisbury moves toward five council districts". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  56. ^ Davis, Phil (September 8, 2014). "Council approves new 2015 Salisbury election districts". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  57. ^ Gates, Deborah (August 23, 2017). "Mayor Jake Day joins mayors around nation in anti-hate initiative". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  58. ^ Holland, Liz (June 21, 2017). "Salisbury mayor joins call for removal of Confederate historical marker". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  59. ^ Gonzalez, Lucas (January 7, 2020). "Salisbury looks to honor Wicomico lynching victims through memorial coalition". Delmarvanow. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  60. ^ Pitts, Jonathan M. (July 26, 2020). "A county on Maryland's Eastern Shore quietly takes down a Confederate memorial, after years of rejecting the idea". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  61. ^ Marbella, Jean (June 5, 2021). "'How did I not know this?' An Eastern Shore community reckons with the lynchings in Maryland's past". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  62. ^ Kurtz, Josh (October 4, 2018). "Josh Kurtz: Not Just Another Day". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  63. ^ Kurtz, Josh (March 25, 2021). "Franchot Rolls Out Big Endorsement List of Current and Ex-Officeholders". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  64. ^ Kurtz, Josh (November 1, 2019). "Buttigieg Rolls Out List of Md. Endorsements". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  65. ^ Barker, Jeff (December 12, 2019). "Pete Buttigieg holds Baltimore fundraiser and receives Lamar Jackson jersey". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  66. ^ Sunnucks, Mike (July 25, 2021). "Heather Mizeur picks up endorsements, touts fundraising in congressional bid to unseat Andy Harris". The Star Democrat. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  67. ^ "Election Summary Report" (PDF). Salisbury, Maryland. April 12, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  68. ^ "Election Summary Report" (PDF). Salisbury, Maryland. November 13, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  69. ^ "Election Summary Report" (PDF). Salisbury, Maryland. November 15, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
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