There Certainly are Rats In Baltimore, The Cities Plan for Garbage Over Kids Stinks

        One should always know where to start and have a plan when writing. When writing about Baltimore however there are so many issues it is difficult to know where to start.

A few days ago the Mayor announced her big plan to spend 10 million dollars on garbage cans. With Baltimore’s well earned place on the countries list of cities with the highest homicide rate many people were outraged. They could not understand the city administration’s apparent need to bury their collective heads in the sand and proudly declare they can solve the rat problem in Baltimore. (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-ci-trash-can-20150817-story.html). The Mayor actually in her own words said the garbage cans will help fight crime and grime. REALLY!? What is a new trash can going to do for the crimes we need addressed here in Baltimore?

As Ericka Alston of Safe Kids zone in Baltimore suggested the “$10 Million for TRASH CANS sends a clear message that the Mayor cares more about a safe place for garbage than she does for the kids of Sandtown-Winchester”. (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206715290457078&set=a.1290900628795.2046264.1118626257&type=1)  The Mayors time might be better spent helping those that are doing her job in making sure the youngest of her citizens are safe instead of demonstrating how to use a garbage can. The city’s funds might be better spent on addressing some of the real problems.

All this could perhaps be justified if the mayors claim of a 75% reduction in the rat problem had been true. However, when pressed the mayor admitted she may have misspoken. We are actually only at a 26% reduction as the 8/19 article linked here states.  (https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2015/08/19/city-issues-correction-about-effectiveness-of-trash-can-program/)

The garbage can issue started a year ago with a pilot program. If the pilot was successful the mayor would make this a city-wide initiative. (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-huge-plastic-trash-cans-distributed-under-baltimore-pilot-20140707-story.html). So if I am understanding how things work here the city launches a pilot program on a quality of life issue, mistook a 26% success rate for a 75% success rate and from that made a decision to spend 10 million dollars on rat crime while people are dying in the streets!

So ok is it me or does anyone else see the almost humor here kinda like the Esurance comercials with “sort of Marge”? We seem to have a “sort of Mayor” and a “sort of administration” however this sort of isn’t funny! Where is the City Council President? Where is the City Council? Is anyone at the wheel?

WAKE UP!!

Council President Young wants to sell the city owned Hilton Hotel near the stadium, did you all really think it was a good idea to buy a hotel? You all collectively can’t seem to effectively do the job you were elected to do. Find your lane and stay int it! (http://www.abc2news.com/news/region/baltimore-city/baltimore-city-council-president-wants-to-sell-hilton-to-raise-money-for-rec-centers). The Mayor and her team want to sell parking garages to raise money for recreation centers according to a plan submitted over a year ago with no legislative movement. Here is a news flash for you both if there is any correlation whatsoever between the crime and more specifically the homicide rate and children having no constructive outlets maybe closing over 10 recreation centers in the last few years as quoted in the news was not the brightest idea!

Here’s a thought slap a fine on those that can’t get the concepts of proper garbage disposal, spend the 10 million on youth, crime prevention, education and…..It would make  more sense for you to take that money and hold a competition for programs that are already doing the work to win grants to expand cause clearly what you all are doing isn’t working! Don’t reward people who don’t give a rats butt about a garbage can a new one. those that would appreciate it can buy it and those that don’t won’t use it anyway!

If there is any hope, and I have faith that there is, of turning Baltimore around you all must stop being reactive and start being pro active.

Ericka, stay strong with your initial plans. You have been and are being both proactive and effective, the Mayor, not so much.

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Fox News has announced the 10 candidates that will be on stage for the first Republican presidential debate later this week

Fox News’s decision to cap the prime-time debate at 10 candidates was  based on five previously-unspecified national polls. This led to weeks of intense speculation over who would be in and who wouldn’t. Recent polls showed a defined tier of a debate eight that appeared to be locked in for the debate. The definite 8 are front-runner Donald Trump along with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who have been polling in second or third place nationally, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Sens. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul will round out the top 8. The final 2 will be N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and Ohio’s own Gov. Kasich squeaked in. This group will make for an interesting mix.

Baltimore Mayor Proud of Fed. intervention, REALLY!

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake: “I’m very proud that we stand in a position where the federal government wants to work in collaboration with us”

I am confused, is weed legal in Maryland already? Ok follow me here

1. According to my copy of Websters Dictionary proud means : very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, someone you know or are related to, etc. : feeling pride

: causing someone to feel very happy and pleased : causing a feeling of pride

: having or showing the attitude of people who think that they are better or more important than others : having or showing too much pride

2. Federal agency intervention in terms of the Justice Department historically in more than 20 cities over the past two decades gives us an idea of what Washington’s approach to local police reform might look like if they find wrongdoing.

In the past, cities across the country have entered into agreements, called consent decrees, that have allowed the federal government to force police departments to enact policies that curb racial profiling, improper interrogation and illegal search and seizure, among other things. The exact terms and conditions vary in each case, and the deals are lifted only with the approval of a federal judge. Some such cities are Ferguson Ms.(still active), Seattle cracked down on protesters at a World Trade Organization meeting in 1999, Los Angeles Police Department a decade after the beating of Rodney King in 1991 and the riots that followed, the Justice Department entered into a consent decree with the Los Angeles Police, New Orleans, and its local government for civilian deaths caused by police in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and Oakland  Ca. entered into a settlement with more than 100 plaintiffs in 2003 that mandated a number of police reforms.

In the case of Baltimore the Federal Government is sending in help from the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshal, and U.S. Secret Service. This is in addition to calls for Justice Department intervention.

News Flash Mayor Rawlings-Blake : The Feds. are not coming for tea and crumpets, they are not bringing awards and holding ceremonies

In my not always humble opinion the spin factor on using the word “proud” to describe your response to the utter public failure of you and your entire administration would cause a new level of whiplash! To garner such a multi agency effort is not because you are doing a bang up job! Baltimore is broken you are the elected leader it is your mandate to lead in a way that leaves your beloved Charm City all the better, certainly not this.
Read More at: http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/179722-Mayor-proud-39-the-federal-government-wants-to-work-in-collaboration-with-us-39-.shtml#.Vb_qZvlViko

Federal Agents to Embed with Baltimore Police Department to Combat the Skyrocketing Murder Rate

On Sunday August 2, 2015 due to the recent spike in violent crime, Baltimore’s Interim Police Commissioner Kevin Davis announced the establishment of BFED, where federal agents from FBI, ATF, DEA and other agencies will be embedded in the Baltimore homicide unit.  Baltimore Sun Newspaper

I don’t even know where to begin with this one!

Let’s start

Political: For generations the city of Baltimore has been a Democrat stronghold. The Mayor is a Democrat, the City Council President is a Democrat, and all 14 districts of of the city are represented by Democrats. That right there is a problem. When you have 1 school of thought you get no new perspective, and clearly this is not working.

Economic: For a city to thrive and grow there MUST be something positive to attract new blood and money. Who in there right mind other than a speculator investor would want to invest in a city that is at the top of every list you don’t even want to be on!

Education: If we are to believe what has been said, the riots were all started by school children during school hours on school grounds. That to me brings up a couple of points why are our children not being engaged? Clearly if these children are capable of organizing a citywide “event” all online without being detected they have too much time on their hands, are not being challenged or engaged, and CLEARLY are more intelligent than they are given credit for cause lets keep it real, I’ve seen grown folks with staff not being able to pull together an event with lead time and a budget!

Socio- community: There is a breakdown everywhere! The family,the schools, and the police are all running amok! The police blame the politicians, the politicians blame the feds and the FEDS blame the community.

The scary thought is Baltimore is just one example of the cities across the country with a rising violent crime epidemic. Most of the areas are urban and predominately minority. Some say it is a concerted effort to lead us to a federal police state, others say it is a breakdown of the family unit.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-ci-violence-20150802-story.html#page=1

What do you say?

Immigration that makes sense

 

We are in serious need of immigration reform. Growing up I was always told “Take care of home first”. That’s how I was raised.It didn’t mean don’t look out for your neighbors, it means if you don’t take care of yours first you can’t take care of anyone else. Somehow we lost that.

Today we are an open door country that has put everyone else in front of our own needs. We are no longer in a position to be able to do this. This is simple dollars and sense. With our economy in its current state we don’t have the money. Our schools are failing, unemployment is up, crime is up quite frankly almost everything that should be up is down, and everything that should be down is up!

We need to get back to basics.

We need to stop trying to spend more than we have. We need to care of our own, meaning those that are here legally. Until we can right our own house we have no business opening up our doors when the walls are caving in!

This is the front page of the website on the July 15 D.C. March for Jobs:

Why the March to preserve American jobs for American workers?

We believe it is high time that members of Congress act to preserve economic opportunity for American workers – and pass immigration legislation that protects and supports the nearly 22 million American citizens who do not have jobs, or cannot find adequate employment to support their families.

Economists report that labor participation in the U.S. is at its lowest rate in over 30 years. Yet, despite these sluggish economic conditions, some in Congress have put forth immigration proposals to increase legal immigration levels by 50% and provide amnesty to over 11 million people who have entered the country illegally. We stand against these proposals, as they will result in adding millions more to the U.S. labor force, putting millions of American citizens out of work.

Over 22 million Americans are currently out of work or underemployed. All wage sectors, including low-skilled and high-skilled jobs are at risk from this legislation as big business asserts the need for more cheap laborers to do those mythical jobs “Americans won’t do.” Research continues to debunk this myth. As the Economic Policy Institute’s recent report reveals, there is not a talent shortage, but a jobs shortage.

If passed, the Gang of Eight’s proposed immigration bill will be costly for all Americans, but will harm black American workers more than any other group. Mass immigration and amnesty puts those poorest Americans from all walks of life out of work and suppresses wages, causing them to compete with aliens willing to work in poorer working conditions for cheaper pay.

When 22 million Americans are either out of work or unemployed, now is no time to further over-saturate the labor force with increased immigration levels and amnesty. If Congress doesn’t stop this irresponsible legislation, the United States will continue to see more and more Americans of all races out of jobs and on the streets.

http://www.dcmarchforjobs.com/about/

THe @ Large Conference, for a New Majority

Folks it has been an awesome couple of days! Had the opportunity to attend the @ Large Conference for a New Majority. Over the next few weeks we will be posting interviews with tom and Deneen Borelli, Rev. C.L. Bryant and his wife the lovely lady Jane, Dr. Tim Johnson founder of the Frederick Douglas Foundation, K. Carl Smith Frederick Douglas Republicans, News Ninja Wayne Dupree, Radiance Foundation’s Ryan Bomberg, and more!

I can’t express to you all how important this conference was.  It wasn’t about getting away, eating out, the pictures and hand shaking or any of the other things you would expect. It wasn’t about the public speaking or the media. More than anything it was about seeing different personalities and entities come together as people with different perspectives come together on the same page.

We have all been working together individually if you will on key issues. This was a chance to get to know the people behind the personalities. It was a chance to see ideologically where we all stand and how we can work together for a common goal.

I also got to see the movie, no, award winning documentary Runaway Slaves by Rev. C.L. Bryant seated at the table with Rev. and Mrs. Bryant. Also seated at the table were Tom and Deneen Borelli and Star Parker. It was also Star Parkers’ first time seeing the movie. It was an experience I will remember. For those of you that have not seen Runaway Slave I strongly recommend it. It will give you a clear perspective on both sides of the Black political issue and why people are where they are on both sides of the issue.

All the pieces of the conference fit together to form the perfect circle. Runaway Slave gave you the perspective. Pastor Shannon Wright’s book White Folks Guide to Understanding the Black Community and get out the vote gives insight to solutions, Urban C.U.R.E and Frederick Douglas Foundation give you the policy perspectives, Freedom Works gives you policy and tools, K.Carl Smiths’ Frederick Douglas Republicans and Anita MonCrief give you the boots on the ground training, The Last Civil Right and News Ninja 2012 bring the word to the people. All working together for a common goal that is the new majority as I see it. 

The message is so important that the ladies of The Last Civil Right or working with the organizers of the @ Large Conference to replicate the conference on a smaller scale across the country late this Summer and through the Fall. We will be in Illinois, New Jersey, Tennessee, Maryland, Missouri, and Arizona. Help us stand together. Please make a donation using the link below. Your support makes it possible to turn our country around!    https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/6WN84 

There is no faith for abortion, Pro-Life Without Exception

It is time to take a stand! I have long been troubled by people that try to lead those of us who profess faith down the road to hell. Is that clear enough? There is no God in abortion. It is murder plain and simple. I am a Christian first, then American. I understand although it is not for me, abortion is currently legal. I also understand it is not for me to judge those that seek that option, it is however my job as a Christian Pro-Life Pastor to counsel against abortion.

According to the Bible there should be no Christian support of abortion. It is murder. For thst reason I released the following statement today. http://members.webs.com/MembersB/editAppPage.jsp?app=blog&pageID=296110371&token=null#

The statement calls for the removal of “Faith” from the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships who’s stated agenda is “resources” for unplanned pregnancies and agenda of programs “for marginalized groups such as the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender community”.

The multiple murder trial of abortion doctor, Dr. Kermit Gosnell brings home the point that abortion is murder. The lack of media coverage for his trial also brings home the point that abortion is big money and big money is often protected. Abortion is less about a woman’s right to choose as it is about being a big money industry protected by the government. Dr. Gosnell is charged with seven counts of first-degree murder.

One former employee of Dr. Gosnell described hearing a baby screaming after it was delivered during an abortion procedure. “I can’t describe it. It sounded like a little alien,” she testified. Said the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Prosecutors have cited the dozens of jars of severed baby feet as an example of Gosnell’s idiosyncratic and illegal practice of providing abortions for cash to poor women pregnant longer than the 24-week cutoff for legal abortions in Pennsylvania.”

Clergy can no longer go along to get along. Stick to your principles, stick to your values and stand up for your communities!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermit_Gosnell