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.