How The Block can survive: With dedicated policing and a special tax district to pay for it

The latest public uproar regarding The Block, downtown Baltimore’s long-standing yet always controversial adult entertainment district, was triggered by Senate President Bill Ferguson’s introduction last month of state legislation setting a 10 p.m. curfew for the area. Club owners immediately observed that such a policy would likely put them out of business — given their customer base skews heavily to the late-night crowd — and so, they’ve understandably objected. Yet mixed in with the anger and uncertainty has been a curious mix of politics and conspiracy theories, including claims that it’s all part of a master plan to seize real estate.