Commentary

As Baltimore’s regional leaders continue efforts to build better communities, we must extend our lens and seek out best practices wherever they might be. This month, more than 70 leaders in government, civic organizations, health care, philanthropy and more traveled to Minneapolis and St. Paul for a three-day immersion in the Twin Cities, a region that is rightly proud of its accomplishments.

As a palliative medicine specialist who often deals with patients nearing the end of life, I have been carefully trained in the art of delivering bad news. The conversations require a mix of compassion and firmness. They are always difficult and often heartbreaking, but they are necessary to prepare patients and to help them face the end. At least that’s what we’re taught in our training; however, I have since learned that not every patient is better off accepting death.

The influence of big money in politics has grown since the Supreme Court’s infamous Citizens United ruling. Thankfully Maryland allows for publicly financed elections at the county-level, which aims to level the playing field. But after two election cycles using the current system, it’s time for the General Assembly to make some important improvements.

Earlier this month, the Baltimore County Council approved the expenditure of $798,000 for a contract negotiated with Guidehouse Inc. by the administration of County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. Guidehouse will provide “strategic management consulting services” intended to accelerate the county’s lagging efforts to address the acute shortage of affordable housing.

Stuck in limbo amid the politics and the letters, comments, social media posts and statements issued this week are the people inside Buckingham Elementary School. This is a proud school. The pride can be seen in the community supporting it each day. For instance, a local church recently sent over a month’s span letters of support each week to teachers at Buckingham, which is a Title I school, meaning more than one-third of the student body is living in poverty. The students and teachers deserve a new building to learn and work within.

During the last 40 years Southern Maryland has come into its own, making a dramatic transformation from one of the poorest and least competitive regions of the state, into one of the most dynamic and prosperous — doubling in population and diversity with a strong economy and steadily expanding opportunity. Major projects have played a role in the transformation of the region. But as important as these developments have been, none has had a greater impact than bringing rapid transit to Southern Maryland will have on the region’s future quality of life.