Commentary

You feel stark sadness in your bones, followed by a wave of anger, when you consider all that people tell us about Pava LaPere, and all that she said, and all that she did, all that she published on social media. “It’s been an incredible year at EcoMap,” she wrote just a month ago on LinkedIn, “from doubling our team to tripling the number of customers we serve, leading this company alongside Sherrod Davis has been both the biggest joy & wild journey.”

Parts of Annapolis are good for bicycling. Parts are not. You can ride downtown, or on a few trails through nice neighborhoods. Bay Ridge Road has wide, paved shoulders that make it a popular route out of Eastport. Hop on your Trek or Specialized and it’s an easy trip to Truxtun Park along Spa Road or Hilltop Lane. But try Forest Drive, or venture far out onto West Street, and it’s like taking your life in your Schwinn handlebars. Live in some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods on the southern reaches, and biking to work may be out of the question.

Whenever a new event or endeavor is undertaken, like one of Oceans Calling Festival’s magnitude, there are bound to be concerns and issues. It’s natural for people to be cautious and even skeptical about something new, especially when as public and influential as a concert festival with a major practical impact on the downtown area. However, having perspective and awareness can be instrumental in evaluating its success after the fact. In the meantime, it’s appropriate for excitement to surround this event.

It takes a brief encounter with me for you to realize that I am passionate about culture and anything that has to do with immigrants thriving in their host country. I am passionate about equity in all of its forms, especially equitable health care access for all. This stems from my experience and background. I came to this country as an immigrant from Nigeria and lived in Pennsylvania for a decade before calling Frederick County home.

That number is larger than the Gross Domestic Product of more than 33 countries. It is also the dollar amount needed for the Prince George’s County Public School (PGCPS) system to rebuild schools and make repairs to bring our facilities up to an acceptable level. And it is more than 30 times the annual budget that the Capital Improvement Program office gets to conduct these rebuilds and repairs.

The condolence calls and texts started coming in Tuesday night, steady and sad. “Just wanted to send a note letting you know I was thinking of you.” “I just heard.” “I just wanted to say I’m so sorry. I know what he meant to you.” The messages were about Brooks Robinson — Mr. Oriole himself — who died Tuesday at 86, taking an entire city’s heart with him. I only met him once, years ago, and corresponded with him briefly.

For longtime Baltimoreans, witnessing the once-proud and bustling Harborplace pavilions regress over their 43 years, from the focal point of downtown to its afterthought, has been a deeply painful experience. Where people once came from far and wide to shop, eat and stroll in what proved to be a masterstroke of urban redevelopment by developer James Rouse, now sits something akin to a boarded-up suburban mall, albeit with a still-spectacular view of the Inner Harbor.