Commentary

If you climb out on a ledge, there is always a chance that you will fall. What the heck. I am going out there anyway. Joe Biden gave the State of the Union Address on March 7, 2024. But he did much more than that— he secured a second term. I can hear you loud and clear: “Come on now. There’s a long way to go.” You are correct, but campaigns always have seminal moments. Last Thursday night was one of those moments. Admittedly, the bar was low. The President needed to show that he could still walk and chew gum at the same time. He needed to show that he could focus for more than an hour without nodding off. And he needed to demonstrate that he could draw a clear contrast with Donald J. Trump, or as he will forever be known, “My Predecessor.” He did that and so much more.

More than a century ago, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis articulated a maxim that has guided journalists and open government advocates ever since — that “sunlight is the best disinfectant” in a healthy democracy. Again, this year, news organizations are honoring the wisdom of the late justice by celebrating Sunshine Week. The News Leaders Association, which directed the annual program from 2005 until this year, said this event “highlights the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy.”

Governor — I have met you once and came away very impressed. Like many, my immediate reaction was to conclude that I had just encountered a future American president. You would be Maryland’s first president. Virginia has produced eight. I would be delighted to see a Marylander in the White House. It would add to our state’s already lengthy list of accomplishments. You have the resume, the charisma, an incredible memory for names, and an intellect that will not only allow you to run successfully for the presidency, but to be a great president.

On Monday, members of the Maryland General Assembly will reach a major milestone of their annual 90-day session, known as “Crossover Day.” Bills that haven’t been favorably voted out of their originating chamber and crossed into the next by this date are less likely to get there, much less to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk. It is an opportune moment to assess the Maryland General Assembly’s collective performance in Annapolis.

Mulch time has commenced in the Baltimore area. You can see it, you can smell it. It’s a sure sign of the approach of spring. On Loch Raven Boulevard the other day, a platoon of workers with shovels and rakes pulled fresh, dark mulch from large trucks. The men worked fast, spreading it around trees along the median and both sides of Loch Raven between Taylor Avenue and Glen Keith Boulevard.

As the old saying goes, 90% of success in life comes from just showing up. For proof, look no farther than the devastating effect of absenteeism in kindergarten and the early grades on a child’s chance to succeed in school. In fact, chronic absenteeism in all grades — usually defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason — is all over the news these days. Students of all ages are missing school at record rates, including in Maryland, where 31% of all students were chronically absent in 2023.