Commentary

During the 2021 General Assembly session, the first comprehensive legalization bill, House Bill 32 — The Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, Inclusion, Restoration and Rehabilitation Act of 2021 — was introduced and championed by Del. Jazz Lewis. His legislation focused on racial and social justice, ended cannabis prohibition in Maryland, and replaced it with a system to tax and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older. In the last session, the legislature punted the issue to a referendum on this November’s ballot, which by all accounts appears to enjoy the support of 60%+ of voters.

Often in Annapolis, after a shooting and other unfortunate episode of juvenile crime, parents and the public ask, “What is the city doing to stem the tide of violence?” It is a reasonable question, and one that we at the Annapolis Recreation and Parks Department are prepared to answer. Under a unique cross-departmental collaboration known as Annapolis United, city agencies are coming together to provide meaningful diversions for young people. Under the initiative, youth recreation programs are developed and provided by Annapolis Recreation and Parks.

As of Sept. 14, the Baltimore Police Department had confiscated 323 “ghost guns” so far this year. These are firearms assembled from parts that are potentially untraceable; they have become the preferred weapon for those seeking to avoid federal and state gun regulations. Last year, the city had confiscated 231 such weapons by Sept. 14, which means there’s been a 33% increase. And that’s just over the last year: In 2020, the city confiscated 126 ghost guns and in 2019, just 29. Recognizing this rising threat, the Maryland General Assembly earlier this year passed a law banning anyone from buying a gun or even its major component, an “unfinished frame or receiver,” unless it included a serial number or similar personal identification code.

One Monday night, my freshly showered, rambunctious almost-3-year-old did not want to put on his pajamas and threw them off his changing table. As I leaned over to grab them, he threw himself off the table next. Four hours later, we were back from the emergency room, with three new stickers, two X-rays, one red Popsicle and a newly splinted broken leg. When we met the pediatric orthopedic surgeon a few days later, I had two questions for him: First, how long would my son need to wear a cast? And second, what advice did he have for bathing him? One month, he said, and the cast was waterproof. I was pleased. “Wow,” I said. “The miracles of modern medicine, huh?”

The business side of sports can be a rich source of instruction on what to do and not to do in negotiation. Contract terms for athletes, trades between teams, labor negotiations, broadcast licensing, etc., are in the news regularly. Dig into the details of a particular deal and you might find some interesting lessons that can inform your own negotiations. Consider Franco Harris, the famous running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. For those of us old enough to remember, Harris was very close to breaking the all-time pro football rushing record when his contract was up for renewal.