Commentary

It remains to be seen if any candidate for governor has a big-brain plan for the future of Maryland — and particularly the Baltimore region — as potentially transformative as Mike Rosenbaum’s. The state’s operating budget is well north of $50 billion now, and Rosenbaum wants us to redirect a few billion over eight years toward raising the incomes of thousands of Marylanders, while building a workforce to serve four key economic sectors. Men and women stuck with low wages need to be making at least $60,000 a year to live a decent life in Maryland, Rosenbaum argues, and there is a way to get them there with bold, upfront public investment.

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.

Women’s perception of unethical behavior among finance professionals may contribute to how underrepresented they are in the industry, according to a recently published article I co-authored with colleagues at Zhejiang University and Creighton University. We administered surveys to nearly 3,000 college students in the U.S. and China, describing 10 scenarios in which a character makes an ethically questionable decision. Students were asked to rate how ethical the action was and what percentage of investment managers they believe would act in the same way.

Throughout these past two years, it’s been even more clear how vital healthcare is to our residents. Amid the pandemic, many people knew that if they got sick or injured, they might not be able to afford the care they need. Healthcare and being healthy extend beyond the threat of COVID-19 – I want everybody in Howard County and across Maryland to have access to affordable and quality healthcare. That’s why I was pleased that the state recently extended the deadline to sign up for health insurance on the state’s online exchange until Feb. 28.

Few things are more confusing to the American public than health care. Navigating insurance, high costs, ever-changing rules and regulations — the list of concerns for the average patient are legitimate and daunting. So, it is no surprise to see Maryland lawmakers committed to increasing transparency within our health care system, especially in the face of a global health crisis. However, the same complexities that can confuse and frustrate our patients can sometimes lead to misguided legislative proposals.

Ever since the vaccines for COVID-19 became available, the public health data has been very clear. Vaccines prevent serious disease and death, while the unvaccinated suffer more serious disease, higher rates of hospitalization and higher mortality. Nearly a year has passed since vaccines have been available and nearly 64% of the population has been fully vaccinated. From those who’ve chosen to remain unvaccinated — not counting those who are too young to be eligible — you will hear a number of different reasons for their decision, including personal choice or concerns about the vaccines not being well tested.

I seldom use the expression “a special place in hell” because it has been suggested as the ultimate destination for too many people by now, from serial killers to women who voted for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. Invoked too often, it loses its punch. Still, it’s a tempting phrase to employ in certain situations — like the one I’ll be describing later in this column.