Commentary

If you want an alderperson who knows Ward 8 issues and needs, including traffic, speeding, parking, potholes, sidewalk repairs, the conflicting needs of residents and businesses, the burden of taxes and fees, and water access, and who will continue to represent your interests in these areas to the administration and on the City Council; then you want to reelect me. If you want an alderperson who holds regular town hall meetings for ALL of Ward 8 to hear from you and to inform you about important matters, who sends out biweekly emails with the City Council meeting agenda that state how and why I will vote at those meetings, and who has demonstrated experience, leadership, and dedication to get the job done and done well; then you want to reelect me.

The Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition heartily joins the celebrations across the Baltimore region in appreciation of Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen. Language that might open the door to funds for the completion of the Red Line light rail project was introduced into federal legislation by the senators. In addition to funding, requirements to complete the Red Line include regional political will, governmental sponsors and the formal re-evaluation of the Red Line Final Environmental Impact Study.

As schools return to in-person instruction this fall during the ongoing pandemic, education is in crisis. I do not mean a crisis in learning outcomes — as in failed courses, low test scores, low completion rates. I mean education is in existential crisis. Why have schools if the graduates choose not to use their educations? There is no point to education if, in the end, facts, logic, critical thinking and reasoned debate are rejected in favor of conspiracy theories and willful ignorance.

The history of organized labor in the United States is one of struggle against seemingly hopeless odds, with victories often decades in the making. It’s a history in which Baltimore plays a proud part. In fact, the city can lay some claim as the birthplace of the national organized labor movement, more than 150 years ago. We recount the tale each year, our own Labor Day tradition, in honor of the many essential workers who gave the rest of us some measure of comfort amid the pandemic, by simply going to work.

“A republic, if you can keep it …” And we are trying, Mr. Franklin, we are trying. Our organizations and the rest of the members of For the People – Maryland, representing more than 100,000 citizens across the state, are working tirelessly to prohibit gerrymandering, stop voter suppression and make it more difficult for billionaires to buy our elections.

Every so often in Maryland, we hear distressing news of a major explosion in a residential neighborhood. These explosions, caused by unsafe gas lines, have become all too common, even as they take lives, destroy homes and disrupt communities. Last August, a gas explosion took a life and damaged three homes off Reisterstown Road in Northwest Baltimore. Four years before that, a gas explosion in a Silver Spring apartment complex killed seven people.