Commentary

Perhaps it’s because higher education has been so much in the news lately, but Mayor Brandon Scott’s newly unveiled plan to combat vacant housing has the feel of a hastily written undergraduate term paper. It’s overly complicated, insanely ambitious and depends on funding that simply isn’t there. The cynical among us might assume the incumbent is more focused on the Democratic primary five months from now than on offering a realistic proposal to redevelop Baltimore’s scourge of abandoned properties.

In the history of any city, there are a few pivotal moments that will define the urban landscape for generations to come, for better or for worse. Opened 43 years ago as a symbol of Baltimore’s revitalization, few projects have had more significance in Baltimore’s modern history than Harborplace. Its impending rebirth has been awaited anxiously by all who care about our city. The new renderings of Harborplace have prompted the full spectrum of reactions, from ubiquitous political cheerleading to pointed design critiques from UDAAP (the Urban Design & Architecture Advisory Panel) and members of the architectural community.

For so many of us in Baltimore and Maryland, our history is a reminder of what our faith calls us to do: serve. As former pastor of Union Baptist Church and now through my work with the Beloved Community Services Organization in Baltimore, I’m committed to continue the work of those who came before me by advancing the mission of the Civil Rights Movement while serving underserved communities.

You are invited to join Chase Brexton Health Care’s 2024 signature event of the year A Gala for the New Roaring ‘20s on Saturday, March 30, at the Baltimore Museum of Art. It’s a night for gathering, socializing, bubbly & cheer, laughter & merriment. Put on the ritz and join us in your most dolled up and dapper flapper-inspired, black-tie ensemble for an evening of culinary delights, live music, dancing, and razzmatazz in support of the health of all in our communities.

Harvard economists Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren released in 2018 their groundbreaking research on the role that geography plays in shaping a child’s chances of future success. They collected a list of the 100 largest counties in America, and Baltimore ranked last in the nation for the social mobility of poor children.

The Founding Fathers asserted that elected officials should listen to and be influenced by the views of the electorate. As James Madison said, “it is the reason, alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government.” However, the means for government officials to hear from the people are limited. Elected officials receive emails, letters, phone calls and input at town halls, and some agencies occasionally ask for public comments on complex regulations.

In the late summer and fall of 2021, Maryland Stadium Authority leadership and I had meetings with Gov. Larry Hogan (R), House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County), Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), then-House Appropriations Chair Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City), and Senate Budget Chair Guy Guzzone (D-Howard) to try and advance the concept we had developed for an evergreen stadium funding bill.

I was in downtown Bethesda the other day for the first time in a while and noticed a bunch of building construction on Old Georgetown Road just west of Wisconsin Avenue. It was then that it struck me that all evidence of the old La Madeleine restaurant is now gone. The place has been closed for a few years already, but it still felt like a gut punch.