Commentary

For the second year in a row, Travel & Leisure has ranked Annapolis 15th on its annual list of the top 25 towns to visit for Christmas. The website, frankly, is late to the party. Annapolis has been a Christmas town for a long, long time. “If you want the city to have a Christmas tree, if you want to engender the spirit of ‘Peace on Earth: Goodwill to men,’ meet the mayor at half past 8 o’clock in the Council Chamber. Let a large number of people turn out.”

“Mr. President, you can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you.” Nellie Connolly, the first lady of Texas, turned around and spoke those words to President John F. Kennedy. He was sitting behind her in the open-top 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible, and he agreed: “No, you certainly can’t.” These were among his last words. Then as the car entered Dealey Plaza and passed the Texas Book Depository, three shots rang out. A bullet hit Kennedy, flung him back, then to the left, as he slumped into Jackie’s arms.

The Maryland Stadium Authority is an incredible organization doing great work for the citizens of Maryland. While most of its work is not fully understood by the public, its record of best-in-class management of the Camden Yards complex, capital projects management for Baltimore City and various counties across Maryland, and its recruitment of youth, amateur and professional sporting events statewide has been well appreciated by the Maryland legislature and by every governor from Harry Hughes to Larry Hogan.

At our Oct. 30 County Council Public Safety Committee briefing on juvenile justice and crime, I discussed a recent case in which a teenager allegedly stole vehicles on more than one occasion, was apprehended by County Police multiple times, and each time was released by the State’s Department of Juvenile Services back into the community. Too often when considering juveniles who are alleged to have committed a crime, we attempt to minimize the community impact of these incidents.

As a Morgan State University graduate with the spring class of 2023, I’ve asked myself whether the gun violence that occurred on or near campus in recent years ruined my student experience. I can’t truthfully say it did. I still successfully pursued my studies, made friends, made professional connections, found my place in the community and followed my passion in starting a journalism career.

On a nice fall day, the people of Frederick were going about their businesses as usual. All of a sudden, the news hit like a bolt from the blue: Hamas attacked Israel and killed 1,400 men women and children and took nearly 300 as hostages. It was alarming. The United States has been helping to stop aggression in Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Israel are democracies. Their leaders are voted in and out by their people, free to criticize their political leaders.