Commentary

Despite the myriad challenges facing public education as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and widening inequality, in Maryland there is a sense that the future looks bright. That optimism is largely due to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a broad-based strategy to improve educational outcomes in the state. I, for one, am excited to witness the ascendance of public education in our state as my two young children become school-aged in the coming years.

Baltimore, a city nestled in the Northeast megalopolis [but not the DMV] and defined by its four-one-oh, four-four-three, and six-six-seven zip codes, holds a special place in the hearts of residents who have had or are having the privilege to come of age here. Though not always spangled, the city’s grit and charm, combined with its upscale crab shacks, row homes, and the wide expanse of the inner harbor, make it a beloved home.

Nearly 40 years ago, a series of lawsuits were filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights advocates against Eastern Shore towns and counties with a history of voter discrimination. All of the towns had deep segregationist roots, and all had failed to elect Black candidates to public office, despite having significant number of African American residents.

I knew him for no more than 15 minutes. Maybe 20, tops. He was a clerk at a Canton cellphone store where a friend was inquiring about changing carriers. I just waited in the corner for her, scrolling the internet on my iPhone, while my kid played with a tablet on display. All I knew about him was that he was friendly, efficient and had gloriously thick black hair swirled high in front, like a stylish modern bouffant.

Fort Detrick is a somewhat problematic neighbor for our community. It’s a huge boon to our economy, a job creator and a partner on civic endeavors, but at the same time, it’s a worrisome home to laboratories handling all kinds of scary materials. This reality was brought home again recently by the publication of a new book that lays out new details about a disturbing incident.

At the end of 2022, the Montgomery County Council approved the building of a median, dedicated lane for the Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route along US 29. This approval brought the promise of an authentic BRT system for county residents one step closer to reality, albeit progress is still slow for riders and for the demands of tackling the climate crisis.

I was at an old fire hall in Ferndale, at a meeting of an old Democratic club. U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin was coming to the well-established club to talk but was late. He spent the day on the road, chatting with elected officials in Annapolis, making appearances and meeting with constituents. Ferndale was the final stop on his itinerary. The clock was pushing 9 p.m. when Maryland’s junior senator rolled through the side door of the little red-and-white building. He looked tired.

“Women deserve better than abortion,” the man stated firmly, before sitting back down next to me in the crowded Maryland senate hearing. He was a member of one of the many “pro-life” groups that testified on March 8 in Annapolis against Senate Bill 798: Declaration of Rights – Right to Reproductive Freedom. I caught a glimpse of his phone background, which was a beautiful, smiling picture of a young girl, likely his daughter.