Faith in Action

This afternoon (Thursday, April 10, 2008) I will be joining many others at the Baltimore City Liquor Board Hearing about the four establishments that we have been targeting on a weekly basis for the past 5 months.

As you’ll remember, our work has been focused on the 5100 block of Park Heights Avenue where there are 4 [FOUR] liqour establishments in that 1 block!

Our citizen’s alliance led by Mr. Derrick Compton, Sr., is extremely diverse and focused. We have PhD’s and “No D’s” joining together to deal with this public safety issue that research has proven adversely impacts a community’s quality of life.

The Korean Merchants Association understands what is at stake. Our coalition met with them two weeks ago to hear them out. Our sources also tipped us to the fact that they have paid some residents $40 to come down to City Hall today to testify in favor of the liquor stores. These sly business owners have also been going around to the local churches with $100 dollar “offerings” for the pastors in the community.

Will pastors turn their backs on the community for a $100 dollar bill??

We’ll see. But we’re thankful for Rev. Ted Sutton (Maryland Church of God in Christ), Pastor Kevin Rogers (New Fellowship Church), Pastor Hattie Bailey (Full Gospel Fellowship Church of Deliverance) and Bishop Kevia Elliot (The Lord’s Church) for their letters of support and in the case of Rev. Sutton - we appreciate how this true man of God has walked the streets with us - something that he does anyway given his passion for “street ministry.”

While other groups have employed more aggressive tactics to rid their community of these parasitic establishments, our nonviolent direct action has attracted the support of other residents and even the Baltimore City Council President, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake who has called for a hearing on liquor stores in the city. That hearing is scheduled to be held on April 23, 2008.

But first things first. Today at 1PM, we’ll stand before the Liquor Board and challenge them to take a bold stance and revoke the licenses of these establishments many of which have violated time and time again.

For more information about the Baltimore City Liquor Board and your rights as a citizen to remove these establishments from your neighborhood please click here and PUT YOUR FAITH IN ACTION!