Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon’s House Raided by Investigators
Too tired right now, but my full take on this is forthcoming. Stay tuned.
Archive for the ‘baltimore politics’
Happy Birthday Del. Jill P. Carter!
According to the Baltimore City NAACP’s report card on the city delegation, Del. Jill P. Carter received a 95 out of 100 - the highest grade of all of her colleagues!
Without a doubt she is the principled freedom fighter that society usually celebrates only after they leave the scene.
However, I opt to give her her flowers while she can yet smell them so HAPPY BIRTHDAY Del. Carter and please continue to honor the legacy of your father and so many others who fought for positive social change for those on the margins of society.
Guest Commentary: We Can’t Let Our Young People Starve by Lynn Pinder
Call To Action: We Can’t Let Our Young People Starve
By Lynn Pinder
As I watched the news last night, I was moved by the actions of a group of young people from Baltimore who launched a hunger strike as a last effort to force the City of Baltimore to provide $3 million dollars in support of a youth initiative called Peer to Peer Enterprises that would employ older youth in Baltimore to tutor young children. These young warriors – the epitome of youth development - are dynamic, articulate, and engaged in a righteous fight for justice. Their actions and behavior are in direct contrast to another group of older youth who also made the news last night for their vicious attack against a young barbering student last week.
As I sat watching the two stories, the urgency in the demands of the young people participating in the hunger strike pulled my heart strings as did the response of our City leaders. I heard the following comments from our City leaders: “The money has been allocated. We don’t have $3 million dollars. We’re willing to work with the young people if they will compromise.” And I wondered why should our young people have to compromise? These young people are our leaders today. Why can’t we – the adults – figure out a way to invest in them?
Although the City of Baltimore may not have the funds to support another youth initiative, it has access to wealthy business partners who might contribute financial support if they were asked. Corporations, production companies, developers, and investors - like the Ritz-Carlton, Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, Inc., the Marriott, Constellation Energy, the producers of the WIRE, and HBO - could easily write-off the expense of another youth initiative in Baltimore without it ever having to be a burden on the City’s “rainy day” budget.
Youth fund boost denied
City Council panel rejects bid to use interest earned in ‘rainy day’ account
By John Fritze
Sun reporter
May 29, 2008
A Baltimore City Council committee rejected a proposal to use interest from the city’s $88 million “rainy day fund” for children’s programs during an unexpectedly passionate debate last night about the best way to ensure the city’s financial future.
In a blow to advocates who have lobbied City Hall for more money for youth programs, a majority of council members said the city should continue to build its rainy day fund in case of an emergency rather than direct the interest from the fund to youth programs.
Debate over the programs has become especially contentious because surplus funds used to finance them in the past have run dry. Mayor Sheila Dixon earmarked more than $14 million for the programs this year in the budget, and advocates are seeking an additional $4 million.
“To me, it’s a priority. It’s not fluff,” said City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, who has led the effort on the council to fund the programs and who voted in favor of using the rainy day money. “To me, it’s the first thing that should be funded every year.”
Aljazeera turns its lens on Baltimore
Pretty interesting piece on Baltimore from Aljazeera English. They do a pretty good job of presenting news from a different perspective and I’m heartened by their Code of Ethics.
Part 1 deals more with stories from Baltimore.
Part 2 talks about Obama, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and race in America for the first 5:40. Remainder of the vid goes back to Baltimore.
Should politically active churches lose nonprofit status?
Hat Tip: Baltimore Politics Examiner/Adam Meister
Separation of Church and State does not exist in Baltimore
By Adam Meister
Drive around Baltimore and you will notice that there are a lot of churches. Some are in large magnificent buildings while others are in run down storefronts or rowhouses. Most of them are tax exempt in one way or another. Many are considered 501(c)(3) organizations. 501(c)(3) organizations are not allowed to give political endorsements or aid to specific candidates. This law is ignored in Baltimore. Most of the so-called “serious candidates” for local office attend services every Sunday during campaign season. It is an unofficial rule of Baltimore campaigning to befriend as many local pastors (who usually live outside of Baltimore) as possible. They give you the support of their followers and you eventually reward them once you are in power.
I have no problem with churches collecting money to support prayer services and activities that pertain to goodwill, charity, and worship. I do have problems with churches that become huge tax exempt businesses that suck money away from parishioners. I have a problem with religion taking control of government and the elimination of the separation of church and state inside of Baltimore.
Do you find it troubling that supposedly neutral religious institutions yield so much power in a city so desperate for tax revenue?
Here are some interesting links about the power and powerful members of one particular church:
Three new members nominated to the Board by O’Malley
Faith-based Community in Baltimore wants a new role in real estate
Guest Commentary by Marvin “Doc” Cheatham (Pres of Baltimore NAACP)
Baltimore City Public School System
By Marvin “Doc” Cheatham, Sr.
Recent violent occurrences in our Baltimore City Public School system should finally be the wake-up call for all of us to get actively involved in the education of OUR children.
The Family and Community Engagement Policy of the Baltimore City Public School System, approved May 25, 2004, needs to be scraped. Some of the language can be retained, but this document is merely words and not a plan to really engage parents, residents, community organizations, faith based institutions and businesses.
The Baltimore City Public School System’s Office of Parent Involvement and School, Family, Community Connections is failing in its objective to promote ongoing community engagement activities in our schools. Outside agencies and individuals are not participating at truly beneficial and successful levels, in helping our schools achieve greater success. We must be careful in engaging some of these non-profits that are only involved to receive funding for their experimental project that show no real benefit for our children. Communities, contrary to the schools allegations, are not being encouraged at the level we must have them to become increasingly more involved and committed to the shred responsibility of improving our schools.
Liquor Board: “Booze is here to stay!”
The room was packed. On one side residents and supporters from Park Heights ready to tell why they didn’t want liquor stores in their community anymore. On the other side, many Korean merchants and a curious rowful of residents who were coming to defend their business.
The hearing started with a disappointment. We who had come to challenge Slaters Market (the grocery market that sells alcohol next to ketchup) were shocked when we learned during the hearing that the attorney from Community Law Center, Inc. (Michelle Pierce, Esq) had made a “gentleman’s agreement” with the attorney representing Slaters. The agreement was that they would take the liquor bottles off of the shelves that had condiments on them and in exchange there would be no protest of their license. What?!
I spoke at a Resource Day this past Tuesday
It was for male ex-offenders who were there to receive information that could potentially help their situation. Here’s part 1 of my sharing. You can check out the rest on my youtube page.
On that same day I conducted a Social Justice Bible Study session for the United Worker’s Association. They have an Organizer’s Training Program that they’ve just started with some of their low-wage workers. The day before I was in Annapolis meeting with members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland meeting about Governor Martin O’Malley’s absurd DNA bill and from Annapolis did 95 on 95 to get to the studio of WEAA 88.9FM to be a guest on Front Page hosted by my good brother, Craig Thompson. We were talking about Dr. Jeremiah Wright, the Black Church, and Black Liberation Theology.
Once I got home Tuesday night from this long 48 hours of giving and sharing I went straight to bed and slept for 12 hours. (I never do that)
I’m tired ya’ll. My body, mind, and spirit needs a break. I’ve been going full throttle for months now. Vacation please!?