Task force: tax breaks appear ‘developer-driven,’ city should make major changes

“OH MY GAWD! It’s the blind leading the blind! I can’t decide which group is a bigger problem for the City – the BDC or the people on that task force. Embry and Frank in particular have long been part of the problem. Can you imagine the egos on that task force?”
– Stunned

“Since the city’s property taxes are so outrageously high compared with the surrounding area, Baltimore would never have any development if developers did not have incentives.”
-Baltimoreplaces

“I wish the developers would get together and take some of that money they’ve saved in property taxes and put it toward school construction.  Consider it a Christmas present to the children of Baltimore, as well as a reputation saver!”
– Emily Rose Proctor

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Peronalities, politics and profit behind tax break debate

“Great primer on the forces behind redevelopment and campaign finance in Baltimore. PILOTs TIFs etc.”
– davetroy (Via Twitter)

“Peter Angelos and Carl Stokes are our only defenses against TIF/PILOT tyranny? God help us all.”
– dennisthecynic (Via Twitter)

“Great article that should have been written by the Sun years ago.  I don’t know squat about the inner politics of the City, but I do know two things.   Baltimore must move forward with new developments or it will stagnate.  Look at Harbor East and the new Baltimore Hilton; both developments are great for our city.  Who the hell says they want to go downtown to Charles Center?  Second, Peter Angelos is a money-grubbing old man who needs to retire and play more with his grandkids.”
– Tom Brown

“Carl Stokes? A political old-timer who re-acquired a new taste for the game, and found both an angle and a political backer to continue his ambitions. Lets not forget how he basically screwed Odette Ramos and his own former chief-of-staff out of a shot to change the dynamic of city council thanks in part to Angelos’ financial help.”
– GMan

Mayor announces bike-share program for Baltimore

“As a Hollins Market resident I would be thrilled to have one of these kiosks around. We are a one-car family and rely on bikes for vast majority of our day to day transport. Would love to have access to these bikes for outings with out-of-town family, or to use when our bikes are being repaired.”
– JH

“Baltimore bikeshare plan. 300 bikes, spread way too thin, cover way too much square mileage.”
– Dukiebiddle (tweet)

“Kudos to @MayorSRB et al on approving a Bike Sharing plan for Baltimore. Here’s something we can get excited about.”
– davetroy (tweet)

“It is excellent to see bikesharing on the move again, but it might have been better to seek compatibility with the highly successful Capital Bikeshare system already serving the South end of the MARC Camden and Penn Lines.   Bikeshare as  a first *and* last mile solution is definitely worth facilitating.”
– codeline telemetry

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Machine problems hamper 13th District write-in voting

“Sketchy, sketchy”
– Marciej

“This is all highly suspect. The city is a joke.”
– glsever

“Saw the Branch campaign literature ‘accidentially’ left on the Judge’s table at the polling site in Brehms Lane Elementary. I promptly tucked it under the crossword puzzle book belonging to the Judge, and she did not have a comment. One would hope that an elected official would have more informed tactics than this.”
– 13th hopeful

“I assume that the election will be close so whoever is not announced the winner will have ample grounds for a legal challenge. If it is clear that a simple recount won’t work (since it is known that people weren’t counted), do they call another election? And if so, is Sneed’s name then on the ballot? I would love some (well informed) insight.”
– jwink3101

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Branch defeats Sneed, incumbents coast to victory

“Do not give up – keep up your good work trying to make our streets safer and cleaner!The only big winners in McElderry Park are the rats and roaches – 4 more years of dirty streets and trash-strewn & impassable  alleys?I only hope that your campaign made Warren and his staff aware of the trash and vermin in our alleys and that he will order the clean-up crews to do their job.   The folks in Canton and Federal Hill have their alleys and streets swept – why are the folks in McElderry Park second class citizens?”
– Walter

“How much would it save if Baltimore City held non-partisan elections with no primary?”
– Frank
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Inside City Hall: Board approves $5.6 million for consultants

“Two words: the Wire.”
– A very concerned citizen

“And the winner is……consultants! ~ I think that’s what I’m gonna be when I grow up ;)”
– Mair
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Gordon Ramsay gives Denise Whiting a Nightmare

“If this reinvention of the restaurant doesn’t work, it’ll be renamed Cafe Done!!”
– Ed

“What a arrogant see you next Tueasday! This is just another attempt at publicity.  I may go back just to see the change but will never be a regular. The damage is done and alot of people are not going to let her off the hook-me included!”
– Devils Advocate

“The reason I haven’t been to Cafe Hon in years is simple: the food blows. I would much prefer to see a new chef and an improved menu over ending the Hon trademark.
Now let’s see if Edward Dopkin tries to claim the trademark once Whiting relinquishes it!”
– Barnadine the Pirate

“Everyone needs to cash in on the success of the word ‘hon,’” Ramsay continued. “It’s not something to be exploited in a way that becomes greed.”
Same thing all of us thought who protested back when this whole thing started. Took a professional bloowhard to get that message across it seems.”

– Daniel E

“Let’s face it – the City of Baltimore is now one big Reality TV Show, including the drama of the Grand Prix, Occupy, Harborplace Chessie Monster and other numerous upcoming episodes.”
– Gerald Neily

“I am a BIG fan of Gordon’s, but feel he did a terrible injustice to the place by the crab-cake makeover.  A B’more Crab Cake should NOT, repeat NOT, be a squarish patty of deep fried cracker crumbs filled with loose crab and mayo.”

– Momma Myers

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Our ‘get out and vote’ post about the election, which didn’t elicit any comment, though the illustration did

“She should sell the Clay Davis one. I would pay for a copy! I love it!
– Medfielder