How the city almost gave money meant for Westport to a Living Classrooms project

“It is a fortunate thing for Westport that Linda Towe is standing guard over her community and saw that funds were about to slide away. Westport is badly in need of support and should not have their earmarked funds being allocated elsewhere.”
– KD

“Why didn’t Towe follow the fund that was created in 2009. . . three years ago? Surely the creation of the fund was public record. Why didn’t anyone question Pat Turner?”
– Jennifer Landing

“Only a select few knew about the funds actually being set aside until this past Monday when they were on their was to the “Power House” We did question members of the City Council, Pat Turner and others who were connected to the mammoth amount of funding that was giving to the project. Towe and Sherrill were paying attention and asking questions, but got no answers.”
– Kandy

“One last thought. Is Westport only important when it is the vision of a developer? That is the extremely clear message that has come from you and the ‘powers that be.’”
– Kandy

“Living Classrooms has done some pretty great work with kids and young adults in the city. . . Unlike the complete wastes of money elsewhere in the City (Grand Prix!), the Living Classrooms Foundation gives back to those that need it most. Shame on the city for mis-using the funds from Westport, but don’t blame Living Classrooms for the City’s failure.”
– Bmore Gal
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Some neighborhoods are politically exempt from drug treatment centers. official says

“Is something wrong with drug treatment, other than NIMBY stuck-up’s attitudes?”
– John Bosley, via Facebook

“There’s nothing stuck up about wanting to have less trash and crime in our community. Come live here – you’ll change your tune fast after your home is broken into by a junkie looking for items to turn into drug money, you’re greeted by vomit, urine and feces on the sidewalk in front of your home, you’re panhandled and harrassed while walking your kids to school.”
– Carol Ott

“Few people want such a center in their neighborhood. Show me that 45% of the users come from Roland Park, or Federal Hill, and I’ll support putting it in those neighborhoods, instead.”
– Barnadine the Pirate

“To clarify: Federal Hill is in one of the contiguous zipcodes used as their example, so by their argument it would be just as likely there. And ANY area should distrust an organization who does not work with the community – and then in a meeting PROMISES that they will.”
– Christina Bradley

“I’m wondering tho’ how many clients have come into Baltimore from the counties to buy drugs, been arrested, jailed and then referred to one of the facilities here. We know many here who hail from the counties, not southwest Baltimore. Shouldn’t the counties provide their own treatment facilities?”
– Anne Ames

“The decision to use foundation funds for this troubled transaction to dump the drug treatment center on the westside was decided without any community input in Abell’s exclusive glass walled penthouse aerie overlooking the inner harbor. . .the foundation president has no visceral connection or understanding of the consequences of these devastating blunders.”
– tom@senator.com

“I would have no problem whatever with such a center being across the street from my home. These are human beings with a very very common problem – one which touches almost every family.”
– Zenith 15

“Part of this industry is group housing, a legal (and sometimes illegal) swindle where our large homes are purchased and converted into poorly supervised rooming houses. The operators make obscene profits off the taxpayers’ backs while allowing the buildings to fall apart.”
– Frances Rahl
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Mayor proposes rec center closings and transfers in the 2013 budget 

“I can figure out what to do with my son during the summer, however I’d be s*** out of luck trying to figure out what to do if my home burned to the ground due to a lack of equipment or personnel. Here’s a suggestion for the Mayor – how about we stop handing out developer tax breaks, we stop with the grandiose plans for a convention center we can’t afford, and we stop hosting money-sucking events (cough. . . Grand Prix. . . cough) and fund the rec centers and the fire department?”
– Baltimore Slumlordwatch

“It seems Councilman Cole can’t find time in between promoting car races and big business to schedule a hearing. Fortunately the Citizen Planning and Housing Association will be hosting a “Briefing on Future of Baltimore’s Recreation Centers” on April 17, 2012 . . . I hope they get a BIG turnout!”
– Ktrueheart
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Superblock project gains traction while value of downtown parcel declines

“Wait!! Property values fell from 2007 to 2012?!? Color me surprised. Perhaps the city can go back to Mr. Angelos’ company and ask them to make up the difference.”
– Westside Resident

“Projects like this are supposed to create confidence for further development, but the plummeting property value indicates the market has no confidence. This project simply indicates the city’s increasing desperation.”
– Gerald Neily

“Not so ‘super’ any more.”
– Baltimoreplaces
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Feed your head! Resources from a food policy gathering in Baltimore

“The One Straw Farm CSA special early buy-in price expired 3/17. Still, at the current price its still a great deal, you can pick up at locations around the city, or at the Fells Point farmers market or the Waverly farmers market on Saturdays.”
– ianlogsdon

From “LOOK,” by Unellu:
“but man is a creature always enthralled,
by the pleasure of the moment–
when lectured he’s galled–
that the grass eaters among him
would presume to haul–
his traditional comforts
as taking a toll on the entire planet–
in movies–in malls–
when his meat eating ways
are questioned and slammed–

he’ll come out of the wood works most alarmed–
he’ll insist he has dominion over the Earth,
he’s top of the food chain–he sees no dearth
of foods he likes–on shelves, in bins
on trucks and trains,
on ships and planes,
he can get what he wants
from across the world”
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Inside City Hall: Opening round of the long budget season

“We have tax dollars to fund Hotels & Races but not to keep the kids off the streets or Firehouses open. . . Perhaps it is time to start cutting from the top were the elected officials who make considerably more than the average city employee can more easily afford the increase to benefit payments.”
– Zack in Bay View

“I truly must applaud Mayor Rawlings-Blake for taking positive steps to enhance the YouthWorks Program. . . Way to go SRB!”
– Ktrueheart
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City not selling its historic landmarks, mayor says

“Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone” Always meant to check out Public Works Museum.”
– Surfstuff55

“Let’s hope this process is transparent and fair, and includes opportunities for the public and the preservation community to speak out on these properties. These places are treasures that cannot be replaced.”
– JS
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Health crisis facing black community highlighted by Cheatham

“Community leaders need to be speaking loudly about the persistent cuts in Medicaid happening at the Federal and State level.”
– Cindy Walsh

“Empowering abled bodied people to take responsibility for their own lives is a message I’d like to hear more often and see in action. . .”
– Baltimoreplaces\
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Baltimore Schools: no “pink slime” on menu

“Thanks for finding out. The safest option it seems to be just go vegan or eat meat sparingly. All these diseases, contaminants, questionable processing, and health effects make me glad I gave up meat for Lent.”
– Daniel E.

“Petition“
– Dexter
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Safeway and Giant: we’re 86-ing the “pink slime”

“All well and good, but from what I’ve been hearing on NPR, consumers can’t tell if the product is free of the additive. Will, and how can, Safeway and Giant certify their meat is slime free?”
– Daniel E.