Dear Messrs. Hermann and Shannon:
 
I regret that you take exception to the opinions expressed by Belair-Edison community leaders and residents in the Baltimore Sun's Crime Beat blog regarding the quality of life issues that have arisen in the community after the involuntary relocation of East Baltimore families.
 
Please note that I am very concerned about the tone of today's blog, "The other side of the Belair-Edison struggle," and I take personal exception to the accuracy of the data presented by Jack Shannon. To partially quote former first lady Hillary Clinton, "There's no way, no how".... EBDI relocated 35 families into the Belair-Edison community.
 
In December 2006 and early 2007, an EBDI board member extended invitations to me to attend EBDI's Relocation and Housing Committee Meeting, chaired by Doug Nelson. It was at this meeting that the then director of community services reported 1,100 persons were successfully relocated, with 40% moving into Belair-Edison. On another occasion, the same figure was quoted to me over lunch at the Center Club. Forty percent of 1,100 is a far cry from 35, unless 35 families are comprised of 440 people.
 
It appears both EBDI and the Baltimore Sun are running the risk of portraying the community's "fight to reclaim itself" as a battle among the people. It must be noted that this is absolutely not the case, as many families from Belair-Edison and East Baltimore are related and subsequently bear no biases against one another.
 
We understand how hardworking and fine our families in Belair-Edison and East Baltimore are. Some of us even understand how it feels to be sold out and later kicked out. The Belair-Edison community has graciously welcomed its family members into the community.
 
The community's charge isn't unlike that of any family faced with the question of "How do we make things better for everyone?" No one can deny that the problems that plagued the former east baltimore community now plague Belair-Edison. The "harshest" crimes the Belair-Edison had to contend with were 'car thefts'. For the past 2 years, homicides have occured all too frequently.
 
"The State of Belair-Edison: Voices of the Community" report highlighted these very same concerns in 2006. Now, in 2008, we find the problem has substantially escalated.
 
The blog also claims to focus on "a small segment of the Belair-Edison community known as the 4 x 4." It is also critical to note that these problems exist across the community at large. Simply visit the Sun's blog, or refer to the Sun's "Reason to Worry" article, or the Afro's "Belair-Edison: A Living Hell" article. The body found near the school two nights ago wasn't found in the 4 x 4. The October 1st homicide occured on our main street.
 
The Belair-Edison community must be certain to focus on the facts and root causes of our community's problems. The massive influx of involuntary residents represents one significant piece. After we've acknowledged the root causes and begin to be honest about the data, we can collaborate on solutions.
 
I applaud EBDI for providing relocation assistance to its families, including job training, employment assistance, etc. I simply wish that EBDI would have worked closer with community organizations and provided resources in the receiving communities to ensure a smoother transition.
 
Again, we implore Baltimore City, Johns Hopkins and EBDI's honesty, services, resources and assistance.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ede Taylor, Founder and Executive Director
Belair-Edison Healthy Community Coalition