Mayor Dixon as a role model
About two weeks ago, after the indictments of Mayor Shelia Dixon, a city councilwoman and a developer, I wrote a column about how children looking for role models aren't likely to find them at City Hall.
I was referring to comments the police commissioner had made before the indictments came out about "trying to engage people's morality about violence in this city" and I wondered if that was possible with elected officials facing criminal corruption charges.
To get some perspective, I visited a group of high school students I had met at an earlier forum on youth violence. Some defended the mayor and others said they didn't expect much out of City Hall anyway. Most said it didn't matter because it was on them to make a difference.
I just got a letter by email from Samuel Burris, the chair of the Baltimore City Youth Commission.
He took exception to my article, noting that Dixon created his group when she was City Council president and that she remains a "strong and influential leader and an important role model for the young population of Baltimore."
I've gotten many letters expressing the same sentiment. Some people thought I was taking shots at all city workers and volunteers. I was not. I was simply wondering whether the charges disappoint all the hard-working people in the city. Are they motivated to continue their tireless, thankless work when prosecutors are questioning their leader's honesty and integrity?
Here is Mr. Burris' letter:
Dear Editor:
First and foremost, we would like to compliment the excellent journalism Mr. Peter Hermann provides as a writer for the Baltimore Sun. His blog, “Baltimore Crime Beat” engages your readers and keeps us well-informed about issues affecting our City’s communities. However, we strongly disagree with his article on January 15, 2009 titled “Teens can’t look to City Hall for role models”. The Baltimore City Youth Commission does and will continue to view Mayor Sheila Dixon as one of our primary role models.
The Baltimore City Youth Commission selflessly dedicates time to serve the youth of our city. We understand the struggles of the teens in our communities simply because the Youth Commission is comprised of young people. We are able to relate and recognize what drives our peers to make poor decisions, and we help create solutions to address these problems accordingly.
The Baltimore City Youth Commission was created in December 2005. In 2003, Mayor Sheila Dixon, then City Council President, sponsored a bill along with members of the City Council to form the Youth Commission. The purpose of this bill was to allow youth the opportunity to provide advice, recommendations and information to the Mayor, the City Council and municipal agencies on subjects such as community involvement, government practices and policies, and programs and services that support children, youth and their families.
In November 2004, then Mayor Martin O’Malley signed the bill thus forming what is now the Youth Commission. The Youth Commission consists of 17 voting members and 14 non-voting members between the ages of 16-25. The 17 voting members include one young person from each of the 14 council districts and 3 at-large seats. Some of the members of the Commission are high school and college students, teachers, city employees, police cadets, and ministers.
Mayor Dixon played a very significant role in the creation of the Youth Commission. Upon hearing the idea, she was a key supporter from the beginning and provided constructive criticism and advice to ensure the founders stayed focused and gave their best efforts. She continues to remind us that public service is not always easy, but it is our way of giving back to the City and to the people who have already given so much more to us.
Mayor Dixon is a strong and influential leader and an important role model for the young population of Baltimore. She has broken barriers by becoming the first elected African American female City Council President, and the first African American female Mayor in a city where the mass majority of the political powerhouses are men. She provides a different kind of leadership to Baltimore and works tirelessly to implement her initiatives.
Mayor Dixon’s twenty-plus years of leadership continue to make many of our citizens feel safe and secure as she continues to make Baltimore cleaner, greener, healthier, safer and smarter. We are currently in the process of completing youth savvy policies for our peers, which we will present to Mayor Dixon. We know she will provide supportive, yet honest, input so we can continue to serve efficiently.
Although she has endured many battles over the years, including the loss of her brother, she still manages to rise above her trials. Even now, she raises her children and is still able to keep the citizens of Baltimore a top priority. Her work ethic is indeed admirable and her willingness to continue through her struggles is no doubt praise-worthy.
Again, we have and will always, consider Mayor Sheila Dixon an outstanding role model.
Regards,
Samuel Burris
Chair
Baltimore City Youth Commission
