I have never heard of Baltimore described as anything other than a)frightening or b) an over-sized ghetto.

What do you think a place full of public housing and half the workforce on gov. assistance will produce? Brain surgeons?

I hate to be the one to ask this, but... Is there truly zero issue of race here? I am asking because I don't know the racial composition of the large crowd that gathered there. I wish it didn't matter but, unfortunately, it can to some people.

I am assuming that the boat-owning, entitled-sounding guy from Kingsville is white. Census data says there's a 97% chance. Were his children really only afraid because of the way the other teenagers were expressing themselves?

Expressing themselves? Are you serious? When you forgive that these children are the future welfare recipients and criminals that make Baltimore uninhabitable for anyone other than drug dealers, theives, rapists, and murderers, you are really just letting them destroy the city. Good luck cleaning it up.

Does race matter? It shouldn't. Does it scare tourists when out-of-control teenagers mob an area, start fights, and stab people? YES. I drove down Pratt Street around 10:30pm that evening. It was a very intimidating scene just by the sheer number of teenagers who were running across the streets, screaming and acting rude. Unfortunately, I live in Mt. Vernon and see this sort of scene almost every weekend at the Belvedere. Why are teenagers seemingly running around the city without any supervision? And we're not talking 18 year olds... more like 14. It's getting to be too much.

When they don't mention the race, you can assume what the answer is. It's sad to think this is what Baltimore has become, and it's probably only going to get worse. What really gets me is that you can be stabbed, and the city levels "assault" charges on the assailant (I'm pretty sure the person doing the stabbing is trying to kill, since that is what knives are used for).

Were does 'incunabulum' get off calling the guy from Kingsville "entitled-sounding"? Please--is it too much to ask that a crowd behave civilly??? Per 'incunabulum", a pair of savage stabbings are "teenagers...expressing themselves." It's attitudes like yours, "incunabulum", excusing this violence, that have helped kill-off Baltimore City.
R.I.P., Inner Harbor.

@Realist: I get "entitled-sounding" from the "we ... spent quite a bit of money there" line. He expects others to conform to his standards because of the amount of money he lays out. I don't think that he is entitled. But he sounds like he believes he is. Ultimately, his objection will be known when he, as he suggested, will just stop going.

And he never witnessed any "savage stabbings". But the Barnes and Noble crowd agreed that the behavior they saw was appalling.

To be clear: Stabbings are indeed bad. I never meant to suggest murder or attempted murder is simply self-expression. I was focusing on this one man's story and the discomfort they felt as they had to make their way through the crowd. I was just reading the story and finding it unlikely that there wasn't a factor of race.

icunabulum - Only a twisted, bleeding-heart liberal could turn what happened down at the harbor around onto the victims themselves.
Viewpoints like yours are why this stuff happens in the first place and why it continues to happen.
As far as entitlement goes - Everyone in this country is "entitled" to civility. A vast majority of us pay a great deal of taxes to ensure just this. This Kingsville guy wasn't going into this group's neighborhoods telling them to conform to his views. He was in a common area - a tourist area.
As far as race goes - the only race issue is that all of the trouble-makers were of one race. It doesn't matter what race that was (even though it's always the same one) - any group of people acting the way this group was Saturday night, is frightening and horrendous. It doesn't matter if they were blue, green, red or purple.
Until we get these people off of the liberal food wagon, this kind of thing will continue worsen and spread to all corners.

Guys (and/or Gals):

There seems to be a lot of politicizing and tangential commentary here, without focus on the meat of the matter: the kids. These and everyone else's kids are our future, like it or not. The unruly behavior of some kids (regardless of color) that many of us (myself included) have seen over the past several years is getting more violent....as evidenced by this weekend's events. The question is what to do about it?

Incunabulum: Why does this have to be about race? Why can't it just be about unruly kids? More specifically, several unruly kids who marred the night with a flash of violence. I don't care what color you are, that's just plain wrong. Playing that card is going to turn a lot of people away, who may actually be willing to help.

Mr. Reason: Can I get a corned beef on rye from the liberal food wagon? Spicy mustard, please. Seriously, though, it's not about liberal this or welfare that. It's about good behavior and bad behavior, and what to do with bad behavior. Politicizing any of this just takes away from that point and doesn't add anything meaningful to the discussion.

Both of you have one thing in common: You both serve to distract everyone else from the real issue here: Responsibility for actions. Didn't think I'd throw the two of you in the same boat, did ya!

Parents, above anyone else, should be held responsible for their kids' actions. If they can't or won't deal with their kids, then there are plenty of others out there (on both sides of the law) who will, and they could care less if these kids wind up dead or in jail.

It's not about race, it's not about politics, it's about the kids. Period. If the two of you geniuses can't think of anything intelligent to do to solve the problem, then like I said before, plenty of other people will. And it ain't gonna be pretty for whatever race/religion/political affiliation you are.

BJK - Boy, aren't you full of yourself. Not condescending at all, are you? Do you have a mirror in every room of your house so you can love yourself all day long?
This is exactly about race and this is exactly about liberalism/socialism and politics. Are you that blind?
Liberals have trapped these people in a cycle of crime and poverty for generations. They are given just enough to barely scrape by. The liberals have stripped them of their personal responsibility. And what do the liberal politicians get in return - an almost 100% democrat voter turnout. They are enslaved in the liberal system for their votes. These poor people are shooting themselves in the foot and don't even know it. But they know no other way.
I agree with you that parenting is the underlying issue here. But there is much more to it than that (as stated above). Look at these kids' parents and the parents before them. They are all by-products of the same wonderful liberal experience - where they are basically paid to squeeze out child after child with no social responsibility. Welfare parents breed welfare kids. It's a cycle that needs to be stopped with good old fashioned, common sense and traditional values. I'm all for helping people but not giving them a free ride (we see what happens). We need a new approach. If you’re physically and mentally able to work - you should be working or going to school. We will help you with school expenses, daycare and etc. (but no free rides). If these children see their parents working and striving to better themselves than they have a much better chance of doing the same. Let's start moving things in a positive direction instead of just irresponsibly throwing our hard earned tax money at the problem.

My viewpoint is that there was likely an unstated racial factor in David from Kingsville's story. Just by reading it, I thought, "This dude is white and I am betting those kids were black." No one has piped up to correct my assumption, so I am going to go on believing that at least my facts were right. (Am I? Hello?) Whether or not David and his family are more intimidated by unruly black kids than unruly white kids... we may never know. It was just an impression I got from the email. Take it how you want. Some my find it funny. Some may find it offensive. Some may think it is part of a liberal cabal of demoralizing values that is threatening America.

Great idea Mr. Reason. Let's just take away any chance they have at success. We've already threw them into ghettos in the 40s and 50s, and then rebuilt subsidized housing in the same blighted areas, giving them no chance. We might as well take away any hope they have and let them starve out. You're ridiculous.

Seriously, we should do the "scary liberal" thing and fully fund drug treatment. I'm talking about enough funding that we have space available for offenders that routinely rotate in and out of the city detention center. Sentence them to treatment, get them better, and watch crime drop like an anvil out of an airplane.

blarg - Where did I make one statement saying that we should "let them starve out"? How do you get that out of anything that I said? Can you read? I said we should continue to help them but in a different way beacuse the old way isn't working (no free rides). It's just contributing to the problem.

I was born and raised in Baltimore City and I currently reside in downtown. First, folks have to stop making excuses for these teens. One of the teens that killed a young man and set his body on fire in December was not from the hood or ghetto and her, yes her parents gave her all of the opportunities that "good parents" afford their kids. She was attracted to "thuglife" by her choice as many of these kids. As a community we have to stop assuming that this is a low income thing or a "race" thing. You go to White Marsh, Columbia, Owings Mills, Arundel Mills on the weekend and it's the same thing rowdy ass kids all races. I hate to say it, but it has a lot to do with what they see in the media on videos and music. It is the responsiblity of the adults, all adults to stop being afraid and take some action. I was in Gamestop the other day and a young girl was with her friends and they were on the cell phone cussing and laughing and I had my 2 year old with me. I interrupted her and told her to watch her mouth. She looked at me like I had ten heads. I told her her conversation was unladylike and she needed to tone it down and change her language I told her that people cuss because they are too stupid to use better words. She looked at me shocked, but she respected my words and she stopped. I didn't get any attitude, no back talk nothing. She looked at me funny, but she was too scared to say anything else. These kids want discipline, rules and boundries we have to just stop making excuses for their behavior and even more we have to stop tolerating it. If you can't do it at home you cant' do it here either has to be the motto.

Its unfortunate that I can sympathize with David from Kingsville. I'm a 33 year old African American male and I was born and raised in Baltimore City. I was in town nearly four summers ago ago visiting family and we decided to revive an old family tradition, heading downtown to the USF&G Building to watch the July 4 fireworks. But instead of being able to enjoy the show all I go to see were out of control kids, cops on crowd control and more fights (fist fights & knife fights) in one place than I've ever seen before. On the way home, a kid actually kicked the door off one of the subway trains. I know how David feels- I feel like I can take care of myself if the need arose, but I have no desire to go back for another July 4 fireworks show - It's just not safe. And there's no way I'd feel okay about my mom or my sisters going down there at night without a chaperone. From Children. How pathetic is that?

And as much as I would like this to not be about race, it must be said that it was nearly (if not exclusively) all African-American kids. We have got to do better people...

This past weekend there were two major incidences of urban youth violence in the Inner Harbor. Youth violence is nothing new in the city but appears to be getting worse and more brazen. I have seen my share of youth violence, theft, destruction and incivility. My attitudes early on were similar to those I viewed on the comment sections and blogs regarding the Inner Harbor stabbings. These views often included perceived issues with race, bad parenting, and politics etc. Essentially I took the victim view point and looked to blame.

The first time I saw hate in the eyes of a 7 year old will always stick with me. Since then I have been trying to understand how this happens. What I have come to understand is that these “urban youths” are symbolic of the worst in our society and us. The youths who did the stabbing this weekend were practicing for the only life they have come to know and expect. It is the legacy of the second half of the 20th century that continues today.

The middle-class flight from the cities in the later parts of the 20th century was subsidized and supported by the government: Federally backed mortgage loans that encouraged White buyers to move to new housing in the ‘burbs, freeway and infrastructure development for the ‘burbs, and high density public housing projects for the city. If you look back to Baltimore’s master plan from the 50’s the inner harbor is cut off by freeways encouraging people to drive through come into work but to get the heck out as fast as they could. Simply cities were left to rot including all of the people that lived in them; file away the poor. This planning and focus on the automobile and growing the suburbs created vast areas of hopelessness in the city, fundamentally changing America giving rise to whole new types of segregation and societal woes.

Many urban youth of today are products of generations of neglect and decay that have formed new social structures, economies, behaviors and values. We may not like what we see but we all created it.

There is an old saying that makes a lot of sense, “don’t judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes.” These kids too are victims, victims of the worst parts in all of us. They grow up seeing the worst parts of society that it subsidized but rarely discussed in an open honest manner. They are exploited by those who say they care about them the most and only see trash, destruction, crime, broken families and communities, on and on. In many of these communities the only way to feel like a part of something is by joining a gang. The best examples of people who “made it” are involved with crime, while others deal with the overwhelming pain and despair with drugs.

While this may sound like the writing of someone who is Liberal, you couldn’t be more wrong. In my opinion poor planning and subsidizes help get us here, “the road to hell was paved with good intentions.” Ultimately I want America to succeed, but feel that in order to do so we need take an honest look at ourselves, and have a long overdue conversation. Everyone in this Country should feel like they have opportunity, not just given enough to get by with a hustle on the side.

Unfortunately, we are going in the wrong direction. Everyday I see less incentives for businesses the middle-class to relocate and come back to the city, which would improve social and environmental conditions.

Well spoken Alan. Thanks.

I'd love to see more outrage from the African American community on issues like this. It's sad to say but when a white person expresses outrage, the race card is almost always pulled out in opposition. We need more African American leaders (actors, sports players, politicians, and etc.) stepping up pleading with parents of these children to take on their responsiblity and be good role models and teach their children how to behave properly. Teach them good values and respect for others. I'd like to see President Obama step up and do this. that would be a good start.

To: Don't tolerate it - I've been to all of the Malls that you listed and I hate to tell you that the trouble-makers there are of the same color as the trouble-makers at the Harbor.

Peter,
I was looking forward to you column today regarding the police mishandling the Inner Harbor incedent on Saturday. There seems to be a real suppression on the BPD part's regarding release of information that may show them in a poor light(see new policy on use of weapons). We need the news media to continue their essential role in shedding light on issues such as this and I applaud you efforts in that regard.

I'm willing to bet that 95% of these teens have parents who are either dead, in jail, or too high to properly parent their children. As someone who works in Baltimore City's Juvenile Justice Center I see these "kids" on a daily basis. I see them come to court like it's no big deal, I see them continuously refuse and reject services and opportunities that are offered to them to achieve a better life and I see the Courts give these kids chance after chance and probation after probation in hopes that something will get through to them only to be forced to detain them because there are no options left. I see victims afraid to come to court and public defenders using every trick in the book to get their kids "off" instead of trying to get them the help they deserve and need, then turn around and have the audacity to cry when their client is shot and killed and on the front page of the Baltimore Sun, the very same client they got back on the streets.The system is overflooded with these kids dealing drugs, robbing people, stealing cars, and assaulting their peers. The Juvenile Detention Center is overcrowded while these kids have to wait for a placement in a facility because the facilities are overcrowded. The detention center even has to be integrated between the Bloods and the Crips so that there aren't assaults while detained. Is race really an issue? No, it's not. Do I have a solution to the problem? I wish I did. What I do know, as a citizen of Baltimore City, is that anyone-black, white, hispanic, asian, rich, poor, tourist, or a fellow Baltimorian-doesn't deserve to be caught up to the mob scene that was at the Harbor on Saturday night - or any day of the week in any part of the City. These "kids", these "poor lost children" are scarier, more deadlier, and have less fear than their adult counterparts. And anyone who doubts my words, should take a day to visit the Juvenile Justice Center. Hopefully you won't have to be there as a victim.

Kevin, thanks for the note; the column on how police handled information on the Inner Harbor got held at the last minute, should appear in the next few days.

These comments are unreal. Who are "these kids"? Who are "these people"? They are our kids and our people and our problem. While reading these comments I felt as though I was smack dab in the middle of Mississippi in 1956 standing next to a "strange fruit" tree. Let the racial hatred go and find a solution. This is exactly why the children are acting in a negative manner...negative adults.

rw - Just because someone brings up race does not not mean they are spreading hatred or are racists. It's simply a statement of fact. This is why the problem continues to exist... because no one is allowed to say it. But I will... There is a huge black (and hispanic) problem in this country that needs to be addressed. We can't just keep throwing money at it in hopes that it will go away. Wake up people!!! We can now longer sweep it under the rug. It's become an epidemic.

"Give a man a fish... he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish... and he eats for a lifetime."

That is what is happening in just about every city in this country.

Some of these comments are just frustrating to read. First, let me say that I am a 32 yr old African American from Baltimore City. I'm reading these comments and I just get confused. I have been dowtown on several occasions, including Easter and 4th of July and trust me, it's not little Chinese kids running around scaring the hell out of people!! It's my own, African Americans. To the guy that says he can't help but feel race played apart in the David from Kingsville's comment...how could they not???? If you are not from that culture and your only exposure is when you see packs of Black youths acting reckless, what assumptions are you supposed to make?? I don't understand where all of this rationalization of ignorant behavior is coming from. I live in reality and I deal with truths and end results. Whatever rationale you all have for why things are the way they are, it isn't changing things one bit. Since no one will come right out and say it, whether it's poverty, lack of education or whatever other stimuli that is creating this situation, it is undoubtably Black youth that are consistently involved in this type of behavior. When you are being assaulted, robbed, stabbed or whatever else, the reason for why your assailant is doing what they doing to you is IRRELEVANT! Please stop this corny crap trying to justify this nonsense. The reality of this today is that Black youth are predominantly involved iin criminal behavior. Period. Stop making excuses. If I get on an airplane with a gentleman of Arab descent, and he's rocking back and forth mumbling "Jihad" to himself, what should I do? Am I supposed to sit there and say, "Well, this young man could possibly come from a country where he has seen his relatives murdered by a goverment he believes to be assisted by the US and their flawed foreign policy"????? NO!!!! I am going to lump him in with the rest of the nutcases I have read about and get the hell off of the plane!! You sit there with your bleeding heart if you want to. The reality is that you are in danger! Period. It's' the same situation here.

I agree with many of the posts from the aspect of what is causing this behavior in our people, but the fact is that these youths are out of control and many will undoubtably be murderous, treacherous adults in the near future. The root causes and how we can correct it are the topics of another discussion. For what we are talking about, the truth is blatantly in our faces, whether we have the courage to say it or not.

I was in the Inner Harbor area following the Orioles game as well, and I have never seen anything like it in the city. It was literally mobbed. The kids were everywhere and they were unruly- running through the streets, swearing, etc. It was scary walking around, even though I was walking near a large group of people following the game and I saw several policeman in cars and horses patrolling the area. It was just a very bad atmosphere. We later went into the Powerplant area and had to walk through literally 60-70 teenagers just sitting in front of the entryway (in addition to all of the other ones running around). Later, when we were leaving the Powerplant area around 12:30 or 1 there were still several kids out and about though not nearly as many as before. We noticed the McDonalds was completely barren (and is usually crowded at that time of night) and we asked a McDonalds employee who had been standing outside the store what was going on. He said that there was basically a riot in the McDonalds and that they had shut it down for about 20 minutes or so. I had friends with me visiting from out of town and I was extremely embarrassed. I hope the city can clean this up, because they are going to have a lot of lost business if this continues. I honestly don't feel comfortable going back into that area at that time of night again.

...add to the mix that there's absolutely no reason or incentive to get off of public assistance OR to get married OR to stop having children and you have an endemic problem.

We have a black president. Race cannot be used as an excuse the way it has been for a long time. In any case, does it really excuse deplorable behavior? Should we have separate standards for people of color?

I run through the Inner Harbor everyday. I was there on Saturday at about 7pm. While the Harbor was VERY crowded (actually have never seen a crowd thyat big) it looked like everyone was having a good time. If you get multitudes of people together there is bound to be a few bad apples.

What happened here appears to be the same thing that happens in the city almost everyday it just happened to be in front of people.

It is kind of like the trash that collects at the bottom of the Jones Falls, it is all of our trash coming from miles away we just like to make no claim of it. It is someone elses problem.

Just want to comment on everyone making comments who was responsible and what is responsible, but this comes at a time when the Baltimore City government are discussing closing Youth Centers. I say instead of writing comments to the BaltimoreSun webpage, let's start contacting City Hall and let's be active in Baltimore City and active in raising everyone's child, because as our community did years ago, it take's a village to raise a child, and unfortunately the parents that are raising these children are children themselves, as was stated above in a earlier comments, we all need to help instill discipline, rules and boundries in these children's lives and not just accept it or complain about it.

I am African American too and also grew up in Baltimore. We talk about the black kids running around unruly. even on talk shows. how come you never hear from the Parents of these kids? why is there never a call into a show or a response to one of these articles from someone who allowed their child to be out running around light that( or someone who doesn't know where their kid hangs out but knows its possible to be one of the rebel rousers) I myself would be interested in their side of the story. its never told

I was born and raised in Baltimore. I do not go to the Harbor because people do not know how to act or behave. The Harbor has not been build up for the people of Baltimore, it's for tourists to come and spend their money and see what little attractions there are. The Harbor is not all that. The food is lousy.

This is not about race...no one can be held responsible for holding anyone down! The opportunities and $$ thrown at these ingrades every minute is mind boggling. Someone needs to express to this community of bad behavior that it's up to YOU to change...get off welfare...quit feeling "Entitled" No one in this day and age age has done any of these misbehaving idiots wrong. Get off your lazy asses parents and start raising these fools right. Simple as that.

Just going to throw this out there, the person who said that race was likely a factor in them feeling "uncomfortable" is MORE THAN LIKELY true.

So what, bunch of teenagers were unruly, it's a public place--deal with it. You're going to find people of all ages, races, colors, languages, personalities, and customs in places like that.

You can't expect everyone to "conform", lighten up a little.

Mike - Are you kidding? You obviously weren't there. This goes way beyond a situation that people should just "deal with it". People were scared, businesses were shut down, people were beaten and people were stabbed. Attitudes like yours is why this kind of thing continues to happen. Get real dude!!!

Hey Mike - All I can say is WOW!!!
I don't know where you come from but I know where most people come from, they don't tolerate this kind of behavior. Do you actually condone kids beating and stabbing other kids, kids intimidating and scaring other kids and adults, 13-14 year olds running wild in the streets into the wee hours of the night and causing trouble. Regardless of color!! If this is what you "deal with" in your neighborhood, I'm glad I don't live near you. Nobody should "ligthen up" to this kind of behavior. It's horrible!!! You're out of your mind!!!

Firstly, the police should have made the public - through Twitter, TV and radio news -- and the media, -- through their police spokesperson -- aware of the situation that was evolving (or devolving) on Saturday as events occurred. Rumor and speculation, especially, in a situation such as this should never be allowed to brew and fester.
Secondly, I would like to respond to "AT", the 1st. person who commented: Obviously, you have not heard of Dr. Benjamin Carson, who IS a brain surgeon and grew up in Baltimore under the same circumstances that you depict. However, I don't know who you've been conversing with but I have either socialized, lived, &/or worked in Baltimore since I was in my late teens (I'm now in my 50's.) and I have RARELY heard Baltimore described as frightening or an over-sized ghetto. As for the comments about public housing in the city or "... half the workforce being on gov. assistance.", I don't know where AT is getting his/her statistics but let's consider those statements for a minute. In renting a house or an apt., the rent is only supposed to be 40% of your gross income. If it is more than that, it is believed that trying to make your rent will put a strain on your finances. Even for those making a "living wage" with rents as high as they are, this is a bar that is too high, let alone those who are making "minimum wage". Section 8 housing is supposed to enable people to have shelter even if their income only covers part of their rent. Contrary to the belief of many, Section 8 tenants DO pay part of their rent on a sliding scale up to 40% of their income. I would like to know where AT would like those people who work in the fast food joints or are the security guards in buildings, etc. to live? Maybe we should have tent cities or have the modern day equivalent of debtors prisons for the working poor to go home to at night? (Check out Dickens' "Little Dorritt".) And some aren't so lucky as to have even a minimum wage job. And yes, it is racial although there are many poor whites who either use or need Section 8; I refer to the comments by "Dunn" Then there are the many news stories about employers such as Walmart, who pay low wages and expect the counties where their employers live to enable them to survive by supplying food stamps and Sec. 8 housing. I'm sure that those employees would want to be able to pay their own rent and buy their own food if they could. We are supposed to be a Christian country or at least for "We, the people,...". That's all of us, standing united. Anyone who thinks that we are in a "post-racial era" should just take a look at some of the comments in these posts. That said....
"It takes a village to raise a child." And a lot of the elders on both sides of the divide haven't taken responsibility for our children. How do you expect a child to feel valued when the only role models that are touted are actors, music and sports figures that perhaps the luckiest 1% if that, of our entire mixed society get to be. Yet that is the lifestyle that is held up to be aspired to -- and usually, a self-indulgent and arrogant one at that. Most of us live ordinary lives filled with rather mundane jobs but ones that pay our bills and allow us to nurture our families and friends and be nurtured by them in return. We, -- working class and middle class, alike -- are the glue that holds society together, and that makes the system run. This simple "Wonderful Life" is what people say they long for in poll after poll and yet this is what is most lacking in the lives of children who have no adults to rein them in. Even parents who aren't literally "absentee" allow television and the Internet to parent their children. When did extra curricular activities school related or otherwise become a substitute for a nurturing family life... sharing dinners, sharing LIVES. When did it even become a question that boys and girls clubs, especially, in at risk neighborhoods should fall under the budget knife? How can a child feel valued or value what education can do for them when their teachers have to buy school supplies and other necessities out of their own pockets just to get by because whatever area they live in doesn't have the tax base to put money into their physical school building for repairs, let alone for computers, books and supplies. No child left behind, my ass.
Who are we kidding? How many adults are even courteous to each other anymore? Yet we expect our children to respect us and each other? To act more like normal, rambunctious teenagers and less like a mob waiting for the flashpoint to explode into violence? We are ALL responsible for this mess and unless we work together to find solutions and realize that creating healthy, safe neighborhoods to live in, nurturing school environments and provide mentoring from real people who live ordinary lives not extra-ordinary ones, we will be living with the consequences for decades to come. After scores of years of hypocrisy, racism and neglect our chickens are coming home to roost and we have no one but ourselves to blame. We need to stop passing the blame around, pull up our socks, talk to each other -- respectfully -- and get to work, TOGETHER!

Vertitas - It's funny, buddy, no one living in my area is on Section 8 or any kind on public assistance and we all actually pay all of our rent and mortgages 100%. And we also have little to no crime. If you can't afford to live on what you make then you work harder or get an education to better your place in life. You don't stand in line for a darn handout. You don't expect money to come out of my paycheck that's supposed to be used to feed, cloth, and shelter my family. We're sick of this forced charity - it's not helping. You can't expect to work at McDonald's and Wal-Mart and earn a decent living (unless you strive to move up in those companies). Those kind of jobs should just be stepping stones to better jobs, not lifetime careers. I don't know where people like you have come to think that you deserve to be taken care of and quite often given a free ride. How's that way of thinking doing for many of the neighborhoods in the city? What ever happened to personal responsibility?
I didn't like where I used to live because the "bad element" was closing in so I changed my situation. I didn't ask for help - I worked harder, got a higher paying job, and moved into a better neighborhood.
But you know what? I would like to live in the very upscale neighborhood near me that I can't afford. Do you think the government will offer me a subsidy so I can live there? I don't want to have to work any harder or get any more education. I mean.. I deserve to live there, don't I? I deserve... no, I demand that money be taken out of your pocket so I can live there.
Think about that for a while.
This has nothing to do with racism or neglect (except for your own). This has to do with standing up for yourself and making a better life for yourself and your family - not expecting the government to do it for you. Anyone can make it in this country, regardless of race or where they came from. Look at your own example of Dr. Benjamin Carson and President Obama. Their achievements render all of your points moot.

Veritas13 - I hate to be the bearer of bad news but "you reap what you sow". "We are ALL responsible for this mess" - who is we? These problems need to be addressed from the inside, not the outside. We have thrown enough time, money and energy at these problems. The people in this mess need to rise up and take responsibility for their own actions and the actions of their children. They can't just keep waiting for the government to bail them out. The schools are bad and the neighborhoods are bad because of the attitudes of the people that are in them. Until they all learn to value education, value good clean schools and neighborhoods, value family and respect others and others' property, there is nothing else "we" can do. "We" can not instill these values into them. They need to do for themselves.

Before you throw stones, you need to look at your own glass house. I have
lived and traveled in many parts of the world. I have seen other races act a total fool, at sports venues, concerts and parks. Please, let's not forget about spring break. . I don't excuse the behavior of rude youth no matter what race. When the situation involves the other race, it's played down, as kids will be kids, they were
just blowing off a little steam.
Wake up people, we are one nation under God. If you would take the
time to research the real roots of this
country, African American have and will always play a major roll in it's growth. Please feel free to ask the
44th President of the United States.

Ms. Garland D. Perkins
Business Owner

Ms Garland - just because there are problems in other parts of the world with other races of people does not excuse what is going on in Baltimore City and other cities in this country. It does not negate the problem. And I don't believe for a minute that most people think that problems elsewhere are "just blowing off a little steam". This blog was about what happened at the Harbor in Baltimore City and why things like this continue to happen.
You need to stop making excuses for this kind of behavior.

It's way too early to know whether the new President will "play a major roll" in the growth of this country. I have my doubts.

Of course the Harbor is going to attract a very large group of people, rowdy or otherwise. There is nothing to do in the City. The Major has closed practically everything. Get some activity in the City for these restless teens and watch the crime rate go down, create jobs for the young ones so they will have something to do. Hell if there is nothing to do, I would go to the Harbor to and bring all my friends. Just because they are black, now there is a problem. Arundel Mills population is white and they concregate just like black kids, but you don't see anyone writing about them, you don't see people talking about taking their money elsewhere. There is a robbery every other day at that Mall and not once have I heard of anyone getting rob at the Harbor with the so called menace and mahem going on.

Hey Lady, I hate to tell you this but the Arundel Mills night time crowd is non-white and there are many issues there as well. Why can't these people find something to do besides cause trouble? Why do we have to spend our tax money to find something for them to do. Hell, when I was a teenager, I spent all of my time playing baseball, football, riding bikes, skating, playing tag, swimming, reading and so on and on. Why can't these kids do some of these things rather than causing trouble. I can't believe the parents even let them out alone far into the night in the city. Don't they care about their children. Why don't they occupy their children - Why don't they play with their children?

And also Lady... Oh yeah, I didn't hear about anyone being robbed at the Harbor either - just beaten and stabbed - stores being closed - people scared for their lives... that's all. I guess that's no big deal to you.

Dear AM,

If President Obama slept for the next four years, it would be a step up from our last great leader. As a parent of a teenage daughter, whom by the way, has a 3.8 GPA. She does not smoke, drink or do drugs. She is on the
debate team, the teen council at The Walter's Art Muesum, etc. Did I mention she is home schooled and volunteers in her spare time.
Please don't think for one second I am defending the incident at the Inner Harbor. Have you ever been to
Dundalk after dark? We as African Americans feel the same fears you feel in many areas you deem safe.
You have just as many elements that
make you shake your head as our culture. Try walking in some of your
trailer park communities. When I stated, that we are all "One Nation Under God," I meant that with all my heart. If the truth be told, we have the
same fears as you do when faced with crime. We shake our heads and
pray the situation won't get out of hand, be it a group of out of control
African American youth, or some blue
haired, full bodied tattooed, chain swinging, Nazi loving white youth.
Like AIDS, youth without direction, need a cure, not finger pointing. Unlike most people who commented,
I am proud to use my REAL NAME.
If you should ever choose to be a part of the solution, Reach Out And Touch A Youth In Need. That will be one less child with a gun in their hand.

God Bless Us All,

Ms. Garland D. Perkins

Ms. Perkins - I am glad your daughter is doing well and I hope to God that Obama does well (regardless of his color). But you still can't turn your head to the fact there there is a huge black poverty/crime probelm in this country and especially in Baltimore City. Blacks make up only approx. 15% of the population but make up over 40% of our prison population countrywide. And in Maryland that percentage is much higher. Only 0.7% of whites are in prison compared to 5% of blacks (and that percentage increases dramatically in the cities). These are staggering facts. Add to that the fact that the percentage of blacks on welfare is far more than the percentage of whites.
Not "finger pointing" is why the problem continues and continues to get worse. You just can't write off the problem by saying that other races have issues as well. They all do in some shape or form but none as bad as the issues of blacks in this country.
Open your eyes. Please!!! As you say "be part of the solution".

Ms Perkins - why is your daughter home-schooled. What's wrong with the schools in your area?

And Ms. Garland - why do you feel you have to tell me all about your daughter? Is it beacause she's the exception to the rule?

I sent a post in last week and I'm curious why it wasn't posted. My note mentioned that we had reliable information from an authority on the scene that said the crowds were unique to that one weekend. But in fact were a regular occurence over the last 3-4 months and they have to patrol till 4a.m. I was disturbed by my experience that Saturday night but also bothered by the fact that the email mentioning it wasn't an anomaly but an expectation.

Good Evening AM and Mr. Reason,

I pray that your day was as productive as mine.

Please, let's talk statistics. Clayton Wellington Jr. is caught with a pound of
weed. He and his friend are arrested. Clayton calls his parents, whom by the
way have tons of money and are well
connected. Mommy is distraught, Dad is at the end of his rope. Dad calls in a favor, Clayton and his friend
are released within the hour from jail. The families high powered attorney calls
in another favor, case closed. Never
mind that Junior has been down this
road 4 or 5 times. The moral of this story is, you can't count what does not exist. I have three words for your statistics, ALL WHITE JURY.
In regards to your asinine responds to my daughter. We relocated to Baltimore from Sugar Land, Texas, during Hurricane Rita. Once you have experience the aftermath of Katrina, you don't wait around to see which way the wind will blow.

Our daughter has been home schooled since she attended the 6th grade. Again, when you have the time, research the community of Sugar Land, it was considered to be one of this countries thriving communities. We now reside in Pikesville. In regards to their school's credibility, you need to do your own research.

Our daughter will be attending college with her 3.8 GPA this fall. HELLO! That's slang for,"PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT!"
It has been a pleasure, but I have a
lavish graduation reception to plan, volunteer services to fulfill and kid's that need a shoulder to lean on.
You can say what you choose about our proud African American youth. God did not bring us this far to stop now.

P.S. Give Clayton a hug for me!

Sincerely,

Ms. Garland D.Perkins

No offense meant, but have you forgotten about Columbine ? It was
not about race, it was a tragedy .

Ms Perkins - Wow!! It's no use even responding to you... You walk around with blinders on and there is nothing anyone can do to open your eyes to the truth. You simply won't listen to fact.
Your attitude, which is typical of your community, is why nothing will ever change.

Ms Perkins – I decided to respond anyway.
First of all, you forget about O.J. Simpson and many other black athletes who have bought their way out of jail. Anyone with money, regardless of color, can get off on crimes. Let's not even go there.
Second, Columbine was an isolated tragic incident. People are raped and murdered everyday in Baltimore City.
I see why your daughter is home-schooled living in Pikesville. Pikeville schools used to be wonderful but this is no longer the case, is it? It’s just another area surrounding Baltimore that has been brought down by black migration. Look at Reisterstown, Essex, Dundalk, Parkville, Woodlawn, Owings Mills, Randallstown and many, many others (even Baltimore City) that were once very nice neighborhoods that are now littered with trash, stores with bullet proof glass and crime on the rise.
Take a look at a school in the city and some of the surrounding areas that are majority black and then take a look at schools in Parkton, Hereford, Fallston, Bel Air, Kingsville, Jacksonville, Sparks and you'll see a major difference. You actually don't have to go through a metal detector to get into these schools. And the graduation rates are much, much higher.
I know what you'll say - those areas are more affluent (why is that?). Well, I grew up in some poor white areas around Baltimore and the schools were great, the neighborhoods were great, there was little to no crime and you could walk down the street anytime without fearing for your life. I wouldn't walk down those same streets now if you paid me.
My kids go to the wonderful public schools in my area. Both are “Honor Roll” students and my oldest is a straight “A” student in the “Gifted and Talented” program and is in the Junior National Honor Society. Not that that really means anything but since you told me about your daughter and said “PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT”, I couldn’t resist. The thing is - this is pretty much the norm in my area of the woods.
And finally, why is that you refer to whites as white but blacks as African Americans? A good start would be to just refer to yourself as an American (who happens to be black).

Ms Perkins - I won't even allow myself to be dragged into your smug ignorance.
You'll never see things as they are.