I have to observe that the people running the surrounding counties have every reason to cheer the managed decline and failure that Stephanie has served up. Many of their residents make a livelihood in our city, and then take their money home. Baltimore provides the infrastructure for business, and the counties reap the benefits. If the city adopted one of the challengers' tax reduction plans, it would be major threat to the outlying counties. Suddenly people would realize that they don't have sit in beltway traffic for 45 minutes each way every day just to avoid high property taxes.

But that's not what Stephanie is about. She's about carefully managing the decline of the city and not embarassing Annapolis. The long-term future of Baltimore is at stake, and she's playing small ball.

Sorry, Steph. Vision is in, Managed Decline is so totally over. Raise your game or get out.

I couldn't have said it better myself Frangler. While a weak Baltimore does weaken the state as a whole in it's current state, there are benefits when you have leadership that rolls over at the whim of other leaders. Beyond that they do not want to see a mayor with real control of this city and, most importantly, our water system. They do not want someone like Rolley to come in here, smarter and more strong minded than they, thinking "Baltimore first" in all actions and tell them "no more free lunch"... If we can actually improve our schools, which in turn would decrease crime, and over a period of time lower taxes and re-vitalize our communities, the counties will have real competition for their residents and their tax base. This is no surprise at all...

SRB is a obediant puppy of the status quo aka MOM.
Vote for Otis Rolley.
The status quo just aint cutting it anymore in Baltimore nor Maryland.