Today's column
Why getting Baltimore to a better place, finally breaking through the last remaining major problems and reaching the tipping point of social progress, is so important to the entire region. The expected growth from BRAC in the next five years points this up. We really need a new generation of public-spirited yuppies to take charge of the city and to get involved in county and state government and develop a whole new vision for how the city and surrounding areas interact. There used to be more talk about regionalism -- but the politicians who pushed that idea, over each jurisidiction remaining in wholly independent orbits, seem to have disappeared. The Baltimore metropolitan area really needs a resurgence of this kind of holistic thinking and planning, and Martin O'Malley has the grand opportunity to lead this effort. If he's worried about being seen as biased toward Baltimore, he should drop the concern and use his impressive political network to get the entire region believing that a greater Baltimore means a greater Baltimore region and a greater Maryland.
Have a great Sunday.
Comments
Baltimore, and maybe OC, is Maryland. We like crab soup and Natti Boh, beyond reason. I'd love for yuppies to take over the city. We're not Boston though. Us yuppies, like safety above all else, especially if kids are involved. Baltimore's plight is the crime problem. I don't know how we can do it, end random crime, and you will get a proserous population. Baltimore actually has a better waterfront than Boston, just give us a mayor that is taking steps to make us safe.
Posted by: George | August 5, 2007 9:33 AM
Dan, you are so right, and I enjoyed the column. There is a logical solution, but it would be as unpopular as the city itself. Unlike every other large metropolitan area in the country, Baltimore City is a separate jurisdiction than it's surrounding counties (St. Louis is the other). It is undeniable that the health of the city directly effects the suburbs, and to make that connection real, Baltimore City and County (and maybe parts of Anne Arundel County) should merge into one jurisdiction/taxing authority. The fiscal disparity between Baltimore City and County is outrageous, and how many county residents work, play, and enjoy the amenities the city has to offer. When you cross from Baltimore City to Baltimore County, it is a seemingly contiguous area, but in fact, you are crossing onto better roads, schools, and infrastructure. This is a solution that I am surprised I do not hear more often.
Posted by: Sam | August 5, 2007 9:45 AM