Tomorrow's editorials: Stem cell research and IndyCars and hotel bookings downtown
Here are previews of the editorials we're working on for tomorrow's paper. Let us know what you think. We'll run the best comments alongside the editorials in the print edition.
--The National Institutes of Health’s new guidelines for federal funding of stem cell research provide a common-sense approach to the ethics of a type of science that has been wrapped up in excessive controversy for years. The new rules also provide a potential boon for Maryland researchers, who, by dint of geography and the deep ties between the NIH and scientists at Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland, are sure to pick up a substantial share of the newly available funding.
Even so, there is still a place for Maryland’s state stem cell research grants. Like several other states, Maryland established its own grant program when federal rules were so restrictive as to effectively cut off whole branches of research, but those funds also became an important part of the economic development competition over who will benefit from what is sure to be a lucrative science. Maryland, North Carolina, California, Massachusetts and other states would all like to be the Silicon Valley of biotech, and any state that drops its funding now risks finding itself at a competitive disadvantage.
Maryland’s funding -- $15.4 million for the current fiscal year – pales next to the support the federal government can give to the research, but the state can still use its investments to help translate the science into spinoff businesses that could drive the state’s economy for years to come.
--Despite the recession, downtown Baltimore is showing some signs of life. The Baltimore Convention and Visitors Bureau reported this week that future hotel bookings by convention or business groups grew 16 percent last year, a sign that the city’s gamble on the new convention center hotel next to Camden Yards might be paying off.
And at the same time, a group of racing enthusiasts is working to bring an Indy Car event to downtown Baltimore in 2011. No doubt the prospect of closed streets for such a four-day event would be a headache for commuters, but the benefits – a sporting event with an economic impact that could best the Preakness, not to mention the prospect that downtown’s major thoroughfares might get a well-needed smoothing out to accommodate speeding racecars – would more than justify the inconvenience.
(Sun photo)
Comments
YES to the Gran Prix. I remember when American Lemans came to DC - it was hugely attended and a great event, but the neighbors killed it because of the noise. I wonder if the fate of an event like that would be the same in Baltimore....
Posted by: Garret Ohm | July 7, 2009 1:36 PM
Indy cars at the Inner Harbor would be the coolest thing to happen in Baltimore since we whooped the British in 1814.
Posted by: Karl Breslaw | July 7, 2009 1:45 PM
Noise shouldn't be a problem since they are used to the crack of gunfire!
Posted by: Fed Up | July 7, 2009 2:47 PM
This is one of the best things about Obama. Although I don't agree with him about a lot, I admire him for grabbing "science" from the dark mix of politics and religious mumbo jumbo in which the Bush presidency mired it to return it to glorious times yet to come. Scientists innovate every day to derive stem cells not only from embryos but also from other sources like skin cells. The ignorant and the fearful mistakenly oppose this brilliant science as a Pandora's box whose lid should be shut tight. Like the sub atomic world of physics the stem cell universe opens a window into our beginnings and how we can utilize this phase of human life to heal ourselves as we decay. If we dither and lag behind, the Japanese, Europeans and others will beat us to the rich discoveries, patents and cures this research promises.
science saluter
Posted by: science saluter | July 7, 2009 4:20 PM
You might want to check out the chart in the Business Journal's report on the BACVA bookings announcement.
The bookings for the convention center are actually down from last year--and about flat for the last three.
There's no evidence that the hotel "gamble" is paying off--just that BACVA's counting more generously--and probably now including the Hilton's bookings in their totals.
Posted by: Bob | July 7, 2009 4:43 PM
This is a win win project. This is what the city needs to add . Just do it. The yea far exceeds the nay.
Great idea and thanks.
Norman
Posted by: Norman A Solow | July 8, 2009 9:49 AM
we should look at long beach who ever would heard of long beach.if it were not for the grand prix.im not saying were not long beach.what a fantastic chance baltimore has to make a lot of money by hosting a race.hopefully our city leaders dont screw it up by being greedyor letting afew crybabies kill it like they did in dc afew years back.baltimore lets get it done city leaders.
Posted by: jon morris | July 8, 2009 5:29 PM
we should look at long beach who ever would heard of long beach.if it were not for the grand prix.im not saying were not long beach.what a fantastic chance baltimore has to make a lot of money by hosting a race.hopefully our city leaders dont screw it up by being greedyor letting afew crybabies kill it like they did in dc afew years back.baltimore lets get it done city leaders.
Posted by: jon morris | July 8, 2009 5:29 PM
Before anyone seriously considers a Grand Prix, they need to look at what happened with the San Jose Grand Prix.
The city of San Jose gave a $4 million subsidy to the Grand Prix organization, only to have the Grand Prix pull out and use a contract loophole to stage a competing event.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6879896
This article notes the loss of business to local restaurants and businesss -- there were 8 weeks of construction each year to put up and take down barriers and grandstands.
http://www.sanjoseinside.com/sji/blog/entries/grand_prix_swindle_of_shame/
Instead, the city should push events at existing stadiums -- for example, the upcoming Manchester United game will bring in over 60,000 fans without requiring any major expenses from the city. The upcoming Army-Navy game will bring in a similar number, as will the NCAA lacrosse championships.
Grand Prix represents a huge expenditure that will dwarf the benefits.
Posted by: baltiecon | July 10, 2009 1:35 PM
A Baltimore Gran Prix seems improbable. CART and Paul Newman couldn't make a street race happen in Philadelphia with a much larger urban area to draw from. DC invested $10 million in a dedicated state of the art road course at RFK for a one time race that drew no attendance and was killed by complaints from two dozen property owners. The condition of Baltimore's streets would require a massive investment in resurfacing from a cash strapped city. Wrong place, wrong time and wrong economic conditions.
Posted by: Mark Peterson | July 11, 2009 6:02 PM
YES , this is something that will benefit downtown Baltimore , track layout( needs to bea wide course for more passing ) , traffic control , hotel fees for fans , parking , other studies need to be done , a quick temporary course to put up and down has to be set up not where it takes a long period of time , possibly consider a airport course is also something to look at and other things need to be considered for fan comfort .
It will bring added revenue to city , bring race fans to city again and just maybe by a large turnout that officials of Maryland will realize they should have built a track outside of Baltimore along time ago that there are many racing fans here instead of allowing them to spend there money else where at other racing venues .
Posted by: Robert D. Altman | July 28, 2009 8:22 AM