Showing posts with label MD Baltimore City Issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MD Baltimore City Issues. Show all posts

Monday, June 29, 2009

MTA officer charged with raping 15 year old Elkridge girl

MTA officer charged with raping 15 year old Elkridge girl

June 29, 2009

From Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff earlier today...

baltimoresunMTA officer charged with raping 15-year-old Elkridge girl who asked him for help finding her way home on the light rail. http://tr.im/qdM4

Can someone please explain to me why anyone uses the Baltimore public transportation system?

I’m just asking…

It seems that there is no end to the parade of stories about violence and crime on Baltimore public transportation…

Believe – it; it’s unbelievable.

How much more will Baltimore deteriorate before something is done? The city’s reputation for crime, violence, corruption, and ineptitude is no longer national – anecdotal accounts indicate that it may be global.

And it is sad. I used to love to go to Baltimore for its restaurants, museums, theater, movies and historic places… And I miss visiting Baltimore…

Related:

20090601 Baltimore police try to quell violence downtown

20090615 Dispatch from Bodymore Murderland by Gregory Kane

20090109 WBAL Baltimore Mayor Dixon Indicted

MD Baltimore, MD Baltimore City Issues, Politics corruption Baltimore crime, Law Order, MD Baltimore quality of life

20090629 sdosm MTA officer charged with raping 15 year old Elkridge girl

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Dispatch from Bodymore, Murderland By: Gregory Kane

Related: 20090601 Baltimore police try to quell violence downtown

Dispatch from Bodymore, Murderland By: Gregory Kane

Examiner Columnist 6/15/09

Whitey, don’t let the sun set on you in Bodymore, Murderland. That’s neither an official or unofficial slogan for Baltimore yet, but it’s not because some of our more dysfunctional citizens aren’t trying to make it so.

Bodymore, Murderland IS the unofficial city nickname. It comes to us courtesy of those who appeared in the first “Stop Snitching” DVD, and they should know: They’re responsible for many of the dead bodies and the murders.

The overwhelming majority of those bodies are black ones, dispatched by black perps. But the few white bodies may end up giving Baltimore a notorious reputation as a city where whites just aren’t safe.

Some of those white bodies are still alive, no thanks to their attackers. George Williams, a police officer from Brick Township, N.J., is a white guy who survived after a group of black teens kicked his head “back and forth like a soccer ball” he said in one news story during a late-May incident in downtown Baltimore. Williams said the teens accused him of uttering a racial slur to justify the attack, but he denies making any derogatory racial remarks.

Williams’ case sounds similar to that of Sarah Kreager and Troy Ennis, a white couple who were assaulted on a Baltimore transit bus in late 2007. A group of middle-school teens were the culprits in that case, who accused Ennis of using the racial slur and Kreager of spitting on one of the students.

[…]

How do we account for black teens in this day and age, who’ve seen little to none of the racism and segregation that their elders have seen, harboring such a sense of racial grievance and dudgeon? Might it be black leadership? (Although I’m fond of calling it “black misleadership.”)

Bad as the cases of Williams, Kreager and Ennis were, they pale in comparison to the ones of Zachary Sowers, Jennifer Morelock and David Woycio. Three black teens robbed Sowers; one beat him so badly that it left him comatose for nearly a year before his wife, Anna Sowers, had his doctors remove him from life support.

Morelock and Woycio were a white couple from Carroll County who ventured into the western section of Baltimore in the spring of 2006. Both were shot dead. A police officer, acting on a tip, stopped then-17-year-old Davon David Temple to question him as a possible suspect.

According to the cop, Temple agreed to a search of his cell phone’s contents. The officer found this text message in the cell phone’s inbox: “I shot 2 white people around my way 2day and one of them was a woman.”

[…]

In three years, not one Baltimore elected official has protested the disgrace of a guy who might be a confessed murderer walking the streets. Not the current mayor, Sheila Dixon. Not Gov. Martin O’Malley, who was Baltimore’s mayor when this shameful incident happened and who criticized Baltimore State’s Attorney Patricia Jessamy for everything BUT this one decision.


Read the entire column here: Dispatch from Bodymore, Murderland By: Gregory Kane

And be sure to follow all Gregory Kane’s columns in the Washington Examiner. He tells it like it is.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/gregory-kane/Dispatch-from-Bodymore-Murderland-48061142.html

20090615 Dispatch from Bodymore Murderland by Gregory Kane

Meanwhile in other news from the Examiner:

Gerald Walpin speaks: The inside story of the AmeriCorps firing

What's behind Obama's sudden attempt to fire the AmeriCorps inspector general?

First lady extends her reach at the White House

Gangster government's grip on the AmeriCorps

Krispy Kreme fires back; suit moved to federal court

Raising taxes by the mile

Tysons Corner ad shocks Vietnam vets

Dispatch from Bodymore, Murderland

NASCAR Mexico driver Carlos Pardo killed in crash at race in Puebla

The RAT hiding deep inside the stimulus bill

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Baltimore Sun: Text of statement from Brian D. Morris

Baltimore Sun: Text of statement from Brian D. Morris

3:37 PM EDT, June 13, 2009

This morning I notified Dr. Alonso that I have rescinded my acceptance of the position of Deputy CEO for Operations. I encouraged him to do a thorough search and identify another highly qualified person to perform this important role. I have spent six years working to improve the integrity and quality of the school system for our children and I believe we have taken great strides toward achieving that goal.

It disturbs me greatly that this matter has become a distraction to the public's appreciation for the enormous progress our school system has made under my tenure. I am very proud of my service on behalf of Baltimore's children, and I feel a sense of pride knowing how far we have come over the last six years. I will continue to be an advocate for our children as my record of service indicates. I look forward to determining the ways in which I can continue to serve the youth of this city.

I have been happy to provide the weekly 30-40 hours of volunteer service I invested over long periods of time. But while the price for progress was high; the advances being made by our children in the Baltimore City Schools is real, sustained and escalating. It is my hope that the public will appreciate that fact.

There is no more important work than the adults of this community loving, nurturing and preparing the youth of this community to be productive citizens of the world. The success of our children depends on the system being able to attract talented and committed people to continue the system's progress and it is my sincere hope that this continues to happen.

As a dedicated father who lives everyday to help my children reach their potential, I wish the system nothing but the best in delivering on its promise to our children.


Related links

Morris resigns from city schools job

Board discusses Morris job

Morris has troubled financial past

List of accusations, claims against Morris

Morris' ties to O'Malley, Alonso helped city schools — and now they're helping him

Talk about it: Brian Morris' troubled financial past

Second Opinion: Alonso taking inexusable risk

Morris gets cautious backing

Ex-school board head takes system job

They don't get it

Most e-mailed Baltimore Sun stories:

Morris resigns from city schools job

Prairie dogs return to Md. Zoo

Mike Preston: Ravens might have unearthed another gem

A slice of Hampden

Board discusses Morris job

Most viewed Baltimore Sun stories

O's getting serious about 16-year-old shortstop

Orioles break through vs. Braves

Morris resigns

Man dies in custody at Harford detention center

Crime by the (police) numbers

20090613 SDOSM Text of statement from Brian D Morris

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Baltimore police try to quell violence downtown

STATE: Baltimore police try to quell violence downtown

By The Associated Press Monday, June 01, 2009

BALTIMORE — A string of random attacks in downtown Baltimore has prompted police to beef up patrols around the Inner Harbor and other tourist-friendly areas.

In several incidents, tourists and city residents have been beaten by roving groups of young people who say little and take nothing from their victims.

The victims include an off-duty police officer from New Jersey and his girlfriend, who said they were beaten by a group of young men and women. The officer, George Williams, wrote a letter to Mayor Sheila Dixon saying that they now feel unsafe in Baltimore.

[…]


20090601 Baltimore police try to quell violence downtown

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2009/06/01/news/breaking_news/99baltimore.txt

Saturday, March 21, 2009

mBUSHed Jenna Bush Secret Service vehicle towed


amBUSHed - Jenna Bush Secret Service vehicle towed for unpaid parking tickets By Stephen Janis Friday, 20 March 2009 11:29

Investigative Voice

(When I was young and idealistic, I lived in Charles Village for a year. Although I do not recall ever getting a parking ticket - parking and worry over parking enforcement are not my fonder memories. However, I will always remember my truck being towed once. To this day I never saw the sign… and I have never thoroughly understood why it was towed. If was an off-the-scale unpleasant experience. It re-wired my entire outlook on going to Baltimore for anything. In other major cities – I use public transportation – which is beyond horrid in Baltimore. Kevin Dayhoff)

Not even the U.S. Secret Service is immune from the wrath of Baltimore parking agents.

Baltimore parking authority officials confirmed today that Jenna Bush's Secret Service vehicle was towed for several unpaid parking tickets.

The Secret Service vehicle was towed from in front of Bush's South Baltimore home, a source told Investigative Voice. Vehicles are booted and towed for three or more unpaid parking tickets.


More: amBUSHed - Jenna Bush Secret Service vehicle towed for unpaid parking tickets

20090320 amBUSHed Jenna Bush Secret Service vehicle towed
Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Friday, January 9, 2009

WBAL: Baltimore Mayor Dixon Indicted

WBAL: Baltimore Mayor Dixon Indicted

As the list of indicted elected officials grows longer, and longer and longer…

I just put it up on Twitter and notice that Tom LoBianco and Jamie Kelly are also on top of it…

tomlobianco Batimore Mayor Sheila Dixon indicted http://is.gd/f1Mt

jamietie RT @baltimoresun: BREAKING: Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has been indicted by a grand jury. (bad time to be a politician)

Friday, January 09, 2009 WBAL Radio

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has been indicted on public corruption charges.

The 31-page, 12-count indictment includes charges of perjury, theft, and misconduct in office.

The indictment follows a three-year long investigation by the state prosecutor's office into City Hall finances.

[…]

Dixon became the city's 48th mayor in January 2007, succeeding Martin O'Malley. She served on the City Council for 12 years.

Councilwoman Helen Holton and Lipscomb were indicted Wednesday on charges of bribery.

Read the rest of WBAL’s new report here: WBAL: Baltimore Mayor Dixon Indicted

http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=19396&zoneid=40

20090109 WBAL Baltimore Mayor Dixon Indicted

Kevin Dayhoff E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr DOT org His columns appear in The Tentacle, www.thetentacle.com; The Westminster Eagle /Eldersburg Eagle The Sunday Carroll Eagle - Opinion: http://explorecarroll.com/opinion-talk/ www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ http://www.youtube.com/user/kevindayhoff http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 http://picasaweb.google.com/kevindayhoff

Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Dixon and City Democrats Get Raises While Contemplating Layoffs


Public officials accepted a pay raise in this economic climate is beyond bizarre…

December 10, 2008

Dixon and City Democrats Get Raises While Contemplating Layoffs


ANNAPOLIS—On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Mayor Sheila Dixon, City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, City Comptroller Joan Pratt and the 13 other City Council members had pay raises approved by the Baltimore City Board of Estimates, which all three of them sit on. The move was done without identifying the titles or names of those receiving a raise. This comes at a time when Mayor Dixon has not ruled out layoffs for city workers and revoked cost of living raises for middle managers.

“Once again, this is an example of Maryland Democrat leaders operating under a different set of rules than the rest of us,” said MDGOP Chairman Jim Pelura. “These raises amount to $26,250 which is a substantial amount of money to anyone who is not a big-government politician. Mayor Dixon is talking about laying off lower level city workers. I certainly think that $26,250 might save at least one job. Do as I say, not as I do is becoming a common stance in Baltimore City and the state of Maryland.”

“We need new leadership for Maryland that puts taxpayers, small businesses, and working families first. There are several leaders who have volunteered to take part in the furloughs for state employees. Mayor Dixon, Council President Rawlings-Blake, and Comptroller Pratt should follow suit and reject these pay raises,” concluded Pelura.

###

To members of Maryland Republican Party FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Justin Ready 410-263-2125

Sunday, December 30, 2007

NPR: 'The Wire' to Focus on Baltimore Newspaper

NPR: 'The Wire' to Focus on Baltimore Newspaper

by David Folkenflik

Listen Now [7 min 19 sec] add to playlist

Morning Edition, December 28, 2007 · The final season of the HBO series The Wire, which dramatizes how real-world institutions and leaders repeatedly failed the people of Baltimore, gets under way Jan. 6. Creator David Simon is turning his critical eye on journalism, namely The Baltimore Sun and the role that paper plays on a dysfunctional urban stage. The past four seasons have scrutinized the police department, City Hall, and the school system.

Related NPR Stories
Dec. 24, 2007
The Best Television Programs of 2007
Nov. 30, 2007
Down to 'The Wire' for Crime Drama
Sep. 10, 2007
HBO Drama Portrays the 'Other' Baltimore
Nov. 22, 2006
Ed Burns on Creating 'The Wire'
Feb. 25, 2005
'The Wire: Complete Second Season'
Sep. 23, 2004
'The Wire's' David Simon and George Pelecanos

20071207 NPR The Wire to Focus on The Baltimore Sun

Sunday, June 10, 2007

20070610 The Last Train to Clarksville

The Last Train to Clarksville

June 10th, 2007

On June 10th, 2007 Maryland Politics Today had a post titled “The Last Money Train To Clarksville.”

As much as I appreciated P. Kenneth Burns calling to our attention the need of Baltimore mayor Dixon to go outside of the city for support for her re-election campaign, I was particularly intrigued with the reference to the “Last Train to Clarksville.”

And only Mr. Burns knows if he was referring to mayor Dixon’s trip to Howard County in the manner in which the 1966 Monkees’ meant it… Or if he was referring to mayor Dixon and “Betamax” metaphorically or if it is a coincidence…

But what a trip down memory lane that reference causes an aging Baby Boomer such as me. Although, I gotta tell ya, “The Monkees” were a little lame for my taste to put it mildly; it nevertheless brings back a time and place from many years ago.

And it comes on the heels of just writing a Westminster Eagle column on aspects of 1967 last Wednesday, June 6th, 2007: Dwight Dingle, 'Sgt. Pepper' and a bathtub band :

“It was 40 years ago last Saturday, June 2, 1967, when the Beatles released their eighth album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Although musical taste can be fiercely debated, many music critics and publications consider this album to be one of the most influential of all time. Rolling Sto...”

“The Last Train to Clarksville,” from 1966, may be considered to be a pop song and to be sure, it certainly has a bubblegum feel and sound to it. Nevertheless the song was about a serious dynamic in the lives of young men eligible for military duty.

The song, with its “pop flavor” and seemingly light-hearted approach is forever engrained in my head as a great example of cognitive dissonance…

Listen to the lyrics.[1]

The song is about a man who is trying to arrange one last date with his sweetheart because he has been drafted and he is about to be deployed to Vietnam. Listen for :

'Cause I'm leavin' in the morning

And I must see you again

We'll have one more night together

'Til the morning brings my train.

And I must go, oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.

And the reference to “Betamax players [2] in home” was equally a hoot. Yes, I actually still have content on old “beta” tapes.” And I thought some of the data migration from my old columns and short stories in DOS-based “Word Perfect” was hard…

And I cannot imagine hardly any of our younger readers are aware of whar being “betamaxed” means… (“A superior technology that is overtaken by an inferior one.”)

Anyway, thanks a bunch for memory Mr. Burns…

Meanwhile if you are not reading Mr. Burn’s excellent work at Maryland Politics Today,” there is no better time than now…. Err, after ya watch, “The Last Train to Clarksville” by the Monkees:





Oh what the heck… Let’s hear more. This is a song that I did like:

“Valerie”



I liked this one too:

The Monkees - A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You





####



[1] Last Train to Clarksville

Words and Music by

Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

Take the last train to Clarksville,

And I'll meet you at the station.

You can be be there by four thirty,

'Cause I made your reservation.

Don't be slow, oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

'Cause I'm leavin' in the morning

And I must see you again

We'll have one more night together

'Til the morning brings my train.

And I must go, oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.

Take the last train to Clarksville.

I'll be waiting at the station.

We'll have time for coffee flavored kisses

And a bit of conversation.

Oh... Oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

Take the last train to Clarksville,

Now I must hang up the phone.

I can't hear you in this noisy

Railroad station all alone.

I'm feelin' low. Oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.

Take the last train to Clarksville,

Take the last train to Clarksville,

[repeat and fade]

[2] Betamax:

The first half-inch, analog videocassette recorder (VCR) format, introduced by Sony in 1975 and commonly known as "Beta." The first Betamax cassettes held only one hour of video, but the capacity was subsequently increased to hold an entire movie. Sony later introduced Beta Hi-fi, which improved audio quality, and SuperBeta, which offered a better image.


Beta Vs. VHS


One year after Beta was introduced, the VHS format came out with a slightly larger cassette that held a full movie from the start. VHS began to overtake Beta almost immediately, but for several years, both formats were widely used, and pre-packaged movies were offered in both Beta and VHS. By the late 1980s, Beta had been almost entirely eclipsed by VHS, although Betamax machines were still manufactured by Sony until 2002.


Betamaxed!


The Betamax technology was considered to have superior image quality over VHS, but was hardly noticeable on ordinary home equipment, especially if the recording was done off the air and not from a high-quality master tape. To this day however, "Betamaxed" refers to a superior technology that is overtaken by an inferior one. See VHS, helical scan, Beta/VHS debacle and Betacam.