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Baltimore Politics Examiner
Showing entries for Category: Martin-OMalley

POSTED July 8, 4:40 PM

Did that headline get your attention? You probably have not had it explained to you like that yet, but it is true.

In 2007 (after the Baltimore Sun did a series about ground rents) the Maryland general assembly abolished the use of ejectment if ground rents were not paid. People can no longer be kicked out of their homes for forgetting to pay $60 or whatever their ground rent may be. No new ground rents can be created. It sounds fair but the story does not end there.

Ground rent owners can still try and collect up to three years of past unpaid ground rents. No legal costs can be assessed to the home owner now. So let's say a home owner has not paid his yearly ground rent of $120 for three years. The ground rent owner can try and collect the $360 owed to them but the legal fees to do so will most likely cost $500 or more and make it completely not worth it. Most ground rents are $120 or less.

So because of an article in the Baltimore Sun the general assembly destroyed the rights of ground rent owners (I am not saying that is a bad thing). From what I have heard a lot of home owners are catching on to this and are not paying ground rents. Ground rent owners (many of whom are senior citizens) are infuriated at the Governor and are feeling quite helpless since their retirement income producing assets are now basically worthless. It is amazing what one article in a newspaper can bring about. I think our politicians should learn a lesson from all this.

There is a lawsuit to get the state of Maryland to compensate ground rent owners and buy back the ground rents. I do not have a lot of information on this case. The last I heard the case had been remanded from federal court back to state court

Categories: Martin O'Malley , Ground Rents

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Ronald Lipscomb Political Contributions And More

POSTED June 25, 2:50 PM

I am sure many of you are curious about the specific political contributions that Doracon, Ronald Lipscomb, and Dennis Cullop made. I have listed them below. For those of you who have not been paying attention Ron Lipscomb is head of Doracon and Dennis Cullop works for Doracon. These are three of the major players in the Mayor Dixon investigation. As you will see below they give a lot of money to a lot of people. See if your councilperson or delegate is listed!

Candidates Account	Contributor Name(Address)	Amount	Date Received	Contribution Type
Branch, Talmadge Friends of	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchelville, MD, 20721)	$500.00	11/11/1999	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Conway, Joan Carter Committee To Elect	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$500.00	10/10/2000	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Currie, Ulysses Friends Of	Ronald Lipscomb ( 12507 Pleasant Prospect Road, Mitchellville, MD, 20721-2520)	$1,500.00	01/08/2007	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Curry, Wayne For Maryland Committee	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Drive , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$1,000.00	05/24/2001	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Dixon, Sheila Friends For	RONALD LIPSCOMB (1607 PEBBLE BEACH DR. , MITCHELLVILLE, MD, 20721)	$2,000.00	06/16/2003	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Hendershot, Tom Campaign Committee	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Drive , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$100.00	08/26/1999	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Hill, Kerry Friends of	Ronald Lipscomb (5600 Pebble Beach Dr , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$250.00	09/17/1999	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Holton, Helen Citizens For	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$1,000.00	07/25/2003	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Johnson, Jack Friends Of	RONALD LIPSCOMB (1607 PEBBLE BEACH DR , MITCHELLVILLE, MD, 20721)	$1,000.00	05/01/2003	Individual Remarks: CONTRIBUTION-B'DAY FUNDRAISER
Jones, Verna L. Friends of	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$1,000.00	01/13/2004	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Jones, Verna L. Friends of	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$500.00	12/07/2000	Ticket purchases by Individuals
Muse, C. Anthony Friends Of	RONALD LIPSCOMB (12507 PLEASANT PROSPECT RD , MITCHELLVILLE, MD, 20721-2520)	$2,000.00	01/04/2007	Individual Remarks: CK#632 301-390-1858
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Ronald Lipscomb (12507 Pleasant Prospect Rd , Bowie, MD, 20721-2520)	$4,000.00	01/08/2007	Individual
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$100.00	08/26/2003	Individual
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$1,000.00	04/25/2001	Ticket purchases by Individuals
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$2,000.00	11/18/1999	Individual
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$500.00	10/22/1999	Individual
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$1,000.00	10/22/1999	Individual
Rawlings, Pete Friends Of	Ronald Lipscomb (1607 Pebble Beach Dr. , Mitchellville, MD, 20721)	$2,000.00	01/06/2003	Individual
Townsend, Kathleen Kennedy Friends Of	Lump Sum (1607 Pebble Beach Drive , Mitchellville, MD, 20721-)	$1,000.00	11/17/1999	Individual
Branch, Talmadge Friends of	Dennis Cullop (9513 Oak Branch Way , Baltimore, MD, 21236)	$1,000.00	01/09/2007	Individual
Branch, Talmadge Friends of	Dennis Cullop (9513 Oak Branch Way , Baltimore, MD, 21236)	$1,000.00	10/02/2001	Individual
Dixon, Sheila Friends For	Dennis Cullop (9513 Oakbranch Way , Nottingham, MD, 21236)	$500.00	04/12/2007	Individual
Harris, Kenneth Sr. Citizens For	Dennis Cullop (9513 Oak Branch Way , Baltimore, MD, 21236)	$1,000.00	07/15/2003	Individual Remarks: Fundraiser
McFadden, Nathaniel J. for Senate	DENNIS CULLOP (9513 OAK BRANCH WAY , BALTIMORE, MD, 21236)	$1,500.00	01/13/2004	Ticket purchases by Individuals
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Dennis Cullop (9513 Oak Branch Way , Baltimore, MD, 21236)	$1,000.00	06/20/2005	Individual
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Dennis Cullop (9513 Oak Branch Way , Baltimore, MD, 21236)	$1,000.00	01/08/2004	Ticket purchases by Individuals
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Dennis Cullop (9513 Oak Branch Way , Baltimore, MD, 21236)	$1,500.00	04/17/2002	Ticket purchases by Individuals Remarks: TS Lipscomb
Rawlings-Blake, Stephanie For Baltimore	Dennis Cullop (9513 Oakbranch way , Nottingham, MD, 21236)	$500.00	08/30/2007	Individual
Townsend, Kathleen Kennedy Friends Of	Dennis Cullop (9513 Oakbranch Way , Baltimore, MD, 21236-)	$1,000.00	12/12/2001	Individual
Townsend, Kathleen Kennedy Friends Of	Lump Sum (9513 Oakbranch Way , Baltimore, MD, 21236-)	$1,000.00	12/04/2000	Individual
Anne Arundel Democratic Senatorial Committee Slate	DORACON CONTRACTING INC. (3500 EAST BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$500.00	11/28/2000	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
B.U.I.L.D. Building Unions Individual Labor Donations PAC	Doracon Contracting Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$2,000.00	05/15/2007	Business Entity Remarks: Golf Tournament
Baker, Rushern III Friends Of-Comm For Pol Change (CPC)	Doracon Contracting Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$1,500.00	06/26/2001	Business Entity
Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee	Doracon Contracting Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$500.00	03/23/2004	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Branch, Talmadge Friends of	Doracon Development LLC (3500 Biddle St , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$3,560.00	01/10/2006	Business Entity
Branch, Talmadge Friends of	Doracon Contracting Inc (3500 Biddle St , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$1,000.00	10/02/2001	Business Entity
Busch, Mike Friends Of	DORACON CONTRACTING INC. (3500 EAST BIDDLE ST. , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$1,000.00	07/19/2006	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Busch, Mike Friends Of	DORACON CONTRACTING INC. (3500 EAST BIDDLE ST. , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$1,000.00	11/04/2003	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Community Coalition Advocacy Slate	Doracon Contracting of D. C., Inc. (313 Parkland Place, SE , Washington, DC, 20032)	$500.00	02/09/2004	Business Entity
Curran, Bob Friends Of	Doracon Contracting of D.C. Inc. (313 Parkland Place SE , Washington, DC, 20032)	$1,500.00	08/27/2003	Business Entity
Currie, Ulysses Friends Of	Doracon Contracting Inc. ( 3500 E. Biddle Street, Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$2,000.00	01/08/2007	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Currie, Ulysses Friends Of	Doracon Contracting of DC., Inc. (313 Parkland Place, SE , Washington, DC, 20032)	$750.00	12/17/2003	Business Entity
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	Doracon Contracting Inc (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$25,000.00	09/27/2007	Business Entity/administrative
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	Doracon Development LLC (3500 E Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$30,000.00	05/18/2007	Business Entity/administrative
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	Doracon Development LLC (3500 E Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$50,000.00	08/01/2006	Business Entity/administrative
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	Doracon Contracting Inc (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$11,000.00	02/14/2006	Business Entity/administrative
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	Doracon Contracting Inc (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$25,000.00	02/14/2006	Business Entity/administrative
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	Doracon Contracting Inc (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$10,000.00	10/14/2005	Business Entity
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	Doracon Contracting Inc (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$10,000.00	09/24/2004	Business Entity/administrative
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	Doracon Contracting Inc (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$15,000.00	07/15/2003	Business Entity/administrative
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	DORACON CONTRACTING (ADMIN) (1025 CONNETICUT AVENUE, NW , WASHINGTON, DC, 20036)	$5,000.00	09/24/2002	Business Entity
Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland	Doracon Contracting Inc. (ADMIN.) (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$10,000.00	01/28/2001	Business Entity
Democrats 2000 Slate	Doracon Contracting Inc. (6045 Belle Grove Road , Baltimore, MD, 21225)	$2,000.00	05/26/1999	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Dixon, Sheila Friends For	DORACON CONTRG INC (3500 E. BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$500.00	10/26/2004	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Dixon, Sheila Friends For	DORACON CONTRG INC (3500 E. BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$1,000.00	03/23/2004	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Dixon, Sheila Friends For	DORACON CONTRG INC (3500 E. BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$2,000.00	06/16/2003	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Dixon, Sheila Friends For	DORACON CONTRG INC (3500 E. BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$2,000.00	10/30/2001	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Franchot, Peter Friends Of	DorACON Development, LLC (3500 E Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$3,000.00	01/05/2007	Business Entity
Green, Eugene Committee To Elect	DORACON CONTRACTING INC. (3500 EAST BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$200.00	01/18/2000	Business Entity
Hill, Kerry Friends of	Doracon Contracting Inc (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$1,000.00	10/27/2001	Business Entity
Holton, Helen Citizens For	Doracon Contracting of DC, Inc. (313 Parkland Place, SE , Washington, DC, 20032)	$1,000.00	04/10/2003	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Ivey, Glenn Friends Of	Doracon Contracting, Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$250.00	07/07/2004	Business Entity
Jacobs, Jeana Citizens For	Doracon Contracting of D.C., Inc. (641 Pennsylvania Ave. , S.E. Washington, DC, 20003)	$1,000.00	08/09/2006	Business Entity
Johnson, Jack Friends Of	DORACON CONTRACTING INC (3500 EAST BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$750.00	05/01/2003	Business Entity Remarks: CONTRIBUTION-B'DAY FUNDRAISER
Jones, Verna L. Friends of	Doracon Contracting of DC INC (1025 Conneticut Ave. N.W., Suite 1012 , Washington, DC, 20036)	$500.00	01/07/2003	Business Entity
Jones, Verna L. Friends of	Doracon Contracting (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$500.00	01/10/2002	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Lawlah, Gloria Friends Of	Doracon Contracting of D.C.,INC (1025 Conneticut Avenue, N.W. , Washington, DC, 20036)	$1,000.00	01/07/2003	Business Entity
Leggett, Isiah Ike Friends Of	Doracon Development of Puerto Rico LLC (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$2,000.00	08/02/2007	Business Entity
Leggett, Isiah Ike Friends Of	Doracon Development of Puerto Rico LLC (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$2,000.00	08/02/2007	Business Entity
Leopold, John Campaign Committee	Doracon Contracting, Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$4,000.00	09/15/2007	Business Entity
Marriott, Salima Siler Campaign Committee	Doracon Contracting, Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$1,000.00	06/05/2003	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Marriott, Salima Siler Campaign Committee	Doracon Contracting, Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$1,000.00	01/07/2002	Business Entity
McFadden, Nathaniel J. for Senate	DORACON DEVELOPMENT, LLC (3500 E BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$500.00	01/10/2006	Business Entity
McFadden, Nathaniel J. for Senate	DORACON CONTRACTING INC. (3500 EAST BIDDLE ST , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$228.00	11/05/2003	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
McFadden, Nathaniel J. for Senate	DORACON CONTRACTING INC. (3500 EAST BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$250.00	08/01/2000	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Miller, Mike Marylanders For	DORACON CONTRACTING OF D.C., INC. (3 PARKLAND PL, SE , WASHINGTON, DC, 20032)	$1,000.00	01/13/2004	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Mitchell, Clarence M. IV Friends Of	DORACON CONTRACTING, INC. (3500 EAST BIDDLE STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$200.00	05/15/2000	Business Entity
Mitchell, Keiffer Jackson Jr. Friends Of	Doracon Contracting, Inc. (3500 E.Biddle St. , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$250.00	10/04/2004	Business Entity
Muse, C. Anthony Friends Of	DORACON DEVELOPMENT, LLC (3500 E. BIDDLE ST. , BALTIMORE, MD, 21213)	$3,000.00	01/04/2007	Business Entity Remarks: CK#1335
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Doracon Development of Puerto Rico (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$4,000.00	01/08/2007	Business Entity
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Doracon Contracting, Inc. (3500 East Biddle St. , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$1,000.00	10/20/2004	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Doracon Contracting Inc. (3500 East Biddle St. , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$70.00	03/26/2003	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
O'Malley, Martin Friends Of	Doracon Contracting Inc. (3500 East Biddle St. , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$2,000.00	04/25/2001	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Patterson, Obie Committee To Elect	Doracon Contracting of DC, Inc (1025 Conn Ave Suite 1012, Washington, DC, 20036)	$500.00	01/03/2003	Business Entity Remarks: Contribution
Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee	Doracon Contracting (6045 Belle Grove Rd. , Baltimore, MD, 21225)	$625.00	05/19/1999	Business Entity
Rawlings-Blake, Stephanie Friends Of	Doracon Contracting Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$500.00	08/14/2003	Business Entity
Reisinger, Edward L. Friends Of	Doracon Contracting Inc. (3500 E. Biddle St. , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$100.00	04/10/2003	Business Entity Remarks: Guest Sponsor
Riddick, Major Friends Of	Doracon Contracting, Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$2,500.00	10/16/2001	Business Entity
Sfikas, (Perry) Friends Of	Doracon Contracting, Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$2,000.00	10/16/2001	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Smith, Jim Friends Of	Doracon Development, LLC (3500 East Biddle St. , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$4,000.00	12/09/2005	Business Entity
Swain, Darren M. Friends Of/Visionaries 2000	Doracon Contracting Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$1,000.00	10/14/2001	Business Entity
Tarrant, Shawn Friends Of	Doracon Contracting Company (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$500.00	09/05/2003	Business Entity
Unity Slate	Doracon Contracting of D.C., Inc (313 Parkland Place SW , Washington, DC, 20032)	$1,000.00	10/16/2003	Business Entity
Vision For 2006 Slate	Doracon Contracting Inc. (3500 East Biddle Street , Baltimore, MD, 21213)	$500.00	11/17/2003	Ticket purchases by Business Entity Remarks: FALL FUNDRAISER-JACK JOHNSON
Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	DORACON DEVELOPMENT OF PUERTO RICO (6045 BELLE GROVE RD , BALTIMORE, MD, 21225)	$4,000.00	09/27/2006	Business Entity
Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	DORACON CONTRACTING INC (6045 BELLE GROVE ROAD , BALTIMORE, MD, 21225)	$1,000.00	09/05/2003	Business Entity
Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	DORACON CONTRACTING INC (6045 BELLE GROVE ROAD , BALTIMORE, MD, 21225)	$500.00	09/28/2001	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	DORACON CONTRACTING INC (6045 BELLE GROVE ROAD , BALTIMORE, MD, 21225)	$300.00	01/11/1999	Business Entity

Categories: Jack Young , Martin O'Malley , Helen Holton , Sheila Dixon , Ronald Lipscomb , Doracon

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Company Involved In Gambling Bust Contributed To These Politicians

POSTED May 22, 10:44 AM

Apparently the owner of a company that had about 150 "gaming machines" in numerous locations in Baltimore County gave close to $40,000 to local politicians including Gov. Martin O'Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and Mayor Sheila Dixon. Those three leaders are thinking about returning the contributions now. Below is a list of Baltimore City Council related politicians who have received money from Carbond. Jack Young and Bob Curran show up yet again...

Candidates Account	Contributor Name(Address)	Amount	Date Received	Contribution Type
Curran, Bob Friends Of	Carbond Inc. t/a Bayside Vending (5501 Pulaski Highway , Baltimore, MD, 21205)	$200.00	08/30/2003	Business Entity
D'Adamo, Nick Jr. Friends Of Councilman	CARBOND INC (5501 PULASKI HWY , BALTIMORE, MD, 21205)	$250.00	11/12/2001	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Holton, Helen Citizens For	Carbond, Inc (5501 Pulaski Hwy , Baltimore, MD, 21205)	$500.00	04/21/2007	Ticket purchases by Business Entity
Kraft, Jim Friends Of	CARBOND, INC (5501 PULASKI HIGHWAY , BALTIMORE, MD, 21205)	$500.00	08/17/2007	Business Entity
Mitchell, Keiffer Jackson Jr. Friends Of	Carbond, Inc (5501 Pulaski Highway , Baltimore, MD, 21205)	$1,000.00	08/11/2003	Business Entity
Pugh, Catherine E. Committee to Elect	CARBOND INC (5501 PULASKI HIGHWAY , BALTIMORE, MD, 21205)	$100.00	08/22/2003	Business Entity
Rawlings-Blake, Stephanie 2007	CARBOND,INC. (5501 Pulaski Highway , Baltimore, MD, 21205)	$500.00	08/28/2007	Business Entity
Reisinger, Edward L. Friends Of	Carbond, Inc. (5501 Pulaski Highway , Baltimore, MD, 21205)	$500.00	04/11/2007	Business Entity Remarks: Patron sponsor
Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	CARBOND, INC (5501 PULASKI HIGHWAY , BALTIMORE, MD, 21205)	$500.00	01/13/2006	Business Entity
Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	CARBOND, INC (5501 PULASKI HIGHWAY , BALTIMORE, MD, 21205)	$1,000.00	05/20/2005	Business Entity

Categories: Jack Young , elections , Edward Reisinger , Jim Kraft , Martin O'Malley , Robert Curran , Helen Holton

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Downtown Baltimore's West Side And The Light Rail Double Stabbing

POSTED May 9, 3:43 PM

On Wednesday there was a double stabbing that took place on Howard street near the light rail stop according to WJZ TV. You can view the attack here. If you go to the 35 second point in the video you can clearly see the luxury Centerpoint apartment complex in the background. So the attack just did not happen on Howard street, it took place in front of one of the showpieces of the so-called West Side redevelopment in the middle of the day.

Since the 1990's we have been told by those in power that the west side of downtown was on the verge of a renaissance. Favored developers were sold city owned property at discounted rates and a few tall buildings sprang up while most of the property stood vacant. Speculators flocked in because of the hype and most of the smaller buildings are in worse shape than they were in the 1990's. The area has been highly touted in many publications yet on the ground on most blocks little has changed. In fact it can be downright dreamlike to walk from one block that is falling apart to the next that has some out of place new apartment building on it.

Building a few new buildings, renaming an area, and creating mass speculation does not cure urban ills as the video shows. Baltimore jumps ahead of itself a lot. Those in charge should have tried to fill up the small storefronts and houses with people who could afford them before they went out and built large luxury apartment buildings. These apartment buildings have become fortresses in the middle of troubled blocks. A fortress may be pretty on the outside when viewed from a certain angle but it solves no problem and creates no renaissance.

Categories: crime , Martin O'Malley , west side , developers

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Welcome To The Machine

POSTED May 5, 4:23 PM

On Thursday I ran in to a hardcore Michael Sarbanes supporter. We talked about life and a little bit about politics. He mentioned how Baltimore is a machine city. He was basically saying that in the 2007 election it was a very good idea to be associated with the Dixon team in some way (Sarbanes was not and he did not win). You can actually trace the roots even deeper. I did some research to find out what campaigns received contributions from Friends of Martin O'Malley. I have noticed that certain people immediately think higher of you if you have the blessings of O'Malley. Many people blindly vote for who O'Malley tells them to.

Of the fifteen people including Council President Dixon who were part of the council prior to 2007, thirteen of them had at one time received contributions from Friends of Martin O'Malley. Nick D'Adamo and Belinda Conaway were the only members not to receive O'Malley money. The current council has a few new people, but out of them only Nick D'Adamo, Belinda Conaway, Warren Branch, and Bill Henry did not receive funds from Friends of Martin O'Malley.

So clearly it pays off to seek the support of the Governor and to join his machine. In my eyes there is something very respectable about attaining office without being part of the machine. Out of the four people that did not receive O'Malley financial aid one clearly rises to the top. I think all of you should seek out and meet Bill Henry of the 4th district. I don't even want to call him a politician because he is just a real person that is honest, smart, and nice. He is also one of the few full-time members of city council (most collect $57,000 of your tax money a year by making city council a part time job!). Today I am proud to be the first journalist or pseudo-journalist (no way am I a real journalist!) to proclaim that not only should Bill Henry be our future mayor but he should be our current mayor! Keep an eye on him.

Categories: City Council , Bill Henry , Martin O'Malley

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Adam Meister
Adam Meister's scribe spreads his innate enthusiasm for all things Baltimore--and, in particular, the political inner workings of his beloved hometown.