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Adam Meister

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

Baltimore to start a car-sharing business
Maryland State Police should come to Baltimore
A sad fact about Baltimore police officers
I name names- Who gave money to pro-slots groups
Baltimore sustainability plan meeting with Sheila Dixon
Patricia Jessamy
Sheila Dixon
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    Wall Street Journal Opinion Piece Says To Lower Property Taxes

    July 6, 11:53 PM
     
     
    I just read this piece in the Wall Street Journal.  It uses some harsh words to describe Baltimore but it does make some good points.  I liked this quote:

    "True enough, the ability to hand out subsidies gives officials great power. But it also gives them a reason, and incentive, to dismiss the common sense that if tax breaks for the well-connected are a good idea, lower tax rates across the board would lead to broad-based redevelopment."

    Our leaders give tremendous tax breaks and discounts to developers (who sometimes buy them shoes) and then promise us 2-cent property tax cuts that never come.  The average citizen needs a property tax break before there are no average citizens left!

    On a related note, Councilman Bill Cole sent this email out on June 16th:

    "As you may have read in the Sun recently, I have been working to find a way to pay for the 2 cent property tax decrease that had been promised to Baltimore residents for 2008. Although I do support Mayor Dixon in her work to move Baltimore forward and I respect her safety, green, and clean initiatives, I cannot support her decision to postpone the planned two-cent property tax decrease this year. After a careful analysis of the proposed city budget, I determined that we could make specific budget cuts that would allow us to keep the promised property tax reduction without affecting city services.

    After conversations with my Council colleagues, the Administration, and the Council President, it was abundantly clear that there would not be 8 votes to support my amendment to reduce the tax rate.  In fact, the only amendment to the budget related to a tax cut garnered two votes, one of which was mine.

    Recognizing that we will have a critical problem in this City if we do not immediately address the burdensome property tax rate, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced today the creation of a Council Committee on Property Tax Reduction.  I will be chairing this new committee which will also include the Chair of the Budget Committee, Jack Young, and the Chair of the Taxation Committee, Helen Holton."
    Excluding the comments about Dixon, this is a good email.  I don't think I have ever read an email from a city official that mentioned "budget cuts".  Jim Kraft was the other councilman who joined Bill Cole in supporting the tax cutting related amendment  by the way.  I really hope this new committee comes up with some  tax cutting ideas and moves forward in implementing them.  I hope the process is not a sham like the blue ribbon panel ended up being (the members of that panel may have had good intentions but I feel the Mayor used it for an election year stunt).  Since Bill Cole is in charge (and not Jack Young) I have confidence that something new and productive actually may come out of this.
    Topics: taxes , Jack Young , Bill Cole
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    More from Baltimore Politics Examiner

    Baltimore to start a car-sharing business

    December 4, 1:42 PM
    The other day the Sun reported that the city of Baltimore wants to start a non-profit car-sharing service. The for-profit company ZipCar already operates a car-sharing business in Baltimore and did not think it was a good idea to expand. So Baltimore... Read More
    Topics: $5 Gas , Baltimore City
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    Maryland State Police should come to Baltimore

    December 3, 2:22 PM
    We are all familiar with the Maryland State Police. They are the state troopers we see parked along the highway ready to give us a speeding ticket. You may not know this but Maryland State Police do not patrol in Baltimore city. There are bureaucratic... Read More
    Topics: crime , police
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    A sad fact about Baltimore police officers

    December 2, 8:23 AM
    Last night I was speaking with a veteran Baltimore police officer. Baltimore residents often wonder why some police officers seem to be so friendly with some drug dealers. There have been instances where residents of my neighborhood have witnessed officers... Read More
    Topics: drugs , police
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    I name names- Who gave money to pro-slots groups

    December 1, 12:01 PM
    For the last few months I have been talking about how the pro-slots people would raise a lot more money than the anti-slots people. The Sun reports that this is exactly what happened.  Below is a list of entities that gave more than $3000 to... Read More
    Topics: Slots , Peter Angelos
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    Baltimore sustainability plan meeting with Sheila Dixon

    November 30, 11:37 PM
    Check out this bureaucratic chart.  We sure do have a lot of departments and offices.  The office of sustainability is part of the department of planning.  It is new and somewhat ambiguous.  Below is an email I received last week... Read More
    Topics: Sheila Dixon , Office of Sustainability
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    Water bills and the water bill woman

    November 29, 4:16 PM
     Water bills infuriate many citizens of Baltimore every 3 months or so.  A water bill is one of the most frustrating aspects of Baltimore city living.  The water billing process is mysterious and for some it seems to be random.  If... Read More
    Topics: Jack Young , water bills
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    The Confiscated Assets for Neighborhoods (CAN) grant program bill

    November 28, 12:27 PM
    The following email from Bill Henry is floating around cyberspace. I thought I would share it: "I am writing to ask you to support my Confiscated Assets for Neighborhoods (CAN) grant program bill, which is currently being considered by the City... Read More
    Topics: Bill Henry
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