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

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I name names- Who gave money to pro-slots groups

Baltimore sustainability plan meeting with Sheila Dixon

Water bills and the water bill woman

The Confiscated Assets for Neighborhoods (CAN) grant program bill

Miscellaneous Thanksgiving thoughts

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Sharon Green Middleton

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Separation Of Church And State Does Not Exist In Baltimore

11 comments

April 28, 3:10 AM

by Adam Meister, Baltimore Politics Examiner

Drive around Baltimore and you will notice that there are a lot of churches. Some are in large magnificent buildings while others are in run down storefronts or rowhouses. Most of them are tax exempt in one way or another. Many are considered 501(c)(3) organizations. 501(c)(3) organizations are not allowed to give political endorsements or aid to specific candidates. This law is ignored in Baltimore. Most of the so-called "serious candidates" for local office attend services every Sunday during campaign season. It is an unofficial rule of Baltimore campaigning to befriend as many local pastors (who usually live outside of Baltimore) as possible. They give you the support of their followers and you eventually reward them once you are in power.

I have no problem with churches collecting money to support prayer services and activities that pertain to goodwill, charity, and worship. I do have problems with churches that become huge tax exempt businesses that suck money away from parishioners. I have a problem with religion taking control of government and the elimination of the separation of church and state inside of Baltimore.

Do you find it troubling that supposedly neutral religious institutions yield so much power in a city so desperate for tax revenue?

Here are some interesting links about the power and powerful members of one particular church:

Topics: taxes , Churches , elections

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Comments

I name names- Who gave money to pro-slots groups

3 comments

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

Baltimore sustainability plan meeting with Sheila Dixon

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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

Water bills and the water bill woman

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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

The Confiscated Assets for Neighborhoods (CAN) grant program bill

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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

Miscellaneous Thanksgiving thoughts

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November 27, 2:26 PM

There is supposed to be a massive redevelopment project at the Rotunda in Hampden. It has not started yet though. The developers are not worried about the 800 employees of nearby Zurich leaving. If I was a potential retailer who was looking for space... Read More
Topics: Slots , developers

A sad trip back to my 92Q article

2 comments

November 25, 5:08 PM

Yesterday when I was about to pick up my trash can in the alley behind my house I saw something that made me flashback to the 92Q piece I wrote last week. I saw a kid who was at most ten years old walking quickly down the alley. He would randomly stop... Read More
Topics: drugs , Reservoir Hill , 92Q

Could Stephanie Rawlings-Blake end up Lieutenant Governor?

3 comments

November 25, 8:26 AM

There is a rumor going around that states that Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown is being considered for a spot in the Obama cabinet. If he is selected then Governor Martin O'Malley must pick a person to replace him. On the Baltimore Sun message board... Read More
Topics: Martin O'Malley , Stephanie Rawlings-Blake , Peter Franchot

Ben Cardin emails me back about the bailout after two months

5 comments

November 24, 11:00 AM

At the end of September I wrote Senator Ben Cardin about voting against the trillion dollar bank bailout. On Friday night his office finally wrote me back. The email is below. The email has a lot of words but basically says nothing. Nebulous... Read More
Topics: bailout , Ben Cardin

Section 8 rentals in your neighborhood

9 comments

November 22, 9:43 PM

Many home owners in Baltimore can not stand section 8 renters. Section 8 renters are notoriously horrible neighbors who trash their houses and cause all sorts of disturbances. I know this is not the politically correct thing to say but it is true.... Read More
Topics: developers , section 8