Baltimore's Shadow Government- The Baltimore Development Corporation

August 11, 5:49 PMBaltimore Politics ExaminerAdam Meister

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The Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) is something that many citizens of Baltimore have heard about in passing. Some people call it a quasi-governmental organization while others call it an arm of city government. From the BDC website:

"The City of Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) is a 501(c)(3) corporation contracted with the City of Baltimore to provide economic development services. With a mission to retain and expand existing employers and attract new ones, we work collaboratively within City government, and with private partners, to deliver services that will help your business grow."

From the 11/30/07 Baltimore Sun:

"Baltimore Development Corp. is a nonprofit that holds a contract with the city to craft long-term development strategies and to negotiate with private companies on its behalf. In part because the entity's board is appointed by the mayor, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled last year that the BDC is a public body.

The agency has negotiated some of the city's most significant development deals, including the convention center hotel that is under construction downtown. It is also overseeing the more recent effort to build a new venue to replace the 45-year-old 1st Mariner Arena."

The BDC has used controversial eminent domain methods to acquire property for the greater good of Baltimore.  Does it seem right for a "public" organization that really is a 501(c)(3) corporation to be allowed to go around planning the future of Baltimore and taking buildings away from private owners?  Why can't the city do this on its own?  Why do we need another government (one that is not accountable to the people) to do this?  Where does the BDC get its funding? Couldn't the BDC favor connected developers when it redistributes land and buildings? These are issues that readers of mine have brought up to me. The BDC board and staff is made up of some very well connected individuals.

The BDC is not the only mysterious and seemingly unnecessary quasi-governmental organization in Baltimore. The Midtown Community Benefits District and the Charles Village Community Benefits District are two other groups that come to mind.  Both are partially funded by extra property taxes the city has in these areas.  Recently the city admitted it made a mistake and had been collecting too much money from property owners.  The money is supposed to fund maintenance services for the areas. Of course the city should already be properly maintaining these areas.  Does all the money collected go to maintenance services? If it does not where else is it going?  According to this older article from the City Paper the money is going to quite a few people.

There you have it. I am not a conspiracy kind of guy at all. I think the intent of these groups was probably good.  I just do not see why we need bureaucracies within bureaucracies. Baltimore has a very inefficient bureaucracy, that problem is not solved by creating quasi-governmental bureaucracies within it.  The setup of the BDC makes it especially prone to corruption and favoritism.  Who are all these quasi-governmental groups really accountable to?