Complaints about Baltimore’s squeegee guys drop significantly; angry letters to this columnist have tapered off, too.

I hear and receive by email a lot of complaints about the Baltimore city government under the administration of Mayor Brandon Scott — that it has experienced too much executive turnover, that it seems too slow to react to problems, that it hasn’t done enough to stem gun violence and support downtown businesses. I agree … Continue reading Complaints about Baltimore’s squeegee guys drop significantly; angry letters to this columnist have tapered off, too.

Discovered: An unpublished short story by James M. Cain

Among the accomplished writers who came from Maryland was James. M. Cain, famously the author of "The Postman Always Rings Twice," "Double Indemnity" and other novels. (That's him in the photo above with actress Lana Turner in 1946 in a Hollywood restaurant.) Now comes news from the Associated Press that a never-published Cain short story, … Continue reading Discovered: An unpublished short story by James M. Cain

The nation could use a Public Service Day, too.

So that Memorial Day does not become “just another day off,” I decided to ponder its origin and meaning.  I heard a TV host say Americans will “celebrate” Memorial Day. I found that jarring. The person who wrote that into the MSNBC script picked the wrong verb. “Observe” would suffice because there’s nothing to “celebrate” … Continue reading The nation could use a Public Service Day, too.

Incentivizing food stamp recipients to make healthy choices

In the process of reporting for my Wednesday column in The Baltimore Sun, I learned about (and made a donation to) the Maryland Market Money program, designed to reward food stamp recipients for choosing to buy healthy, locally grown food at farmers markets.My column is about Andy Harris, the state’s generally awful Republican in Congress, … Continue reading Incentivizing food stamp recipients to make healthy choices

“First, inflict harm” — the motto of the Republican campaign against transgender citizens

At my high school reunion last year, a classmate I knew as Tom showed up as Vivienne and, while there was some surprise in that, we accepted this new reality and moved on. We told stories and laughed and danced to songs from the 70s. I don’t know where my classmates and I came to … Continue reading “First, inflict harm” — the motto of the Republican campaign against transgender citizens

Jamie Raskin’s brilliant response to Republican know-nothings on the matter of armed rebellion

Rep. Jamie Raskin, Democrat from Maryland’s 8th District and a constitutional scholar, used the anniversary of the deadly Oklahoma City terror bombing to respond to claims from wacko Republicans that the Second Amendment gives citizens the right to armed rebellion against the government. His staff issued these prepared marks on Wednesday, 28 years from when … Continue reading Jamie Raskin’s brilliant response to Republican know-nothings on the matter of armed rebellion

Looking for work? Job fair at Pimlico is April 20

The Maryland Jockey Club will host a hiring fair on Thursday, April 20. You can apply for short-term and long-term jobs with Select Event Group, SAFE Management, The Beadle Group, Battle Tested Security, Ridgewells Catering and the Maryland Jockey Club. Representatives from these companies and others will have information about positions open for Preakness weekend … Continue reading Looking for work? Job fair at Pimlico is April 20

Remembering Billy Z: Loud laugh, big heart

His sister-in-law, Teresa, thought this photograph best captured Billy Zinkhan's relationship with the kids he coached in ice hockey. He was one of the first mentors of the Baltimore Saints, the program Teresa and Billy's brother, Jim, established 15 years ago for children with traumatic brain injuries or intellectual disabilities such as autism or Down … Continue reading Remembering Billy Z: Loud laugh, big heart

Thinking of starting a business in Baltimore? Here’s a shot at free rent in the Mural Building, financing and mentoring.

This is an effort to get something going in the Waverly commercial corridor along Greenmount Avenue. My daughter is working on this project. She didn't ask me to, but I’m passing it along: “Root to Success Contest,” part of the Growing Greenmount campaign between 29th and 34th Streets. Winners will receive 12 months of rent-free … Continue reading Thinking of starting a business in Baltimore? Here’s a shot at free rent in the Mural Building, financing and mentoring.

The new patriotism: Being smarter, better informed than those still in Trumpworld

It makes me quite happy to see the U.S. Department of Justice nail hundreds of violent fools and other losers for their Trump-inspired attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. On Friday, a Trump-nominated federal judge sentenced the 25-year-old guy who used a riot shield to crush a D.C. police officer in a … Continue reading The new patriotism: Being smarter, better informed than those still in Trumpworld

Lamentations: A priest and survivor of abuse on what’s been missing in the Church’s response

After the release of the Maryland Attorney General’s depressing report on child sexual abuse by priests and other religious of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, I reached out to Father Gerard McGlone, psychologist, senior research fellow at Georgetown, a Jesuit priest who works with survivors of abuse and a survivor himself.It was too late to incorporate … Continue reading Lamentations: A priest and survivor of abuse on what’s been missing in the Church’s response

“Those who fought for the Union” essay/oratory contest

This stained glass memorial to those who fought for the Union in the Civil War is in Lansdowne Christian Church - Hull Memorial in Baltimore County. Charles Hull, a Civil War veteran and Baltimore real estate investor, gave the building for the church, and each year on the Sunday before Memorial Day the church honors … Continue reading “Those who fought for the Union” essay/oratory contest

This is US: Death by gun more likely than death by motor vehicle

My Sunday column in the Sun is about that horrific fatal accident on the Beltway on Wednesday at 12:40 pm. In gathering thoughts about it, I read up on the probabilities of death in the U.S., as reported by the National Safety Council. It turned up some interesting things — for one, that we are … Continue reading This is US: Death by gun more likely than death by motor vehicle

The worst thing Republicans have done to their own constituents

In their latest collaboration for The Washington Post, Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman suggest political consequences ahead for Republican candidates, such as DeSantis in Florida, who have refused to allow millions of low-income Americans to obtain health insurance through Obamacare. It’s a compelling political point they make, given the popularity of Obamacare and what just … Continue reading The worst thing Republicans have done to their own constituents

Why a Baltimore City Councilman refuses interview with the FOX affiliate here

My column in the Sunday Sun tries to offer context for the decline in student test scores in the wake of the most deadly part of the pandemic, and particularly the distressing lack of math proficiency among Baltimore students. I do this because of what's been airing on the FOX affiliate here and because some … Continue reading Why a Baltimore City Councilman refuses interview with the FOX affiliate here

Looks like the ‘wild’ Youghiogheny River will stay that way

The Garrett County Commissioners on Thursday dealt another blow to a proposed trail along Maryland’s last official “wild river,” asking the state to use the $4.7 million slated for a Youghiogheny River passage to trail systems elsewhere in the western county.The commissioners – Paul C. Edwards, Ryan S. Savage and S. Larry Tichnell – made … Continue reading Looks like the ‘wild’ Youghiogheny River will stay that way

Coming up: Lunchtime Music at Westminster Hall, Baltimore

Westminster Hall Presents: (Re)Emerge with Balance Campaign at Lunch Under the Pipes Thursday, March 2nd, Balance Campaign | Shifting Landscapes featuring violist Kimia Hesabi Amnieh Westminster Hall is proud to welcome back our free lunchtime recital series Lunch Under the Pipes! Join us the first Thursday of each month: March 2nd, April 6th and May 4th for live … Continue reading Coming up: Lunchtime Music at Westminster Hall, Baltimore

Never rooted for a plaintiff in a media defamation case — until Dominion v. Fox “News”

The great fraud that is Fox “News” — a cable propaganda machine posing as a news channel supposedly practicing professional journalism — has been exposed in a legal filing by Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation suit against the Murdoch media machine. Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Rupert Murdoch — they all thought claims … Continue reading Never rooted for a plaintiff in a media defamation case — until Dominion v. Fox “News”

Cassilly withdraws from consideration for an ethics post. That’s good, and here’s why.

My latest column in The Sun went online before the Harford County Council met on Tuesday evening to consider, among other things, the nomination of Joe Cassilly, the elder brother of the new county executive, to a seat on the county’s Board of Ethics. It would be a fine nomination, if you don’t mind the … Continue reading Cassilly withdraws from consideration for an ethics post. That’s good, and here’s why.

Two men named Ryan relate their experiences with dangerous drivers and poor police response

Johnson My weekend column is about a young man named Ryan Johnson, formerly of Baltimore and pre-med studies at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the hit-and-run car crash that, for the time being, has left his dreams for a career in neurosurgery on hold. When he originally contacted me, it was to tell of the accident and … Continue reading Two men named Ryan relate their experiences with dangerous drivers and poor police response

The draft ended 50 years ago. We need a new Selective Public Service.

From The Washington Post: On Jan. 27, 1973, with U.S. involvement in Vietnam over, Defense Secretary Melvin Laird declared the end of the military draft, after 25 uninterrupted years of conscription. “I wish to inform you,” Laird said, “that the Armed Forces henceforth will depend exclusively on volunteer soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.” The decision … Continue reading The draft ended 50 years ago. We need a new Selective Public Service.

Electric Ferries: Not the name of a rock band. A solution to Chesapeake Bay Bridge traffic.

Look at a map of the huge Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and there are numerous places where you could make a crossing by boat in a reasonable amount of time. But since the 1950s, when the first Bay Bridge was completed — the second span opened in 1973 — we’ve been sending all … Continue reading Electric Ferries: Not the name of a rock band. A solution to Chesapeake Bay Bridge traffic.

Overcoming a childhood stutter helped Ben Jealous write his new book about getting past racism

In answering questions about his new book for my Sunday Sun column, Ben Jealous mentioned, as he has on occasion, that he was a stutterer. I remember him talking about this during his unsuccessful run for Maryland governor in 2018, after the incumbent, Republican Larry Hogan, released a negative campaign commercial mocking Jealous for speaking … Continue reading Overcoming a childhood stutter helped Ben Jealous write his new book about getting past racism

In the wee hours, the wee party elects a wee Speaker

In the wee hours of Saturday, the wee Republicans finally voted in a way that the wee-est of them all, Kevin McCarthy, could become Speaker of the House. Having made extraordinary concessions to the crazies and government saboteurs on the extreme right, McCarthy got what he wanted on the 15th ballot after midnight. But McCarthy … Continue reading In the wee hours, the wee party elects a wee Speaker

George Santos: Whatever happened to shame?

George Santos, the New York Republican who was elected in November to Congress, has confirmed some of the key findings of a New York Times investigation that he lied about almost everything -- his education, his employment history, the sources of his income, his ethnic background -- but tried to downplay the misrepresentations and vowed to take … Continue reading George Santos: Whatever happened to shame?