Council should oppose lifting Metro Centre project limits

Suburbanites have good reason to avoid Baltimore

After reading Dan Rodricks' column on Thursday ("Conflicting realities collide downtown," May 24), I felt compelled to speak for myself and many others residing in the suburbs.

Red Sox fan: Why isn't Baltimore turning out to watch its great baseball team?

I am a Red Sox fan (I now live in New England), by way of having been a Braves fan (they were the team of the deep South in the '70s) , by way of having been a Brooklyn Dodgers fan as a very young child (their enemy was the Yankees, and they hired Jackie Robinson).

Get to the ballpark, O's fans, you're in first place

As a serious fan of the last place Red Sox, I have been appalled to see the size of the crowds at Orioles' games (16,000 or fewer during their recent series with the Sox). It's downright disrespectful to provide a good, young and first place team who are playing attractive baseball with so little...

McDonough has the guts to tell the truth

I agree with Del Pat McDonough for telling it like it is ("Baltimore and bigotry," May 22). He is the only delegate who has the guts to tell the truth. He was just calling it as it was.

Citizens United was no mistake

My response to your editorial "Citizens United II" (May 22) is get real. Do you really think that the justices "fail to grasp that spending by a super PAC on behalf of candidates amounts to something little different than giving them money directly," or, "surely the justices are capable of...

Journalists need to find the truth of Romney's record at Bain

I agree with The Sun's recent position on the relevance of Governor Romney's experience at Bain Capital to the presidential race that's already underway ("The Bain of Romney's campaign," May 22), but the methodology is curious. Asking Mr. Romney to give us his version of how Bain helped create...

Harbor disturbance exposed the myth of the 'two Baltimores'

I happened to be downtown onSt. Patrick's Dayand saw roving bands of kids, mostly black, bunching up on street corners. When approached by a group of cops, they would squeal in delight and run off to another corner, only to repeat the ritual a few minutes later. The rules of the game seemed to be...

Md. casinos: Five is enough

As a sometime visitor to Atlantic City casinos because of rebates, comps and free rooms, I know Maryland has to find a better way to get better activity than building more casinos. Just look at Atlantic City and its struggle with the casinos it has. There are too many and volume of gambling is...

Md. Democrats have no shame

Enough is enough. Partisan politics in Maryland has hit an all-time low. As Maryland is hurling headlong into financial ruin, the working, legal resident taxpayers are being taxed to the hilt. Both parties have their collective heads in the sand or at least their party leaders can't see the...

McDonough a victim of political correctness

Del. Pat McDonough is a profile in courage, a man of honor who believes in God, the Ten Commandments and the Constitution, who takes his job seriously, who recognizes crises and offers viable solutions. He is a man of character, principle and leadership ability. Yet The Sun has vilified such a man...

Want to reduce injury? Ban smoking

In addition to the 10 measures outlined in the article, "Injury-prevention laws save lives, study says," (May 23), I believe a ban on smoking in Maryland is also a no-brainer.

Obama's record is fair game too

Your editorial on Mitt Romney's relationship to the private equity firm Bain Capital was not bad ("The Bain of Romney's candidacy," May 23).

Baltimore and Preakness go together

In response to the Preakness Stakes visitor who held that Baltimore and Pimlico Race Course were substandard ("Baltimore, Pimlico not worthy of the Triple Crown," May 23): Grow up! Baltimore, Pimlico,...

Camden Yards and Red Sox nation

For the past 20 years, Baltimore has played host to the legions of fans who descend upon our Oriole Park at Camden Yards. For those same 20 years, we have endured many a losing series...

Maryland, land of 'progressive' taxation

We taxpayers should be so very proud of our state leaders as evidenced by the increasingly frequent national attention given to the ineptitude of the Maryland General Assembly. Most recently, The Wall Street Journal highlights Gov.Martin O'Malley as the king of progressive taxation.

It's Obama who doesn't separate church from state

In response to the letter from Arthur Pierce of Randallstown ("Obama: good president, bad theologian," May 23), I would agree that voters should respect the intent of the Founding Fathers to keep separate matters of state from matters of religion.

Libraries have become like Bingo halls

When did our public libraries become more like Bingo halls?

Klingaman's top 175

It would appear that Mike Klingaman already tried to avoid the unavoidable controversy of his selection of Maryland's greatest athletes when he indicated that he probably missed another 175 deserving athletes and that he was assisted by input from...

The Sun's bigotry and bias

Though I am not a supporter of Del. Pat McDonough, I must say your editorial "Baltimore and bigotry" (May 18) shows the hypocrisy on your part. Why is it relevant that children being harassed at their school because their father is a controversial landlord can have their parent described someone...

McDonough deserves praise for speaking truth

I am a huge supporter of Pat McDonough and The Sun is ripping him apart for the truth he states ("Baltimore and bigotry," May 18). I read another article recently in your paper that now after Mr. McDonough brought this situation out in the open, MayorStephanie Rawlings-Blakeis going to add...

McDonough told it like it is

State Del. Pat McDonough was right to complain about violence among black youths at the Inner Harbor over theSt. Patrick's Day weekend, and it took his words to get Baltimore City MayorStephanie Rawlings-Blake to visit the harbor months after the problem arose.

Md. voters will decide whether to allow same-sex marriage

I suggest that The Sun and the Maryland Court of Appeals of Maryland are in too much haste to agree with a too-loud, aggressive minority ("Another boost for same-sex marriage," May 21). The grant of a divorce for a same-sex couple who had married out-of-state was premature and wrong. Admittedly,...

Vans for the disabled are an expensive, unnecessary luxury

The Metropolitan Transit Authority's mobility program for the disabled looks like an expensive and unnecessary luxury. On a recent 20-minute trip to West Baltimore I spotted three of these vans that were either empty or had only a single passenger.

Not many 'likes' for Facebook IPO

Kevin Kallaugher's depiction of new investors in Facebook essentially as being sheep waiting to be sheared ("Standing between Fortune and Chaos," May 20) was right on the mark. Despite a reported 900 million participants in Facebook, but with only $5 in revenue for each participant, the price-to-...

Restore Mt. Vernon, but save the trees

Your editorial on the restoration of historic Mt. Vernon revealed The Sun's lack intimacy with this issue ("Restoring Mount Vernon," May 14). The Mount Vernon Conservancy's plan for removing the site's trees is out of touch and ignores the environmental problems we face.

Sun's racial hypocrisy is showing again

The recent editorial "Baltimore and bigotry" *May 18) regarding Del. Pat McDonough was by far the most hypocritical thing I have ever encountered in The Sun.

Smart meter hysteria

The irony of the current BGE Smart Meter controversy is delicious: Here's a publicly traded company that wants to use technology to improve its business, but conservative extremists are pleading with the government they hate so much to intercede ("Smart meters are dangerous," March 26). "Smaller...

Top 175 athletes list left a few out

Congrats to Mike Klingaman and staff at The Sun for the job they did in compiling the top 175 greatest athletes in Maryland history. I noticed several glaring omissions, however.

Health care mandate shouldn't just concern Catholics

The Sun believes Baltimore's new archbishop, William E. Lori, will be challenged by "far more pressing" social concerns than those posed by Barack Obama's health care mandate ("A new archbishop," May 20).

Md. transportation at a crossroads

The quiet, staggering problem at the center of the General Assembly's gasoline tax debate was this: Maryland does not have the money to maintain our transportation system ("Unfinished business," May 16).

How does stating facts make Pat McDonough racist?

Assuming that it's true that "roving mobs of black youth" terrorize Baltimore, why should Del. Pat McDonough apologize for saying so ("Baltimore and bigotry," May 18)?

Bike lane near Lyric a danger

I enjoy biking short distances and am grateful that there are more bike lanes making it safer to ride on city streets. I also enjoy attending performances at the Modell Lyric, which has recently completed multi-million dollar renovations to efficiently accommodate a broader range of shows, including...

The word 'marriage' matters

In regard to the issue of same-sex marriage, there are really only two defining aspects to the core discussion, and which of these two you choose to focus upon will ultimately determine your final position, regardless of religious or political affiliation. Religion holds far less significance in...

On Preakness day, Baltimore is first class

Baltimore Baby! I was so proud how the Maryland Jockey Club had fixed up Pimlico for the Preakness. Every building, every railing and sign — all were freshly painted with magnificent yellow flowers everywhere! Baltimore is first class!

McDonough is right: Race is relevant

Do I want to know whether the mob was black or white ("Baltimore and bigotry," May 18)? You're damn right I do. Race is not irrelevant. City officials have been withholding vital information from the public for years. The inner harbor is not the safe place it use to be. Condemn the crime, not the...

Sun forgets Morgan track stars in 175 athletes list

Putting together a historical list of the most outstanding athletes in Maryland history could not have been an easy task. But leaving out Morgan State University track legends George Rhoden and Art Bragg was a real stunner. Rhoden, one of the finest 400 meter runners of all time, won the gold in...

Matte deserved a spot on the 175 athletes list

Helen Delich Bentley is right on point in criticizing the omission of Tom Matte from The Sun's historical list of outstanding Maryland athletes ("Tom Matte deserves spot on greatest list," May 15).

Baltimore, Pimlico not worthy of the Triple Crown

My first visit to Pimlico Race Course for the 137th Preakness Stakes amazed me, but not in a good way. I don't understand how such a rundown horse racing establishment can actually be the second jewel...

Focus on the Preakness, not the Grand Prix

If only Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blakewould stop obsessing on the Baltimore Grand Prix and focus more energy and attention on Pimlico and the Preakness, life in the city would indeed be "grand" (no pun intended).

Md. K-12: Criticism easy, reform ideas scarce

David Anderson and Herbert Walberg's commentary ("Are Md. schools really No. 1?" May 20) ignores the Maryland taxpayers and elected officials who have invested in Maryland's education programs from pre-K to higher education; the professional educators and staff who have turned that investment into...

Md. tobacco tax will save lives

As Gov.Martin O'Malleysigns into law the revenue measure passed during the recent special session, most of the attention will be on the income tax changes in the bill. Also in the new law will be an historic and life-saving increase in our state's tax on little cigars and smokeless tobacco.

Sun list of top Md. athletes left out Joe Seivold, the greatest lacrosse player of all time

I find it incredible that Joe Seivold, touted by Sports Illustrated magazine in 1958 as "possibly the greatest lacrosse player to ever play the game," was not included in your list of the 175 top Maryland athletes ("The top 175," May 17).

How about a Baltimore-brewed Natty Boh?

There has been a lot of talk about beer in The Sun recently — news of bar openings, microbreweries setting up shop, even an article about how the owner of National Bohemian helped bring the Orioles to town ("Beer, baseball and Baltimore," May 16). But what about National Bohemian, that...

Baltimore County makes damaging cuts to Medicaid program

Either County Councilman David Marks and county Chief of Staff Don Mohler are untruthful or they are sadly misinformed about the Baltimore County budget ("Balto. Co. Council poised to adopt 'bare-bones budget,'" May 17). The county is laying off the entire staff of the Medicaid Waiver Program.

Danger of lead demands vigilance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's decision to lower the standard for blood lead toxicity to 5 micrograms per deciliter was based on accumulated evidence that even the lowest levels of lead have devastating effects on the developing nervous systems of young children ("We need a war...

Both the public and private sectors have their good and bad points

Columnist Thomas Schaller makes a very solid argument about the relative ability of the government and free markets to get things done ("Government is flawed, but markets are too," May 15). His critics' arguments, however, fall flat.

Catholic concern for poor is 'byproduct'

The Sun's view of the Catholic Church, as expressed in its recent editorial ("Baltimore welcomes a new archbishop," May 20), is obviously clueless.

Repealing 'don't ask, don't tell' was good for the U.S. Naval Academy

It was heartening to see current and past midshipmen speak openly of the salutary effect on the U.S. Naval Academyof repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy ("Mids describe smooth transition from 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" May 21). Your article, however, overlooked one important consequence of...

GOP budget plan bans gay marriages in military facilities

There is a saying that "when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." That seems to sum up the Republican approach to all issues. The latest example is the GOP-controlled House, which just passed a budget bill that bans the use of military facilities for gay marriages.

Baltimore DPW is committed to reducing water meter billing errors

A recent article about two former Department of Public Works meter readers did not accurately reflect the proactive steps taken by DPW to reduce water meter billing errors ("City official: Lazy workers faked water meter readings," May 15). The agency's new quality control processes were instrumental...

So long to the 'People's Republic of Maryland'

I and other retired veterans residing in Maryland will soon be seeking another state in which to live due to the disproportionate impact of the state's new tax legislation on retired veterans.

If pit bulls weren't dangerous, owners wouldn't fear being held liable for their behavior

In response to William Ramsey's letter regarding pit bulls, I couldn't agree more ("Why not hold all dog owners accountable?" May 16). Pet owners should be liable for the risk presented to the rest of us when they select a breed to own.

Streamline the state legislature

Reading about the recently-concluded special session gave me an idea ("O'Malley faces political risks of tax increases," May 17). Seeing as how this session was called only after Gov. Martin O'Malley, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch sat down and drew up what...

Lies, damn lies and phony tax statistics

Thomas M. Neale's letter to the editor ("The wealthy pay more than their fair share," May 14) uses the usual Republican tactic of irrelevant statistics to confuse the issue of tax fairness. It does not matter that the top 1 percent of taxpayers pay 38 percent of income taxes. What matters is what...

Prelate's anti-gay agenda merits more skeptical coverage

Your story on the installation of William E. Lori ("New prelate pledges firmness," May 17) as 16th archbishop of Baltimore reveals a religious bias that flies in the face of fair and unbiased reporting. You tout Mr. Lori's anti-gay bigotry as if it is, at it's worst, a...

Disappointed with Democrats

Your recent poll, although unscientific, indicates that a majority of Marylanders are not satisfied with the outcome of this special legislative session ("What Maryland thinks," May 18). If they are not satisfied with the way that their elected officials have voted, then why did they re-elect them?

Obama, Maryland and same-sex marriage

As to the commentary by Michael J. McManus ("Gay marriage seals Obama's fate," May 17), I am still surprised that some in the black community are against equal marriage rights for gays. It wasn't so long ago that black people didn't have any rights in this country and how soon they forget.

Race-baiting in Baltimore

How sad that Del. Patrick McDonough chooses to use his bully pulpit to frighten tourists away from Baltimore City ("Baltimore and bigotry," May 18) — and how said that the media lets him get away with it by using race-baiting headlines.

Restore Mount Vernon place, but don't change it

The Mount Vernon Place Conservancy (MVPC) plans to restore and maintain the area generally referred to as "Mount Vernon Place" ("Restoring Mount Vernon," May 14). The restoration work envisioned is naturally divided into two projects.

Special session rewards politicians for bad behavior

Do I understand this correctly? We, the people of Maryland, paid for hotels and meals for our representatives in Annapolis because they failed to do the job of passing a reasonable budget and had to meet in special sessions to prevent fiscal "Doomsday." So, we reward them by treating them to hotel...

Mikulski should support federal fisheries act

The Chesapeake Bay and our coastal areas have always been a staple of Maryland. Throughout the years, I've witnessed the literal and figurative ebb and flow of the tides in hopes that someone would take the initiative to protect the future of our state's abundant fishing and recreational...

Why is The Sun so negative about the Grand Prix?

Why is it that The Baltimore Sun is so negative about the Baltimore Grand Prix ("Worse and worse," May 9)? Why is it that The Sun's sports pages rarely include any articles about IndyCar races leading up to the Baltimore Grand Prix? Why would they want to snuff out an event that puts Baltimore in...

O'Malley is Obama's mini-me

If the slogan "Maryland is America in miniature" is still relevant, it spells trouble for us by today's standards. What a double whammy. Our president and our governor. They are both two of a kind, and that means trouble for most of us. Talk about fiscal irresponsibility, these two should be the...

O'Malley's higher taxes better than the alternative

Your article ("O'Malley faces political risks of tax increases," May 17) suggests that Gov.Martin O'Malley's future political ambitions will be damaged by his successful efforts to raise taxes on the wealthy. But I ask, would his prospects have been enhanced if he had allowed major cuts in funding...

Obama: Good president, bad theologian

There are those with strong religious convictions who have expressed outrage at President Barack Obama's support of same-sex unions. Some have opined that Mr. Obama's stance makes him unsuited to continue to lead this country. I would argue that his unbiblical view of marriage merely makes him a...

Americans should have the right to marry whomever they choose

Marriage is a choice that two people make, and the legal system shouldn't be a third party to the decision. Making same-sex marriage illegal is akin to criminalizing a black person's marriage to a white person or an American's right to marry a Mexican. The law has no business in the personal...

Annapolis should cut waste

Just like our government, the tax-and-spend loving Sun doesn't get it ("Unfinished business," May 16). It's not really about a lousy 1 percent or 2 percent gas or income tax increase. The people of this state are rebelling against wasteful spending and ever-increasing budgets by our greedy, clueless...

If we didn't spend so much on defense there'd be more money for things we really need

I don't understand why taxes keep going up. They say it's for schools and infrastructure, but if the United States would just cut back on military spending, the money for schools and roads would be there without having to raise taxes on Americans.

We get the state government we pay for

Recently I spent 90 minutes on the metal benches at the DMV in Glen Burnie waiting to renew my driver's license on a day a lot of my fellow Marylanders had the same idea. While waiting — especially without a book to read — can be difficult, I left with a smile on my face.

Transportation deficit can't be ignored

Kick the can down the road. Kick the can down the road. The game is getting old in Maryland, and The Sun is absolutely right to point out that, for the second time in a matter of weeks, the Maryland General Assembly is wrapping up its business without yet tackling the absolutely critical issue of...

Md. tax hike's silver lining

Following yet another tax increase shoved down our throats by the spend-then-tax trio of the Gov.Martin O'Malley, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House SpeakerMichael E. Busch("General Assembly raises income tax on top 14 percent," May 17), there is one positive aspect: At least they...

Cancer risk of eating meat wildly overstated

It is irresponsible to claim, as the letter writer from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) does, that eating meat is equivalent to smoking cigarettes ("Unhealthful foods kill more Americans every year than tobacco," May 13). In moderation, eating meat is perfectly fine.

Schaller views government through rose-tinted glasses

I take exception to Thomas Schaller's assertion that "Overhead in federal insurance programs like Medicare and Social Security is minimal. By some estimates, only 2 percent of expenditures go to administrative overhead" ("Sure, government is flawed – but markets are too," May 16).

Why government can't match the private sector

Thomas Schaller make a case for how the private sector can be just as if not more flawed than the public sector ("Sure, government is flawed – but markets are too," May 16). One aspect of the comparison that he (perhaps intentionally?) failed to mention, however, is that in the private sector,...

Tax hike demands payback at polls

Maryland wants more of my money. It may not seem like a big tax increase being presented, but how much money does the state need? I am the so-called wealthy American who must pay more in taxes. Well I pay plenty of taxes so my politicians can yuk it up in their sky boxes.