Having Your Say -- baltimoresun.com

October 6, 2008

Medevac system: Turning tragedy to triumph

As I awakened last Sunday to an overcast sky, dense fog and a steady rain in Sussex County, Del., news of the crash of a Maryland State Police medevac helicopter brought back some very sad memories of an early Sunday morning 22 years ago.

September 29, 2008

More money needed for after-school programs

The good news is that the public and Baltimore City leaders increasingly realize the importance of after-school programs to keep kids safe, active, engaged in school, and exposed to a variety of opportunities. The bad news is that the demand for those opportunities far exceeds the supply.

September 26, 2008

Not your father's local electric company anymore

Now I know how Warren E. Buffett acquired all those companies so cheaply.

September 19, 2008

Don't change state's death penalty law

Gov. Martin O'Malley pushed for and obtained from the legislature authorization for a commission to review and recommend changes to Maryland's death penalty statute.

September 15, 2008

Maryland's high taxes stifle economic growth

Last week, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot released his office's analysis of the Board of Revenue Estimates for fiscal year 2009. The report shows that the estimated revenue for 2009 will be a little more than $430 million short of what was previously announced. Mr. Franchot goes on to say that the Maryland legislature and the governor's office will need to cut spending in order to help offset the estimated shortfall of revenue.

September 12, 2008

Who says the Republicans won't raise your taxes?

Sen. John McCain and the Republicans like to say that they would keep taxes low while Sen. Barack Obama and the Democrats would raise your taxes. But there is at least one area where a McCain administration would raise taxes on lower- and middle-income earners and on businesses.

September 8, 2008

Principles for a mayoral-controlled school system

The city-state schools partnership that was created in 1997 came with much fanfare about increased funding, increased accountability and rising test scores. Indeed, there has been increased funding and a moderate rise in test scores. However, the biggest frustration to the partnership is accountability.

September 5, 2008

Maryland universities offer an ideal path to success

Growing up in Ellicott City, I found that many of my friends and their families believed nearby schools were just "ordinary." In their view, the affordability of our state universities came at the expense of quality. I call it "the backyard syndrome."

September 2, 2008

Clinging to love after looking down gun barrel

He pointed the gun in my face a few minutes before 5 a.m. . The gun was similar to the ones carried by the police. He was maybe 15 or 16 years old, and he mumbled, "This is for real," or something similar.

August 29, 2008

County residency rule unfairly punishes children

The Baltimore County school system's new residency verification policy threatens the basic right of children to attend school.

August 27, 2008

Annapolis leaders were unresponsive on crime

A recent Baltimore Sun editorial about crime in Annapolis, crediting a response by government, couldn't be more wrong. Years of apathy by the local government spawned double-digit increases in the most serious categories of crime, despite the fact that Annapolis is largely affluent, with a healthy tax base.

August 25, 2008

Restaurant rezoning would have a ripple effect

A single zoning change affecting one restaurant may not seem like a big deal. But the proposal to rezone the park property leased by the Oregon Grille could have ramifications for the rural character of a large area of northern Baltimore County. Residents would do well to watch for the outcome of this controversial zoning request that will be voted on by the Baltimore County Council tomorrow evening.

August 18, 2008

Give Marylanders benefits of health information technology

Health care reform is a divisive issue in Washington, but there is wide agreement on one solution to lower costs and improve care: health information technology, or health IT. Health IT replaces paper medical records with electronic records. This is how I run my Baltimore-based wire basket and hook company; shouldn't my doctor do the same?

August 11, 2008

The right way to get kids excited about science, math

The U.S. government does not have the authority to dictate what a student studies. Any federal education law that dictates curricula, no matter what its intent, will have the double dishonor of being unconstitutional and a failure. Problems with math and science education are neither a lack of availability nor a lack of requirement; local school districts require more math and science education in earlier grades than ever before.

August 7, 2008

Memo to Machine Man: Buy a rake, take a break

Dear Machine Man,

August 4, 2008

Make Penn Station shine, windows and all

The beautiful Beaux Arts-style Penn Station was constructed in 1911, and it looks like the windows have not been washed since. The Venetian blinds have not been relieved of their crookedness or the boxes and other paraphernalia at the windows removed from their obtrusive locations. This unattractive scene faces all who pass the station going north on Charles Street and south on St. Paul Street heading downtown.

July 31, 2008

City kept its promises on homeless shelter

If you were told by the city that a homeless shelter was planned for your neighborhood, you would probably react the way our neighborhood did and organize, or the way Butchers Hill and the communities around Edmondson-Westside High School are reacting, with concerns and a lot of questions for the city.

July 29, 2008

Close to home, close to heaven

Anyone coordinated enough to lick his or her own elbow possesses a rare gift, like being able to hum and whistle at the same time.

July 25, 2008

State officials fail science test

One of the toughest things I have to do as a Baltimore biology teacher is to teach my students about the scientific method. That is, basically, the set of rules under which science operates.

July 22, 2008

State police spying is dangerous repression

As one of the members of the Baltimore Pledge of Resistance who has been spied on by the Maryland State Police, I feel it important that people understand we in the Pledge of Resistance are the most peaceful, nonterrorist-type folks you could ever hope to meet. We are committed to raising awareness about the destructive forces of violence in our society and our country, which is one of the reasons we have protested the invasion of Iraq since before it occurred. It is because we love and value this country so much that we work to make it better, and we start by insisting that those in power obey its laws. It is because we are profoundly anguished by our government's illegal actions and what it has done to us and to our brothers and sisters around the world that we continue our peaceful work.

July 17, 2008

Hiring illegals confers unfair advantage

In several letters to the editor after the recent raid on an Annapolis painting company, the people who were arrested for being in the country illegally are portrayed as the victims. When are people going to understand that illegal immigrants do a disservice to every legal citizen of the United States by their being in the country illegally?

July 14, 2008

Leave film tax credits on cutting-room floor

Lately, the motion picture industry has been aggressively seeking, and largely getting, generous state tax credits for producing movies in Maryland. I love film and am very disappointed that Hairspray wasn't filmed in Baltimore, but the argument for movie tax credits simply does not hold up economically or as a matter of public policy.

July 10, 2008