In Marta Mossburg's recent column, she states that "there is a reason people are evacuating Baltimore City" and "flocking" to Harford, Frederick and Carroll counties (A grand debate," Sept. 14).
Evacuating? The decline in population in Baltimore has occurred since the 1950s. There has been no sudden evacuation, as she would have you believe through her choice of words. On the contrary, many people enjoy living in Baltimore for the cultural and sports activities, transportation options and museums the city has to offer. There are many who would never consider a move to the bland, sprawl-choked suburbs of Harford County.
I am tired of people like Ms. Mossburg who constantly condemn Baltimore and try to tell readers like me how we feel about living here. And to interview the one restaurant owner who didn't do well during Grand Prix weekend for who knows what reasons, without interviewing other business owners who did spectacularly well due to the influx of people, press, and attention from the race, seems spurious at best.
So, Marta, please do not presume to speak for me and many other city dwellers next time. I have no plans to "evacuate" to Harford County now or ever.
Jennifer Shapiro, Baltimore