Fond memories of Maryland's beloved tax collector, Louis 0) Goldstein
A feeling of sadness befell me when I learned that Louie Goldstein had died. He was a sensitive man who genuinely cared not only about state finances, but many other issues, especially those dealing with young people. I learned that from my personal experience.
Back in 1980, when he learned from an article in The Sun about the Bragg Nature Study Center, which my brother and I had developed for Baltimore City Public Schools, he wrote me a cordial letter thanking us for "bringing to the city children of Baltimore a little bit of nature and natural things."
Mr. Goldstein was a humble and honest man and, I am sure, he touched the hearts of many people like me who never met him.
Wolodymyr C. Sushko
Baltimore
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Who ever heard of a tax collector whom everyone loved? But we all did. Higher praise than this is impossible. We will miss him.
Georgia L. Miller
Ellicott City
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Only one Louie. For many years, those of us who have had the privilege of working with, fighting with and deeply caring for this singularly committed servant of the people's trust will remember his legacy. He would be your friend, but if you came unprepared to his Board of Public Works meeting, he would take the skin off your back.
His most recent work with the new Maryland Prepaid Tuition Trust will permit us to have an outstanding educational savings program built upon sound investments that Marylanders can be proud of.
We worked closely to construct a program for Maryland families to save for college, which he so firmly believed remains the solution to long-term social equality.
Edwin S. Crawford
Adelphi
The writer is chairman of the Maryland Prepaid Tuition Trust's board.
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There are a lot of people who have a Louie Goldstein story, and I am one of them.
I ran into him in College Park at a Maryland lacrosse game, and he was livid. It seems he was locked out of his state car by his driver, who was nowhere to be found. It seems Mr. Goldstein had a roast to get to and then a speech after that.
He was priceless; cursing softly under his breath while only men were around. When some women came up to shake his hand, he was Mr. Charm and the Calvert County gentleman he was so famous for. When his driver appeared, he flushed red but kept his tongue. He "God blessed each one of us real good," and got in his car. We could hear him laying the poor driver out as they drove away, and then someone waved at him and he smiled and rolled down his window to say hello.
That was Louis L. Goldstein, one of the most unique men in the history of Maryland.
They should have had the most glorious state flag in the country, that of the great state of Maryland, on his casket. This was one time that "state's rights" really should have taken precedent. Mr. Goldstein was the quintessential Marylander.
Randall Miller
Bethany Beach, Del.
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Several years ago, Louis L. Goldstein was on the Washington College campus for a two-day board meeting when a blizzard began to blanket Maryland.
By the time dinner was over, 2 feet of snow was on the ground, with another 12 inches on the way.
The roads leading from Chestertown to the Goldstein home in Southern Maryland were nearly impassable, so we were all stunned when Maryland's comptroller and our chairman of the ** board announced it was time for him to leave.
Louis didn't want Hazel, his wife of 49 years, to spend the night alone. He made the treacherous three-hour trip home, but was back on campus the next morning to chair a breakfast meeting.
It was vintage Louis Goldstein, reflecting his determination always to do his best. He was a faithful husband, a loving father, a gung-ho Marine, a loyal alumnus and, of course, a brilliant and tireless public servant.
He was our role model in everything he did.
John S. Toll
Chestertown
The writer is president of Washington College.
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Since Louis Goldstein's death, the papers have printed glowing stories about this man's life of service to the state and the people of the state. In the July 6 edition, there was a brief reference to the fact that he had been a volunteer firefighter.
I believe that the papers have missed recalling a moment in his life that transcends all of his other contributions and by itself entitles him to an eternal place of honor in the memories of not only every Marylander but every equality minded American.
It was the night of rioting following Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, and the black section of a small Maryland town was in flames. The State Police and the National Guard refused to allow firefighters to enter the area "for their own safety."
Louie Goldstein jumped in the cab of the first firetruck in line and yelled out to those blocking his path something like "get the hell out of my way or I'll drive over you!" They moved, firefighters followed and part of the black community was saved.
I believe that this one act of courage, conviction and defiance alone earns Mr. Goldstein a place of honor equal any other he might quite rightfully be awarded.
illiam F. List
Linthicum
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Louis Goldstein was an educator. He wrote to students and gave his special coins to fourth-graders who were learning about elections.
He supported and encouraged patriotic activities at schools. Marylanders of many generations will miss Mr. Goldstein.
Sandra Neuhauser
Randallstown Your July 5 article ("Preservationists set off on the trail of Md. history," July 5) about the Battle of South Mountain has some fractured history. The story says: "Union troops marching up the mountain from the east stopped the Confederate advance at South Mountain. The Confederates retreated."
However, having crossed the Potomac after their victory at Second Bull Run and, from their viewpoint, liberated Frederick, the Confederates deliberately moved westward, sending columns to Hagerstown, Maryland Heights (across from Harper's Ferry) and Martinsburg. The latter column turned east and captured Harper's Ferry.
Unfortunately for the Confederates, Union troops coming from Washington found in an abandoned camp near Frederick Gen. Robert E. Lee's orders for these movements, so that the Union commander knew what was planned.
Consequently, the Battle of Antietam was fought, and the Confederate flank guards on South Mountain succeeded in their mission to delay the enemy long enough so that General Lee was able to concentrate his scattered forces at Sharpsburg.
The South Mountain action was neither victory nor defeat for anyone.
Willis Case Rowe
Catonsville
Community has forum to discuss race issues
"When will we stop doing studies of the symptoms and recognize without question the undeniable existence of racism?" After that question, Eugenia Collier went on to talk about "institutional racism . . . that pervades our society and motivates even the most well-mening, humane white people, by their silence, to give racism their tacit support" ("Philadelphia study only repeated a truth black people knew," June 27, letter to the editor).
The writer is not alone in calling for such recognition. I wondered as I read the letter how more Baltimore metropolitan residents of all racial backgrounds might be encouraged to join us in "Call to Community: an Honest Conversation about Race, Reconciliation, and Responsibility." The writer's views aptly summarize the focus of this five-year project to involve residents of the city and -- its surrounding counties in dialogue about this issue.
The movement has attracted sponsors, trained facilitators, held study circles and experienced growth worth celebrating. But it needs much more grass-roots participation from every segment
of our society.
Questions to Call to Community are welcome at 410-889-8333.
'Mary Louise Ellenberger
Baltimore
Worst drivers have cell phones
KAL's cartoon July 6, 1998 is perfect. People with cell phones make the worst drivers. More than half of the driver's attention is on the phone, and less than half is on driving.
Evelyn Savage Lemel
Baltimore
City needs better way to close rodent buffet
Your article on rat control fueled my outrage ("Numbers
frustrate rat patrol," June 28). The problem is immense, and current solutions have been frustrating and ineffective.
After a year's effort with poor results, a commercial exterminator told me "there's nothing we can do because the problem is so bad in the city."
I have contacted the city's Rat Rubout program several times over 18 months, and people there directed me to handle the problem myself.
On the other hand, sanitation and public works employees have responded with many efforts to manage trash in alleys. However, the outcome has been negligible.
Very few of us have the time to be community organizers. What are other cities doing about this menace? How about an education campaign? Support or self-help groups?
It's a regular buffet and dance hall for rats when trash sits out over holidays.
We need an aggressive plan for trash collection and rat control.
. Louise White
Canton
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When I returned home from a vacation in March, I found that rats had burrowed under the bricks in my backyard, shifting sand to the basement window-well.
The basement wall was in imminent danger of collapsing.
I immediately bought rat poison and had the back yard repaired at considerable expense. When the bricks were removed, we discovered a rat's nest with four baby rats and an adult rat, with their requisite accouterments.
I have been calling Rat Rubout since the third week in March to bait the alley behind my house. I have also written to them, but to date, Rat Rubout has ignored my requests with as much impunity as the rats running around my neighborhood.
The rats hold me captive in my home after sunset, and my little garden, which should be a haven, becomes scary when night falls.
Amina Gauhar
Baltimore
Officer gave a tourist rough ride on light rail
I visited Baltimore last Friday and purchased a light rail day pass. While riding, an MTA officer asked to see my ticket.
The officer took my ticket and said "This is a reduced fare which is only good for senior citizens." I politely apologized and explained that I was a tourist from Boston who made a mistake, and that I would be happy to pay for the difference.
The officer demanded to see identification, then took my driver's license and walked away. When we arrived at my stop, I politely asked for my license. He commanded me to leave the car and transmitted my name on a radio.
After a few minutes I asked if I had committed a crime. He responded that I did and could receive a $280 citation for that crime. He also said it was standard procedure to see if there are outstanding warrants for criminals. He told me, "I was going to let you off but since you gave me attitude I might have to fine and arrest you."
People were staring at me. Someone asked what the problem was and the officer mumbled "routine check."
Is it routine to harass tourists?
I politely apologized again; the incident concluded. Welcome to Baltimore.
Martin A. Blanco
Quincy, Mass.
Pub Date: 7/11/98