By evicting HARBEL, city shows disregard for its neighborhoods
The only conclusion one can draw from the city's decision to evict the successful HARBEL Community Organization Inc. from its Harford Road site is that city government is destroying its neighborhoods ("City tells group to leave building," June 8).
HARBEL is a centerpiece of northeast Baltimore. Its professional, committed staff provides alcohol and drug treatment, neighborhood dispute mediation, and an invaluable resource for community service and information.
Northeast Baltimore is an eclectic, racially and economically diverse community. The area is home to Hamilton Middle-Elementary School, Herring Run Park, Lake Montebello, numerous businesses and well-kept, tree-lined streets.
But the conversion of many large residential homes to rental properties in Northeast Baltimore has allowed an influx of unruly teenagers, transient neighbors and an increase of petty crime.
On a recent Sunday morning, police found a man murdered behind the bowling alley in the 6100 block of Harford Road, not three blocks away from HARBEL's site. "For Sale" signs dominate the landscape on some streets, which further destabilizes the neighborhood.
The perception of increased crime and grime results in a vicious cycle of an eroding tax base, followed by the necessary escalation of tax rates.
In evicting HARBEL, City Hall (whether intentionally or not) is saying that it does not care about children's schools, about providing safe and clean streets or about preserving independent support networks for its citizens.
Charles Martin Fitzpatrick
Baltimore
The writer is a candidate for the Baltimore City Council from the 3rd District.
New home for HARBEL across the county line?
I was once on the board of HARBEL Community Organization Inc. and was dismayed to read that the city and Housing Commissioner Daniel Henson do not want to renew HARBEL's lease.
HARBEL is an umbrella organization for community groups in northeast Baltimore City and parts of Baltimore County. For years, it has done a great job helping to reduce drug addiction, promote homeownership and conduct other projects.
If the city insists on being so shortsighted as to evict HARBEL, maybe Baltimore County can find it a home -- and expand HARBEL's operation there.
Walter Hayes
Parkville
Invest in public schools, not in voucher programs
Clarence Page makes an important point in his Opinion Commentary column: Social class does make a difference in how one views the world ("Cracks developing in black resistance to school v0uchers," June 4).
However, the reality for African Americans is that 94 percent of our children will receive their education from public schools, regardless of our income.
The truth is that vouchers are a distraction from the real, tough problems we must confront if we want all of our children to get a first-class education. All they do is increase the divide between the haves and have-nots.
We know from reports on the two voucher experiments in Milwaukee and Cleveland that vouchers do not significantly improve student achievement. Smaller classes, parental involvement, equitable funding and better administration do that.
I agree with Mr. Page that if we really care about a better education for our children, we've got to roll up our sleeves and get to work and put our money where it matters most: in the public schools.
The Rev. Sidney Daniels
Baltimore
The writer is secretary of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.
Recognize great students as well as great athletes
The Sun's All-Metro special section devoted to the best high school athletes of the spring season was very impressive (June 7). Lots of big pictures of smiling, confident, successful young people.
An idea for The Sun to consider: Why not do the same for kids who have excelled as students? How about some recognition for those who have worked hard for many years to get high grades and SAT scores?
Recognizing outstanding athletes as the paper did, but not good students, sends a strong message: Great athletes are heroes; great students are just nerds.
Why doesn't the paper give awards for what is actually important?
I look forward to the first "All-Metro Top-of-Their-Class" academic awards.
Kirk S. Nevin
White Hall
Don't push kids into early schooling
I have taught students in grades one through eight for the past 21 years and, after reading Michael Olesker's column "At age 5, bright pupil can't make the grade" (June 3), I think the only thing the Key School is doing wrong is that it doesn't have a policy for the age of first-graders.
There will always be an oldest and youngest in every class, but no child should start formal education before turning 6. Children not yet 6 may appear and test intellectually and socially equal to 6-year-olds. But they are less mature and less able to express initiative and leadership than other first-graders.
Remain in kindergarten and be bored? It will not happen. Each year is different for the learning child. A child can can initiate play and intellectual pursuits, be a leader and augment their self-esteem.
Time is the best gift you can give any child.
Carol Steil
Baltimore
Get criminals, not guns, off our dangerous streets
Although not advertised and not covered by the press, virtually every weekend a plethora of gun shows are held in our midst where thousands of guns, and "gun nuts," are combined in the same room with nary a shot being fired.
According to conventional wisdom, this combination should produce a bonanza for the body bag industry, but obviously, we really have little to fear from inanimate objects and responsible people.
Recently, President Clinton, in an effort to add yet another layer to the innumerable and ineffective pile of gun laws on the books, said that he wants to keep guns out of the hands of convicted criminals (as if those who support the Second Amendment do not).
What I want to know is: Why are there so many convicted criminals walking around our streets that we need legislation to keep guns out of their hands?
Dave Reich
Baltimore
Local company's work on bridge overlooked
It is unfortunate that The Sun's article "Bay bridge job a daunting task" (May 30) chose to focus on a New Jersey company rather than the local, minority business enterprise contractors that are performing one of the largest bridge painting contracts in the country.
Superior Painting and Contracting, a woman-owned Baltimore firm, is proud to be painting four spans of the bridge under a nearly $5 million subcontract.
Our 20 workers on the job are doing this complex and technically challenging project while containing all the lead paint being removed and fully complying with environmental standards. And we are ahead of schedule.
Readers deserve to see more stories about the successes of local companies such as ours.
Barbara Fourtinakis
Baltimore
The writer is president of the Superior Painting and Contracting Co. Inc.
Eisenhower: a fine general but a mediocre president
The headline of a Sun Opinion Commentary article asked, "What would Ike do about Kosovo crisis?" (May 31).
If you look at President Dwight Eisenhower's actions, the obvious answer would be: nothing.
His entire presidency leaves you asking, "What would have happened had he acted on an issue?"
He failed to publicly denounce Sen. Joseph McCarthy. He refused to take action on civil rights issues in the South.
He is credited with ending the Korean War, but most of the credit for that should go to Joseph Stalin, for dying. He refused to intervene when Fidel Castro was leading a revolution in Cuba and creating strong ties with the Soviet Union.
Eisenhower was an excellent military man but a mediocre president.
Joseph Michalski Jr.
Pasadena
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