Balto. Co. needs to safeguard its landmarks
Sheppard Pratt Hospital is a National Historic Landmark, the highest historic distinction any site can receive. And now the County Council should place all of the buildings on its campus that the Baltimore Landmarks Commission put on its Preliminary Landmarks List on the Final Landmarks list ("Council eyes historic status for 9 buildings at hospital," Aug. 5).
Without this measure, these structures have no protection from demolition, despite their National Landmark status.
Baltimore County's elected officials have failed time and time again to recognize the value of the county's distinctive architectural heritage and significant landscapes. This has allowed the demolition of many important historic structures, including the Samuel Owings House.
The preservation of the historically significant structures on Sheppard Pratt's campus will not stop necessary growth and progress. But it will help ensure that Sheppard Pratt's important and distinctive past continue into the future.
Historic structures give us a sense of place, and it will be a sad day if Baltimore County looks like Anywhere, USA.
Our elected officials need to do a better job of protecting what makes Baltimore County unique.
Joyce B. Routson
Towson
Why stress bad news from Johns Hopkins?
As an extremely satisfied Johns Hopkins Hospital patient, I would like to ask: Why was the article "Hopkins again tops list of best hospitals in nation" buried on page 1B of the July 13 Sun while the article "Boy lost hearing in Hopkins overdose" was featured on the Aug. 1 front page?
I agree that mistakes of this kind should not be made and, although apparently the boy has recovered some hearing, this mistake was awful for the child and his family.
But I consider it equally deplorable that The Sun did not think enough of Johns Hopkins to feature the great news from U.S. News & World Report on the front page.
Susan S. Lynne
Owings Mills
Taxing tobacco helps other businesses
A spokesman for Republican candidate for governor Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. says Mr. Ehrlich doesn't support proposals by the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative that include another tobacco-tax boost because "we are pro-business" ("Townsend backs 36-cent increase in Md. cigarette tax," Aug. 7).
Actually, tobacco taxes are good for non-tobacco businesses. They ease the pressure for higher taxes on others. They result in less smoking, which means consumers have more money to spend on non-tobacco products and services.
Workers who don't smoke are more productive, take less sick leave and put less upward pressure on health-care costs. And non-smokers live longer, so they continue to work, buy things and pay taxes.
What other revenue measure has so many benefits?
Mort Paulson
Silver Spring
Anti-smoking ads, tax increase at odds
The Glendening-Townsend administration is spending millions to get Marylanders to stop smoking. Yet the lieutenant governor wants to pay for health insurance for the uninsured with a 36-cent-a-pack cigarette tax increase ("Townsend backs 36-cent increase in Md. cigarette tax," Aug. 7).
Therefore, if her anti-smoking campaign is successful and people stop smoking, thousands of Marylanders could lose their newly acquired health insurance.
Does this make any sense?
Kurt S. Willem
Hydes
Why Townsend says so little about guns
Given the failure of Maryland's tough gun laws and the high crime rates that have resulted from them, who would open their mouth in support of gun control ("Strategy differs in war of words," Aug. 3)?
When you compare Maryland, the fourth most violent state in the nation, with states such as Virginia, Pennsylvania and Vermont, no one with any intellectual honesty can claim gun control reduces crime.
James Mullen
White Hall
Caribbean carnival actually lost money
The Caribbean-American Carnival Association of Baltimore would like to correct information that appeared in The Sun's editorial "Rethinking city parks" (July 25).
Our carnival did not collect $100,000, as the editorial said we did. Indeed, because of enormous expenses incurred, our carnival was not a profitable venture and suffered a severe financial loss.
When it is completed, we are prepared to make available a full financial report. But we are extremely concerned that this incorrect and unsubstantiated information will severely hinder our continuing effort to raise financial support.
Tyrone Peters
Baltimore
The writer is vice president of the Caribbean-American Carnival Association of Baltimore Inc.
Priest is right; zero tolerance wrong
I applaud Father Robert Hartnett's questioning of the "zero tolerance" policy adopted by the Catholic Bishops ("Confessions of Father Bob," Aug. 4).
Father Hartnett questions the policy in reference to the forced resignation of the Rev. Thomas R. Malia. I have known Father Malia for more than 17 years. He has consistently been a man of compassion and would never place any child at risk.
Since the Archdiocese of Baltimore has ignored the pleas of parishioners at Holy Cross and Saint Mary Star of the Sea Catholic churches to have Father Malia reinstated, maybe it will listen to its employees -- like Father Hartnett -- who question how the policy is applied and implemented.
D. Jerry Easterly Jr.
Baltimore
Father Hartnett gives us cause to celebrate
Thank you for the article highlighting Father Bob Hartnett ("Confessions of Father Bob," Aug. 4).
Father Hartnett truly is a wonderful priest and a caring person. He has ministered to my family in several parishes over the years. At funerals, in times of serious illness and in his wonderfully human homilies, he has touched our lives, blessed us with laughter and made our sadness and sickness more bearable.
His life, as The Sun's article relates, certainly gives us reason to celebrate in spite of the church's recent scandals.
Marie Cignatta
Woodstock
Tired of the focus on doom and gloom
David Folkenflik was right on in his column "TV news fails to give full view of city life" (July 31). I, and most other people, are sick and tired of the local news feeding us nothing but murder, crime, fire, death, gloom and doom.
Three years ago, I did something about it. I stopped watching all local news. It was like a breath of fresh air.
There is so much good going on in Baltimore. Let's hear about it.
Joseph DiGiacinto
Bel Air