Housing agency lacks belief in second chances

The story of how the Rev. Lonnie J. Davis Sr. transformed himself from an addict trapped in the criminal justice system to a key player in providing emergency shelter for the homeless is inspiring and uplifting ("Paving a path for city's homeless," Oct. 29).

It is also ironic.

Had Pastor Davis decided to apply to the Housing Authority of Baltimore City for public housing or a Section 8 voucher for himself, rather than to the Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status as a nonprofit organization, the Housing Authority would have rejected him because of his criminal record.

But while the city Housing Authority's policy on ex-offenders finds him too risky to be trusted with a single unit of subsidized permanent housing, the city's Department of Housing and Community Development trusts him with hundreds of thousands of dollars to shelter others.

As an attorney who for the past four years has represented individuals with criminal records (many of whom were never even convicted) in their quest for the elusive public housing unit or Section 8 voucher, I find this logic difficult to swallow.

Apparently in Baltimore, where everyone is supposed to "believe" in second chances, these chances are reserved for a select few.

Since I have been unsuccessful in persuading the Housing Authority to change its policies, from now on, I will advise my clients in need of housing to follow Pastor Davis' lead and contact the IRS.

Carolyn Johnson

Baltimore

The writer is a staff attorney for the Homeless Persons Representation Project Inc.

Israelis' deeds show their respect for life

The Sun reported that Israeli soldiers thwarted an attempted suicide bombing when they stopped two Palestinians carrying an explosive belt in a car at a checkpoint in the West Bank ("Israeli hard-liner accepts offer to become defense minister," Nov. 3).

The men were taken in for questioning and the belts detonated safely.

This report makes the difference in regard for human life between Palestinians and Israelis evident.

Philip R. Grossman

Baltimore

Promoting peace is real leadership

The United States seems to glory in being the most powerful country in the world. So it's time we acted like a responsible world leader.

Instead of trying to strong-arm the United Nations, our allies and others into a war, we should be aggressively leading the world toward peace.

The first stop should be the Middle East. And there our nation should have the power and influence to insist that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat come to the negotiating table and stay there until they have negotiated boundaries under which Israel and Palestine can co-exist as sovereign states.

Shame on any administration that glories in world power but does not choose to use it for world peace.

President Bush says that the greatest threat to peace in the world is Saddam Hussein. It looks to me as if Mr. Bush is the greatest threat to peace.

Billie S. Walker

Uniontown

Respect the results of Brazil's balloting

I can see that the election of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil has been registered in the United States as something important ("The Lula factor," editorial, Nov. 1).

I just hope the government will be enlightened enough and respectful enough of the will of the people of that Latin American country that it will not try to overthrow the new government, as it has done so many times in so many places throughout the region.

Jaime Lievano

Baltimore

Taxpayers get bill for lead abatement

The Oct. 30 Sun contained two opposing pictures of efforts to deal with lead paint in inner-city housing.

In Rhode Island, a mistrial was declared and the state was unable to present any evidence of harm to children caused by lead paint in a case against paint manufacturers ("Mistrial interrupts R.I. lead-paint lawsuit," Oct. 30).

A smaller article mentioned $86 million in Department of Housing and Urban Development grants to local governments and nonprofit groups to help remove lead paint from low-income housing ("Grant to help educate about lead poisoning," Oct. 30).

Why do taxpayers continue to have to pick up the bill, in taxes and damaged lives, for corporate malfeasance?

It's actually very simple - democracy never invades the machinery of corporate governance.

J. Russell Tyldesley

Catonsville

The mayor deserves more positive press

The Sun reported that Mayor Martin O'Malley was hailed in Esquire magazine as the "best young mayor in America" ("O'Malley featured on cover of this month's 'Esquire,'" Nov. 3). He has also received a great deal of other favorable national press.

I happen to agree with such assessments. I live in and have a business in Mount Vernon and have noticed a big difference in the leadership of this city that has resulted in, among other things, a noticeable reduction of crime.

Why is it, then, that The Sun seems intent on constantly dogging the mayor and his Police Department?

Instead of constantly criticizing and undermining, The Sun should give credit to those elected officials who are actually doing a great job.

Don Davis

Baltimore

Career-changers make great teachers

I take exception to the recent letter that suggested that attempting to solve the teacher shortage by recruiting career-changers is "ludicrous" ("Better salaries, funding foster quality teaching," Oct. 27).

I feel it is ludicrous to believe that elementary and secondary teachers have done a great job. And paying folks more money who have not done a good job is not a solution to the problem.

Dedication and desire to teach, as well as an excellent higher education in pertinent subjects and an ability to control classrooms, are more important in the classroom than employing education majors who cannot succeed at teaching even if state-certified.

Lawrence J. Simpson

Baltimore

Pause to honor nation's veterans

As Americans, we are held together by the heritage and legacy left by the men and women who fought for our freedom, our veterans.

Veterans Day should be a time that transcends the day and allows us to pause, give thanks and ponder the debt we owe to these veterans.

Let us also honor our veterans by instilling in our young people a love of country and nation.

Let us, in honor of all veterans, work to see to it that future generations of Americans will keep the spark of liberty and freedom alive.

John A. Micklos

Baltimore