Mothers getting treatment need child care, too

Karen Brown's column "To save city's children, help addicted parents" (Opinion*Commentary, Nov. 14) clearly demonstrated the economic wisdom of providing treatment services to drug-addicted mothers.

But unless child care services are available at drug treatment programs, many mothers will not be able to access treatment at all. And those who do will need to decide where and with whom to leave their small children.

Child care is often a real dilemma for mothers with far more choices and much greater resources. Imagine the difficulty facing women seeking drug treatment.

Thus it is both tragic and ironic that only one week prior to reading Ms. Brown's column, I learned that the Department of Human Resources' Child Care Administration will, as of Nov. 30, discontinue funding for child care services at Glenwood Life Counseling Center and 13 other Baltimore drug treatment programs.

I realize Maryland is facing a huge budget deficit. But what sense does it make to eliminate programs that reduce costs in other areas? The ripple effect of this cut will be to raise health care costs and increase the number of children needing foster care placement.

This will only make the deficit worse in the long run, not to mention the emotional toll it will take on families.

In the realm of disease -- the realm in which addiction certainly falls -- effective treatment is far less costly than neglect. And we cannot afford to neglect these women and their need for treatment.

Frank Satterfield

Baltimore

The writer is executive director of Glenwood Life Counseling Center Inc.

Convert The Block into a music venue

The Sun made an excellent point in its call to "Clean up The Block" (editorial, Nov. 20). And I have a suggestion.

Baltimore has an anemic music scene. One pivotal reason for this is that clubs that offer live music in this town are few and far apart. My understanding is that this scattering of venues is mainly because the laws that govern live entertainment licenses make licenses hard to come by and not easily transferable.

But The Block is populated with bars that have live entertainment licenses. Development of this area into music venues could provide the cradle for what potentially could be a substantial music scene. And the concert hall being built around the corner at Power Plant Live could provide the anchor.

Such an initiative could help create a vibrant and well-rounded arts community in Baltimore.

And with a band-leading, musical mayor injecting new life into a city that was once home to some of American music's most notable characters, what better time for this to happen than now?

Kurt Kroncke

Baltimore

Old theater's facade can be elegant entry

As one of the few remaining movie palaces in Baltimore, the Grand Theater in Highlandtown has citywide and even national importance ("Highlandtown hangs renewal hopes on replacing theater with library," Nov. 20).

We join Salvatore Zannino in advocating the preservation of at least its front as a truly grand and historic entryway to the new library.

John Maclay

Baltimore

The writer is president of Baltimore Heritage.

Investing in transit will improve region

I strongly favor expanding Baltimore's transit system for several reasons ("State betting rail expansion will get commuters on track," Nov. 19).

A well-functioning subway system would increase the city's economic development first by providing construction employment as it is built and second by increasing the mobility of Baltimore's work force.

It will also help the environment by providing a reasonable alternative to automobile transportation and have a positive impact on city pride.

Is it expensive? Yes. But as a city resident and taxpayer, I can think of no better use for my taxes than this project.

James T. Reeves

Baltimore

Some students can't pray at all

Are the requests that schools compromise to facilitate Islamic practices reasonable ("Muslims ask schools to compromise," Nov. 18)?

Certain Muslim students claim prayer conditions are not ideal. But in many countries, people are severely persecuted for their faith or for praying anywhere. People in such circumstances would be appalled that individuals in our country are complaining about "pray[ing] on a hard floor," or that they might, on occasion, mistakenly receive the wrong sandwich.

We, too, should be appalled.

Doug Elmendorf

White Marsh

A pricey location for a thrifty building

Thanks to Edward Gunts for his column on the new Chesapeake Bay Foundation's headquarters building ("Building proves to be a model of efficiency," Nov. 18).

As contributors to the foundation, my husband and I were interested to see where our money is going. If the new building can serve to demonstrate the viability of green building practices, it may well be worth the considerable cost. But it would be helpful to know what its cost would have been if traditional building methods had been used.

More important, though, we asked ourselves where the money came from to locate this building on what must be among the state's most expensive waterfront real estate.

We feel the foundation has a responsibility to maximize the utility of each dollar contributed, and wonder if good stewardship was practiced in locating their new headquarters in the Bay Ridge community.

Joy Reber

Catonsville

A public repudiation of the Clinton era

Now that The Sun and other pundits have explained the Republican landslide in the recent election, perhaps it is time to consider the real reasons.

First of all, I think the election was a final repudiation of the Clinton era and the lack of responsibility and accountability of our Democratic leaders.

The public has become tired of welfare, handouts and entitlements and wants to see integrity and honesty restored to government. Conservatives offer a better choice to accomplish these goals.

John G. Lacey Jr.

Ellicott City

What if politicians cared about people?

I am 73 years old and I no longer expect miracles. But wouldn't it be nice if our politicians cared as much about the country as they do about their parties? And if, once elected, they would stay in their offices conducting business instead of junketing across the country helping members of their parties get elected?

And wouldn't it be nice if they cared about the people as much as the office?

Gladys Henn

Baltimore