Rosewood residents remain in jeopardy
A September report by the state's Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) found that conditions at the Rosewood Center posed immediate jeopardy to individuals at the center. The report also found that staff had failed to intervene to protect individuals ("Report scolds disabled center," Sept. 29).
OHCQ later found that the Rosewood Center had taken appropriate steps to abate the immediate jeopardy ("Rosewood strives for progress," Nov. 26).
But the recent incident at Rosewood proves that the center continues to fail to protect people from harm ("Hospital resident charged in state facility stabbing," Dec. 29).
Since the September report, numerous groups have asked the state to close Rosewood and transfer residents to more appropriate settings. The state has not responded.
Perhaps now the state will respond - or, at the very least, acknowledge that issues exist with the current system.
Most residents in the center must be transferred out of this troubled institution and into our communities.
Employees of Rosewood express valid concerns for their safety. But it's also clear that residents remain in jeopardy.
Rosewood must ensure the safety of all individuals and must protect them from physical, verbal, sexual and psychological abuse or punishment.
And in light of documented abuses and mistreatments at Rosewood, the state must commit to end the continued confinement of Rosewood residents in an unsafe environment and close this facility.
Rachel London
Baltimore
The writer is a staff attorney at the Maryland Disability Law Center.
Warehouse isn't best use of city parcel
In response to the preservationists outraged over plans to raze the Guilford Avenue warehouse and water tower, one must ask where they were hiding when someone marred the structure with a "Self Storage" sign ("Clash over historic city building looms," Jan. 2).
I am a big proponent of saving historical structures. But I think we all need to be a little bit more pragmatic about which structures get saved and about how we can compromise so that the best use of downtown properties can be realized while we respect the city's history.
We must face the reality that the best use for this property is not as a low-rise self-storage facility.
Beyond that, we must seek realistic, progressive solutions that recognize the value of downtown real estate.
Baltimore needs to become a new place in the 21st century, and some additional structures will need to forgo their current use if we are to thrive as a metropolis.
Carl Hyman
Baltimore
Construction cranes boost city's future
I have a question for the historic preservationists mentioned in The Sun's article "Clash over historic city building looms" (Jan. 2): When did all old buildings suddenly become "historic"?
And if the Terminal Warehouse building is so significant, why hasn't the building been used more significantly? What is it now - a storage facility?
As a former Baltimore resident, I love its old neighborhoods.
Yet, if Baltimore wants to move its downtown into the 21st century, building projects such as the one proposed for the Guilford Avenue area are just the sort of thing that developers can do to help move the process along.
The more construction cranes we see downtown, the better for Baltimore's future.
Richard Benchoff
Hagerstown
History loses out to the developers
Kudos to Jill Rosen for her article on the fate of the Terminal Warehouse ("Clash over historic city building looms," Jan. 2).
Ms. Rosen did an excellent job conveying the conflict between the push for development and the preservation of Baltimore's heritage.
The way the article cites the context of the demolition of the Rochambeau and the proposed demolition of the 1820s-vintage St. Paul Place rowhouses by Mercy Medical Center shows that the push for development continues to trump our history.
Nancy Schamu
Baltimore
Bromwell's exit was long overdue
More than a year after he was indicted, Thomas L. Bromwell, chairman of the Injured Workers' Insurance Fund, finally had the decency to arrange a separation from his post ("IWIF cutting ties to leader," Dec. 27). In that year, Mr. Bromwell managed to collect a lucrative salary and all the perks of office and played a role in the re-election of his son, Del. Eric M. Bromwell.
Even if Mr. Bromwell is found not guilty, he has cast a long shadow over an important state agency.
I am embarrassed that it took him so long to step aside.
Chris A. Defeo
Perry Hall
Nuclear weapons pose the real threat
How could anyone write a column about the "war on terror" and ignore the elephant in the room - nuclear weapons ("An all-consuming 'war on terror,'" Opinion * Commentary, Dec. 31)?
The proliferation of these weapons is the reason this war must be won at all costs, and it is time we realize this fact.
There are governments and millions of people who want to destroy Western civilization.
Perhaps the American people will wake up to this when one of our cities is taken out by a nuclear weapon.
James Kniss
Aberdeen
Why did Ford wait to denounce war?
I guess it isn't surprising, considering his personality. But I was very disappointed to learn after President Gerald R. Ford's death that in an interview with Bob Woodward, Mr. Ford had said he believed invading Iraq was a big mistake - but he never expressed that view publicly during his life.
What a waste. All I can do is write letters to the editor. Just think of the clout that a past president's opinion, and a Republican one at that, might have had in the discussion about going to war in Iraq.
It probably wouldn't have changed the outcome, but it would have put pressure on Mr. Bush. And it might have encouraged others to speak out.
I wonder how many other influential people out there are holding their tongues after having helped create the disaster we now face.
Kenneth Munson
Baltimore
Ford reminds us of less partisan era
I believe that President Gerald R. Ford used sound judgment in his pardon of Richard Nixon ("Nation bids Ford farewell," Jan. 3). It was the right thing to do at the time. It saved this country from a long trial and countless appeals.
Although Mr. Ford was not elected by the people, his wisdom was proved not only by that decision but also by many others.
The passing of Mr. Ford takes me back to a time when I could vote for the man I thought was best for the country, regardless of party affiliation.
That is something that this current administration has seriously caused me to rethink.
We will miss Mr. Ford.
Burl Wolfe
New Freedom, Pa.