The Sun was wrong and without basis to accuse my colleague and me of lying about the reasons for discontinuing the Holly Trolley tours ("No more Santa Claus," Dec. 9).
In July 2009, Mayor Sheila Dixon ordered a top-to-bottom review of the Community Action Centers (CAC). The review, completed in September, resulted in new leadership, a new affiliation with the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services and a clearer mission, which did not include continuing the trolley tours.
Consistent with the mayor's vision, the CAC's new focus is to expand the safety net for families in crisis and to provide services designed to increase and maintain financial stability through outreach, case management and linkages with other agencies and community partners. Expanding direct services to those in need is essential during these difficult economic times.
In addition, The Sun is wrong to publicly impugn someone's character based on its own misguided assumptions and cynical worldview. Shakespeare wrote, "Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; but he that filches from me my good name robs me of that which not enriches him, and makes me poor indeed."
Moving forward, we welcome The Sun's balanced coverage of the CACs as we expand services to those in need.
The writer is Baltimore's first deputy mayor for Neighborhood and Economic Development.