Columnist Dan Rodricks points out a bipartisan path to arresting the decline of Baltimore City ("Gov. Hogan has a grand opportunity to help Baltimore," May 9).
It is a challenge and an opportunity Gov. Larry Hogan should take seriously because it could propel Baltimore City and Mr. Hogan back onto the national stage in a positive light this time.
The question is, can the governor look past his Republican constituency, set aside a conservative ideology, reach out to Democratic Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and work to make a difference in the future of the city and the lives of people who have been regularly ignored by everyone except the police?
The is a historic opportunity for Baltimore City to reshape its future and for Mr. Hogan to show he can be a meaningful counterweight to the state's strong Democratic leanings.
Can he show real bipartisan leadership to make Baltimore City a model for addressing the ills of inner cities around the country?
Mr. Rodricks' column offers some insight into what needs to be done. One step the governor could take that would include his partiality for tax cuts would be to offer tax breaks and other incentives for businesses to relocate to or start up in the job-deserts that make up too much of the city.
The business incentives would have to be attractive, and a critical requirement would be that most of their workers came from the surrounding neighborhoods. I hope Mr. Hogan will rise to meet this historic opportunity.
Austin Barry, Eldersburg