In Dan Rodricks' column, "A plan to lift Baltimore region from good to great" (June 8), much praise is heaped on the Baltimore Metropolitan Council on the release of its report on "improving life in metropolitan Baltimore over the years."
Three years in the making, this report is apparently quite comprehensive and forward-looking in recommending plans and programs to combat the social and economic disparities in certain communities of the city. Yet only passing mention is made of the immediate crisis our city suffers when its streets have become daily killing fields and when drug trafficking and human trafficking are rampant. In my opinion, this crisis must be resolved now before any new plans can be effectively implemented!
One solution that can be enacted immediately is to put more police on foot patrols instead of in patrol cars in troublesome areas. Along with this, replace the black shirts police wear with white shirts which are much friendlier-looking and more conducive to establishing good rapport with the community. Black shirts make our police look like storm troopers.
Let's get "Officer Friendly" back on the sidewalks of Baltimore.
Lee Starkey, Baltimore