Baltimore has a huge opportunity right now to move toward a peaceful and prosperous future ("Baltimore moves on as curfew is lifted, National Guard leaves," May 3).
The events of the past week were like lancing a huge boil — all the yuck that had been under the surface of life in the city spilled out for everyone to see. And virtually everyone was revolted by what they saw.
People interviewed on the street held nothing back as they vented their dismay. Even a member of the Bloods prison gang made clear his yearning for a better day.
Now is the time to work hard at communicating and seeking the improved relationships and solutions to problems that everyone wants. If public discussion forums are created, people will not be slow in coming to the table. This is not about money. It is about relationships.
A recent Sun article suggested that Baltimore's recovery from the riots is expected to be slow. I think the pace of the recovery will depend on how the city responds.
So far, the police action against the protesters has been unusually restrained. So a basis for trust exists. Now is the time to very publicly and openly get everyone to the table to hammer out the kind of community they want for the future.
Parker Wayland, Bel Air