Civic Pride (Baltimore, Towson, Ocean City: 2010, violent crime, houses)

[Scudder]

Why is it Baltimore – as a whole -- seems to lack civic pride?

It seems that overall, crime is our number one concern, but when you look at the FACTS, we’re in the middle of the pack. Look at the cime rates on the City-Data web site – Baltimore is 40th on the highest crime list ranking (not great), but my point is, look at the other cities that are higher – Detroit, Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Ocean City!! ????? When you talk to people from these places, there is a great sense of identity and pride in their city – yes, even Detroit, I’ve lived there.

I don’t mean to go through life with blinders on, but all in all, this is a great place to live. (I’m also not a new arrival – lived here since ’92). I’ve had friends visit from all over the country who cannot believe the amenities and value we have and don’t understand why Baltimore isn’t touted as a major destination.

It seems people born in or around Baltimore have a sense of embarrassment about it, but most people who have moved here – even 10, 20 years ago, really appreciate it. The only difference I can see is they have more experiences to compare it to. There’s no question, we need to continue to improve our city, but it starts with attitude.

http://www.city-data.com/top27.html[

[jonjj]

A lot of folks have not lived in many other places and then get on the bandwagon to say how horrible Baltimore is. Speaking as someone who has lived in other places, I welcome Baltimore and love what it has to offer. Most of the country is a cesspool of traffic and strip malls and I love the unique character of living in the city. Does it have it's problems? Yes for sure. But everyplace has problems. Two things really hurt Baltimore: murder rate and a lack of better mass transit.

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by jonjj

...and then get on the bandwagon to say how horrible Baltimore is. Speaking as someone who has lived in other places, I welcome Baltimore and love what it has to offer.

I concur with jonjj. I would also point out that Baltimore's rich neighbor, DC, isn't exactly a model of civic pride either. DC has so many transients that many of the people who live there are apathetic about their temporary residence.

On the other hand, Baltimore has less population turnover, and lots of hard-working, blue collar neighborhoods that are becoming more rare these days. I think a lot of Baltimoreans do take pride in their city, it just might not be so visible.

[Be More]

Originally Posted by jonjj

A lot of folks have not lived in many other places and then get on the bandwagon to say how horrible Baltimore is. Speaking as someone who has lived in other places, I welcome Baltimore and love what it has to offer. Most of the country is a cesspool of traffic and strip malls and I love the unique character of living in the city. Does it have it's problems? Yes for sure. But everyplace has problems. Two things really hurt Baltimore: murder rate and a lack of better mass transit.

I couldn't have said it better johnjj.

[carolott]

Originally Posted by jonjj

A lot of folks have not lived in many other places and then get on the bandwagon to say how horrible Baltimore is. Speaking as someone who has lived in other places, I welcome Baltimore and love what it has to offer. Most of the country is a cesspool of traffic and strip malls and I love the unique character of living in the city. Does it have it's problems? Yes for sure. But everyplace has problems. Two things really hurt Baltimore: murder rate and a lack of better mass transit.

This is an excellent post, and I think the "Baltimore is terrible" bandwagon folks need to take a harder look at themselves and their communities before jumping on so quickly. There is a lot of civic pride here -- perhaps not as obvious as other cities...but it's definitely there if you look for it.

[bawlmer]

Hmmmm Interesting question. Could it be any of these factors. Baltimore ranks in the top 20 (#18) US cities in fastest population loss in 2006. Check the US Census website. Baltimore ranks 12 in total violent crimes of all US cities with a rate per 100,000 of 1,754 while the national average is 496 per 100,000. Check the FBI website. Baltimore is no. 6 in murders, ahead of Detroit, Camden and Flint for example.(2005) Many of us are trapped by the housing crash, which as opposed to some posters contending houses are selling for more than one year ago, recorded is 23rd straight month of decline and a record decline at that. (Business Week 12/6) Also, Baltimore is filthy. I've been in almost all major US cities. LA, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix...many more, and have never experienced the trash, dog excrement, rotting food, you name it, on the streets. Doesn't seem to bother people from Baltimore. You want some civic pride, let start with the mayor's office initiating an anti-litter program. Take pride in your city...start by not throwing crap all over the streets. Won't happen. During the campaign, Mayor Dixon put up about a dozen trash cans along Eastern Ave. People walk right by them and throw trash on the street. Now that the campaign is over you won't see another can going up. This city is used as a launching pad for politicians with higher political aspirations. Mayor doesn't care, citizens don't care. Only positive I can find is that it's cheap to live here. Hmmmm . Why is that?

[jonjj]

Just one of the above poster's misnomers. I have to run errands and find facts for the others when I have more time:
As of 2007, the population was 640,961; however, recent projections show a 0.08 percent increase in the population. The population in 2020 is projected to be 661,100. The Baltimore–Towson metropolitan area, as of 2004, was estimated to have a population of 2.6 million.[44] The population density was 8,058.4 people per square mile (3,111.5/km²). There were 300,477 housing units at an average density of 3,718.6/sq mi (1,435.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.34% Black or African American, 31.63% White, 0.32% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. This census however does not accurately represent the city's Latino population however which over the past few years has been steadily increasing. This growth is mainly seen in the southeastern neighborhoods around Fells Point, Patterson Park, and Highlandtown and in the city's Northwestern neighborhoods such as Fallstaff, and various neighborhoods of Northeastern Baltimore. [45] 6.2% of the population were of German ancestry according to Census 2000.

[bawlmer]

Baltimore Population from US Census-not Wikipedia!

2000: 651,154
July 1 2006: 631,366

A loss of 19,788.

http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/...EST2006-01.xls

[helenejen]

Reliance on population increase/decrease numbers alone, whether from Wikipedia or the Census, to prove the merit of a city can be problematic, as the following report illustrates: http://maloney.house.gov/documents/o...ensus_2010.pdf

Baltimore challenged the Census numbers in 2003, as did D.C. in 2005. In fact, an article in the Harvard Law Review (Vol. 112, No. 2) interestingly begins, "The census is not accurate" and goes on to illustrate how the methods used to formulate the census numbers violate the Census Act and could be considered unconstitutional.

Anyway, just an interesting little side note (or I think so anyway). And just to locate my own position, I love Baltimore. It has problems, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons for me.

Jennifer, previously of Chicago and current 1 1/2 year Baltimore resident

[jonjj]

Also, there was just an article in the Baltimore Sun completed about a month ago that challenged the census data. In the report, census workers even stated that the information from the census was inaccurate and the fact is there may actually be a population gain.