Inner Harbor Crowd (Baltimore: home, magnet school, property taxes)

[newlocustpt]

As the weather has been getting nicer outside, I have started to run around the Inner Harbor around 6:00PM versus my usual 5:30am runs. Every time I run around there at night, I cannot stop thinking to myself “Isn’t the Inner Harbor supposed to be a tourist attraction, instead of being a tourism detractor?” For those of you who do not know what I am talking about, let me explain - it is nearly impossible to run or walk around the Inner Harbor without hearing adolescents screaming expletives, giving the middle finger to people, or being disrespectful to the environment/visitors to the city. I pay way too much for my city property taxes, and I get sick myself knowing that the beautiful area surrounding the Inner Harbor (that all Baltimore residents pay to keep nice) is being overrun by people who have no supervision, nor respect for themselves or the people who are actually trying to enjoy the Inner Harbor.

I recently read that there was a stabbing within a large group of teenagers who were “just hanging out because it was the day after Easter” Teen stabbed as youths converge Downtown - baltimoresun.com - I am getting nervous that violence like this could break out around the Inner Harbor at any second.

Is there anything that can be done to try to clean up the Inner Harbor to make it more attractive/less hostile for visitors?

[Jermaine88]

I was about to make a topic about this but I decided against it lol.

I think I saw the group of teenagers on my way home from work too, yelling stuff like F- Shaefer ( I know I spelled his name wrong). Cursing, taunting etc.

I saw the story about the mob on the news also.

Its really nothing that can be done, there's a high school not far away. The kids get out of school and do what they want.(not sure if school was open) Every time there's an incident there are few days of "increased police patrol through the harbor" then the cops go away. On a normal at the harbor (atleast when I'm down the harbor) I see 2-3 cops totals. I do understand the police can not be everywhere though.

Its a shame cause the city has been talking about adding stuff to the harbor to make it more fun/ or family friendly. Personally I would hope tax dollars would not be used as long as there are thugs going around harassing tourists. It would be a total waste of money.

[are you kidinme?]

Last summer there was virtually a cop on every corner downtown after dark due to a number of violent incidents. It didn't seem to have much of an impact. It's kind of like what Willie Sutton said when he was asked why he robbed banks. "Because that's where the money is." Criminals are going to prey on tourists and decent citizens were they are-downtown. My advice is find another running route.

[newlocustpt]

It is a sin. It is so beautiful down there when I run in the morning.

I wish the city would make a good use of tax dollars and make the Inner Harbor more welcoming.. don't they know more tourism=more revenue?

[jonjj]

I guess this kind of thing can happen elsewhere also.

9 Charged In OC Boardwalk Attack - Baltimore, Maryland News Story - WBAL Baltimore (http://www.wbaltv.com/news/27671948/detail.html - broken link)

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by newlocustpt

As the weather has been getting nicer outside, I have started to run around the Inner Harbor around 6:00PM versus my usual 5:30am runs. Every time I run around there at night, I cannot stop thinking to myself “Isn’t the Inner Harbor supposed to be a tourist attraction, instead of being a tourism detractor?” For those of you who do not know what I am talking about, let me explain - it is nearly impossible to run or walk around the Inner Harbor without hearing adolescents screaming expletives, giving the middle finger to people, or being disrespectful to the environment/visitors to the city. I pay way too much for my city property taxes, and I get sick myself knowing that the beautiful area surrounding the Inner Harbor (that all Baltimore residents pay to keep nice) is being overrun by people who have no supervision, nor respect for themselves or the people who are actually trying to enjoy the Inner Harbor.

I recently read that there was a stabbing within a large group of teenagers who were “just hanging out because it was the day after Easter” Teen stabbed as youths converge Downtown - baltimoresun.com - I am getting nervous that violence like this could break out around the Inner Harbor at any second.

Is there anything that can be done to try to clean up the Inner Harbor to make it more attractive/less hostile for visitors?

Racist!!! How dare you complain about unruly teenagers, who are Black.

[Woodlands]

I thought there was a curfew in the City for teens??

[crazynip]

It's a shame that a certain demographic can ruin what is clearly the only thing that Baltimore has going for it in terms of a tourist attraction. They dont realize that what they are doing will only hurt themselves in the long run. They should stay out of the area they have no business in.

[DillThePill]

Originally Posted by Jermaine88

Its really nothing that can be done, there's a high school not far away. The kids get out of school and do what they want.

Do you mean the Digital Harbor High School in Fed Hill? It's a magnet school and probably not the source of the problem kids. I see the kids pour into the Cross St. area after school lets out and they've been harmless.