Baltimore's Greatness (Potomac, Clinton, Cumberland: hotel, elementary school, taxes)

[Tom Lennox 70]

Bmorelater, thanks for the perspective. Now this makes me curious with all the crime and gangs in Phoenix too, how come Phoenix and other Sunbelt cities don't have the negative reputation places like Baltimore (or PHilly, Newark, Detroit, Pittsburgh, etc ) have? To think of it its interesting how the Rust Belt cities are so often associated with crime and decay. Even New Orleans was known for nightlife, history and food rather than violence/poverty prior to Katrina.

They don't make crime dramas in Phoenix or set a lot of crime or gangsta novels there nor do I believe a lot of rappers perform about the mean streets there, though I could be wrong about the last one

[RavensFan0606]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Not to burst your bubble guest2, but the city is still hemorraging population at a very fast rate. Just about 20,000 in the last six year. Here are some stats from census.gov

1990 - 736,014
2000 - 651,154
2006 - 631,366

These stats are wrong; projected population stats for the city of Baltimore show a population of 656,200 by 2010; and by 2030, a population of 661,900, up from the 2000 population of 651,134.

[barante]

There are all kinds of projections. They are just that -- projections.

[callsitlikeitis]

Originally Posted by guest2

Let me preface my comments by saying that I am a very satisfied transplant from the upper midwest. I had a chance to live in San Francisco, but opted for Baltimore. I couldn't stand what San Francisco had become, a place of artificiality, like much of America.

I'm extremely disappointed to see that a lot of the rants on this forum come from people who have no stake in Baltimore, and are unwilling to take responsibility for living here.

Baltimore is a place you can authentically call home and create rich, enduring connections. It's not a place for the transient trendy set, or suburban aspirants. If you're looking for either of those types of experiences why even consider Baltimore? I liken Baltimore to a person with a deep and interesting history, full of triumphs, failures, and everything in between, with a determined heart, ready to face whatever comes with courage and optimism.

To those considering moving here, I suggest you take a look at an op-ed piece from a Hopkins freshman to understand what being a Baltimore citizen means (for that matter, you should also read H.L. Mencken, watch some Johns Waters films, read Anne Tyler's and Laura Lippman's novels, even watch The Wire). In it she writes "I have realized how important it is for students to be proactive in engaging the city, rather than simply reacting to the imperfections." She goes on to describe how volunteering to clean up an elementary school in the inner city removed her fears and allowed her to connect to Baltimore's residents. She concludes that the most important thing is in "helping to improve Baltimore rather than wasting precious time criticizing it" (Engaging the neighborhood, contributing to the city - Opinion).

What a load of baloney! Baltimore is a major contender with East St Louis,IL and Camden, NJ. I just saw photos of that woman who was attacked on the MTA by middle school children. Horrific!

[fishfister]

Originally Posted by Terrapin2212

I don't know where "Charm City" comes from. Baltimore has none of the charm that places like New Orleans, Charleston, and Savannah have. What is so special about that Power Plant building and the DOminos Sugar sign? Those are ugly factories/industrial structures that should be demolished. I have posted a lot about resisting urban sprawl and the franchising of America but that only applies to charming Southern cities and small rural towns.

A decaying, urban wasteland like Baltimore....they should just knock down all those rowhouses and replace them with skyscrapers or strip malls. If Baltimore can't have the charm of New Orleans, at least have that modern, vibrant, flashy feel that Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tampa and Dallas have.

But like the original poster says, maybe Baltimore isn't just for me. After all, I either prefer a suburban subdivision type place or a small town. Don't want to deal with the crime, poverty, drugs, noise, lack of privacy, unfriendliness, traffic, lack of open space, and pollution or the big city. Its a shame that most of Maryland's population lives in the DC and Baltimore areas when there are still wonderful places left over like Hagerstown, Cumberland, Garrett County (around Deep Creek Lake), the Eastern Shore, and Frederick.

Wow, that is some trashing of Baltimore.
30 years ago Baltimore was an entirely different city. Yep...city. I didn't live in Maryland prior to the 1970s but I can only imagine what Baltimore was like when the US Steel factory was still open.
The federal government has decimated Baltimore with NAFTA and score of other trade agreements that removed the life from that once vibrant city. I remember National Bohemian and Colt 45 being located along 695. That is another part of Baltimore that has gone. I remember before the Inner Harbor was a big deal. All that did was create more consumer magnets that cause traffic.

This...
If Baltimore can't have the charm of New Orleans, at least have that modern, vibrant, flashy feel that Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tampa and Dallas have.
...makes no sense.
What is your intent? You are comparing one of the oldest cities in the USA to what are virtually burbs in puberty.
Then again, that is the mentality of America - tear it down and build a new one. We do it with cars, houses, cities and anything else we feel we have conquered with technology. This nation once flew to the moon but has forgotten the technology to do it again. It was easy by yesterday's standards but we will attempt to reinvent the moon if we are to go there today.

[callsitlikeitis]

Originally Posted by carolott

And quite tedious.

Instead of griping and whining, it would be nice to discuss solutions instead of problems, no?

I agree. Whining and griping are tedious and counter-productive.

A solution is to release the tendency to become attached to one's possessions. When a needy home invader reliquishes these items, just remind yourself that "every cloud has a silver lining".

If conked on the noggin by a free-spirited Baltimore thug, just turn that frown upside down and be glad that you can take advantage of your under-used health insurance!!

[callsitlikeitis]

Originally Posted by Terrapin2212

Bmorelater, thanks for the perspective. Now this makes me curious with all the crime and gangs in Phoenix too, how come Phoenix and other Sunbelt cities don't have the negative reputation places like Baltimore (or PHilly, Newark, Detroit, Pittsburgh, etc ) have? To think of it its interesting how the Rust Belt cities are so often associated with crime and decay. Even New Orleans was known for nightlife, history and food rather than violence/poverty prior to Katrina.

They don't make crime dramas in Phoenix or set a lot of crime or gangsta novels there nor do I believe a lot of rappers perform about the mean streets there, though I could be wrong about the last one

These mean people just don't know about Charm City. Here is a list of great things about the city named after Lord Baltimore:

1)

[callsitlikeitis]

Originally Posted by RavensFan0606

These stats are wrong; projected population stats for the city of Baltimore show a population of 656,200 by 2010; and by 2030, a population of 661,900, up from the 2000 population of 651,134.

A 5,000 jump in crack addicts by 2030 isn't that much.

[jonjj]

These mean people just don't know about Charm City. Here is a list of great things about the city named after Lord Baltimore:
1. unbelievable rivitalization of numerous neighborhoods
2. world-recognized for dealing with reinventing itself
3. greater reputation along the coast as the come-back town
4. fantastic walking
5. mild winters
6. glorious architecture from a bygone era
7. tremendous progress in the city schools
8. better transit than most us cities--(and, that ain't saying much)
9. great festivals
10. new retail in downtown and many neighborhoods
11. many great neighborhoods to choose from
12. home of John Waters and Barry Levinson along with The Wire and other films
13. great museums for a city it's size
14. increased population or at least a slow-down of the decrease
15. a beautiful Patterson Park
16. Fort McHenry
17. new construction for office, retail, and residential in and around downtown
18. a beautiful Camden Yards--probably the best ballpark in the country
19. close proximity to DC without the cost
20. Marc commuter lines between the two
21. home of many writers-both past and present
22. on a great bay with great seafood
23. increasing variety of retaurants serving a greater variety of ethnic food
24. HUGE increase in grocery stores
25. home of Johns Hopkins Hospital-probably the best in the country
26. home of many great universities-all growing
27. larger number of citizens believing that Baltimore is a great town getting better

About 8 years ago, I was going to leave Baltimore. The progress was oh-so-slow. But, I am so glad I decided to stay. I am overjoyed with the progress the city has made and look forward to it's future. So many of my out-of-town guests come to visit and end up falling in love with it's quirkiness. The constant quote I hear, "I had no idea Baltimore was this nice." Does Baltimore still have problems? No doubt! It has a horrible murder rate that NEVER seems to get better. It has huge tracks of land that are basically slums with people living in them without hope. But, from a guy who has traveled quite a bit both here and around the world, I can safely say that Baltimore is not alone in those issues. Now I have spoken my peace! Get on that bus and ride. (Just don't be a smart-ass to groups of young kids!)

[nickluva]

Phoenix, Tampa and Dallas
lmao@these cities with no souls. Yeah they have shiny and flashy new things but what else? I live in Phoenix right now and what's so vibrant about Phoenix may i ask?

lol@Baltimore being a contender with East St. Louis and Camden?? Are you serious?? Are you just talking out of your you know what? At least B'more have some nice areas

That's almost as bad as the poster who said if Baltimore can't have the charm of New Orleans. New Orleans???? You meant harm instead of charm right? New Orleans before Katrina had higher homicide rates than Baltimore