Why does Baltimore get treated like the "red-headed stepchild" of the East Coast? (health insurance, unemployment)

[barante]

For decades it has been obvious that among factors strangling Baltimore's development is the antiquated Howard Street railroad tunnel. Double-stacked containers, now a transportation standards, cannot go through it, neither can high-speed trains. Yet it is easier for mayors to deal with stupid, simple-minded stuff like the Grand Prix and not address that crucial problem.

This story from the New York Tmes suggests that Baltimore won't be able to fully benefit from the new Panama Canal, even though its port should. The truth is even harsher.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/us...pagewanted=all

Here's another story
http://www.minyanville.com/business-.../2012/id/43178

Off topic. Or is it?
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,4598268.story

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by barante

For decades it has been obvious that among factors strangling Baltimore's development is the antiquated Howard Street railroad tunnel. Double-stacked containers, now a transportation standards, cannot go through it, neither can high-speed trains. Yet it is easier for mayors to deal with stupid, simple-minded stuff like the Grand Prix and not address that crucial problem.

This story from the New York Tmes suggests that Baltimore won't be able to fully benefit from the new Panama Canal, even though its port should. The truth is even harsher.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/us...pagewanted=all

Here's another story
Double-Wide: Who's Set To Benefit From The Expanded Panama Canal? | Markets | Minyanville's Wall Street

Off topic. Or is it?
Sun reporter barred from City Hall while seeking CitiStat reports - baltimoresun.com

We all know why.. Things like the Howard Street Tunnel and other entrenched economic and social issues take years to figure out and millions of dollars to fix..Things like the Grand Prix are sexy with all the VIP suites you get to go to...the free press coverage.. and a quick pay back to your favored contributors for putting money in your campaign or pet project. Its far easier and expedient to deal with these type of issues than the BIG DIG projects like the Howard Street Tunnel or major community/neighborhood development projects that may take decades to complete....where the person who puts in the grit to get it done will likely not be around to get the credit or will be around just long enough to get run out of office and for their successor to either get the credit or put the brakes on it after they leave office... and claim it was a waste of money then condemn their predecessor for even attempting it...

Politicians today are just like reality stars.. they want their five minutes of fame NOW.. for something simple, unimaginative, mundane, and sometimes insane ideas..though they serve them up as innovative. If they dont get it they fear that they will be condemned to Wikipidia and a Google search as the policio preceded by X candidate and succeeded by Y candidate... and the rest of their bio is a series of ambigous annotations and footnotes like " The only mayor to walk down S. Cary Street at night"; "The only Mayor who refused to say "OOOOO" during the star spangle banner"; "Created the Mayors task force on people who listen to Ipods while walking in an effort to boost awareness of the dangers of wearing an Ipod...while *gasp* walking"....They also set the bar so low.. even an ant can climb over it or so high that everyone gets lost in the rhetoric and the vague details....but like the congregation of a lively church.." I have not idea what the preacher is preaching about... but it just sounds good...." Then they attempt to use their "success" and "celebrity" from these low brow efforts to get their next gig.....

[Woodlands]

Here is another reason why Baltimore's hair is so red.. While most major East Coast Cities try to put their Bus Terminals downtown or at least make them more connected to their existing transit services.. Baltimore is investing in the current location out by I-95 and the Incenerator for the City's station. Sure its close to 95 which is great for Greyhound.. but bad for passengers.. I have read articles that stated that is was supposed to go near Penn Station and be a true intermodal like in NYC or what is being proposed in Washington at Union Station.. but there was local opposition because of the 'scum and bum' factor that people often associated with Bus Stations

Its really too bad... though.. Bus travel has increased in popularity over the years with Mega Bus and now Bolt Bus.. With the cost of Amtrak increasing to the NE and flights to suburban airports in the NE from other NE cities still requiring cab rides or a connection to get downtown.. Bus travel has found a renewed interest the next Generation.. Baltimore rather than rising to the occasion and belly up to the bar decided to punt on this one....

City to use $4 million grant to help build new Greyhound station

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

Here is another reason why Baltimore's hair is so red.. While most major East Coast Cities try to put their Bus Terminals downtown or at least make them more connected to their existing transit services.. Baltimore is investing in the current location out by I-95 and the Incenerator for the City's station. Sure its close to 95 which is great for Greyhound.. but bad for passengers.. I have read articles that stated that is was supposed to go near Penn Station and be a true intermodal like in NYC or what is being proposed in Washington at Union Station.. but there was local opposition because of the 'scum and bum' factor that people often associated with Bus Stations

Its really too bad... though.. Bus travel has increased in popularity over the years with Mega Bus and now Bolt Bus.. With the cost of Amtrak increasing to the NE and flights to suburban airports in the NE from other NE cities still requiring cab rides or a connection to get downtown.. Bus travel has found a renewed interest the next Generation.. Baltimore rather than rising to the occasion and belly up to the bar decided to punt on this one....

City to use $4 million grant to help build new Greyhound station

I agree with you. The station should be closer to the core. However, Boston's station is also on the perimeter of downtown.

[barante]

The record will show that the Grayhound station was about to go to the Station North area when one man stopped it, a major property owner. Peter Angelos.

Peter Angelos is graat at stopping things. Like the State Office Building project on Eutaw. It's his way, or no way.

At least Paterakis (whom he doesn't like) doesn't stop things.

[picardlx]

They probably want to keep the poor and their bus station down wind of Midtown-Belvedere. The only way other than cab or car drop-off is the MTA #27 and that bus is too infrequent and not always on time. A few times when I rode Greyhound, I just got off at Hamburg light rail and walk over (during the day time).

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by tmsterp

While I understand this conversation is about the City, which is definitely important, anybody trying to draw conclusions about Baltimore's economic vitality need to look at the metro area as a whole, which is not only growing and thriving, but also has one of the highest-income populace's of any metro area in this country. Most of Baltimore's immediate suburbs are doing fine, with a few exceptions. But go beyond that, and look at Bel Air, Columbia, Westminster, all which have economies centered around Baltimore. They may have developed (especially in the case of Columbia) strong economies of their own, but it's all because of their proximity to Baltimore. I left Annapolis out because it has long been a city of its own, but a lot of the growth in between Annapolis and Baltimore can certainly be attributed to Baltimore as well. It's just that people don't want to live in the city anymore, which, again, is very much a problem worthy of discussion. But comparing Baltimore to Detroit and cities like that in terms of economic vitality is just inaccurate.

I agree however Detroit's suburbs aren't too bad off either.

[barante]

Book Review: City | Straphanger | The Great Inversion - WSJ.com

[NCOriolesfan]

This thread will never die.

[BKmachine]

Barante is the funniest person on city data