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Baltimorians continue to vote for politicians who even say they are going to do something about crime mind you they do not really have to do anything about crime but as long as they say they are going to do something about crime then they continue to vote them into office. Case in point : Brandon scott has chaired the city cousil's anti crime seat for years but has violent crime gone down in baltimore ? The answer is "no". It has actually gotten worse. Don't get me wrong, we may no longer have plastic bags in baltimore but crime has not gone down. He is a nice enough person and if that is why he keeps getting re elected then say so but don't pretend that he has done anything about crime one way or the other.why we even have a city counsel is unclear to me. I guess if the fish are happier because of baltimore may no longer have plastic bags then i guess i should just live with that.
Baltimorians continue to vote for politicians who even say they are going to do something about crime mind you they do not really have to do anything about crime but as long as they say they are going to do something about crime then they continue to vote them into office. Case in point : Brandon scott has chaired the city cousil's anti crime seat for years but has violent crime gone down in baltimore ? The answer is "no". It has actually gotten worse. Don't get me wrong, we may no longer have plastic bags in baltimore but crime has not gone down. He is a nice enough person and if that is why he keeps getting re elected then say so but don't pretend that he has done anything about crime one way or the other.why we even have a city counsel is unclear to me. I guess if the fish are happier because of baltimore may no longer have plastic bags then i guess i should just live with that.
Here is the challenge with candidates in this town...If you are a bright aspiring politician or businessperson .. would you want your name associated with running a challenging city government ? The answer is likely "no" if you can go on and have a nice career/life doing something else and not have to deal with the rigor of running for an office (mudslinging). Not to mention running for an office that is going have a boat load of challenges from day one.... Thus, you have less than qualified, less than desirable, though some may be well intentioned folks running for office but often time ladder climbers or folks who simply want the trappings of the office for their own gain.. but do no work.
The profile of a Baltimore political candidate, based on the above usually fall into the following categories 1) Young idealist political upstart who may be big on ideas, most not practical, and low on experience or how to get things done 2) career politico, incumbent, establishment from legacy family with name recognition 3) Local yahoo.. who is likely a perineal candidate offer no real substance but heavy on complaints and discourse against the establishment and is often viewed as ... crazy and has an arrest or two or known scandal that would keep most rational voters from voting for them 4)Businessperson/Retired Bureaucrat (local shop owner or retired bureaucrat looking for a second gig) to enhance their pension. Now ideally any of these types of people may be able to do the job.. but most of the time.. its not the cream of the crop from these groups that run for the office in Baltimore.
Next, Most people of a certain generation are going to VOTE.... period because they have earned the right to do so and it technically is the responsible thing to do.. Some may feel not voting at all is simply un-American and therefore will vote for somebody as opposed to not voting at all.. So the lesser of two evils approach prevails
The bottom line is better candidates have to be encourage to run for office.. that is happening in some places but not in others.. we are one of the "others" in that regard and the choices are limited.. so vote or no vote.. that is the question.....
Garbage in, garbage out. Being a town full of garbage - literally and figuratively - you get garbage leadership. It's a self-perpetuating cycle. The nod-and-wink style of government attracts the dirtbags, so the cesspool continues to churn.
And, trust me, Lil Jeezie Brandon Scott is no different. He chose that profession for a reason. They all do.
here is the challenge with candidates in this town...if you are a bright aspiring politician or businessperson .. Would you want your name associated with running a challenging city government ? The answer is likely "no" if you can go on and have a nice career/life doing something else and not have to deal with the rigor of running for an office (mudslinging). Not to mention running for an office that is going have a boat load of challenges from day one.... Thus, you have less than qualified, less than desirable, though some may be well intentioned folks running for office but often time ladder climbers or folks who simply want the trappings of the office for their own gain.. But do no work.
The profile of a baltimore political candidate, based on the above usually fall into the following categories 1) young idealist political upstart who may be big on ideas, most not practical, and low on experience or how to get things done 2) career politico, incumbent, establishment from legacy family with name recognition 3) local yahoo.. Who is likely a perineal candidate offer no real substance but heavy on complaints and discourse against the establishment and is often viewed as ... Crazy and has an arrest or two or known scandal that would keep most rational voters from voting for them 4)businessperson/retired bureaucrat (local shop owner or retired bureaucrat looking for a second gig) to enhance their pension. Now ideally any of these types of people may be able to do the job.. But most of the time.. Its not the cream of the crop from these groups that run for the office in baltimore.
Next, most people of a certain generation are going to vote.... Period because they have earned the right to do so and it technically is the responsible thing to do.. Some may feel not voting at all is simply un-american and therefore will vote for somebody as opposed to not voting at all.. So the lesser of two evils approach prevails
the bottom line is better candidates have to be encourage to run for office.. That is happening in some places but not in others.. We are one of the "others" in that regard and the choices are limited.. So vote or no vote.. That is the question.....
so what do we do and how can we change this pattern which is so vital to a city in such disaray
so what do we do and how can we change this pattern which is so vital to a city in such disaray
Good Question ...no easy answers. Maybe for starters better candidates have to be recruited ..by people and organizations businesses that are interested in the overall growth and success of the city .. this is tough in Baltimore because this crowd are often the same folks that keep the current people in power so they can gleen tax breaks and related favors in return for their support....so the other option which is equally challenging is to start on the council level and have community groups local businesses etc cultivate candidates from their neighborhood that best represent their collective interest while committed to citywide improvement.
The problem is ..Baltimore is a political machine town. Whether it be democrat or Republican machine politics reward loyalty and patronage as opposed to results. This politics run deep in Baltimore and cannot be easily dislodged except by grassroot politics likely only coming from districts where there is an influx of new residents and potential voters that are not loyal nor benefit directly from this legacy system ...those areas are mainly in the south southeast downtown and north central portions of the city . Here are a couple of ideas none of which will work or popular unless the citizens support it
1) Make City Elections Non Partisan .
2) Create multi district Seats with some of the current council seats that span several districts. I would draw such district carefully so it traversed lower and upper income neighborhoods equally in an attempt to make the official accountable to both. It also creates the opportunity for these reps to work closer with their single member district reps within the larger area towards common goals that impact a larger section of the city but with a certain geography. So each neighborhood now has two reps a district and a multi district rep to help elevate issues but the multi district rep has a broader constituency but in the same section of the city (ex NW and North Baltimore )
The non partisan system and the multi district and district combination may pull more people into races and bring out better candidates as fundraising could become easier though machines could still influence the process more indirectly. People can run for a district office or multi district which may also provide a foundation for the upstart at the district level and the more seasoned at the multi district level. The city could also opt not to have the multi district rep and do straight at large but I suspect that would threaten the power of the Mayor and the Council President by putting these at large on equal footing so the mult district mat be a better option
I'm no political scientist so others feel free to critique what I have posted but the citizens have got to want better candidates and force the current officials to make the appropriate charter amendment s.....after all if they are doing their job they should be able to get re elected under the new system lol
Last edited by Woodlands; 08-16-2019 at 06:18 AM..
good question ...no easy answers. Maybe for starters better candidates have to be recruited ..by people and organizations businesses that are interested in the overall growth and success of the city .. This is tough in baltimore because this crowd are often the same folks that keep the current people in power so they can gleen tax breaks and related favors in return for their support....so the other option which is equally challenging is to start on the council level and have community groups local businesses etc cultivate candidates from their neighborhood that best represent their collective interest while committed to citywide improvement.
The problem is ..baltimore is a political machine town. Whether it be democrat or republican machine politics reward loyalty and patronage as opposed to results. This politics run deep in baltimore and cannot be easily dislodged except by grassroot politics likely only coming from districts where there is an influx of new residents and potential voters that are not loyal nor benefit directly from this legacy system ...those areas are mainly in the south southeast downtown and north central portions of the city . Here are a couple of ideas none of which will work or popular unless the citizens support it
1) make city elections non partisan .
2) create multi district seats with some of the current council seats that span several districts. I would draw such district carefully so it traversed lower and upper income neighborhoods equally in an attempt to make the official accountable to both. It also creates the opportunity for these reps to work closer with their single member district reps within the larger area towards common goals that impact a larger section of the city but with a certain geography. So each neighborhood now has two reps a district and a multi district rep to help elevate issues but the multi district rep has a broader constituency but in the same section of the city (ex nw and north baltimore )
the non partisan system and the multi district and district combination may pull more people into races and bring out better candidates as fundraising could become easier though machines could still influence the process more indirectly. People can run for a district office or multi district which may also provide a foundation for the upstart at the district level and the more seasoned at the multi district level. The city could also opt not to have the multi district rep and do straight at large but i suspect that would threaten the power of the mayor and the council president by putting these at large on equal footing so the mult district mat be a better option
i'm no political scientist so others feel free to critique what i have posted but the citizens have got to want better candidates and force the current officials to make the appropriate charter amendment s.....after all if they are doing their job they should be able to get re elected under the new system lol
All would likely require charter amendments which have to be proposed by City Council and then placed on the ballot for the electorate.. Based on past history City Council doesn't have any real interest in changing "the system". A more likely scenario is some group that is backed/funded by some "good government" think tank, special interest group, political action committee or developer type(or all of the above) seeking to break open the system.. funds a grass roots campaign( Better Baltimore for Tomorrow; Be More Baltimore or some catchy slogans with T shirts, bumper stickers commercials, signs banners etc) that does a slow drum beat among the electorate that eventually forces City Council to put it on the Ballot or backs a candidate who then becomes the spokesperson for the measure...But who or what type of organization is interested in funding this type of activity and what is in it for them? THAT is the real question.....
Again.. I think that answer is in the new generation of Baltimoreans and how soon they get fed up with the status quo assuming they don't vote with their feet and move after the novelty of city life wears off..but most may not be interested or don't plan to live in the city long enough to feel that its worth their energy.
Instead of voting out plastic bags, what about finding
and funding an effective disposal system for them?
Have disposal bins on corners with narrow openings
that prevent other trash from entering. Provide citizens
with financial incentives for collecting waste plastic
bags. If the BCC is on one accord with implementating
Green solutions for waste disposal in Baltimore, I have
a few alleys and empty lots to show them.
Instead of voting out plastic bags, what about finding
and funding an effective disposal system for them?
Have disposal bins on corners with narrow openings
that prevent other trash from entering. Provide citizens
with financial incentives for collecting waste plastic
bags. If the BCC is on one accord with implementating
Green solutions for waste disposal in Baltimore, I have
a few alleys and empty lots to show them.
Baltimoreans aversion to trash cans is astounding. I have seen folks throw trash directly on the ground at a bus stop with a perfectly empty trash can just a foot away...
Conversely, a small street trash can on the corner becomes a full blow waste transfer center with large bags of household trash chairs, auto parts, tree limbs, paint cans, and the like from a neighborhood side street
[quote=debold4215;56042647]This politics run deep in baltimore and cannot be easily dislodged except by grassroot politics likely only coming from districts where there is an influx of new residents and potential voters that are not loyal nor benefit directly from this legacy system ...those areas are mainly in the south southeast downtown and north central portions of the city .
You are so right! Baltimore is Dem all the way.
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