Who: Baltimore County Council members
What: They voted to place a charter amendment on the ballot to allow County Council members to hold state jobs.
Recommended Stories
Why It’s a Bad Idea: County Council members can best serve their constituents by contributing tax dollars in their other private sector jobs instead of redistributing them. Besides, council members must vote on issues that could put them in conflict with the state. They can avoid the situation by serving only county residents.
Where to Vent: Call council members at 410-887-3196.
Today’s bright bulb: Bye-bye pesticides
Johns Hopkins Hospital is moving toward eliminating toxic chemicals to kill pests. Instead of using pesticides — some of which have been linked to serious health problems — the hospital is tightly sealing crevices and doors and keeping food and storage areas spotless. Sometimes pesticides are the only effective means, but reducing their use means patients have fewer chemicals to battle during their convalescence.
Today’s quote
It will be devastating for the low-income people. It will bring crime and it is addictive. It does nothing for the community.” — Jenkins Odoms, president of the state conference of the NAACP, on legalizing slot machines in Maryland
