Del. Jill Carter is taking her mayoral campaign, and her fight against crime, to some of Baltimore?s meanest streets. Starting tonight, Carter plans to spend the night on three separate corners in some of the city?s most crime-plagued neighborhoods to call attention to Charm City’s continual battle against crime.
“It is sending a message that we will not accept that our corners will be taken over,” she said. “It?s symbolic, yes, but it?s also about leading by example.”
Carter said she will spend the entire evening on the corners of Milton and East Biddle Streets and Fayette and Monroe Streets. She will camp out on a yet-to-be determined third corner Saturday.
“I?m a person of action not rhetoric; we have a crisis and no one is really responding,” she said.
Other than a tent and a chair, Carter said she will not be requesting police protection.
“I will have the same protection that the people of the neighborhood have; that?s is what leadership is about,” she said.
In addition to camping out on corners, Carter also plans to unveil her crime plan Friday.
“I?ve consistently said, no mayoral candidate[s] unless they spent a career in law enforcement have the expertise to have a crime plan; I think we should be skeptical,” she said. “But I want to release some comprehensive strategies that will turn this city around.”
Police declined comment on Carter?s plan.
Richard Vatz, professor of political science at Towson University, said Carter?s three-night vigil could boost her campaign.
“In terms of making herself more prominent and getting the voters? attention, it?s more positive than negative,” he said.
