Crime, crime and more crime. That?s been the primary topic in Baltimore?s mayoral contest, and some say with good reason. A rising homicide rate and a spate of high-profile violent crime mean that public safety should be the No. 1 topic of the campaign.
Butother residents and advocates say quality-of-life issues ? the city?s penchant for writing parking tickets, high auto insurance rates and a vexing pubic transportation system ? are rarely raised but are just as important.
“Combined with the property taxes, the high car insurance rates are one of the main reason people leave,” said Lynda Lambert, a community activist and adjunct professor for Howard County Community College.
“I do think lowering the car insurance rates is an important issue in terms of keeping people in the city,” she added.
Lambert, who has been a city resident for almost all of her 60 years, believes the sky-high car insurance rates are largely ignored by city politicians because of apathy.
“If somebody is beating on you and you put up with it, they?re going to continue to beat on you,” she said.
A spokeswoman for the Maryland State Insurance Commission, the agency that regulates what insurance companies can charge, said several factors contribute to the city?s higher insurance rates.
“It?s really complicated,” Karen Barrow said. “There is the insurer?s experience in that territory, the amount of claims and the frequency of claims in that area ? on top of your individual driver record,” she said.
In 2005, the agency commissioned a study of urban insurance rates and issued its recommendations to a task force of state delegates in 2006.
Some residents said the expense of maintaining an automobile in a city where nearly $20 million in parking ticket fees and fines will be collected in 2008 means candidates should pay attention to the city?s lackluster public transit system.
“We have to improve the public transportation system; people should be able to get around the city easily,” said Lavina Velasco, 33, of Charles Village. “I?m very concerned about the environment, so I think we need to focus on better mass transit.”
Matthew Crenson, a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University, said crime has dominated the campaign in part because of the rising homicide rate but also because it?s an issue that attracts votes.
“I think part of the reason crime has dominated the campaign, especially the homicide rate, is because it has a successful history in Baltimore politics,” he said.
“O?Malley ran on it in 1999 and won.”
But Crenson said the high number of uncommitted voters in recent polls can be attributed in part to the neglect of other quality-of-life issues.
“The reason why there are so many undecided is due to the fact that some voters feel they have yet to hear any candidates say something compelling to them,” he said. “Car insurance is one of those issues that has been largely ignored.”
Fast Facts
» Auto insurance
A report by the Abel Foundation concluded that Baltimore City residents pay up to 100 percent more for automobile insurance than their suburban counterparts, regardless of individual driving records.
Insurance industry experts say rates are higher in the city because those drivers are more likely to file claims.
» Parking
Baltimore has issued 56,600 parking tickets this year, according to the city Department of Transportation. The city expects to collect $11 million in fines $8.2 millions in penalties from errant motorists in fiscal year 2008, according to current budget estimates.
The candidates speak
As part of its ongoing coverage of Baltimore?s mayoral campaign, The Examiner asked each candidate to comment on how they would address quality-of-life issues.
Andrey Bundley (D)
“When you make parking tickets as a revenue-generatingoption alone, then you know we?re not looking to building people?s lives and getting people engaged.”
State Del. Jill Carter (D)
“We need reform of the insurance industry and figure out a way to make it fair. We have the poorest people in the state and the higher rates; how could that be fair?”
Mayor Sheila Dixon (D)
“Car insurance is controlled by the state, and there are fewer people that own cars in the city than the surrounding areas. The state legislature need to take on this issue.”
Robert Kaufman (D)
“I will get the city to finance a nonprofit auto and home insurance cooperative, which would be owned by the policy holders. That would save money for all city residents.”
Keiffer Mitchell Jr. (D)
“To improve the quality of life in Baltimore, we must provide affordable housing and better schools, and that requires broadening our tax base. We must attract people to live in Baltimore, and to do that we must solve the crime crisis in this city. From that, all else follows.”
Mike Schaefer (D)
“If you meet up with the meter maid at the meter, you win. You will get a 50 percent discount if you pay your ticket in 10 days. On your birthday, you will get a free pass on an outstanding ticket, just like George Bush commuted Scooter Libby.”
Elbert Henderson (R)
“To lower car insurance, I would let the city government insure city workers; I think that would save money.”
Candidate Phillip Brown could not be reached.
