Mayor Martin O?Malley?s campaign for governor must drive William Donald Schaefer nuts.
The undeniable fact is that Schaefer?s beloved Baltimore, under Mayor Martin O?Malley, is awash in construction. Downtown revitalization finally spreads well past the Inner Harbor and into long-dormant residential neighborhoods, a development goal Schaefer wanted to reach decades ago but could only dream about.
Schaefer never liked O?Malley, just as he never liked Kurt Schmoke, the city?s first elected African American mayor, who unseated appointed Clarence “Du” Burns, a Schaefer trusty.
So what?s this all about? Go back to Psychology 101.
Schaefer?s antipathy toward O?Malley arises from feelings that the younger man achieves things too easily. “Banjo Joe” is Schaefer?s label for O?Malley, who fronted an Irish folk-rock band before politics intervened. The inference paints O?Malley as not altogether serious.
Schaefer remembers only too painfully ? and accurately ? how hard he worked to lead Baltimore as mayor from 1971 to 1987. He tried everything, including plenty of clowning, to raise his native city from a funk caused by two decades of white flight, the devastating 1968 race riots and a paralyzing sense of impotence as manufacturing jobs disappeared amid fundamental economic changes.
Many locals criticized Schaefer?s boosterism and endless sloganeering ? remember “Charm City” and his decision to paint sidewalks “pink positive?” But Schaefer won national recognition for his revitalization efforts. Esquire magazine said he was the best mayor in America.
In the end, though, an essential ingredient of success evaded him: No one wanted to invest big bucks in Baltimore.
That has changed in the past seven years, without O?Malley obsessing over development issues. In the 2000s, investors finally recognized long-overlooked Baltimore as a compelling investment risk.
And thousands of individuals and families who could afford to live anywhere moved to the city. They recognized the city?s problems ? from violence to an inferior school system to high real estate taxes ? yet those issues did not spook them.
But Schaefer shouldn?t fret. Luck plays a big part in a successful mayor?s victories, and each mayor builds on a foundation laid down by his predecessor.
Take the Inner Harbor. It is true that Schaefer largely crafted the city?s tourist symbol. Yet it was Republican Mayor Theodore McKeldin who, returning to City Hall after a triumphant stint as governor, provided the vision and established Inner Harborredevelopment as a top priority in his 1963 inaugural address. The following year, Baltimore voters approved the first of several bond issues for it.
In other words, McKeldin?s leadership enabled Schaefer to bring the ambitious renewal project to fruition ? and garner the kudos. Nothing wrong with that.
An even more pointed example is Schmoke, who presided over a stagnant Baltimore during his three mayoral terms at a time when many other cities flourished.
A failure to follow-up marked Schmoke?s tenure. So did ignoring housing issues. Baltimore still pays for that lethargy.
Yet it was Schmoke who tackled public criticism and championed the Harbor East redevelopment plan, which has generated a huge concentration of waterfront condominiums, hotels, office and retail buildings. Schmoke similarly initiated the drive to revitalize the old Howard Street department store district near Lexington Market.
Those initiatives have thrived under O?Malley, who can claim credit ? just as his ultimate successor is certain to take credit for whatever good O?Malley delivers to the next administration.
Antero Pietila is writing a book about how bigotry shaped the Baltimore metropolitan area. He can be reached at [email protected].
