Baltimore City Schools Chief Executive Andres Alonso decided any student who sets a fire or detonates explosives on school property will be recommended for permanent expulsion. Recommended? Would you want your child sitting next to an arsonist? Would you want to teach one? We’re glad banishment is on the table, but shouldn’t it be a done deal — along with criminal prosecution?
OUTRAGE: Budgeting in a vacuum
WHO: Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon and City Council members
WHAT: When the City Council passed the Mayor’s $2.9 billion Fiscal Year 2009 budget — more than 11 percent higher than last year’s — all economic signs pointed to slowing tax revenue. The budget even declared the economy “seriously challenged.”
WHY IT’S A BAD IDEA: Falling tax revenue combined with higher spending for police and fire overtime is creating a $37 million deficit for 2009. That’s before any cuts in state aid that may come because of the $300 million shortfall in Annapolis. Cutting the budget — not just slowing increases in spending — would have saved the city from even considering raiding the rainy day fund and having to do the hard work of trimming spending mid-year.
WHERE TO VENT: www.ci.baltimore.md.us
Quote of the day
“The number of registrations is off the charts. … Baltimore City reported they got 14,000 on deadline day plus five bags of mail.” — Mary Wagner, head of the registration unit at the State Board of Elections
