WHO: Baltimore City Councilman Jack Young
WHAT: After being thrown out of a Baltimore City Police COMSTAT meeting last Thursday, Young decided to take his concerns to the press — rather than discussing them with the City Council and the police commissioner — and start rumors about the city’s policing.
WHY IT’S A BAD IDEA: Young’s claims that the homicide rate may not be factual clearly spawned from spite. If Young is concerned about the policy, well, he is a city legislator, right? He can try to change it. Besides, convicting the police in the press before attempting to resolve the situation privately is only a recipe for continued animosity between the council and the police department.
WHERE TO VENT: Call Young’s office and tell him it’s not OK to spread rumors — 410-396-4811.
President Barack Obama had a great idea when he called for a national day of service the day before his inauguration. In Maryland, some volunteers gathered to clean an Annapolis creek. Their work not only provided a valuable service for everyone in the community, it allowed them to see firsthand the folly of buying plastic water bottles and throwing trash out of car windows and into gutters. A pre-inauguration call to service should become a tradition for all the presidents to come.
“Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this administration.” President Obama Wednesday, on announcing a change in policy to require his administration officials and federal agencies and departments to give full attention to freedom of information requests.
WHAT: After being thrown out of a Baltimore City Police COMSTAT meeting last Thursday, Young decided to take his concerns to the press — rather than discussing them with the City Council and the police commissioner — and start rumors about the city’s policing.
WHY IT’S A BAD IDEA: Young’s claims that the homicide rate may not be factual clearly spawned from spite. If Young is concerned about the policy, well, he is a city legislator, right? He can try to change it. Besides, convicting the police in the press before attempting to resolve the situation privately is only a recipe for continued animosity between the council and the police department.
WHERE TO VENT: Call Young’s office and tell him it’s not OK to spread rumors — 410-396-4811.
Today’s bright bulb: Service to others
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