The Glover Report: What Will Baltimore’s Next Mayor Need to Focus On?
By Doni Glover, Publisher
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(BALTIMORE – September 10, 2020) – Probably, the first thing on Baltimore’s next mayor’s to-do list is addressing the repetitive violent crime that plagues city residents all day and all night. Everyone knows it’s a problem. Most agree the current method of crime fighting is yielding minimal results. I’m not sure if that means getting a new police commissioner, but I would imagine that topic could easily be on the new top city exec’s table.
A second issue is the trash. Because of COVID-19, many Department of Public Works employees have gotten ill and/or have been quarantined. Consequently, the trash is backed-up. There are plenty of pictures of this trash problem floating on the internet, including at Fulton and Lafayette on the southeast corner. Just around the corner from my house, it is a blatant eye sore. I think it’s time to fix this dilemma by any means necessary, including calling-in Bishop Barry’s Pest Control. In high-demand up and down the East Coast, Bishop’s reputation precedes him.
Thirdly, Baltimore is in dire need of expert fiscal guidance. Now, while I have never run a multi-billion dollar budget, the same values and principles that apply to a smaller budget apply as well to a larger budget. Put differently, before one can be a good steward over larger things, one must first master smaller things. Defund the police? Well, it has its merits as long as the goal is a better-trained police force. At the same time, Baltimore is an aggressive city, and I’m not convinced a kumbaya approach to law enforcement serves anybody’s better interest except the miscreants who consistently wreak havoc in our communities. Further, while Martin O’Malley’s “zero tolerance” pushed the pendulum to the far right – arresting one in six Baltimoreans, the “consent decree” era has pushed the pendulum all the way to the left. Get it? Clearly, a happy medium must be found.
Baltimore’s bureaucrats and employees, in my best estimation, have a critical role, too, if Baltimore is to reverse the current trend of inefficiency. We need to become more business-minded and customer-friendly. Do you know the feeling one gets after attempting to communicate with a City employee on the phone? Too often, those employed by the City have an “I don’t give a f***” attitude. You go to pay a bill at the municipal building and too often run into a funky attitude … for nothing who acts like they are doing tax payers a favor. Hear ye: If you do not want to serve the people with a positive attitude, find work elsewhere!
Across the board, City employees need a new culture – one of teamwork. One of gratitude. Now, mind you, Baltimoreans can be the quickest in terms of smart-mouthed answers. So, to be fair, citizens have to get classier, too. We, the citizens, have to treat our municipal employees with respect. Prayerfully, they will respond positively.
At the end of the day, Baltimore is what we make it. So, the next mayor will have to breathe life into citizens and employees alike. Especially amidst the pandemic, people are all on edge in all parts of town. Hence, the next mayor will be tested from Day 1 and he … or she … had better be ready. There will be no time for a learning curve. The next mayor has to hit the ground running with some semblance of leadership. At present, there is turmoil across the board. Money is tight. Thus, we are going to have to do more with less. This is where the next mayor’s leadership style will either make or break us.
With the right leadership, Baltimore can regain its footing, but, again, it is going to take all of us.
Business, business, business is the next critical issue, I think. The next mayor’s herculean task will be the most essential. After all, ... READ IN FULL