Posted on 06/09/2021 1:29:46 PM PDT by Steely Tom
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Dozens of Fells Point businesses say they are prepared to hold their city taxes, minor privilege fees and permit fees hostage until Baltimore increases police enforcement and municipal service in the area, according to a letter signed by 37 neighborhood restaurants and storefronts.
The announcement comes after three men were shot Saturday night on Thames Street and Aliceanna Street. “What is happening in our front yard — the chaos and lawlessness that escalated this weekend into another night of tragic, unspeakable gun violence — has been going on for far too long,” said the letter addressed to Mayor Brandon Scott, Councilman Zeke Cohen, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and BPD Commissioner Michael Harrison.
The businesses plan to place the funds withheld into an escrow account until the city meets four demands:
The letter said that the minor crime that police “ignore” is what lead to incidents like the weekend shooting.
“When it comes to prostitution, public urination and defecation, and the illegal sale and consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs on the streets, we know these crimes are not as serious as the carjackings, shootings, and homicides that have become routine,” read the letter. “But, as this past weekend proved, a culture of lawlessness rarely remains confined to petty offenses and invariably leads to the kinds of violence and tragedy we witnessed late Saturday night.”
They ALL need to sign on. And more importantly, use their withheld taxes to elect conservative Republicans to local government offices and throw the bums out.
here it comes
Interesting tactic. I don’t think the city will comply but won’t call their bluff either. Next: general strikes by people who actually work.
That's when you show up at their offices. Then their houses. With pitchforks and torches. Then tar and feathers.
Fells Point is one of the few decent areas of Baltimore city. It was an old time working class neighborhood turned hipster haven. Now some of it has gentrified even more. Popular with young adult white kids so I doubt the city will care much.
“the chaos and lawlessness that escalated this weekend into another night of tragic, unspeakable gun violence”
Tsk tsk.
Those naughty guns AGAIN!
“Pick up the trash
Enforce traffic and parking laws through tickets and towing
Stop illegal open-air alcohol and drug sales
Empower police to responsibly do their job”
Guns do all THOSE things?
Who knew!
Well, of course “public urination and defecation, and the illegal sale and consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs on the streets” is a sure sign of a classy neighborhood...
WTF is wrong with city officials in Baltimore-are they stoned or just stupid?
Aha! Here’s what those silly guns have been doing:
“prostitution, public urination and defecation, and the illegal sale and consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs on the streets, we know these crimes are not as serious as the carjackings, shootings, and homicides”
I’ve never asked a gun for a “date”, but I suppose some people’s units are that small. Or maybe a 12 ga.
Could be both.
Sounds very much like taxation without representation, and failure to deliver services.
Plus the crime.
Why not leave? Why stay?
They are totally orrupt a d always on the take.
I wonder how many wanted to defund the police?
You get what you vote for.
fallen point...
So, could the tides be slowly turning?
Violence in all rat cities is up due to the fact last summer it was allowed to run wild under the complete lie of “peacefully protesting”. The police were told to stand down, people were not arrested, and those that were ... immediately released. Yet the Marxist want everyone to think January 6th destroyed our democracy when they promoted and funded terrorism across the country on a mountain of lies.
Well try turning back now that their old feeb is in office. They can’t and they won’t.
We lived in a decent (50/50 white and black) middle-class neighborhood in Baltimore City 2009-17 and retired 60 miles away in Pennsylvania. We got married at an old German evangelical church in Fells Point; over the years we’ve eaten or drank at approximately 1/3 of these 37 businesses. We still visit for the day, about once a month; yesterday, I walked around Fells Point while my wife got her hair cut. It actually looked better than usual, with lots of pandemic open air restaurant tables (it was late morning so not too busy).
Baltimore city government is bloated, inefficient, and corruption/developer influence is a problem. I don’t totally blame the police for ignoring the problems these businessses point out, but the violent crime is so bad that they can’t do everything. The city school system is pretty bad, so it’s a vicious cycle of poverty with people not being able to get out of a hole over generations (we know first hand examples, where it’s not “laziness” or “entitlement”). This is a long-winded way of saying I wish there were easy answers, but talk there are “systemic” problems - not caused by “systemic racism.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.