BMORENEWS.com

I can say without a doubt, the WLB inspired me to play a more active role in the legislative process. I am learning about issues that affect my community and am researching the backgrounds of “key players.” I want in. I refuse to sit back and play a passive role in this drama called life.

Information is power. Therefore, black, white, men, women - let’s bond together to be the voice of change - the voice of a brighter future filled with hope, promise and limitless possibilities.

To the City’s credit, many people have worked long and hard to help shovel Baltimore out of the Blizzard of the Century. At the same time, many citizens share a frustration beyond recompense. Many people I’ve talked to feel a certain insensitivity coming out of City Hall.

I’m curious to know how all this will play out – especially given that this is a statewide election year where there are still rumblings of a Wayne Curry (D) and Robert Ehrlich (R) challenge against incumbent Gov. Martin O’Malley. I’m particularly wondering how the new Baltimore City Council President, Bernard “Jack” Young, and the new Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, will get along.
 

How did you manage during the storm? Did you lose your mind? Or did you revert to those basic lessons taught by your momma or papa?

Did you read the Bible, the Torah or the Q’uran?

Did you take solace in the blessings that God has granted?

Did you find peace in the notion that ‘this too shall pass’?
 

I just wanted to take a minute - in the midst of all of this snow - to thank you, the reader/visitor - for visiting our website, www.bmorenews.com. Last month, January, was record-breaking with over 871,000 hits and some 29,000 unique visitors. For us, this is incredibly worthy of celebration. 

You come from - on average - some 80 different countries around the world. Hence - merci, gracias, kamsameeda - it all means 'Thank you.'

I am reporting to you from Prince George's County, the richest black jurisdiction in the country, which seems so appropo - considering that this is Black History Month.

For me, to grow BMORENEWS.com in Baltimore and expand to the District of Columbia and Prince George's County is simply a dream come true. After all, we view ourselves as "the little engine that could". 

In the beginning, few understood - let alone believed - in our mission: to educate, inform, and inspire. So many times, I heard doubters louder than supporters. However, we stayed focused on the light. And so we shall remain.

Today, some say we are a force with which to be reckoned. Our forte is black business and black politics. In short, we try and keep it real. If a politician is not serving the black community, we make it known. If a black business is doing something worthy, like Visionary Marketing Group's big Minority Business Summit next Thursday and Friday, we celebrate it. Additionally, we believe that ex-offenders, housing, and health care are of the highest of priorities.

This will always be our focus, no doubt.

Keep watching BMORENEWS.com, the news before the news where we uncover the truth.  

I believe in always giving credit where credit is due, especially if I am among the critics when something was done wrong or if something was not done at all - whatever the case.

The City botched part 1 of the Great Blizzard of 2010. But damn if they didn’t get it right on part 2.

I know. I came. I saw it for myself.

Congratulations to the people in charge of the city, ie the new mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and her team. Somebody listened to our WOLB radio show on Tuesday morning at 10 am as Darren Muhammad, David Brown and myself offered up some critical analysis of how the City had fumbled last weekend. More importantly, we offered up some solutions.

Welcome to Baltimore's Katrina: "Nobody hears our cry!"

A state of emergency: National Guard in hummers 

By Doni Glover, www.bmorenews.com  

"The same ol' story in New Orleans" - Jay Z

(BALTIMORE - February 9, 2010) - According to one Baltimore City Police officer stationed in Sandtown, downtown is plowed, Baltimore County is plowed, Carroll County is plowed (he lives there), but he didn't understand why communities - like in West Baltimore - were still left undone.

Fender-benders are not uncommon. The perpetual struggle between pedestrian rights and drivers' fear of getting stuck is ubiquitous. The question remains: Does anybody care about less affluent communities in one of the richest state's in the nation?

Yeah, yeah! We heard the governor announce there would be no additional funds for snow plowing.

Maybe we have to appeal to Pres. Barack Obama to send "state of emergency" dollars directly to municipalities ... like Baltimore. Or, maybe directly outsource dollars to snow removal companies. Whatever the case, this is some bull feces.

In a city where citizens get taxed to death for everything from parking tickets to cell phones, where is the love? Like the songwriter sings, "Ain't no love in the heart of the city!"

This year I decided to take a different approach to the State of the Union. Normally, I sit intently in my basement with CNN, typing vigorously on my laptop, and texting other politicos asking them if they heard 'this' or if they saw 'that'. This year I went old school. I decided not to be distracted by CNN’s focus group and there 'Like/Dislike' dials, and listen to the speech on a radio without my “crackberry”.

Most people expected this speech to reflect a “new”, more conciliatory President. While to the contrary the President did acknowledge some “political setbacks”, he remained positive - continuing to express his hope for bipartisan support, for middleclass tax cuts, small business tax cuts, tax cuts for families, and increased Pell grants for those in or going to college.

To say the least, it was a virtual who’s who list of black Maryland politicos with some pretty heavy white folks in the room as well, including Janet Owens, Dick Hug, and Chip DePaula. 

So, with a heap of the state’s black voting bloc on point in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County ceremoniously represented by Duncan’s presence and Baltimore’s first black elected mayor introducing the man of the hour, and add a sprinkling of Republican might – one can pretty much surmise that a war party is in effect.

After all, “It’s Wayne’s world,” said Schmoke.
 

To say the least, last night was one of those proud moments when one looks upon their people and feels the pride, the girth, and the essence of what it means to be black.

Yes, descendants of a notorious Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, ever reminded of a struggle immeasurable, tossed to and fro by the winds of hatred and the hands of time – only to emerge stronger, better, more distinguished and ever loving such that future generations will one day look back with pride and determination to carry the ball one more time.

Last night, the now generation did the damn thing with pinpoint accuracy. They sang, they danced, and they raised money. More importantly, they raised spirits.
 

When I think back to a recent conversation with the former State Senator of the 44^th state legislative district, Clarence Mitchell, III, I am reminded of the joyous benefit that comes from a life of service.

One might not get the most lucrative salary for such humanitarianism; however, from service comes a joy that not even money can buy.

At the same time, the persistent entrepreneur can do both: He/she can help people and help themselves simultaneously. Zig Ziegler, the noted mouthpiece for 'sell, sell, sell', says that as we help others reach their goals, we also better our chances of reaching our own goals.

Such is the joy I experience everyday as publisher of www.bmorenews.com.

"The richer we become materially, the poorer we become morally and spiritually. We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the seas like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers and sisters." - MLK, Jr. 

We, as members, of the human species find ourselves in the midst of some terribly interesting times: politically, socially, economically, physically, and yes, spiritually.

Here in the City of Baltimore, one could make the argument that if these five arms of the human experience were better on the same page, life would be better for all. However - at least from my perspective – the politicians and the theologians, the academics and the business leaders are seemingly wayward, lost from their moral compass, focusing instead on the material accoutrements of life that so often lead mankind to an infinite prism of hopelessness and despair – making man a lover of himself … and no one else.

Meanwhile, the first major hurdle that she and the City Council must deal with is the election of a City Council President. While there are rumblings that someone outside the Council – namely Keiffer Mitchell – was being considered, the word at City Hall is that it really boils down to Bernard “Jack” Young, who represents the 12^th District, and Bill Cole, who is in the 11^th.

While Young has a dozen years on the City Council, and is black, his main opponent, Cole, is in his first term. Cole, who is white, replaced Mitchell. Mitchell relinquished his seat as he aimed for the mayorship.
 

This allows the mayor to retain her $83,000 per year pension. She will be on four year’s probation, is required to perform 500 hours of community service, and pay a $45,000 fine. By delaying her retreat from office her successor, City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will get the lay of land. This includes a budget deficit, preparation for the upcoming legislative session (starts next week), and “steering a rudderless” city which has been without a cheer leader.

“Ms. Dixon will receive probation before judgment…she will not have any criminal conviction or any criminal record,” according to her attorney Arnold Wiener. The message from the state's prosecutor was simple, “There is nobody above the law in this state. It includes mayors or anybody else. If you’re a public servant, you serve the public not to line your pockets,” proclaimed Robert Rohrbaugh.

At last, the truth must be told.

I was recently invited by Mark Steiner and Anthony McCarthy to appear on their radio show. The other guest was local media icon Richard Sher. Formerly of WJZ TV 13, Sher is now the host of a resurrected “Square Off” on ABC in Baltimore, thanks to Billy and Hassan Murphy. I should mention that one of my mentees, Ms. Catalina Byrd, has been holding her own on the show (Great job, Sister!). A remake which tantalized television audiences for years, the show featured intense political discussions featuring some of the most intriguing people of the day, including Georgia Goslee, Billy Murphy, and Madeline Murphy.
 

I am writing this article as a brief outline of what would require a lengthy book. Keep that in mind as you read it. I am pointing a penlight on a subject that needs, at the very least, a floodlight. I leave that to those who are better qualified. Let the journey begin.

Many African Americans shudder at the thought of slavery. We are so minimized by the thought of what happened to us in that clearly demonic institution that we miss the good that came from it.