(BALTIMORE – September 7, 2026) – People who are not from here, you have nothing to fear. Come with love in your heart, and all will be well. From the Inner Harbor to Druid Hill Park, from Luzerne Playground all the way to the new Cahill Recreation Center, from Park Heights to Cherry Hill, and from Westport to Hollander Ridge—welcome to Baltimore. We have some of the most delicious food you could ever sink your chops into. We have Arabbers who bring fresh fruit right to your door. “Watermelon, red to the rind!” That is the song they sing. Watermelons. Cantaloupes. Fresh fruit rolling through the neighborhood as the bells jingle and the ponies pull their colorful carts down Baltimore streets on a Saturday morning. Nearby, people are out front cleaning their steps—scrubbing and polishing until that famous Baltimore white marble shines brightly in the sunlight. That is Baltimore. Our city sometimes gets a tough rap. Yes, Baltimore can be a tough city, but it is more like an edge. That is the flavor here. That is the pace here. Baltimore is a no-nonsense town, but it is also a place where, if you fall down, somebody will help pick you up—no matter who you are. There is a lot of love in Baltimore. I know because I have seen it all across this city and throughout the surrounding region: Black, white, Asian, Middle Eastern and Latino; Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Nation of Islam, Catholic and Jehovah’s Witness. And if you travel just beyond the city to the Amish Market in Timonium, you will find some truly great food there, too. This is Baltimore: diverse cultures, incredible food, and great restaurants. There is room for everybody here. So come to our city—but do not stop at the Harbor. Explore our neighborhoods. Support our businesses. Meet our people. Baltimore has dynamic businesses representing a wide range of industries, from hospitality, healthcare, and education to technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The University of Maryland is helping to advance quantum science, and I can foresee Baltimore being right in the middle of that emerging economy. Baltimore has always been an innovative town. Think about some of the great educational institutions rooted in this region: Morgan State University and Coppin State University—both of my alma maters—along with Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, the University of Baltimore, MICA, Loyola University Maryland, and Towson University. We have excellent institutions. What we have not yet fully accomplished is connecting and harnessing all that potential as one powerful ecosystem. Ten years ago, much of the conversation centered on biotechnology. Today, we are talking about artificial intelligence, data centers, and quantum science. The possibilities are enormous. The University of Maryland’s expanding presence in Baltimore adds to that promise. People are coming here. People are purchasing property here. People are investing here—all kinds of people. Baltimore has it going on. More Than a Basketball Game When I attend the Labor Day cookout and basketball games at Cloverdale, or the…