REFLECTIONS ON LIFE

SEPTEMBER 2017

REFLECTIONS ON HOME IN COLUMBIA

I begin this message with a stronger than usual clear and deep realization that everything, absolutely everything, is connected in our universe.

This year we have been commemorating the 50h anniversary of Jim Rouse’s new town of Columbia with numerous gatherings, performances, retrospectives and perspectives.  Films have been produced and books published.  I have previously written about the books. This month the films were shown – one paid for by voluntary contributions from members of the Howard County Citizens Association and produced by Richard Krantz, a Columbia resident who also produced a film for Columbia’s 20th anniversary.  The other was produced by Howard Hughes Corporation and featured various builders of Columbia’s structures – residential and commercial.  I viewed both films and learned from each of them.  Lloyd and I were interviewed for the Krantz film, which, in addition to featuring Columbia’s gems, also shines a light on potential pitfalls that require our attention, such as becoming an elite community affordable only to those in the upper middle class and above. May each and every one of us never forget Rouse’s words: “a place where the CEO and the janitor can live in the same neighborhood”. You can view this film entitled “Columbia at 50” by going to YouTube and looking for “HCCA Presents: Columbia at 50—A Bridge to the Future.”

Since the unveiling of these two films, both Howard Hughes Corp. and Howard County government have made know their interests in being selected as the next home for Amazon. 

***

From the window above the headboard of our bed some gaps have appeared in the virtually solid green formed by the maple leaves.  Through it we can catch glimpses of the stars and moon at night and the sky, blue or gray, in the morning.

Going about our day we see a growing carpet of leaves beneath the tree.  I can remember so clearly rolling around in piles of such leaves, sometimes being completely covered by them, in my childhood Baltimore neighborhood

Although some of our most plentiful bird species that feed on insects and nectar have migrated, the blue heron is in its prime time and visible from our windows and decks by the ponds alongside and behind our home.  Sometimes one of these majestic creatures will stand as still as a statue for up to an hour before spotting its prey in one of the ponds and darting so quickly as to be nearly invisible. The fully-grown cattails and other growth around the ponds provide perfect camouflage for this fish predator. What a great example of patience.  The milkweed plants around these ponds are now dried out and virtually devoid of monarchs.  The hummingbird feeders outside our kitchen, dining room, and bedroom windows are cleaned and packed away for the winter.

On several September evenings, Lloyd and I have enjoyed dinner at outdoor Clyde’s in the lakeside pavilion.  We love the now virtually constant flow of walkers, runners, and bikers around Lake Kittamaqundi.  We eat dinner earlier than usual on those evenings in order to get a seat with a good view of the lake. Sometimes, before getting settled at a table, we join other walkers in a mile+ stroll around the lake.  At about 6pm one recent warm evening, having placed our order with the waiter, we heard the unmistakable sound of a gaggle of geese heading in for a landing on the lake. After swimming around for about half an hour, they took off in a perfect V formation. Following several swoops and swirls, they headed up higher in the sky, still in perfect formation though with greater spaces in between.

At times like these we ask each other what would be our impression if we came upon this magical place for the first time on our travels.  Thrilled, enchanted, grateful.  Just as it is. 

REFLECTIONS ON ZACH

In several of my earlier monthly Reflections I have written about the beautiful walks Zach and I took along the beach in North Carolina on our family summer vacations.  I also described the way he explained his deep respect and admiration for Muhammad Ali as a strong human being willing to suffer being banned from professional boxing because of his public opposition to the Viet Nam War.  Anyone who has watched Ken Burns’ recent documentary about this war may respect Ali even more today for his courageous stance. Zach would demonstrate Ali’s style on the beach for me, accompanying this great show with a recitation of some of his poetry: “Float like a butterfly.  Sting like a bee.” The Washington Post’s recent book review of  “Ali--A Life” says it like this:  “Ali’ stirs together the sweet and the spicy, the gifts and the failings, the charm and the rage, the grace and the greed, the pride and the ego.  Together, they made Ali the transcendent athlete of his age.”  I am going to ask Lloyd to order this volume for us.  Zach, my first and wisest teacher and on the subject of Ali, will be with me as I read it.

THE WASHINGTON POST                October 1, 2017

“How Ali transformed the worlds of sports and race”

Zach attended the University of Maryland in College Park for one semester.  His brain cancer re-emerged during winter break and he never returned as a student, although he continued his role as assistant basketball coach.  We now have two grandkids attending the University in College Park – one a sophomore and one a junior.  They loving visiting the locker room in the basketball center on campus where the walls are adorned with Zaching paraphernalia and photos

REFLECTIONS ON BALTIMORE, MY HOMETOWN

Both of my parents were born and raised in Baltimore.  As young adults they were also engaged there.  My dad gave my mom a silver ring embedded all around with small diamonds.  I never recall seeing my mom without that ring on her left finger until not long before she died at the age of 94.  While she was still quite aware, she gave me and my two sisters – Martha and Mary – a piece of her small collection of jewelry.  Mary, nine years older than I, was the recipient of that ring.

Recently Lloyd and I met up with Mary and her daughter, also Mary, for lunch at Clyde’s.  After our meal, while still at the table, my sister removed that most precious ring from her finger and handed it to me saying “I want to give this to you while I am still alive.  This ring embedded in small diamonds has been on my little left finger since, where it will remain there for the rest of my life.  I love that this beautiful family experience took place overlooking Lake Kittamaqundi.

******************************

I recently went for a ride through Edmondson Village and Edmondson Ave. neighborhoods of West Baltimore with my friend, Mary Lou, who had been a frequent playmate of mine when we lived very near each other during two of our elementary school years.  About 25 years ago we bumped into each other several times in Howard County where we had each moved with our families.  She worked as a nurse in the Howard County Health Department when I held elected office. Then about a year ago we arranged to reminisce over coffee and a bagel.   My daughter, Chris, Zach and Julia’s mom, happened into the shop and got to meet my childhood friend. I occasionally take a ride alone through those areas of Baltimore.  Sometimes Lloyd goes with me. I asked Mary Lou whether she would like to do that with me sometime.  This month we finally took that drive.  We started at Edmondson Village on Edmondson Ave. (Route 40).  Although all the names had changed, we recognized all of the stores we, occasionally with our moms, had frequented.  Hochchild Kohn’s, at that time a large department store with a “notions” department where my mom occasionally sent me for thread, snaps, hooks and eyes; Arundel ice cream shop; Tommy Tucker’s Five and Dime (which I had never remembered when I had previously driven through by myself, and on the corner, Wehland’s Drugstore with a long fountain counter and high stools serving ice cream sodas among other delights.  Then we went across the street to the movie theater that had a bowling alley on a lower level; Hess Shoes with live monkeys in the window and x-ray machines to detect whether the potential purchase of a pair shoes was a good fit (we now understand how healthy that was for us!)

 Although I have driven through these places more then a few times, it was a totally different and moving experience to share this visit with someone who had lived there at the same time as I. So much fun and joy, mingled with some wistfulness.

We proceeded to drive behind “the Village” to the local roads where we had played with friends – Rokeby Road, Flowerton Road, and eventually Walnut Avenue and Side Hill Road where we respectively lived.  We recalled roller-skating with our skate keys tied around our necks, sitting on the steps of our homes and those of other kids in the hood exchanging “trading cards” with pictures of mountains, flowers, or horses and other animals.  Mary Lou recalled playing Monopoly on the living room floor of my house where I lived, single family shingled with a large wrap around wooden porch. She also clearly recalled climbing a tree in our back yard.  I had forgotten this tree, a large Chinese red maple, which I had loved because it was so easy to climb.  At approximately seven years old, I would sometimes climb that tree and sit in the crook of its branches for half an hour or so, quietly contemplating I now know not what.

My mother and father and my sister, Mary, lived there until she started residential nursing school when I was eight years old. Three years earlier my other older sister, Martha, had moved out to enter the novitiate of a Pennsylvania motherhouse for nuns of the Immaculate Heart of Mary order.

After Mary Lou and I had driven through our immediate neighborhood several times, we headed to Wildwood Parkway off of Edmondson Avenue past an apartment where I had lived with my mom when I was in high school. Then we made our way back to Edmondson Ave. and my parish church, Saint Bernadine’s and the parochial school I attended for grades 1 through 8.  Mary Lou and her parents attended St. Williams Catholic Church a little further west on Edmondson Ave.

We parked the car and walked toward the large grey stone church to see if it was open. Two guys sitting on a stonewall surrounding the church said they didn’t know, and then another guy appeared with a set of keys on a big ring and asked if we would like to go in.  We said yes and thanked him.  He walked around to the sanctuary at the front of the church and up the granite stairs.  We followed.  After unlocking the doors and letting us in, he flipped several switches and turned on all the lights.  We checked the marble steps where I so frequently received Holy Communion and checked out the carved wooded cl set where I had made my first confession.

This Edmondson Avenue area of West Baltimore has developed into a place much more and way beyond my childhood community.  I now know through reading “The Beautiful Struggle” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, that he too lived near this area.  The map in the front of his book shows Leakin Park right down the street where I grew up and where I played, at times by myself.  Roughly fifty years after I played in that beautiful large park, Ta-Nehisi described it as “the place where the bodies were buried.” Where is the justice in my having had such good and fond memories and he having haunted ones?  I know.  There is none.

Ta-Nehisi has written other books, among them “Between the World and Me,” about which Toni Morrison has said  “This is required reading.”  I would be so brave as to add “particularly right now.”

The Washington Post very recently published a review of his latest publication, “We Were Eight Years in Power.”

The Washington Post                      October 1,2017

“The Obama era’s faded hope”

Baltimore recently gained another distinction, this time on its football field where the now familiar image appeared on our TV screens of some players “taking a knee.”

The Washington Post              September 30, 2017

“Birthplace of anthem at center of NFL protest debate”

REFLECTIONS ON PUBLIC POLICY: COUNTY, STATE, AND NATION

Howard County

Our County Council recently took the vote on legislation introduced by Councilmembers Ball and Terrasa.  It was a bill that would have repealed the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) approval that was passed earlier this year by a vote of four to one, Teresa being the only one voting in opposition. This financing in the amount of roughly $90,000,000 will go to one of the largest and most profitable development entities in our nation, Howard Hughes Corporation.  This is at the same that our Department of Education’s free and reduced meals program, a leading indicator of poverty in our nation, is growing rapidly, approaching 50% of the students in some of Columbia’s schools.  Pointing out and protesting the numerous grave injustices at the federal level, does nothing to promote economic justice at our local level of government.  Living in one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., we are abandoning the low-income families, particularly the kids.

Our Board of Education has received the Superintendent’s proposed changes to the school district boundary lines.  It is crucial to economic and social justice that these lines be drawn democratically and serve to improve the economic mix of the schools’ populations.

Maryland

I recently attended a meeting of “Indivisible” in Howard.  This is one of the progressive groups that sprung up in the wake of our national election.  I am very impressed by their organizational skills and grasp of so many issues, including social, economic, and environmental justice.  One of the topics of this meeting was protecting the security of our voting systems, which is gaining more attention now in the face of Russia’s recent history. Having led a similar effort in the Maryland Legislature a few years ago with great assistance from Johns Hopkins professor of Computer Science, Avi Rubin, and having met with only partial success, I made a comment during the recent meeting in Howard Co on this issue.   In doing so, I described myself as “one of the most radical members of the legislature”. After the meeting ended, a man and woman approached me with expressions of deep concern on their faces and said, “You shouldn’t disparage yourself like that by using a word like radical.” I thanked them for their concern on my part, and then referred to Google re this word. “Definition of radical – (especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature…denoting or relating to the roots of words.” They replied that they had thought it meant something along the lines of hostile and irresponsible.  I suggested that they check out the base of the word.  “Rad” means to go the root, as in radish.”  It’s one of those words that we have allowed the right wing to sabotage.

As a lit major, I love words.  So do I love people who are taking the time to get out and get involved to save our nation and planet?

U.S.

Guns:  If what happened in Las Vegas is not sufficient motivation for Congress and the state legislatures to enact strong weapon control, I can’t even begin to imagine what would

Hurricanes:  Puerto Rico is a protectorate of our nation whose people are citizens of the U.S. just like we are and, therefore, equally entitled to emergency services as we residents of Maryland and the other 49 states are.  Clearly they have not been treated as equals.

REFLECTIONS ON OUR PLANET BEYOND THE UNITED STATES

In a recent TV interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates concerning his latest book “We were eight years in power” to which I referred at the end of the section above on Baltimore, My Home Town, the interviewer asked him what he sees ahead for our nation.  Ta-Nehisi replied, unfortunately though without hostility “Chaos”.

Reading The Washington Post and other publications during the past month, “chaos” tragically appears to apply to our planet as well.

GERMANY            RUSSIA       FRANCE            U.S.         BURMA    CHINA

         

NORTH KOREA    MEXICO          SPAIN (Catalonia)         BANGLADESH   

“SAUDI ARABIA:  In my recent reading of the Washington Post, this is the only nation from which we received very positive news.  Women in that nation will finally be allowed to drive!

REFLECTIONS ON OUR UNIVERSE

This year our planet’s autumnal equinox occurred on September 22 at 4:02pm.  When I checked Google for a better understanding of this phenomenon, I was moved by the beautiful description of the similarity between light and darkness both within us and within the universe.  That led me to strengthen my resolve to limit my time before the TV now awash in “dark” news. We already never turn on the TV before six, with the exception of weekend baseball, basketball, or football for Lloyd.  I believe it’s very important to be aware of what’s going on in our nation and planet. I also believe – or rather KNOW – that we can damage our very souls by too much “sitting in front of the TV and watching,”

We decided to invite a few like-minded friends over to observe and venerate the time when the sun crossed the equator, heading south. A few moments before four o’clock we gathered on our back deck facing the sun.  The clouds dispersed just in time for a super quick glance through our sunglasses.  Some had brought a poem or story to read.  Some spoke their own few words.  Some remained quiet.  Each reading helped us to “get it” at a deeper level, the cycles of darkness and light in our universe and within ourselves.

THE WASHINGTON POST           SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

“Gravitational wave from black hole collision is sensed in U.S. and Italy”

“When two black holes merged 3.8 billion light-years away, their violent union sent shock waves through space and time.”

…and it is not unusual for me to experience a month as an extremely long time.

.....

I now end this message with a stronger than usual clear and deep realization that everything, absolutely everything, is connected in our universe.

 “Pools of sorrow, waves of joy

Are drifting through my open mind

Possessing and caressing me

Across the Universe

~Lennon and McCartney

Be well and love life.

Past issues of this newsletter can be found on my blog at http://lizbobocolumbia.blogspot.com/.

GREETINGS from HOME in COLUMBIA

Lloyd and I continue to take our daily 3+  mile walks.  When walking on the pathways in the Middle Patuxent Valley, we now notice a bit of dried brown foliage creeping in among the lush green - to everything there is a season. When walking on the sidewalks of Cedar Lane and the Little Patuxent Parkway loop road through Clary's Forest we continue to get "honks" from some of you and others.  A few of you have seen me in the grocery store, dry cleaners, or a restaurant and greeted me with "I'm one of the honkers." I love our Columbia community!

Now that seven months have passed since I no longer hold public elected office, I am grateful, happy, and slightly surprised at how smooth and easy the transition has been.  Lloyd and I are loving our time in our beloved community of Columbia, enjoying our time with family, reconnecting with old friends and traveling around our state, country, and planet.

There has been one somewhat rough spot in this transition.  I have never fully realized how much I depended on various staff members in my office over the years to keep my calendar straight.  I occasionally find that I have  made errors in dates, times, locations.  With help from one of our granddaughters, Katerina, I am improving. To those with whom I've missed a date or time, my apologies. I feel bad about these missteps, though they are few and far between...  Bear with me.  I'm improving.

When I served as Howard County Executive in the 80's, historic preservation was one of my priorities. As a result we preserved and restored several properties in downtown Ellicott City, the old firehouse and the Thomas Isaac log cabin on Main Street among them. Recently I took a walking tour of historic Ellicott City led by the director of the Ellicott City Historical Society.  He did a great job which I particularly appreciate since I served as a walking tour guide there myself during the celebration of the Ellicott City Bicentennial in 1976.  Recently I was deeply gratified to learn that I will be this year's recipient of the Senator James Clark Lifetime Achievement Award for Historic Preservation in next month at Waverly Mansion on Marriottsville Road.  This is another of the structures for which I collaborated with Jim Clark to preserve when I was County Executive.  The award will be presented by an organization founded by Mary Catherine Cochran more that 20 years ago, Preservation Howard County, now chaired by Fred Dorsey.  I served as one of the first members of this board which works to preserve our local history for future generations.  Numerous threads woven together here.

Speaking of Jim Clark, one of our biggest joys of summer is to stop by the Clark's farm roadside vegetable and fruit stand.  Tomatoes and corn on the cob are our favorites.  The farm is now lovingly tended by Jim's daughter, Martha, and her family.  She also fosters serving local produce by local restaurants and held a great event on their farm this summer to support and promote those restaurants.  Thank you, Martha. Yummy!

Recently I attended the memorial service for Columbia artist, Wes Yamaka, who with fellow artist John Levering, graced our community with the exquisite gallery, " The Eye of the Camel" near Oakland Manor.  The Levering print of birds which hung above the entrance to this gallery now hangs on the wall above the hallway of the entrance to our home, having been given to me by another early Columbia artist, potter Zelda Simon, not long before she died several years ago.  It was said at Wes' service that twenty years ago there was barely a home in Columbia that was not graced by at lease one of his exquisite prints featuring a quote of wisdom.  Sitting at my computer in my office, I can count four of them, one of which Lloyd gave me as a gift to hang in my Annapolis office.  It quotes the "Great Law of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy - In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." Those words often helped me keep my priorities in order during my 20 serving in Annapolis.

REFLECTIONS ON ZACH

Last month Lloyd and I visited the Loring Cornish Gallery on Thames Street in Baltimore's Fels Point.  Zach and his parents came upon the artist and his gallery while out to lunch one day a couple of years ago.  They loved Loring's unique and bold creations and bought a large wall hanging depicting "Peace" in large glass pieces.  Having heard much about Loring from both Zach and his parents, we had been wanting to get down to is gallery for years.  Not surprisingly, we met in Loring yet one more soul whose life continues to be deeply inspired by Zachary and his indomitable spirit.  He has donated some of his pieces to auctions sponsored by the Zaching Against Cancer Foundation.  Turns our that the name of his gallery, "How Great Thou Art," was created by Zach's dad, John.

For the first week of August, Lloyd and I, our five kids, spouses, and seven grandkids went to Corolla in North Carolina and for the 18th year in a row stayed in the same beachfront house.  The first year there were only two grandkids, Zach and Julia.  Now the youngest of the seven are thirteen year old twins.  Of course they are all also much taller and not so easy to fit in  the house.  What a glorious time as we continue the spontaneous practice of eating all our meals in the house, with the exception of a Friday morning breakfast out for the "girls" - me, the five moms, and four granddaughters. Another tradition within a tradition.

During this beach week I take two daily roughly hour-long walks - one at 6am along the beach with my feet in the surf  where Zach and I walked for years (though I must admit I sometimes sleep in a bit and start a little later without him physically present).   In my mind while walking, I replay the stories he told me over our years at the beach - tales about Mohammed Ali and how with his rope-a-dope technique he served as a teacher for Zach in recovering after his first brain surgery at age ten.  Another favorite was a description of the manner in which legendary basketball coach, John Wooten, inspired his student players and Zach as well.  The other daily walk is with Lloyd around the flat streets in Corolla in late afternoon before we sit at 5 with our feet in the ocean drinking a beer and waiting to be summoned to dinner.  Zach would often come and sit with us for a bit. Whether on the beach, in the surf, on the deck of our beach house overlooking the ocean, Zach showed up in the waves,  sand, sun, clouds, moon and stars.  As last year, the grandkids commemorated his indomitable spirit with a human pyramid and Zaching pose on the beach.

I continue to meet new people who tell me of the impact Zach's story has had on their lives.  One recent one was the daughter of a long time friend.  In talking with her, I mentioned Zach's amazing spirit in dealing with physical pain.  She said that when reading about him, it had never occurred to her that that he had physical pain since he didn't mention it, much less focus on it. Now with this realization, she is more inspired than ever.

The Zaching Against Cancer Foundation, which Zach himself began with board meetings around his family's dining room table, continues to expand its work in helping kids who are living with cancer and their families.  His parents, Chris and John, and many others are carrying on Zach's determination to help make the lives of these kids and their families as good as possible.  Nothing is too big or too small to get their attention.

The Foundation continues to hold various events to promote its mission and celebrate Zach's beautiful spirit and life.  The next one will be a running festival at Turf Valley on November 21st.  Lloyd and I will be there and participating (I will be walking).  Come and join us.

You can learn more at the Zaching Against Cancer website.

http://www.zachingagainstcancer.org/events/

REFLECTIONS ON MY BELOVED HOMETOWN, BALTIMORE

In last month's message, I described my "plan to do a monthly communication of my experiences and observations of the impact of public policy  - local, state, national, and international - on the lives of we humans and our planet." I also want to put to use any wisdom I may have gathered on my combined spiritual and public policy.  Since then I have realized that Baltimore serves as a microcosm for many if not all of  them.  Social and economic justice (or injustice) in this city encompasses jobs, housing, guns, prisons, drugs and casinos.

In the past I have written a few times about my admiration for journalist/author/TV film director David Simon.  Lloyd and I recall his days covering Baltimore and Maryland for The Sun when we were in local office in Howard County.  It is very clear now how he sounded a warning bell for what is happening now in our neighboring city - insufficient resident jobs and housing in the midst of a sea of tax breaks for the more affluent. Simon was criticized strongly and virtually ostracized by those in power for his coverage in The Sun. I wrote once in an earlier communication a few years ago about a commencement address he gave at a major U.S. university eloquently and strongly calling the graduates to the dire need for them to become involved in their communities for the benefit of all residents. 

As we did last year, Lloyd and I attended this year's Baltimore Artscape which is held not far from the center of the recent riots.  The stars of Simon's HBO series, "The Wire" put on a free program in support of the city where the series was filmed.  Outside the Lyric theater hundreds waited patiently in line in record 90+ degree temperatures.  Inside there was standing room only with speakers including Freddie Gray's step-father. The highlight of my day was having my photo taken with "Bubbles." Streets outside were packed for blocks and blocks with people of all ages, sizes, and colors viewing the art booths and eating at the food booths. What a happy, peaceful, hopeful scene. We saw about a dozen others we know from Howard County.  There are so many possibilities for love to show up.  Those of us living in wealthier counties in the area must spread our boundaries of compassion and concern beyond our own county or city lines.  

'Wire' cast gives voice to West Baltimoreans

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-ae-wire-freddie-gray-20150718-story.html

'Wire' cast to lend voice to the unrest's unheard

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/z-on-tv-blog/bs-ae-zontv-wire-reunion-20150716-story.html 

On Sunday night, after several virtually universally acclaimed TV series - The Corner, The Wire, Treme - Simon's six part TV series Show Me a Hero, set in Yonkers, N.Y., a medium sized

city about 20 miles north of Manhattan, debuted on HBO.  Once again, Simon, working with Bill Zorzi, another former Baltimore Sun reporter who covered Howard County government when Lloyd and I held local public office in the 80's, has outdone himself in portraying the fierce resistance to racial and economic integration in our cities' housing. He has become one of the most articulate, perceptive, courageous, chroniclers of the perils and tragedy of city life in the U.S. today.  He has gone so far as to catch the attention of the president as a sage on the troubles in our nation's cities.

Clearly Simon has caught the our president's attention.  Click below to view a video of Obama interviewing him about his perception of the condition of our U.S. cities, how we got here and what we can do to regain a more humanitarian approach

https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/03/26/watch-president-sits-down-creator-wire-talk-about-war-drugs?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=email448-text2&utm_campaign=simon

VARIOUS NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT BALTIMORE AND THE STATE OF U.S. CITIES

Some of you have told me that you love my e-newsletter, though you don't read the news articles included.  So no pressure, but I thought I would tell you why I include them.  These news articles help me in putting together that afore-mentioned monthly communication of my experiences and observations of the impact of public policy - local, state, national and international on the lives of we humans and our planet."  Also, since some of them are so well written, it seems only logical to make use of them verbatim, rather than paraphrasing.

Regarding Baltimore, I believe our Maryland city serves as a microcosm of conditions in many of our U.S cities.  Below are several articles dealing with social and economic injustice in the city encompassing jobs, housing, transportation, guns, drugs, casinos and prisons.  There is an interconnectedness among these various issues, just as their is among our cities. Without transportation residents cannot get to jobs.  Without jobs, they cannot pay for housing.  Without affordable housing they cannot pay even if they have a job. Addiction to gambling throws more into poverty.  Easy access to guns and drugs costs lives.  Prison conditions foster further gun and drug crimes.  Parole is only available to accused with considerable money.  Many accused without money are unnecessarily taking up prison space.....and on, and on, and on. Yet we look at Baltimore and ask "How could this happen?"

Why should we living in affluent Howard County care? Because we are all human beings and deserve a chance to live a life in peace and with dignity, and because we are impacted by our neighboring city's crisis.

JOBS / Transportation: CEO pay and Red Line

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-ceo-pay-20150805-story.html

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bs-ed-transit-20150724-story.html 

Gun Violence   (I am so grateful to my friend, Vinny DeMarco for all the work he does promoting gun control legislation)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-sensible-state-based-answer-to-gun-violence/2015/07/28/f779dc0c-113a-11e5-9726-49d6fa26a8c6_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/berettas-fight-to-arm-the-military/2015/08/07/d11d590a-349c-11e5-adf6-7227f3b7b338_story.html

Drugs

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-homicides-20150811-story.html

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-heroin-initiative-20150817-story.html

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-heroin-20150716-story.html

Prisons

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-justice-reinvestment-initiative-20150815-story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-us-locks-up-way-too-many-people-that-could-change/2015/07/16/699b65a6-2bf0-11e5-a5ea-cf74396e59ec_story.html

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-obama-naacp-20150714-story.html

Casinos: Luring younger gamblers

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-slots-millennials-20150724-story.html

BEYOND the U.S.

Peace Corps Volunteer

During the past year I have had the joy and blessing of getting to know Peggy Walton who, as described in the Columbia Flier article below, is returning to continue serving in the Peace Corps in her beloved Ukraine, despite severe political unrest.

Return home safely to us, Peggy.  We love you.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/clarksville/ph-ho-cf-ukraine-walton-return-0723-20150721-story6.html

POPE FRANCIS

The two Washington Post articles below increase my hope and belief that Pope Francis may have the qualities to make a significantly positive impact on our planet.  The accounting of his life growing up in Buenos Aires makes clear why he is now such a compassionate and knowledgeable populist.  The anticipation of his appearance before our U.S. Congress is widespread throughout just about all sectors of society.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/you-cant-understand-pope-francis-without-juan-peron--and-evita/2015/08/01/d71e6fa4-2fd0-11e5-a879-213078d03dd3_story.html 

...and is it really any surprise at all that the Pope's popularity ratings in the U.S. have fallen due to those in our nation "who often disagree with Francis on the causes of environmental and economic problems"?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/07/22/conservatives-significantly-driving-down-pope-francis-u-s-favorability/

TWO NOTES:

Error: I want to acknowledge an error in last month's message.  I do realize that Edwin Norton, not  Michael Chabon, is Jim Rouse's grandson.  I have read and loved all of Chabon's books and I have seen and relished all of Norton's films.  Thanks to those of you who brought this to my attention.

Blog:  At the suggestion of more than a few of you I am working on creating a blog.  More to come in September.

Marriage Equality:

I end this communication with the following quote not simply because Lloyd and I have supported and voted at every opportunity since the 70's for the cause of equal rights which ultimately led to the recent Supreme Court affirming marriage equality but also as an example of  the possible art and beauty of the English language which we see all too seldom:

"IT WOULD MISUNDERSTAND THESE MEN AND WOMEN TO SAY THEY DISRESPECT THE IDEA OF MARRIAGE.  THEIR PLEA IS THAT THEY DO RESPECT IT, RESPECT IT SO DEEPLY THAT THEY SEEK TO FIND ITS FULFILLMENT FOR THEMSELVES.  THEIR  HOPE IS NOT TO BE CONDEMNED TO LIVE IN LONELINESS, EXCLUDED FROM ONE OF CIVILIZATION'S OLDEST INSTITUTIONS.  THEY ASK FOR EQUAL DIGNITY IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.  THE CONSTITUTION GRANTS THEM THAT RIGHT.  THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT IS REVERSED.  IT IS SO ORDERED."

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy in the majority opinion

Thank you, Justice Kennedy