City Council President Bernard ‘Jack’ Young’s Swearing-In Ceremony Remarks

Baltimore’s famed surgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson was asked, “What part does gratitude play in your life?” He thought for a moment and said, “Everyday and every hour, instead of complaining about things, or saying poor me, I look at all of the blessings God has given me and I simply say to the Lord, I am grateful!”

Madame Mayor, council colleagues, fellow elected officials, family, friends and citizens…today, I am truly grateful!

Some people in our city may not know me very well. I am a father, a husband, a man of faith and a son of Baltimore. Wherever I go throughout East Baltimore, in the district that I have represented  for more than 12 years,it is not unusual for someone to yell out my name, “Jack”!

There have been few honors in my life, but none greater than serving the people of this great city. I want my colleagues on the city council to know that your trust in me is not taken for granted. Today you have humbled me by choosing me as your leader!

Even though I will be moving to a different office, I remain your colleague. I remain your friend. I am still the same person you have worked with all these years. The door to the President’s office will always be open to you and to the citizens of this city.

The people of Baltimore have sent us here to this historic place to be about THEIR business. The business of addressing a huge deficit. The business of creating jobs and keeping corporations, large and small, growing and thriving. The business of keeping our taxes low and our delivery of services high.

The business of supporting a world-class public education system that inspires our children to graduate and has the trust of their parents. The business of continuing to drive down crime and violence by keeping our citizens safe and secure.

On that note, Madame Mayor, I want you to know that I pledge to go anywhere, anytime you need me to support your efforts to get illegal guns off the streets of Baltimore. This council stands ready to do whatever is required to take guns out of the hands of criminals who threaten the progress we are making.

Today marks a new chapter in the life of Baltimore!

I will not shy away from the awesome responsibility you have placed on me. I will never forget that I work for YOU, the citizens. I know Baltimore well, and love it even more. This is a great city.

Today, I ask for your prayers,your patience and your continued perseverance. Baltimore remains a city built on dreams, but dreams powered by hard work, guided by common sense and inspired by creativity.  A City where all citizens feel the warmth of community, the presence of safety and the pleasure of dignity.

I look forward to us rolling up our sleeves and getting work done that is in the best interest of our city and our citizens.

Thank you.

Governor O’Malley blocks ‘conservative’ press from State of the State

As tomorrow’s State of the State address shall be the final push for an O’Malley agenda leading into the 2010 Gubernatorial election cycle, his office has masterfully played the game of ‘keep away’ from those of us critical of his policies.

While certain members of the Press, including myself, have been stalled and consistently delayed our press credentials, due to some new process the O’Malley administration has put in place, many are questioning why now? As if not already known as the liberal oppressor of all things conservative, Governor O’Malley is now playing games with certain reporter’s credentials, who are too closely tied to conservative publications.

As in my case, reporting for the Examiner.com, owned by Clarity Media Group, made famous by its former owner William Randolph Hearst, it has been seen as a more conservative based media venue, at least to the likes of the Baltimore Sun. However as before this legislative session, you would just apply at the Press office in the Department of General Services, get a letter from your Editor and get your picture taken and you were done, now you have many hoops to jump through.

The process now has been circumvented through the Governor’s communication office and its Director Rick Abbruzzese. As the first day of session came around, Wednesday January 13, I went to apply for my credentials. I was then told by the DGS office of Sam Cook that I must have my editor fax over my credentials. Once this was complete that week, I was then told to have my editor e-mail the credentials over to Mr. Cook, as he then had to forward them over to the Governor’s office for approval. All this was complete by Wednesday January 20, yet as I continuously get told by Mr. Cook day after day that my credentials have yet to be approved, as I watch others of more liberal-leaning media outlets walk right in and get approved within days.

Now when former Governor Ehrlich stood against speaking directly to two Sun reporters’ due to personal reasons regarding their reporting, then Mayor O’Malley and the Democrats went crazy. He did not block coverage by the Sun, just chose not to address these particular reporters’, yet now in control oh how the tables have turned. However they [O’Malley administration] are not totally denying the press credentials based off the fact I’m sure they know that would open them up to a lawsuit.

So as I wait on approval by the Executive branch of government, not able to perform my reporting duties of the legislative branch, it seems to me to be a conflict of interests or at the very least, a breach of my first amendment rights under the United States Constitution. As the owner of a media company (GCOMM Media Co.) having my own television and radio programs, not to mention being a political reporter for the Examiner, should I not be granted a media pass?

In Lovell v. City of Griffin, 303 U.S. 444 (1938), Chief Justice Hughes defined the press as, “every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of information and opinion.”

Freedom of the press (or press freedom) is the guarantee by a government of free public press for its citizens and their associations, extended to members of news gathering organizations, and their published reporting. It also extends to news gathering and processes involved in obtaining information for public distribution. -New World Encyclopedia

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The Press Obstructionist?

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Baltimore City councilmembers look to reduce the power of the Mayor

As outgoing Mayor Sheila Dixon is set to resign her position on February 4, following a 3-year criminal investigation that resulted in an Alford Plea and has displaced the first term Mayor, many council members have made it their duty to refine the Baltimore City rules and laws regarding such mayoral autonomy and power.

During the last full council meeting on January 25, six members of the Baltimore City Council signed on to the Mayor and City Council Resolution introduced by Belinda Conaway (10-044) that would reduce the number of members currently on the city’s Board of Estimates. This Charter Amendment, that if passed would then be sent to the public for their approval, would essentially take away the two members of the Board that are appointed by the Mayor-the City Solicitor and Director of the Department of Public Works-leaving only the (3) elected members of this Board; the Mayor, Council President and City Comptroller.

This process is strongly supported by legislative and community advocates due to the current process being seen as diluted and strongly in favor of a Mayor who walks into each meeting with a three vote majority for anything she chooses. As certain advocates and legislators have expressed to me that as the Maryland State Board of Public Works has three defined leaders-Governor, Comptroller and Treasurer-so should the city’s spending panel.

The Board of Estimates, a financial entity that meets each week (Wednesday) to discuss and approve any and all city expenditures exceeding $5,000.00, has for years been seen as the Mayor’s municipal monopoly. Yet as incoming Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake strongly opposes this bill, many question her sincere attempts to refine City government and make it a transparent process for the People.

Having introduced her own piece of legislation (10-0445) looking to reconstitute and change the composition and tenure of the current Public Ethics Board, Rawlings-Blake stands to walk a fine line as Mayor, defining her adminstration as being open and transparent yet autonomous of council colleagues and state governmental leaders.

However with the revelation in today’s Baltimore Sun that the current chair of the city public ethics board and short list nominee for City Solicitor, Dana Moore, has not filed her own financial disclosure forms since 2006, one must ask how effective and sincere is this attempt to revamp city government?

While we are certainly past the days of the Schaefer “Shadow Government”, in which spending was as shady as sitting under a willow tree on a hot blistering day, we are nowhere close to where we need to be. The primary reasoning behind this reduction of composition bill regarding the Board of Estimates being that of holding those we have elected accountable for spending, gives almost certain transparency and public confidence in how our officials are conducting city business.

The next council meeting, the last with Stephanie Rawlings-Blake presiding as Council President, shall be held this Monday February 1 at 5P. The next council meeting, in which the NEW President shall be elected will be held on Monday February 8 at 5P. The hearing on the Public Ethics legislation before the Judiciary and Legislative Investigations committee shall be held on Wednesday February 24 at 5P. All proceedings located on the fourth floor of City Hall.

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Conservatism v. Liberalism: The History of…Part I: Building the Foundation

 

According to the warnings by America’s first President, since the ratification of the United States Constitution, George Washington, “that if political parties began to take root in the new republic, it would make government the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans.” This warning came from, the first and only, Independent President of the United States, yet was forewarned by the founding fathers upon creation of Democracy and the US Constitution.

 

These men, including James Madison, the father of the Constitution, believed initially that the parties would come to care about themselves, more than the states they were suppose to represent. If that is not what we are seeing in today’s governmental society than I don’t know what it is? The centuries old beginning of this system and its party representation, has told us that a class of representatives cannot be 100% adequate in its representation. Yet as pissed off as we are at today’s political system, let there not be a Democrat or Republican on the ticket and we wouldn’t know what to do? There would be anarchy amongst the villagers and all hell would break loose.

 

However when you look at the history of the political spectrum and the philosophies and ideologies of Conservatism and Liberalism, it will give you a greater sense of historic understanding and shed a certain light on the meanings, and intentions, of government officials and their quests.

 

When we look at the beginning of the National Republican and Democratic parties, it didn’t actually start to formulate amongst a broad crossroad of people until the founding Presidents of these parties took office. That would be Presidents’ Abraham Lincoln (16^th) and Andrew Johnson (17^th) in the 1860’s. These two individuals are the start of a Democratic and Republican trend of affiliation, amongst the national parties and their leaders. Though true party representation started with America’s second President John Adams, and his Federalist party affiliation, today’s parties reflect that of the before mentioned.

 

Now, after the announcement of such representation, each party had to figure out a way to attract more clients (members) to their way of life or thinking, in order to increase their base and win elections. Therefore, they began hiring and training scholars and other thinkers’ (at that time, business men of Caucasian persuasion) to come up with ways to some what “trick” people into belonging to their party. Thus came about party stances and/or values.

 

Though many believe that the US Declaration of Independence was created by Liberal beliefs with phrases such as “All men are created equal”, it is also believed that the US Constitution is the by-laws and rules to which Conservatives live by. (Hence they carry it around like a driver’s license, in their back pockets) However these are beliefs unsustainable and characterized by some, yet not by all!

The irony of today’s governmental system compared to the days of the past is, that we have a lot more individual freedoms and power now, yet we vote less and believe that “our vote doesn’t count”! This mental belief of apathy only leads to the mindset that will explain the Part III of this discussion, the Insanity of Today’s Representational Beliefs. However the discussion tomorrow will focus on the meanings and beginnings of the words (conservatism and liberalism) and just how far off track it has become, (PartII).

‘STEELE’ing a Victory: The Michael Steele Quest for GOP Chair

‘STEELE’ing a Victory: The Michael Steele Campaign for GOP Chairmanship

 

Maryland politics has a rich history of firsts in this Country. From the 1831 Anti-Masons party, nominating committee convention, which eventually led to the Jackson Democrats to hold America’s first major nominating convention, here in Baltimore. This event, in 1832, was held at the historic Fifth Regiment Armory. To the 1912 Presidential nominating convention for Democrats, where it took 46 ballots, for the eventual Presidential candidate, New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson to defeat Champ Clark, the Speaker of the House in Congress, from Missouri. In which he later went on to become America’s 28^th United States President, and serve for 8 years until 1921.

 

From the 1932, Maryland State Governor, Albert Ritchie’s, losing Presidential campaign to Franklin D. Roosevelt, to the first African-American Maryland Lt. Governor, Michael Steele, in 2002. Wow! Seventy years after a Governor’s run for the highest office in the land, we finally get a black Lt. Governor?! (Too much time wasted in between and still seeking the first black Governor) Well now we have that same monumental, history changing man, seeking to become the first African-American of the GOP (Grand Ole Party) to hold the title of National Party Chairman.

 

The Prince George’s native is use to becoming the first in a multitude of fields. From the first black Republican Party chair for Maryland, to the first black Lt. Governor of this great state (MD.)! However, as once said by the great Reginald F. Lewis that he is “not just a black successful businessman, but successful none the less!” Mr. Steele is more than just a black Republican first; he is the most qualified and distinguished man, or woman, to hold these posts, period! The Man of Steele, an attorney and current GOPAC* chair, has a lot to be thankful about, as well as a stellar resume to justify the post he seeks, however he isn’t the only one in the race. *(Good Ole Political Action Committee)

 

Also seeking the post to restore this dysfunctional group of individuals is a number of party chairs and others, from around the country. First starting with the current GOP Chair Mike Duncan, who has said that these, lights and cameras super-star celebrity candidates, have no real sense of how things should be done, in order to move this party forward. He is the behind-the-scenes type of nuts and bolts supervisor, who believes that less ideology and more modern technology and hard work, will be the most effective way to turn around this ‘sinking ship’.

 

Also opting for the post is Katon Dawson, the South Carolina party chair, who calls himself the “common sense conservative”. Then you have the ‘other black’ candidate in Kenneth Blackwell, the former Ohio Secretary of State, who believes the return to ‘limited government, traditional values and a strong defense philosophy is the answer. Next you have the young and tech-savvy Anuzis, the Lithuanian chair of a state party (I forgot which one), that believes that new and innovative technologies are the wave of the future and the way to dig this good ole boy network out of its deep grave, is through e-services.

 

Now, with all these other potential picks, along with the problems of a minority party in both houses of Congress and a big portion of Senators and Representatives under investigation or indictment, retiring or losing their seats, whoever is chosen has a hell of a task ahead of them. Their ideas and proposals will only go but so far. They will most certainly need a like-minded staff and cooperative member base and law-abiding elected officials to pull this off. When I say that, I mean that, their task will most certainly be a Machiavellian-styled campaign of strategic planning, thinking and implementation, in order to obtain any amount of success in the upcoming 2, 4 or 6 years. 

 

We can determine how the party sees their future and what direction they believe they should go by their January selection of one of the previously mentioned candidates, or someone not mentioned. I, obviously biased, believe in the leadership and qualifications of Mr. Steele, due to past encounters in which I had the opportunity to meet, speak with and work for him, during his US Senate campaign in 2006. (Only after Mr. Mfume lost the Primaries, because I was working for him until that tragic Democratic set-up lost!)

 

Leaving behind the historic factor of race relations and leadership, especially needed in this party of exclusive Caucasian membership, I sincerely believe that the direction and style of leadership Michael would bring is unprecedented. His knowledge, youthfulness and respect will go a long way in not only offering new found leadership for the party, yet it shall and will speak to those who have a negative image of the GOP, left by Bush and crew! The new leadership must have the general public change their perception of Republican beliefs and ideologies and possibly join the rank and file. The branding of a NEW GOP is definitely what is needed and in order to do such, is with a NEW and fresh faced party and leader, who can speak the language of ALL Americans’, not just a select and ‘privileged’ few!   

 

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