WAMC: Community Activists And Their Efforts Throughout Baltimore (2009-03-19)

Opinion

Community Activists And Their Efforts Throughout Baltimore

Fraser Smith (2009-03-19)

BALTIMORE, MD (wypr) - It's springtime for community action in Baltimore, as neighborhoods flex their muscles all over the city. WYPR's Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith comments in his weekly essay.

Maybe it started last summer when Sarah Palin sneered at President Obama's resume. His experience included work as a community organizer. How did that compare with the labors of a governor?, she wondered.

Apparently, the American people had a somewhat higher regard for the young (mostly) men and women, who court burnout in round-the-clock advocacy for the objectives of homeowners. All politics is, after all, local.

Nor has the importance of protecting the quality of life escaped the attention of local politicians, members of the Baltimore City Council in particular. In the last few days and weeks, the council has - rightly or wrongly - sided with homeowners over a major business and another group of organizer-like advocates seeking an easier route to establishing treatment centers for drug treatment facilities.

Both of these battles have been going on for more than a year. Both have gone through several phases, and one of them may now involve intervention by Mr. Obama's Justice Department.

In that case, a loose coalition of groups has sought a change in the law that requires city council approval before a treatment facility can open. Facilities to treat those with other disabilities need only secure zoning approval. Federal authorities have suggested that a lawsuit compelling the council to remove this additional barrier is almost guaranteed. The council seems to be saying, "bring it on."

Its members, therefore, are opposing Mayor Sheila Dixon, who has filed a bill advocating the change sought by Justice, and the outgoing City Health Commissioner, Joshua Sharfstein. Neighborhoods tend to fear drug treatment facilities - particularly if they foresee more than one cropping up near them. Dr. Sharfstein says the fear is unwarranted.

If the council persists, the city will be forced into a costly court battle.

In the neighborhood case, residents of Roland Park appear to have won their battle against a nursing home, which had hoped to build a facility on land owned by the Baltimore Country Club. The Keswick Multi-care Center announced Friday that it was abandoning its plan.

Roland Parkers may now celebrate. Then they may find it prudent to pony up enough coin to buy the property and put it out of reach, lest some other entrepreneur turn up with designs on the same property.

You've been listening to (or reading) an essay by WYPR's Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith. Your comments ae welcome at fsmith@wypr.org. © Copyright 2012, wypr