Proposed rec center operators have few resources, money problems

“What you did through your reporting is what the procurement officer should have done through a pre-award survey of responsibility.”
– Maryland Esquire

“No one cares about the centers until another person tries to fix it. . . Have you visited your area’s recreation center lately? What does it look like? I’m sorry or is it closed? From what I heard, the rec centers are ‘liabilities waiting to happen.’ As stated by Chief of Rec Centers Bill Tyler.”
– BusyBodyBaltimoreBrewer

“I think it would be better to close the centers or just sell them outright than turn them over to random packs of bozos without the financial means to actually run them. Combining psychiatric rehabilitation programs for ex-offenders with a child care center? Really? And is ‘Little Dimples II’ not the pedophile-iest name for a business entity EVER?”
– SmileyMyrus

“Thanks for exposing this charade. However, the Brew should also be examining how poorly run and dysfunctional the recreation centers currently are under city management. Many are run by employees who either don’t care, are overwhelmed, have no vision or resources, or are incompetent. If you go to Patterson Park, you won’t find the playing fields filled with kickball, soccer, baseball, or football leagues run by one of the local rec centers. Instead you see the fields filled with young adults sponsored by the for-profit Baltimore Sports and Social Club (who are a major source of revenue for Rec and Parks) or with pick-up games organized by the area’s Latino population. Why is this considered acceptable?”
– AsteroidB612

“Good reporting on this issue! If anyone has the idea of privatizing rec centers in Baltimore, the past experience of the Police Athletic League Program (PAL) in our city should give one pause. . . PAL was a 501(c)3 – a nonprofit with its own Board of Directors, and substantial (but, alas, not enough) police department support. . . Basically the program suffered through lack of managerial support, lack of financial support, and, finally, lack of community support, perhaps because they were generally located in poor, needy communities. PAL, as a nonprofit, essentially went out of business after half-hearted fundraising, despite valiant attempts by a few citizens who believed.”
– Buz

NOTE: The Board of Estimates has delayed until Dec. 21 taking action on private rec center operators. One of them, Little Dimples II, withdrew its application after this article was published.

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In hard-knock West Baltimore, a big-hearted boxing center

“Excellent article & ‘BIG UPS’ to Coach Calvin along with the rest of the team at Upton! That’s a great thing you guys are doing. Much luck & future success!!!!”
– Coach Tim (OldSchool)

“I have a few female students who could benefit from this.”
– Kris Sieloff (via facebook)

“Really nice good news story.”
– Ktrueheart

“Check out Omars boxing center on north av. Also doing good work.”
– Jerry Raitzyk (via facebook)

“’Amazing kids’ from the Upton. How rec centers can be so important – take note #Baltimore officials.”
– Max_Genus via Twitter
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Inside City Hall: T-shirt purchases roll past the $800,000 mark

“Great analysis as usual! I wonder how all these compare with the Budget that gets passed every year? I can’t imagine that the EWOs are included, nor the overflow of the t-shirts, so what do they do to adjust? You’d think I’d know, but the whole process is not very transparent.”
– Odette

“Thank you. Until the Brew hit the scene, this information that keeps government accountable and citizens informed was largely missing in Baltimore. While it is not sexy, and doesn’t bleed, it is an essential part of democracy and NEEDS reporting.”
– Baltimoreplaces

“What’s with the ‘loans’ [to two housing projects]? Did all of the banks move out of town?”
– Mair
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A Black Ankle wine blind tasting

“Now this is news you can use! Well written and amusing and boosts a local business. What more could you want?”
– robin baker

“Your should have tried Black Ankle ‘Slate’ . . . a wonderful wine!”
– Love my wine

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Early-hours raid clears Occupy Baltimore camp

“The protest was wearing thin for sure, but I give the Occupiers credit for bringing the issue of income inequality to the forefront in America. We weren’t talking much about the dramatic lack of economic fairness in society before the Occupy movement started. So I congratulate these people on what they have accomplished. Still, I wish they had defined a set of concrete goals from the outset (i.e. raising the minimum wage nationally and in Maryland, repealing NAFTA, letting the Bush tax cuts expire, etc. etc.). Granted, Occupiers did touch upon these issues. But there was no coordinated effort. I think this blunted their effectiveness.”
– Richard

“My compliments to the BPD for a successful and uneventful removal. This operation could have become an unneeded embarrassment to Baltimore, considering what has happened in other cities, but the BPD handled it with professionalism and dignity. Great job.”
– Balt Observer

“If the city really cared about the issues, wouldn’t they support the Occupy movement at McKeldin Sq? Make it a permanent monument to the issues we need to care about? What does what happened tell you abt the Blake regime? It tells me they will actually impede struggles to deal with the most important issues – they will bureaucratically take us backward. . . O, you will say – it wasn’t as bad as Oakland. No, I would say – it wasn’t. And so?”
– David Eberhardt

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Pork ‘N Pine’s Christmas tree with a twist

“Love it Jason, now get on your bike and peddle me a pork sandy to columbia!”
– Trahll2

“These are the things that make Baltimore special!”
– Tracey Brown (via facebook)

“Jason is my hero of the week. Awesome idea.”
– Light Street Cycles

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Below the Fold: Why we matter

“You complete me! Your reporting is da bomb! Support them!”
– liammccusker (via twitter)

“‘We’re not salaried employees of a media chain. . .’  Why was it necessary to introduce yourselves by making a negative comment about the people who write for Patch or the Examiner?”
– Stan M

“I don’t think ‘salaried employees of a media chain’ is negative. Just trying to say we don’t sit in a company office and get a paycheck.”
– BaltimoreBrew

“You guys are exactly what the city needs if you continue to follow your heart.”
– Carole Sue Garrett Williams (via facebook)

“Baltimore Brew is the llama’s pajamas.”
– Jenny Gaengsta (via twitter)