The View From Here

I have been a fan of Adam Meister’s for some time. He challenges all of us in the media and in politics to be more open, transparent and accountable. But before Adam chides local politicians for taking contributions from local unions (Our local elected officials need to stop taking money from public unions), SEIU in particular, he should look at the facts here on the ground.  In Baltimore, unions are bolstering our communities, raising working standards for all, and providing important educational opportunities.

A little research revealed that unions, especially SEIU, are still needed, important to good government and protect workers and employers on a lot of different levels.

SEIU has two locals in Baltimore, both of which deal primarily with private employers.  1199SEIU represents service and care workers in area hospitals and nursing homes, including Johns Hopkins, GBMC, Sinai, and Maryland General hospitals.  32BJ SEIU represents private security officers and cleaners who protect
and maintain commercial and government office buildings in the Baltimore
region.  Together, they number over 4,500 Baltimore area residents who are SEIU members.

These workers benefit from union representation because they can speak with one voice when it comes to negotiating contracts, fighting for their rights on the job, and building careers in their industries with the help of union training programs.   By creating better working conditions, unions also raise the standards of their industry.
Beyond the benefits that the union membership provides on the job, SEIU members are also active in our community.   1199SEIU provides free services to the entire city, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program which gives free income tax preparation for all at the 1199 union hall at 611 N. Eutaw Street.  In the last four years, participants in the EITC campaign have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds on their income taxes.  And much of SEIU’s advocacy work is directed at measures that benefit all, not just union members.  They were a prime mover behind the state effort to expand Medicaid funding to up to 100,000 uninsured Marylanders.  Here in Baltimore City, SEIU is active in promoting progressive housing policy, including the landmark inclusionary housing bill and the city’s land bank, along with other measures that benefit the community at large.

It is true that SEIU is proudly political – the two SEIU locals in Baltimore are known for their member-led grassroots political activities, voter registration drive efforts, and massive get-out-the-vote mobilizations.  SEIU members know that their participation in electoral politics is vital to protecting their jobs and rights as well advancing a progressive vision of justice and equity for all.

Unions help workers raise up themselves, their families, and their communities.  That sounds like a good thing for Baltimore to me.

That’s the view from here.

 I join with thousands of Marylanders today in applauding the long awaited legal opinion from Attorney General Doug Gansler stating that civil marriages of same-gender couples obtained in other jurisdictions can be honored in Maryland.

This recognition is an important step in moving towards full marriage equality in our state.  Although this opinion does not have the weight of law and does not change the current status of same-sex couples in Maryland, it is my hope that the state’s courts, legislature and governmental agencies will use this opinion as their guide in providing legal recognition and validation to same-sex couples and their families.

There remains much work to be done to educate the public and our state’s decision makers on the importance of marriage equality; I hope that the Attorney General’s opinion will continue to promote dialogue on both sides of this issue.  I contend that same-sex marriage recognition in Maryland is the next great step in our state’s civil rights development.

We don’t have all the facts yet. But last weekend a well known community leader, Lenny Clay, was stopped while driving away from his historic West Baltimore barbershop.  What happened next is only known by Mr. Lenny and the Baltimore City police officers involved, but we do know that Lenny was later taken to the hospital and had a broken arm, according to some people close to him.

Today there will be a rally at 4 pm at 1099 W. Fayette Street to support Mr. Clay.  His contributions to this city are too numerous to list here but I have known him for years and know of the thousands of people he has supported, helped and employed.

Let’s get the facts and hear what the police department has to say, but I hope you will come out today to support Lenny Clay.

I don’t know anyone handing out “Woman of the Year” awards. But if I did, I would nominate Maria Welch. (http://www.respiramedical.com/v2/story.html)

Have you ever met someone and knew they were special from the moment you saw them? I met Maria when I worked at City Hall. There was a reception and exhibit in rotunda to honor Hispanic History Month. As soon as I met this tall, beautiful and loving person – I knew I would be her friend forever.

Her story is an inspiration to all Americans of what is possible if you follow your dreams and if you believe in yourself. (Maria, that memoir is long overdue!)

Maria Welch is a “yes” person. Not in the way we normally think of “yes” people, but if you ask Maria for help, she is going to say yes.

She has answered the call of three governors of Maryland and has served as an advisor to them on issues impacting the Hispanic community and women’s issues. She hosts a Spanish-language program on the city’s cable channel to help inform and empower her community. She is a volunteer for these causes but to watch her you would be under the impression that serving the community is her full time job.

In Baltimore and throughout Maryland she serves on more boards and commissions than I could list here including serving as the chair of the Centro de la Communidad, Baltimore’s Hispanic/Latin community center. She speaks often of bringing the African American and Hispanic communities together and supports many NAACP events.

She is nationally known for her advocacy to protect women and girls from human sex trafficking and serves as a mentor to thousands of people around the world.

I am always so impressed when I find someone extraordinary hiding right in our plain view. Her humility keeps her from getting credit for all of the great things she does to make our city and the state of Maryland a better place. But I wanted you to know her.

But as always, there is more to the story. Maria Welch’s true greatness rests in the selfless acts she performs everyday to touch people’s lives and demands they keep it to themselves.

She has fed hundreds of needy families, she has spent her personal money to help organizations meet their payrolls and she has anonymously kept the lights and heat on for countless people. Maria Welch does not seek out publicity or platitudes, she simply believes that God has blessed her and it’s her responsibility to help others. She doesn’t talk about it, she just does it.

We need more people like Maria Welch.

If you’re giving out a Woman of the Year award, let me introduce you to someone worthy of the honor.

That’s the view from here.

Bravo to the media folks at The Baltimore Sun!

This is one of my favorite stories and to see all of the Marylanders I love and admire in this video is awesome!!! Especially Bryan Voltaggio, the greatest celebrity chef in the world!!!

Check it out -  http://bit.ly/8rKRSU

My neighbor stopped me Friday night to tell me that he had seen some people in my backyard earlier in the evening.

I didn’t give it much thought. The next night as I was sleeping I heard muffled voices coming from the side walkway between my house and my next door neighbor’s house. I cautiously crept to my dining room window (which looks out on the space) and someone had pitched a covering between my house and the fence. I could see movement under the fence, even as the rain fell.

I tapped on the window and the face of a teenage girl peeked from under the covering! I marched into my back yard as a woman and four children were tearing down their make-shift dwelling.

“We were only going to stay for the night,” she said. “Your yard was the only one without a back fence.”

Note to self: How much would it cost to get a back gate on my yard?

After a few minutes of conversation I came to learn that she and her four grandchildren were homeless and had nowhere to go and had been camping out in Resevoir Hill back yards.

Against all of the advice my mother and others had taught me over the years, I invited them to come in from the cold. The whole family slept in my guest room. Sunday morning, I fixed breakfast for everyone and I stared at these strangers who had cost me a night’s sleep (I am generous to fault, but still was scared to death to fall asleep with them in my house!) I marveled at how clean and well mannered these children were. These are part of Baltimore’s homeless problem we read so much about?

They stayed until Tuesday when I was able to get them some help through my state senator. The grandmother cleaned my house from top to bottom (it really needed it!) and I gave them my cell number to stay in touch as they said their goodbyes. 

There is so much more to share with you – the children’s education situation, how the children panhandle on the North Avenue entrance to the expressway to get money to eat, and how they move around from churches and shelters just long enough to shower, clean their clothes and so on. The grandmother is diabetic and had surgery on her foot  just a year ago. I will write more about these issues later. 

But I share this story simply to let you know that we have our work cut out for us in Baltimore. No jobs and shrinking services are forcing entire families out of their rental properties into the streets. They are draining the limited resources the city can provide and they’re getting desperate for help.

A friend that came over to meet my guest family called me a saint for opening my home.

No saint. I’m just someone who has been on the verge of homelessness and desperation many times in the last two years. I have gone without meals, slept in my car and relied on friends and family to survive. I didn’t have much to offer this family, but I did have a dry, warm and safe place for a short period of time. This family had no idea but they were my unexpected blessing for the holiday season.

I don’t believe it was a coincidence that these five individuals found their way to my backyard. God has a plan for all things. We simply have to listen.

That’s the view from here.

It is hard to be cheerful all the time. But I do try, at least in public.

I learned a long time ago that when most people ask you, “So, how are you doing?” They don’t really want to hear the truth. They want you to simply reply, “I’m fine” so they can go on with the rest of the conversation. Just once I want to answer that question by saying, “How do you think I’m doing? I don’t have a job, I have no money and I rely on friends and family to pay my bills.” I can only imagine what the expression on their face would be.

 But even in the midst of difficulties I am thankful. I finally know the true meaning of friendship. I know the pleasure of a good belly laugh from a silly joke. I finally appreciate the blessings of unconditional love and I know how important it is to never walk away from those who have stood by you. A lesson too many people in my former life have yet to learn.

Today, on this chilly Thanksgiving, I am serving food at I Can’t We Can on Park Heights Avenue. The meal is scheduled from noon to 6 pm. When I arrived at 10 am, people were already lined up outside the door. They were cold, hungry and amazingly patient. There are so many things going wrong in so many people’s lives, but yet they were smiling!

I hope we all use this day to appreciate the true meaning of being thankful. Even when things are tough, if you look close you can find a reason to smile.

Enjoy your holiday, your family and your blessings.

That’s the view from here.