Archive for the ‘Baltimore County’ Category

TGR: Bartenfelder for Baltimore County; BCo Matriarch Ella White Campbell Endorses Bartenfelder

Posted by dglover on Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Baltimore County Councilman Joe Bartenfelder, candidate for County Exec

By Doni Morton Glover, www.bmorenews.com

(LOCHEARN – September 9, 2010) – As a youngster, I spent many weekends with my older siblings in Randallstown. My late mom and I were even snowed-in once; it had to be around 1980 or so. A mean blizzard came through while we were visiting. I remember it especially because my elder brother, Teddy, and his wife, Lillian, gave up their bed.

Yep! I can tell you some stories about my treks out Liberty Road via bus, bicycle, and even on foot; back in high school, my Herculean accomplishment was jogging from Coppin to Liberty and Rolling Rd. Oh, the invincibility of youth!

Well, time moved on; but, my love for my weekend get-away only got stronger. And as the journalism thing would come to fruition, I’d even get the opportunity to serve as Editor of the Northwest Voice newspaper. That was a monthly put out by advertising guru and Scott Donohue supporter Kenny Brown a couple years back.

Although short-lived, that opportunity brought with it an even more intimate schooling on the workings of Baltimore County. For instance, people like County Councilman and former Development Credit Fund banker Ken Oliver would tell me about how the County’s way of doing business is more conservative than how we get down in the city.

During my Northwest Voice tenure, I’d come to question certain things, and I’d also come to understand the power of the black vote in the northwest area. From Woodlawn to Lochearn to Randallstown to Owings Mills and Pikesville, I’ve learned that this area is the wealthiest part of Greater Black Baltimore. African Americans in this neck of the woods are quite often homeowners, college educated, and gainfully employed.

As the publisher of www.BMORENEWS.com, we have focused on 5 core areas in our 8 years of covering the news: public education, black business, ex-offender services, affordable housing, and universal access to health care.

Hence, I’ve always attempted to bring some intelligent dialogue to my columns on Northwest Baltimore County – especially since my three siblings and most of their children and grandchildren are products of the Baltimore County Public School system.

For the uninitiated, many of the residents of this segment of Baltimore County hail originally from Baltimore city. Thanks to integration, African Americans who desired a more suburban lifestyle flocked to this area – particularly over the past 40 years.

With this urban flight, however, came certain consequences. For instance, many people kept on voting in their old neighborhoods. Also, County living caused some African Americans to become less connected. And when it comes to politics, some African Americans in Baltimore County have fallen into an abyss – having no idea of who Jim Smith, the current County Exec, is.

Many times on our weekly WOLB 1010 AM radio show, I have tirelessly toiled to encourage African Americans in the Northwest to become engaged in the affairs of Baltimore County, for example, by going to the County Council and School Board meetings held in Towson. However, truth be told, by the time people get home from work, help their kids with homework, and water their lawns – the last thing one ponders is heading to Towson.

However, given the enormity of African American wealth in this part of the state (I refer to the Northwest as Baltimore’s Prince George’s County, the wealthiest black jurisdiction in the country) – this is inexcusable.

African Americans have far too much invested to not have a say in the goings-on of this voter-wealthy part of Maryland.

In short, Northwest Baltimore County is the swing vote in this year’s County Exec race. Don’t get it twisted! Others will suggest the battlegrounds are elsewhere, however, all one need do is listen to Kevin Kamenetz’s barrage of radio commercials on Radio One’s four stations – and on Heaven 600 AM – targeting the black community in the Northwest corridor.

So, here’s the skinny: State Senator Delores Kelley, who flip-flopped support on County Councilman Ken Oliver 8 years ago – has done it again. Back then, N. Scott Phillips and Penny McCrimmon were forces with which to be reckoned. However, despite tepid support from Kelley and the 10th District Democratic Club, Oliver prevailed.

Honestly, I don’t think Oliver ever forgot what happened 8 years ago. I tend to believe that when loyalty is broken, the scenario is irreparable. Trust goes out the window!

In any event, Oliver has done well as the first African American on an otherwise all-white male County Council. Windsor Mill Middle School and the Randallstown Community Resource Center and the new athletic center are demonstrative of his accomplishments.

Interestingly, Kamenetz represented Liberty Road for 8 years, and would suggest he did so much for my County brethren. He even insinuated yesterday on WOLB that he was the force behind helping this area get its first black Councilman.

Wrong!

Ask Ella White Campbell, also a matriarch of this part of the County. The long-time advocate for African Americans told BMORENEWS.com in an exclusive interview on Tuesday night that it was because of her pressure that Kamenetz ‘did the right thing.’

 

This leads me to the whole notion and stench left in my mouth and ears when I hear Kamenetz touted as something just shy of the second coming of Christ. Gimme a break!

Common sense suggests that when you have been there for people and have done the right thing, your work will be self-evident.

Has the Kamenetz campaign been genuine? Has he really been an advocate for blacks in the County? I don’t think so.

 

Sure, he has been briefed on how people out Liberty Road want a nice sit-down restaurant – like a Ruth’s Chris’ Steak House or a Cheesecake Factory! Sure, he can pontificate on the preponderance of group homes in this super-saturated part of Maryland! Sure, he knows something about New Town High School and how many students there come from two and three hundred thousand dollar homes in Owings Mills.

But the question remains: Does he really care about black people?

As for me, short of Jesus coming on the radio touting Kamenetz – it really doesn’t matter who endorses this man. I like County Councilman Joe Bartenfelder, a man’s man.

Like Oliver told me early on, Bartenfelder will look you in the eye and speak his mind.

Over the past several weeks, I have come to find him to be a man of his word. He has not made a promise he has not kept. He doesn’t mind rolling up his sleeves, nor getting his hands dirty. More importantly, I have yet to hear him tear down Kamenetz so as to prop up himself.

Where I come from, that is commendable. Your word is all you have. And your values serve as your guiding light in a world so filled with darkness. While none of us is perfect, we all know that lying is not good.

Like the old folks say, if you lie – you steal; if you steal – you cheat; and if you cheat – you ain’t no damn good!

Bartenfelder for Baltimore County Exec! Go, Joe!         

Posted in Baltimore County, Black politics, MD's 2010 Statewide election, black business, political economy | No Comments »

TGR: MD Poli10: One Week Until the DC/MD Primary

Posted by dglover on Monday, September 6th, 2010

MBE Advocates

Doni Glover and Baltimore County MBE leader Ron Harvey

Who’s Still Standing in Baltimore County? Pt. 2: County Exec Bartenfelder, Councilman Oliver, 10th and 11th District Teams

By Doni Glover, www.BMORENEWS.com

(BALTIMORE – September 6, 2010 ) – Let’s go to Baltimore County – particularly the NW. That would be Woodlawn, Randallstown, Owings Mills and Pikesville. For the County Exec race, BMORENEWS is of the belief that the Joe Bartenfelder camp philosophy is simply more genuine than that of Kevin Kamenetz. The people we’ve interviewed on the ground in NW Baltimore County have told us repeatedly that Kamenetz didn’t do anything memorable for blacks when his district included the black part of the county, i.e. Liberty Road.  

While his radio commercials do the name-dropping maneuver featuring prominent voices from the black community pretty well, we’re simply not buying it. We need more than some election-time attention over the airwaves of Radio One and Heaven 600. Those in the know in NW Baltimore County have told us that they would prefer a down-to-earth Bartenfelder over the charismatic Kamenetz. And this is not because Councilman Bartenfelder sells collard greens on Sundays at The Farmers’ Market (I’ve yet to try them).

He just doesn’t appear to be a man who says something he doesn’t mean. In politics, as with most everything else, character defines an individual.

Further, we have yet to figure out why certain politicos in NW Baltimore County endorsed Kamenetz so early in the process. Typically, endorsements come out in the latter part of the game after some negotiations, agreements, and promises have been made – in good faith.

Understand, it is not enough to tell people you are going to look out for them; in 16 years, one ought to have a track record to point to that includes a little bit more than putting in surveillance cameras at area malls.

During a recent interview with Joe Bartenfelder, we feel he effectively showed who he is, that he is mindful of the power of the black vote, and that he sincerely plans to work with the African American community in the future. And he is a sports enthusiast who wants to see all people grow and develop.

Additionally, with the support of Baltimore County Councilman Ken Oliver, we tend to believe that Bartenfelder is even more likely to do what he says. After all, it is all about relationships.

Being forthright, I have to say that Bartenfelder touched my soul last Tuesday when he said on our WOLB 1010 weekly radio show that he wanted to see a Negro Leagues Museum in the NW part of the county.

Segue from Bartenfelder to Oliver, Bartenfelder’s ever-supportive black connect
Oliver, the first African American on the Council, has done a lot more for black Baltimore County than most in history. From the areas with well water to the areas with running water, Oliver literally understands the lay of the land. And the former banker has clearly demonstrated that he can work with those of other ethnicities. Despite a faux pas, he has a respectable track record, understands County politics, and has brought resources and services to an otherwise forsaken part of Baltimore County in an unprecedented manner.

So, while we’re in the county, it should be known that we believe Ken Oliver deserves re-election.

Lastly, be mindful of the undercover game being manipulated for the sake of Bethel AME Church. Although they legally won the right to put a church in Granite, no mega church needs to be in this rural area, one loaded with bunny rabbits, foxes, and deer. Environmentalist and conservationists should be outraged that someone seeks to destroy the rural element in Granite – all for the sake of a mega church which began in Baltimore City.

Besides, Bethel has vacant properties in its block on Druid Hill Avenue – and has had them for years. Doesn’t charity start at home? Furthermore, the blend of politics and church business is questionable at best … in our modest opinion.

Bottomline: Joe Bartenfelder for Baltimore County Exec. Ken Oliver for re-elect. 10th & 11th Teams Re-Elected
As for the 10th district team, they will all be re-elected. State Senator Delores Kelley is a staple, having led over 100 bills into law. Speaker Pro Tem Adrienne Jones is way on top of her game to be toppled; also, she knows the pulse of the community, answers her phone, and makes a lot of things happen behind the scenes. Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, a strong black woman with Jamaican roots, has the blessings of the ancestors and the heart of the constituents. Further, her “nursing” nature is just too powerful; she innately cares about all people. And finally, Del. Rev. Emmett Burns is a force all by himself; you gotta love that!

The 11th District Team, featuring State Senator Bobby “wear my t-shirt” Zirkin and the three delegates, Dr. Dan Morhaim, Dana Stein, and Jon Cardin: They, too, glide back into office without a bump in the road.

For the record, I think Dr. Morhaim, a surgeon at Sinai Hospital and a volunteer at Baltimore City’s Healthcare for the Homeless, is one of the greatest people in the world: Hands-down! He understands relationships. He understands politics. He understands business. He doesn’t sugar-coat the truth. He calls ‘em like he sees ‘em. And he is a loyal to his family and friends. What more could one ask for?

Posted in Baltimore County, Black politics, political economy | No Comments »