Large amounts of nonprofit and tax payer money are being spent on fixing the problems associated with the illegal activities that Baltimore allows to take place only a few blocks away from city hall on “The Block”. It is an embarrassment that citizens who visit government buildings on Fayette street have to sometimes exit on to sketchy Baltimore street where they are harassed by people conducting shady and illegal activities.
It says a lot about our government when prostitution and drugs are allowed to run rampant a few blocks away from the center of Baltimore city government. Corruption is the first word that comes to mind. There is no doubt in my mind that some of the establishments on the Block are owned by politically connected individuals. The odd thing is that other politically connected individuals own legitimate businesses around the corner at Power Plant Live and other places nearby. One would think that the legitimate business owners would have bribed their way (pay-to-play) in to convincing our leaders to get rid of the establishments catering to those dealing with illegal activities. The real estate on the Block (if there was little to no adult entertainment) is some of the most valuable in Baltimore. It could be a source of pride and incredible tax revenue for Baltimore instead of the disgrace that it currently is.
I think the Block should be turned into a regulated Bourbon Street type of area where you could still find nude dancers, but the establishments would not encourage and support illegal drug use. The shady establishments with long sordid histories would be encouraged to leave and non-nude bars and clubs that would have to purchase expensive 4AM liquor licenses would take their places. You would end up with properly run nude bars closing at 2AM mixed in with new clubs and bars open until 4AM. There would be strict sanitation rules enforced on the new and improved (and possibly expanded) block and there would be a few apartment rentals scattered in also. Baltimore would end up with a new tourist attraction that would generate new tax revenue for the city. We would also end up with a much cleaner and less shady block.
Filed in: Uncategorized.
Tags: 4AM Last Call, Baltimore, Drugs, prostitution, The Block, young people
Adam is the most recognizable face of the recent resurgence in Reservoir Hill. He has appeared on many national and local radio shows, in several news publications, and at numerous events discussing his innovative urban redevelopment ideas and his unique lifestyle. Adam is a successful entrepreneur, community activist, and a local political guru who ran for city council in 2007. He is the founder and director of the TechBalt.com Buy a Block Project and BaltimoreHourly.com. His fearless local political commentary has rocked the local blog scene for most of this decade and he plans to take it to the next level in the next decade here on Charm City Current.
From the Horses Mouth~~~ I worked (danced) On The Block on and off for 13 years and I’ve got to say that the block saved my ass (literally) many times. I was caught up in the mix for awhile but I refused to let that pit swallow me whole. I got out, alive. Today I’m a happily married housewife living in South Florida. I’m completely drug free (retired, of course) with 2 kitties, a pool in the back yard and a decent life and a big smile on my face. The Block was HELL! But there were alot of good times too. After all of that, I wouldn’t change one thing about The Block today (except for renovations). I think it will be a long time before those properties change their facades into “legitimate” establishments. The political strings that are being pulled helps considerably but lets face it the men are not going to give up their playground. Frankie, Ex-Dancer
Corruption and the government go hand in hand. Drug laws against marijuana are stupid, we have an American President who is a punk crook liar, his administration is a team of racists and tax cheats, and thugs. That being said, the Block is one of the most shadiest places in America, and I have visited many. Guys hitting you up as you walk the street to buy ‘gold’, strippers all over you as soon as you walk in the door. Legalize, regulate and tax prostitution and drugs, and watch the seediness evaporate. After all, we are going European on everything else, — metalbuoy
I like the Block.
Right now it’s definitely more seedy than the past fifty years I’ve known of its existence.
Hardly exploits women, because half the patrons and business owners are women.
If you think drugs are a problem on the Block I can show you a dozen other places in this city where drug gangs have set up shop next door to a once respected residential community.
The club owners are tax paying business men and women running a regulated and heavily taxed enterprise providing adult entertainment. You can enter any city building and completely avoid the two blocks on Baltimore Street if your sensibilities are offended by the door barkers in front of the club.
The Block should be restored to it’s former glamour as an entertainment district. Incentives that lower real estate tax assesments should be implemented so that the building owners can rehabilatate and restore the properties. Give the club owners the same tax credit incentive and I am sure they all would remodel their business. Small gambling parlors heading east on Baltimore Street is a brilliant idea. Extending the adult entertainment district another four blocks down an economic dead zone would definitely bring tourist and conventioneers with money to spend. Most of Baltimore’s attractions are family oriented, now is a good time to improve and expand adult business entertainment.
The adult entertainment on the Block is not the problem. The physical condition of too many buildings along Baltimore Street from Holliday Street to Central Avenue are an eyesore. They all need to be restored to their original historical opulence. Making the entire corridor an entertainment district with gambling, music, restaurants, bars and nude dancing is a much better idea than closing down a historical landmark.
Baltimore might take a look at “Printer’s Alley” in Nashville, TN. I t is exactly what you are suggesting for “The Block”.
MIAI- I came in 5th out of 9:
http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/baltimore/2007_primary_results.html
You have to be the dumbest and ill-informed writer there is in Baltimore. You rant and rave with some sort of higher authority styled aura as if you are better than others, especially elected officials, which you tried becoming yet the people of the 11th district put you in your place by barely giving you enough votes to even be mentioned, placing 7th in a 7 person election. PATHETIC!!!
Be a REAL man and stop reading other writers’ material and following suit with your pathetic attempt at journalism!
Mike M., Peter Moskos walked night foot in the Eastern. I don’t think you can call that the “perimeter.”
Sean,
You must clearly be smoking some of the crack you want decriminalized. The guy from Harvard was not a real cop, but a wannabe who kept to the perimeter of police work knowing that his time was short from the beginning.
The Block is a huge blemish on our urban fabric. It is un-believe-able that we have an accomplished, intelligent woman leading our city government a block away from a slum where women are treated as objects. Baltimore will not be a progressive city until we stop celebrating and selling exploitation of women.
Alexander-
You can go to the liquor board head Steve Fogleman’s twitter page:
http://twitter.com/BaltoBeerBaron
and see the numerous violations that various clubs on the block have been found guilty of in 2010. A quick scan shows this interesting “not guilty”:
“oasis, 417 e balt st, viol of cds, not guilty, 1 dancer passing an ecstasy pill to other dancer while LB inv spoke with owner”
The Liquor board docket had this description on it:
“Steven M. Cook, F.W. Mac, Inc. T/a Oasis Nite Club, 417 E. Baltimore Street – Class BD7 Beer, Wine & Liquor
License)Violation of Rule 4.16 “No licensee shall allow his premises to be used for the purpose of possession,
transfer or use of any narcotic drug” on November 1, 2009 (Re: Liquor Board Inspector observed two dancers
exchanging suspected CDS)”
http://www.baltimorecity.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=y%2fkuEP6Uw5k%3d&tabid=1219&mid=2202
Do you have any firsthand evidence that prostitution is occurring and/or “drugs” are being sold/consumed on “The Block”? Other than, of course, legal drugs like nicotine and alcohol?
If you have such evidence, please present it to the city Liquor Control Board so they can prosecute and shut down any liquor license holders, and then present the evidence to the police so they can prosecute the dealers, prostitutes, etc.
Aside from that, your polemic comes off as an ill-disguised up-raise of the nose at the businesses involved. You have a right to not care for the business, but is IS legal albeit supposedly heavily regulated, and the alternative would be to scatter such businesses city-wide. Imagine one of these businesses each in Mondawmin, Charles Village, Hamilton, Locust Point, Canton, Highlandtown, Roland Park, etc.
I don’t think most of us, nor most tourists, want “a much cleaner and less shady block.” We want it back like it used to be!
Forty years ago an article in Time Magazine (link included)said that it: “attracts hordes of free-spending tourists—and offers them a wider range of distractions.” The Block was four blocks long in 1969. Perhaps we need more of it, not less. Back in the days of Pollock Johnny’s and Blaze Starr The Block was considered a cultural icon.
Maybe it’s not your cup of tea, Adam. But Baltimore is about diversity. Embrace it.
The Politics Meister has no doubt in his mind that shady establishments on the Block are owned by politically-connected individuals? Perhaps he should look up the public records on the liquor licenses and properties.
Going on to say the “legitimate business owners would have bribed their way” to get rid of the Block makes me wonder how the Meister distinguishes between politically-connected owners of shady establishments and legitimate business owners. Since when do legitimate people resort to bribery?
Extending bar hours to 4:00 a.m. on the Block or anywhere else is a bad idea. The City has regulations on adult entertainment, prostitution, and illicit drugs – they need better enforcement before considering taking further steps.
I actually would EXPAND the block, not water it down. Baltimore has always been a shady port town and there is nothing wrong with having a thriving red light district. Actually, the Block is probably one of the safest areas downtown – its right next to the central police station. Let the Block expand eastward on Baltimore Street. Make it a destination worthy of Vegas (throw in a Casino/Slots parlor, maybe?) If people want a disney-fied landscape, let them head out to Columbia or Arundel Mills.
The real problem in the city is the stupid drug laws, not shady strip clubs. I think marijuana and cocaine should be decriminalized (not heroin though).
I would highly recommend reading this book by a former Baltimore cop trained at Harvard. It will make you think differently on Baltimore’s extremely dumb drug laws.
http://www.amazon.com/Cop-Hood-Policing-Baltimores-District/dp/0691140081