Larry Gibson was campaign manager for Mayor Kurt Schmoke in 1987, 1991, and 1995. Here is a quote from a City Paper article that gives some insight into the 1995 Mayor’s race:
“In the eyes of many observers, politics began taking precedence over policy even before Schmoke was elected to his third term. The 1995 campaign’s MAYOR SCHMOKE MAKES US PROUD bumper stickers created a storm of criticism by employing the colors of African nationalism, an apparent appeal to consolidate the mayor’s African-American base in what was expected to be a tight race against a popular white candidate, then-council president Mary Pat Clarke. “It was the ‘running scared’ election,” one City Hall staffer says. “They were desperate.”
The mayor’s defenders argue that too much was made of the stickers, and place the blame outside the mayor’s office. “That wasn’t in Kurt,” Cunningham says. “He stayed out of all the political stuff. That had to be Larry [Gibson] and Danny [Henson]‘s doing.”
It appears that Gibson has taken an interest in the current Baltimore State’s Attorney’s race. He sent me the following email last Friday night:
“Patricia Jessamy’s contributions to the decrease in crime
Between 1995 and 2009, Baltimore City ’s population decreased 9%, but crime decreased 59% according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports. The police, judges, elected officials, and community leaders have all contributed to this decrease. But, the most consistent factor during these years has been State’s Attorney Patricia Jessamy.
No bail for repeat violent offenders - There is less crime because there are fewer criminals on the streets. Jessamy’s “War Room” has been an increasingly effective crime prevention program that keeps repeat violent offenders in jail without bail until their cases comes up in court.
Jessamy’s lawyers have had phenomenal success convincing bail commissioners and judges to deny bail to 90% of the repeat violent offenders they review. From 2005 to 2009, War Room intervention kept 7,292 repeat violent offenders in jail waiting their court dates. We will never know many thousands of additional crimes these offenders would have committed if they had been on the streets instead of in jail.
Mandatory no parole sentences - Jessamy and her staff have been very aggressive and effective in obtaining mandatory no parole sentences. Her Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (FIVE) unit has obtained more than 1,800 mandatory five-year no parole sentences against convicted felons found with a gun. Jessamy was the principal architect of the law passed by the 2000 General Assembly that imposes this strict penalty, even if the gun has not been used. This program has imprisoned violent criminals, deterred others from carrying guns, and decreased crime.
Jessamy’s prosecutors have also routinely sought and obtained mandatory five-year no parole sentences under a different law that covers the use of a handgun while committing a crime. These cases often involve nonfatal shootings, armed robberies and carjackings, all of which have decreased in Baltimore City .
Project EXILE – Jessamy’s staff also obtains mandatory sentences in federal court under a creative program she created called EXILE. Some of her assistants also become federal prosecutors and bring cases that require federal law or resources. The persons convicted are often leaders of violent drug and gang organizations who are then sent to federal penal institutions outside of Maryland . Their exiles have reduced crime in Baltimore .
Other successful Jessamy programs - Jessamy has done many other things that have reduced crime. For example, Jessamy created a Forensics Unit to train prosecutors in the use of forensic science, created the TREES program to assist young offenders to obtain educational and support services and avoid becoming career criminals, partnered with federal law enforcement agencies to dismantle violent gangs, and created the Felony Family Violence Unit that focusing on child abuse and domestic violence.
Larry S. Gibson“
The major talking points that Mr. Gibson brings up in this letter are the same ones that the Jessamy campaign and Jessamy supporters keep repeating. Get used to hearing them.
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.