As President of Baltimore’s City Council Jack Young should have a basic understanding of economics. This year the council will have to deal with an $80million Fiscal 2012 budget deficit. We are going to need leaders who are willing to make hard and smart economic decisions. At the 9th District vacant seat hearing on January 4, 2011 I did not gain a lot of confidence in President Young’s fiscal abilities.
Jack Young was asking the 9th District candidates how they would increase revenue for Baltimore City. He did not ask any of the candidates how they could cut Baltimore’s spending. None of the council members (until the very end of the hearing) brought up spending cuts as a legitimate economic option. The inability or unwillingness of council members to discuss spending cuts is quite disturbing and not at all encouraging.
In the middle of his questions Young decided to briefly discuss his own budget solutions. He talked about “user fees”. He thinks that charging people who work in Baltimore (no matter where they live) a fee for the privileged of working in Baltimore is a good way to raise money and help get rid of our budget deficit. Young first tossed around a $50 user fee and then nonchalantly said “or 10% of their salaries”.
There is a HUGE difference between $50 and 10% of a person’s salary. Many people in the crowed gasped when they heard the 10% figure. I really hope that President Young understands the difference between $50 and 10% of a person’s salary and that he only misspoke. He can get out of this by saying he misspoke. If Young is serious about a user fee for workers (and I think any user fee is a horrible idea) and if he intends on suggesting that fee be 10% of ones salary then guarantee he will gain national recognition once he formerly introduces such a proposal. Such a proposal will never pass, but if it did one could expect Baltimore to end up like this.
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.