WHAT: Community based Q and A with potential canidates
WHERE:  in the  meeting room at the Taylor Ave Fire Station (620 Taylor–Enter at the upper level door)
WHEN: Monday evening, December 3 from 7 to 9 pm. 

Popularity: 1% [?]

This has just been confirmed: there will be a forum for all the potential canidates for the  Ward 2 Alderman position.  The event will be held in the  meeting room at the Taylor Ave Fire Station (620 Taylor–Enter at the upper level door) for Monday evening, December 3 from 7 to 9 pm.   The proposed format will be like this:

Popularity: 2% [?]

This Sunday afternoon at 130pm on the corner of West and Washington Streets there will be a formal dedication of the new kiosk constructed to honor the storied legacy of Clay Street and the greater “Old 4th Ward”.   All are welcome and openly invited to attend. 

The three sided kiosk gives the passerby a historic look at the people, places, and events of the neighorhoods that made up the “Old 4th Ward”.  It touches on the various artists like Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Chubby Checker, and James Brown who all stayed here during their performances usually at Carr Beach. 

The information on the kiosk came from oral histories predominantly given by Janice Hayes Williams, although there were many other residents that participated with their stories as well.  Of course no archive of the greater Clay Street would not be complete without the inclusion of pictures from M.E. Warren.   In addition to the history the kiosk will also serve as a community bulletin board highlighting the upcoming events in the neighborhood. 

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tonight I was in the presence of some of Annapolis resident political movers and shakers.   From the Senator on down they were all there, a function put on by St. Johns College.  We started the evening at the school discussing Abraham Lincoln and several of the speeches he gave during his storied lifetime.  I have to start by saying I have a renewed respect for the man, of course he has done great things but, reading his speeches and then diagnosing them you really got a sense for how he thought. 

Also in the room were CEO’s, local business people, facilitators, professors, and a vast number of other intellectual types.  After our time at the school we went to the Presidents house, amazing place that man has by the way, and we all sat and had dinner.  Of course I brought up Clay Street.  You all would have been severely disappointed with me if I didn’t right? 

Backtracking just a bit, during the Lincoln discussion we had touched on one of the schools of thought at that time (1850’s and 1860’s for the historically challenged) was that a containment of slavery would be something that would work.  Provided it didn’t spread it could be left alone and no one would be hurt, eventually it will die on its own.  Same ideology our government adopted with Communism, don’t let it spread and it will eventually perish at its own hands.  This got me thinking, look at the paralells with the low income housing communities in the United States, look at Clay Street, is the idea to contain it and it will eventually wipe itself out? 

Taking that a step further and looking at what has occured on Clay in the last 30 years.  Starting with Urban Renewal.  When Urban Renewal came about the parking garage and two state/city buildings were erected and Clay Street was sealed off from the rest of the Annapolis area.  Look at the similarities with the other public housing in Annapolis, Admiral Heights?  Check.  Robinwood?  Check.  Bywater?  Check.  You see where I am going?  Can I stop beating you in the head?  How about one more?  Annapolis Gardens?  Check.   Contain and it will perish at its own hands? 

Moving along, we have concentrated areas of poor people and its not working.  There are nearly 3 generations that have gotten lost in the mix.  Where are the role models?  The numbers of black male role models in my area can be counted on one hand.  ONE HAND.  That number will decrease as time progresses, as it has for the last 3 generations.  If you put all the poor people in one area what happens?  They continue to be poor, history has proven this, sure there are a few exceptions when one has pulled him or herself up by their bootstraps and made it happen but, that is the exception and not the norm. 

What do you do?  We need to spread it out.  THIS IS EVERYBODY’S PROBLEM.   We all have to work on this, EVERYBODY.  You cannot contain this problem, it has to be spread that is the only way in my mind to solve the problem with speed.  Generations cannot be lost while we BS back and forth about ways to keep it “out of my backyard”.  Got news for you buddy, the United States was built on everyone working together for a common cause, get rid of the British.  Another time that Americans like to look at with great fondness is when we all bound together around World War II. 

I got news for you, it has to be in your backyard for it work.  There is so much wealth, so much intellectual capital in this country and yet we have communities with a lack of hope? This is disgusting.  We should all be ashamed of ourselves. 

My peoples are you with me where you at? 

Popularity: 1% [?]

WHERE:  on the corner of West Street and West Washington Street
WHEN:  Sunday, November 18, 2007 starting at 1:30pm
WHAT:  a dedication to the gateway kiosk that defines the Clay Street neighborhood and highlights the entertainment era that defines the area. 

See you there. 

Popularity: 3% [?]