Comments

• On the article Proposed Hampden Apartment Variances Approved

  

  Andre Stone

  9:32 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012

  I guess I don't understand this viewpoint. It's well documented that vacant lots are magnets for drug dealing, prostitution, violence, etc. I've walked through this lot a couple times and have witnessed drug use, dealing and tripped over needles. It that's the kind of community you want to live in, you have dozens of choices here in Baltimore. I think Hampden should be fortunate that there are developers willing to do infill development...it is probably the only neighborhood in the city that can do development without massive taxpayer funded subsidies.

• On the article Remington vs. Business: Why?

  Andre Stone

  2:24 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012

  When I bought my home and moved to Remington three years ago, I didn't have a history with either organization and attended meetings for both RNA and GRIA with an open mind, before deciding which one to join. The RNA meeting consisted of Joan and Doug standing at the front of the room shouting at each other; the GRIA meeting consisted of people sitting in a circle openly discussing the issues.

  I spoke with several members of both organizations and asked them why what they were doing. Several RNA members expressed their dislike of Remington, that they thought it was a terrible place to live and therefore felt it necessary to convince others of their worldview, but only one person offered up a reason RNA was better: "we were here first." GRIA members, on the other hand, pointed out how much they loved their neighborhood, and how they had expressed this love in a variety of ways: planting trees, starting a community garden, activities for youth, mural projects, and supporting projects that create jobs for neighborhood residents.

  Needless to say, I chose GRIA. Remington IS a great place to live and it's a shame that there's a whole community association devoted to tearing it down.

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• On the article You Tell Us: Property Tax Cut or New Schools?

  Andre Stone

  2:15 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

  I think a property tax reduction will do more to keep middle class families in the city. If that happens, those families would then demand that schools get updates. Brand new schools serving an overwhelmingly low-income student population isn't going to magically create outstanding students, economic development, or population growth. In my opinion, lowering taxes will help do exactly that. I know many, many people who have told me that the ONLY reason they and their families don't live in Baltimore City is the high property tax rate.

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