[Vision]

Baltimore is like that. There are some nice things, but they are surrounded by filthy slums. I had a friend from out of town discuss his Baltimore vacay itenerary with me. He planned to take his family for an all-day walking tour including Harbor Place, the Aquarium, Little Italy and a game at Camden Yards. When he got to the part about walking to and from Little Italy after dark I stepped in and suggested that he consider taking a cab, or eating at Harbor Place. He would have none of it and did it his way. I later asked him how it went. He ruefully admitted to me that every place that they visited was filthy, including the aquarium. He had to constantly warn the kids not to touch anything. After dinner they were hounded by aggressive panhandlers all the way back from the restaurant to Harbor Place. And the Orioles lost. (You don’t need to be Kreskin to see that one coming.)

I live here. My parish is St. Leo's in Little Italy. Your assessment is either ridiculous, or outdated. For instance, the fairly long walk from LI to the stadium would be fine at night. BTW, the Orioles came close to the World Series last year.

[jboot]

I live and work nearby. My friends trip was in 2010. I was downtown several times in 2012 and conditions were still as I described. I did not go to LI in 2012. My City Hall visit where I encountered panhandlers inside the supposedly secure building and saw urine on the floor and walls was last summer. I visted the Walters AG and Greenmount Cemetery last spring and the surroundings in both places looked like war zones.

I will admit that Baltimore is doing better than it was when I last worked there in the '90s. But Charm City it most definitely is not.