Something is wrong in Baltimore

I really don't want to pick on Baltimore because it already has more problems than it can handle; but I feel duty-bound to comment.

This city has a situation, or several situations, that are so troubling it's difficult to describe them. The sad thing is its problems are almost all self-inflicted. Where to start? Well, first of all it is a city that has a successive and unbroken string of Democrat mayors. Going way, way back. The current mayor is Stephanie Rawlings-Blake who is in way over her head, and she is the last of a sorry batch of mayors who have come before her.

Since 1931 all of Baltimore's mayors, with one lone exception, have been Democrats. That means in 84 years only one Republican has governed the city and he served two non-consecutive terms -- once in the 1940s, the other in the '60s. Otherwise, it's been an unbroken string of Democrats. And two of the Democrats, I'm sorry to report, were relatives of Nancy Pelosi. Her father served for 12 years in the late '40s and during the '50s, and her brother served for four years in the late 1960s. One other person of note about Baltimore's mayors is Martin O'Malley, who is rumored to be considering entering the presidential race and running against Hillary. O'Malley was mayor from late in 1999 to 2007 and was governor of the state from 2007 until early 2015.

Elijah Cummings represents Baltimore in the U.S. House of Representatives. He's been there since 1996 and before that he was in the State House of Delegates for 13 years. So, clearly, he's part of the problem, too. If you need proof that he's part of the problem, following is an incredulous statement he made on May 3: "We have to invest in our cities and our children. ... We have what I call an 'inclusion revolution' and must address such issues as joblessness and training for young people."

He has the nerve to say that, as if he's disconnected from all that's failing in Baltimore. What do you mean Elijah? You've been part of the Democrat Machine that's governed Baltimore since before you were born (he's 64 and was born in 1951) so during your whole life the city has been under the rule of the Democrats except for a four years in the 1960s. You and yours have been in charge, and now you say there is a problem with joblessness and training for young people. The unemployment rate in Baltimore is 8.7 percent, but for the category Cummings is talking about, (black youths 16 to 19 years old) it is nearly 30 percent.

Note to my readers: As I was going about my business of writing this column, I found myself involved in a struggle with none other than myself. I wanted to lay out facts and make suggestions, but I had to call a halt to the procedure. Unfortunately, at least for now, we can't discuss what's wrong in Baltimore unless we discuss race and racial issues, and I'm not the guy who can do that. I'm an aging white guy and nearly all of the people who are caught up in this mess in Baltimore are not white. That leaves me on shaky ground and in a nearly untenable predicament. So, please understand my dilemma. The mayor, the state's attorney, the victim, three of the six police officers under arrest, the police commissioner, seven of the 15 city council members, Elijah Cummings, and 64 percent of the population of the city of Baltimore all are black. It's their problem and they've got to find a solution. I am ill suited to advise them.

I do know this -- the victim is no hero. He suffered a tragic death and, while I loathe speaking ill of the dead, this kid has a rap sheet going back eight years (remember he's only 25) with 18 arrests, mainly for drug possession and possession with intent to distribute. It's sad, but true.

I opine, you decide.

-- Willie Williams is a Siloam Springs resident. He can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.