Martin O'Malley

Reducing crime in Baltimore was a huge challenge. O'Malley's administration used "zero tolerance" to get drug dealers off street corners and away from people's front yards. Baltimore was successful in reducing violent crime and brought down the murder rate. These methods made some people angry, and many were falsely arrested. But Baltimore was a very special case, and citizens feared for their lives. Baltimore was a hard nut to crack, and O'Malley did his best to make the city safer. He couldn't work miracles. Poverty was rampant in many areas of the city. Industry was moving to China and Korea. Black and Decker, a major tool manufacturer and a landmark for jobs in Baltimore, was outsourced to the Far East. There were hundreds of companies that abandoned Baltimore. O'Malley did his best with what he had. Sometimes the methods were harsh, but the streets were safer for African American families. He also had a system set up for communities to respond to what was being done, and he monitored police activity. I don't think even those who criticized his methods would like to go back to the pre-O'Malley days in Baltimore. Many neighborhoods were dangerous places to live. They still are, to this day; but what happens now is on the present mayor's watch, not O'Malley's. And the problem of police brutality, as we see it all over the country, was not "caused" by O'Malley. The same issues of police training -- in particular the militarization of police -- are a problem in many of our major cities. O'Malley's experience with what worked and what did not work is an important contribution to the present debate in this country. When he was reelected mayor, O'Malley received over 80% of the vote in Baltimore City. I look forward to his candid remarks on this and many issues.

There is some confusion about a TV show called "The Wire," where the lead character is often mistaken for O'Malley. David Simon did use O'Malley, but he also used other political figures to create the character of Tommy Carcetti. Oftentimes, TV watchers (and TV programmers) fall into the trap of confusing fact with fiction. I would not recommend watching the series to learn more about the real O'Malley. David Simon overdid (dramatized) more than a few things in his depiction of Baltimore, and O'Malley was not pleased with that. O'Malley did and still does love Baltimore, despite its problems.