I went to see Ripken before he retired. He and Manny Ramirez hit home runs that day. Stopped at a Chinese restaurant between the parking garage and stadium and picked up a fantastic General Tso chicken and rice. Also ate at the ESPN Zone restaurant before realizing they would eventually ruin sports on tv.
I actually got lost driving in the black area of Baltimore not more than 2 years ago. I was catching an Oriole/Yankee at Camden Yards, then was going back to DC before flying out the next day. I'm from Oregon and didn't know Baltimore at all. It was just a classic case of missing an exit, than thinking I could cut back and hit the freeway again. I ended up driving a long time along a Boulevard. It was nice summer night with lots of people out doors and there was absolutely no white people whatsoever. But I actually had a reasonably good "vibe" (for lack of a better word). I wasn't going to stop and go shopping in a store or anything . Nor was I going to open my car window and play Springsteen. But I didn't feel I was in gangland either.
But clearly it was a neighborhood cut off from the greater economy and along racial lines. I know nothing more about police abuse than what anyone else knows from the news. If you add that element in, than it doesn't surprise me that a riot eventually breaks out.
I did my Trauma Surgery Fellowship in Baltimore at Shock Trauma. We had 50 ICU beds that were almost all completely full for my entire year there. The amount of gunshot and knife wounds there was almost beyond comprehension. The amount of black on black crime was shocking to me. The parking lot for the nurses and physicians was surrounded in razor wire, and two armed security guards sat at the entrance 24/7. A trip through the metal detector was required for entrance. I now practice in the Chicago area, and still have yet to see anything close to what I saw in that year in Baltimore.
Field Good wrote:
Yo ALAN, just an FYI but this is a message board, and you don't need to put your name on the bottom of every single post like its an email or a letter. Just saying'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxdRZWCSN48
Putting his name there makes him feel important.
If you're lost in Baltimore, you're lost in the black area. And lost in a great city.
Catch "some dude"- prob solved wrote:
I did my Trauma Surgery Fellowship in Baltimore at Shock Trauma. We had 50 ICU beds that were almost all completely full for my entire year there. The amount of gunshot and knife wounds there was almost beyond comprehension. The amount of black on black crime was shocking to me. The parking lot for the nurses and physicians was surrounded in razor wire, and two armed security guards sat at the entrance 24/7. A trip through the metal detector was required for entrance. I now practice in the Chicago area, and still have yet to see anything close to what I saw in that year in Baltimore.
My brother, an orthopedic doc, was in the U.S. Public Health Service for a year and did internship in an ER in inner Balto for about three months. He had the exact same experience/impression as you: Attacked by a gang guy in a gurney who'd been shot while he was examining him; Gang thugs took over the waiting room after their "associates" were dumped off for care and kept others out; and (this was about 15 years ago) so many AIDS/HIV, druggie infected people admitted he wanted to wear a NASA space suit for fear of infection. The dedicated local staffers were just burned out and overwhelmed since not enough funds to fully staff the treat all the ODs and gun shot wounds. He later served in the first Iraq war medical corps and said it was cake walk by comparison.
Used to live in West B'more back in the 80s. Woodlawn. Very rough city, then. Very little diversity, manufacturing jobs were on a major decline, crack was epidemic. It had the formula for trouble. Charm city has improved greatly over the last decade or so, but the underlying sentiments still remain.
Obviously the rioting is pent up frustration regarding the conditions of the black community. Don't underestimate the perspective some communities have over their lack of power and upward mobility. Many of you who throw around flip comment wouldn't fare much better being born and raised in the same conditions.
According to 2012 statistics...
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter rate in Baltimore was 34 per 100,000. It was higher in Detroit and St Louis and the same as Newark.
Violent crime rate was 1400 per 100,000. It was higher in Detroit, St Louis, Memphis, Stockton, and Oakland.
Of course the problem with these stats is how a city defines it boundaries.
Still, Baltimore is statistically up near the top.
Alan
XY wrote:
Obviously the rioting is pent up frustration regarding the conditions of the black community. Don't underestimate the perspective some communities have over their lack of power and upward mobility. Many of you who throw around flip comment wouldn't fare much better being born and raised in the same conditions.
Have to agree. the loss of manufacturing jobs nationally have hurt the working class, including black families the most. 50 years ago people could raise and keep together their families with a decent standard of living.
Ironically, late last year Obama President Obama was negotiating two massive new free trade agreements that, if enacted, would result in increased outsourcing and growing job losses, especially in the manufacturing sector. He has asked Congress for “Fast Track” authority, which would allow him to submit free trade agreements to Congress without giving members of Congress the opportunity to amend the deal which means that he's hurting, in his words, "my people."
Expect deja vu to 1968: The Baltimore riot of 1968 was composed of black Baltimoreans lasting from April 6 to April 14. The riot included crowds filling the streets, burning and looting local businesses, and confronting the police and national guard.
The immediate cause of the rioting was the April 4 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, which triggered riots in 125 cities across the United States. These events are sometimes described as the Holy Week Uprising.[1]
Spiro T. Agnew, the Governor of Maryland, called out thousands of National Guard troops and 500 Maryland State Police to quell the disturbance. When it was determined that the state forces could not control the riot, Agnew requested Federal troops from President Lyndon B. Johnson.
I live in Baltimore. Most or all of these posts seem to come from terrified suburbanites. Frankly, I love living here. There's a lot of interesting neighborhoods, cool architecture, and fun things to do for someone in their 20s. For the record, I run through "the hood" all the time and I have never once been messed with. Generally, people looking like tourists are far more likely to get harassed.
The Inner Harbor is just a tourist trap though. It's mostly chain restaurants and a few chain retailers. You can get that in the burbs.
Hunk wrote:
I live in Baltimore. Most or all of these posts seem to come from terrified suburbanites. Frankly, I love living here. There's a lot of interesting neighborhoods, cool architecture, and fun things to do for someone in their 20s. For the record, I run through "the hood" all the time and I have never once been messed with. Generally, people looking like tourists are far more likely to get harassed.
The Inner Harbor is just a tourist trap though. It's mostly chain restaurants and a few chain retailers. You can get that in the burbs.
You think the physicians describing their experiences are just "terrified suburbanites"? Have you worked in an inner city ER as a health care worker or policeman/woman? Somehow, I doubt your vast experience of running through the "hood", eating in local restaurants, and looking at cool architecture is in any way equivalent.
Baltimore is fun. Some places aren't so great. Nightlife is awesome. Restaurants are really good. Some of the best food ever:
Very historical, too.
I INVENTED Baltimore.
They may be. It's hard to say.
Of course Baltimore has tragically depressed communities, and the riots are sad. My experiences are NOT equivalent. That's why I mention them.
In my experience, Baltimore is not the constant war zone surrounding the Inner Harbor that is being typified by other posters. Rather, it's a nice place to live.
ScaryStuff wrote:
XY wrote:Obviously the rioting is pent up frustration regarding the conditions of the black community. Don't underestimate the perspective some communities have over their lack of power and upward mobility. Many of you who throw around flip comment wouldn't fare much better being born and raised in the same conditions.
Have to agree. the loss of manufacturing jobs nationally have hurt the working class, including black families the most. 50 years ago people could raise and keep together their families with a decent standard of living.
Ironically, late last year Obama President Obama was negotiating two massive new free trade agreements that, if enacted, would result in increased outsourcing and growing job losses, especially in the manufacturing sector. He has asked Congress for “Fast Track” authority, which would allow him to submit free trade agreements to Congress without giving members of Congress the opportunity to amend the deal which means that he's hurting, in his words, "my people."
Expect deja vu to 1968: The Baltimore riot of 1968 was composed of black Baltimoreans lasting from April 6 to April 14. The riot included crowds filling the streets, burning and looting local businesses, and confronting the police and national guard.
The immediate cause of the rioting was the April 4 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, which triggered riots in 125 cities across the United States. These events are sometimes described as the Holy Week Uprising.[1]
Spiro T. Agnew, the Governor of Maryland, called out thousands of National Guard troops and 500 Maryland State Police to quell the disturbance. When it was determined that the state forces could not control the riot, Agnew requested Federal troops from President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Requesting federal troops would make my job a bit more interesting since I'm at the closest military base to Baltimore. APG doesn't have MPs anymore. Maybe they could scrounge up a few from Detrick or Meade.
Alan
Hunk wrote:
I live in Baltimore. Most or all of these posts seem to come from terrified suburbanites. Frankly, I love living here. There's a lot of interesting neighborhoods, cool architecture, and fun things to do for someone in their 20s. For the record, I run through "the hood" all the time and I have never once been messed with. Generally, people looking like tourists are far more likely to get harassed.
The Inner Harbor is just a tourist trap though. It's mostly chain restaurants and a few chain retailers. You can get that in the burbs.
So what you're saying is "If you don't live here, STAY AWAY, or you'll get harassed!". Thanks for the tip. I'll have to put Baltimore on my list of places to avoid. I don't think you'll have to worry about the tourist problem after this.
Born and raised in Maryland. I grew up about 30 minutes south of Baltimore. Baltimore has bad areas and nice areas. Too many kids having kids create huge social problems.
xenonscreams wrote:
Baltimore is fun. Some places aren't so great. Nightlife is awesome. Restaurants are really good. Some of the best food ever:
http://www.dipasquales.com/Very historical, too.
Historical, maybe, but I can't think of anything good to come out of Baltimore since Babe Ruth. But I'm sure the announced merger of the Bloods, Crips, and Black Gorilla Gangstas will result in nothing but positives for your fair city.
DiscoGary wrote:
Hunk wrote:I live in Baltimore. Most or all of these posts seem to come from terrified suburbanites. Frankly, I love living here. There's a lot of interesting neighborhoods, cool architecture, and fun things to do for someone in their 20s. For the record, I run through "the hood" all the time and I have never once been messed with. Generally, people looking like tourists are far more likely to get harassed.
The Inner Harbor is just a tourist trap though. It's mostly chain restaurants and a few chain retailers. You can get that in the burbs.
So what you're saying is "If you don't live here, STAY AWAY, or you'll get harassed!". Thanks for the tip. I'll have to put Baltimore on my list of places to avoid. I don't think you'll have to worry about the tourist problem after this.
I should have said, "Like any city, people looking like tourists are far more likely to get harassed." Gary, please put all urban areas on your list of places to avoid.
Hunk wrote:
I should have said, "Like any city, people looking like tourists are far more likely to get harassed." Gary, please put all urban areas on your list of places to avoid.
Like ANY city??? Seriously?? Dude, I have traveled extensively around the U.S. and I'm sure I looked like a tourist more than a few times. I have NEVER been harassed. Like being harassed for looking like a tourist is SOP for any city? My god, you have low standards for Baltimore.