Flawed Sun Poll Inflates Death Penalty Support in Maryland

A newSun poll shows that 57% of Marylanders support the Death Penalty. This isn't surprising, seeing as the poll was crafted to get that answer. The reporters at the Sun know this, and they even put it in their article (though far below the headline).

But support for capital punishment drops precipitously when pollsters introduce the alternative sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole.

Asked in 2006 whether death or life without parole is the better penalty for murder, 47 percent chose the death penalty and 48 percent picked life without parole, according to the Gallup poll.

In Maryland, a poll of 625 registered voters conducted in February by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research revealed a similar drop. In that statewide survey, commissioned by the Maryland Catholic Conference, which opposes capital punishment, 56 percent expressed support for the death penalty while 34 percent opposed it. But asked a follow-up question, 61 percent said they thought life without parole is a suitable alternative to a death sentence.

It would be nice to see a poll commissioned by an independent observer that asks the same follow up, or at least forces poll respondents to choose between life in prison with no parole and a death sentence. That is the argument we are having, so that should be the question that is asked. It seems like no-brainer to me.

Bane - Superhero

Come back to Baltimore, dudes.

What if some CEO Couldn't Take a Swim?

Perish the thought.

Imagine after a long day of business meetings, some CEO is forbidden from taking a swim because some 16 year old high school kid abruptly quit his afternoon job as lifeguard?

For what its worth, I agree with "bud". Lots of hotel pools don't have lifeguards, particularly at night. This sentence just struck me as funny for some reason. Perhaps because this is bud's prime example of "big brother" in Anne Arundel County.

Losing Never Looked Better

[Wonderful rendering from the Baltimore Sun]

The best looking park in Baseball is getting a facelift. I assume the Oriole players in the artist's rendering are celebrating someones birthday/bar mitzvah.

Honestly though, I cannot WAIT to get to The Yard next season. This weather has me jonesing for springtime and the perks it brings.

Dixon Has Goals

I will "support" or "oppose" them below based on how they address my progressive concerns for Baltimore City.

1. $5 million dollar to fund increased access to Buprenorphine, a relatively new medication to treat heroin addiction.

SUPPORT: This is great, and I only wish there was more money in the request. Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Sharfstein said it right when he called this a "very promising start". Bupe keeps heroin addicts in treatment longer and it gives them the clear head they need to look hard at their lives and make the needed lifestyle changes necessary to recovery. This is a wise investment in the future of Baltimore.

2. Traffic cameras to discourage speeders

OPPOSE: You have to make money somehow, and I suppose this isn't the worst way to do so. Still, something about these rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it's the disingenuous appeals to public safety. The article makes it sound like these cameras won't send tickets, just warn drivers. If thats the case, I oppose them even more virulently, because they will be yet another traffic signal for Baltimore drivers to casually ignore.

3. Money for Parks and Development, including $3mil for a town center in Park Heights and $2mil for an overhaul of a park in the Inner Harbor

SUPPORT: Baltimore continues to grow, and while I hate to see more money go to the touristy Harbor, it is still the national face of the city, and improving it will only pay off in the long run. I will hope against hope that these real estate deals have been made without crony considerations.

4. A request for an extra $2 million for the city prosecutors to try gun cases, and $7.3 million for community policing initiatives and foot patrols.

SUPPORT: Dixon is really sticking to the Community Policing she touted in her campaign. Is it working? It appears no better or worse than before, but we won't really know until the program has a full year, perhaps two, to work its "magic". Either way, good for Dixon for sticking to her guns (no pun intended) and not caving to O'Malley-style mass arrests in the face of violence. Anecdotally, I have seen an increased police presence in my neighborhood. No word on whether the change is part Dixon's new strategy or due to the convenient placement of the local Chipotle.

Dixon has not proposed taking a look at Baltimore's revenue sources, currently driven by what citizens across the board term "outrageous property taxes".

In conclusion, if Dixon gets what she wants from the council, this will be a very progressive year for Baltimore City. I am impressed.

Maryland for Millionaires

The apparently "overtaxed" Maryland is second in the nation when it comes to millionaire residents. You can read the raw data here (xls).

What will be interesting to see is this same study in 2008 after one full year under the new tax burden has passed. We can see if the new tax brackets and tax increases really do chase away our "most productive" (i cringe just typing that) citizens.

More on Baltimore's "Single Stream" Recycling

Via Baltimore Guide:

Say “so long” to Blue Bag Mondays. Starting January 8, plastic bags are a no-no when it comes to curbside recycling. That’s when the city will start using a new system called single-stream recycling. Gone are the days of separating paper from bottles and cans. With the single-stream system, all of these things can be placed in one container and set out on the curb on the same day—as long as they’re not in a plastic bag.

All recyclables can be mixed together and placed in either a recyclable container like a cardboard box or a brown paper bag or in a clearly marked container that can be reused. And since recycling is separate from trash, containers do not need a lid.

The list of items that can be recycled has expanded a bit to include more types of plastic bottles. Previously, only type 1 and 2 plastic bottles were accepted (You can tell what kind of plastic a bottle or container is by the symbol of a number in the triangle on the bottom.), but now types 1 through 7 can be recycled curbside.

Awesome.

All Your Base Are Belong to Comcast

Bask in the power of successful lobbying. Customer satisfaction is unimportant when you can just buy out all of your competition.