Proud To Be Blocked By Dan Rodricks

Special thanks and appreciation to Mathew Loftus and the Baltimore City Paper. Not only for giving a shout out to The Baltimore Spectator twitter account in a recent article, but for placing me on a list with distinguished individuals, of whom I couldn't be more proud to be associated with. Folk blocked by irrelevant curmudgeon, Baltimore Sun columnist and mediocre radio host Dan Rodricks.

Courtesy of Raphael Sassi via Boycott Dan Rodricks Facebook group

Yes, THAT Dan Rodricks, the one who is deathly afraid of  pit bulls likening them undomesticated wild beasts.

It's not often that James MacArthur or The Baltimore Spectator gets any acknowledgement by Baltimore media. Despite being household names, you'd think both ceased to exist the way the press typically ignores our being an integral component of the Baltimore media ecosystem. This despite being followed and observed by a whole cadre of reporters, editors, producers and other media types.


From the City Paper:

Baltimore's most famous citizen journalist has a long history on Twitter of being a bit obstreperous, and we've all thought about blocking him a time or two. However, most of us have come to our senses eventually about our dear director of the MacArthur Institute Center For Advanced Analysis & Critical Comparison. Dan, however, never has. - See more at: Top 10 people Dan Rodricks should unblock on Twitter

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Researcher, independent investigative journalist, and entrepreneur, A.F. James MacArthur has been a member of the underground news network for over 20 years. During this time, he's been a frequent subject of attack by government officials under the guise of law enforcement. Although closely watched and followed, he's often boycotted from being given any credit for his work by mainstream media.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Get Better Connected With Me

Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook, YouTube channel

Beating A Dead Horse "For Trayvon" Pt. 1

Controversy continues over motive of Patterson Park beating

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

Agitator-In-Chief
@BaltoSpectator

Have you had enough of George Zimmerman or Trayvon Martin yet?

On Sunday when I wrote about a group of Baltimore teenagers who beat up a man in Patterson Park, I really didn't feel like doing another story about the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman trial aftermath. Not because I though there weren't important lessons to be learned, or meaningful discussions to be had. Because there actually are. But since virtually a million outlets already had stories about the case, out of respect to my readers, I figured I'd back off a bit.

After all, you didn't come here to read stuff stuff you can easily read anywhere else.

Open Source Intelligence

v. re·port·ed, re·port·ing, re·ports v.tr.1. To write or provide an account or summation of for publication or broadcast: report the news. 2. To relate or tell about; present: report one's findings. See Synonyms at describe.
3. To carry back and repeat to another: reported the rumor of a strike.

On Sunday night, a reader made me aware of a "reported" assault on a Hispanic man. The incident was supposedly in retaliation for the controversial Florida verdict. The initial claim was a group of Black teens in jumped the man, and as they beat him down, they told him "this is for Trayvon [Martin]."

After doing basic research a brief was filed. I attempted to outline, what seemed at the time, to be a pretty shocking story. In a city with hundreds of murders and shootings per year, for an assault to be considered newsworthy, there has to be something a bit unusual or different about it. A group of gang bangers delivering a racially motivated beating definitely fit this criteria.

Within 24 hours the story was seen by thousands of people from around the world. In fact, it quickly became the most read Baltimore Spectator piece, in a long, long time.

But it seemed as if the media might have missed it. A whole day passed before The Baltimore Sun decided to even acknowledge the incident having taken place. In their original article, crime reporter Justin George fills in many of the details missing from my initial account.

Eventually the story gained the attention of national media. But was it because it was first reported here on this blog? Not hardly. George's story quickly went viral, and he eventually wound up on national TV discussing it. It's too bad we've since learned the primary thrust of his story appears to be totally incorrect. But well get back to that later.

On Twitter, I expressed disappointment. George should have at least acknowledged that the story was first reported here. But according to reporter Carrie Wells, -- not the pretend TV detective -- of The Baltimore Sun, putting a story on an internationally recognized blog like The Baltimore Spectator, is not real 'reporting.'

Or is it?

Although now a well known reporter for a major metropolitan daily newspaper, Ms. Wells was once a novice journalist. Back when Wells was a journalism student at University of Maryland, and her current audience had no clue who she was, I actually followed a bit of her work. 

Her zeal and excitement towards journalism encouraged me about the future of the craft. At a time when I'd just about lost all faith in the direction the press was going, Wells made me think there was hope.

It's kind of funny, but apparently as a student, Wells was well aware of my non-reporting at The Baltimore Spectator, as well.

The Baltimore Spectator, breaking news & first to cover stuff since 2009. Even  novices noticed.

Riding High On The Horse

At first, when none of mainstream media picked up, or even seemed to have an interest in the story, I honestly was a bit surprised. If for nothing else, the story (or what seemed to be the story), had all the appearances of the kind of sensational fodder media thrives on. But this would soon change.

Sun staffers gabbed with great glee and excitement about all the sudden attention "their story" gathered. First The Drudge Report picked it up, then George even got to be a guest on Fox news.  

Baltimore Sun reporter Justin George, spreading truth to the masses.

But as Baltimore Sun staff reveled in the recognition received for such a captivating story, their reported version of events began to slowly unravel.

In an interview with WMAR ABC 2's Brian Kuebler, Baltimore Police Detective Angela Carter-Watson said, "our investigation is basically saying that there is no Trayvon connection.  This incident is again, an isolated incident."        

Four days after first appearing on The Baltimore Spectator, three days after The Baltimore Sun reported it, and pretended not to have first heard of it from us, George reluctantly relents that the "for Trayvon" claim could be bogus. 

If this whole episode was good for nothing else, at least it showed us what "real reporting" ought to look like.

--------------------------------------------------
Involved in media since 1991, community activist, independent journalist, and entrepreneur, A.F. James MacArthur has grown used to getting no respect.

 Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel

Letting Em Get Away With It

Police Corruption And Brutality Not Always Easy To Prove

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? --
 Who will guard the guards themselves?
 People often fear reporting police misconduct

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

"We have too many corrupt police officers." Last week when Baltimore City Councilman Carl Stokes said those words while discussing the seeming non-stop bloodshed and violence coursing through the city, the statement brought instant polarization. Responses ranged from those wholeheartedly agreeing 100%, to others being deeply offended and insulted.

Does he have any proof, was asked by many who were quick to criticize the councilman's claim as being unsubstantiated. Even the Fraternal Order Of Police chimed in via Twitter.

But has anyone considered having solid "proof" meeting the level of evidentiary standards acceptable by a court of law, is not always that easy to obtain? Lack of "proof" certainly doesn't prove something hasn't happened.

Truth is, many cases of police corruption, intimidation, and even brutality are cleverly concealed. Sometimes it'll be years after the incident before even the slightest inkling of it finds its way to some form of official report.

By it's very nature, proving wrongdoing by police is not only difficult, but the one seeking proof does so at great personal risk. At the low end, one faces potential harassment and veiled threats, at the other extreme, there are cases where people have showed up dead.

It's certainly not within the scope of this story to give a ton of specific examples, but the reader is cautioned to not take this to mean it doesn't happen.

"We take the hit at people, and say they’re not telling the police what’s happening. That’s absolutely false. People tell the police.." - Baltimore City Councilman Carl Stokes

As someone who's personally called 911 in Baltimore on numerous occasions to report crimes, with less than satisfactory results, I've seen first hand how reports of crime was ignored by police, creating the statistical appearance of nothing having happened.

The rhetorical question comes to mind; if a crime occurs and the police ignore it, has a crime really taken place at all? If residents call the police to report street crime and see no results, how can they feel confident in reporting possible criminal wrong doing by officers and be taken seriously?

In a statement released by the Fraternal Order of Police, it suggested Stokes statement was dishonest: "Mr. Stokes’ comments are an affront to every honest and hard working Baltimore City Police Officer, not to mention those brave police officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice while working to protect our city streets.  Mr. Stokes’ comments are outrageous, inflammatory, and untrue..."

There's no question the Baltimore Police Department is made up of many good officers, but is there any denying by a close observer that it also has more than it's fair share of bad characters?

It's not like people who see cops committing crime can just feel safe and confident that going to officials with complaints will yield results.

Even when well known crime reporter Justin Fenton recently had an incident with Baltimore Police, he chose not to file an official report. The path he picked to pursue his complaint is not one available to the typical citizen of Charm City.

Someone else would have been treated worse.

Interesting. Batts' security put hands on both of my shoulders and removed me from asking a question to the commissioner...
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) June 26, 2013

The police physically interjecting on a reporter merely trying to do his job ranks way up there in police wrong doing. Under the First Amendment, an incident like this could realistically be pursued for potential criminal wrongdoing. At a minimum, an internal affairs complaint. 

We reached out to Fenton via email to ask  for more details on the incident. His response was quite revealing:

"As I posted on Twitter, I was removed from asking a question of the commissioner at City Hall. Some asked what I was asking about at the time, but that wasn’t so much the issue as I hadn’t really gotten the question out. I spoke with the commissioner later, and I’m confident this particular kind of thing won’t be an issue again nor will it affect our coverage."

In the scale of police wrong doing, this incident is clearly on the minor side of things, but the principle involved is major.  Were it more serious, and involving the average citizen, would they be able to cut through red tape and middlemen to go straight to the Police Commissioner with their complaint? Probably not. Even this incident, public as it may have been, does not exist on official stats. Because Fenton did not file an official complaint.

Whether or not he should have taken things further is left to individual opinion. The point is, were he an average citizen being roughed up by cops for whatever reason, without the possibility of being able to tweet or write a column about it, he probably would have just stayed quiet and moved on with his life. Most people don't have the public platform that a Baltimore Sun reporter has.

It's not far fetched to imagine the same response takes place when individuals are subjected to treatment far

Some Baltimore Police officers will literally say this.

worse. Talk to enough people in Baltimore, especially in economically challenged, disenfranchised neighborhoods, they'll tell you crimes by cops are not only a normal occurrence, but that they take place with routine frequency.

People don't feel safe reporting on incidents they're personally involved in. Someone witnessing an incident of police misconduct not directly affecting them is even less likely to come forward with all the risks involved. This lack of filing official complaints, including Fenton's incident, further bolsters the culprits feeling of immunity and emboldens their impulse to keep carrying on their abusive behavior.

Cops commit crime all the time that will never be reported or documented, because people let them get away with it. We're all to blame.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After an unconstitutional imprisonment lasting 6 months, denied bail, tortured, assaulted and forced to endure inhumane conditions in the notorious Baltimore City Detention Center, A.F. James MacArthur, the original independent, established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting  emerged undaunted and unafraid. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel

Related articles

• Community Anxious After 37 People Shot In One Week
• Baltimore City Police Commissioner Talks A Safer B'more [Audio]
• Heads Up! Gun Grabing Government Goons Patroling Baltimore

Step Out Of Darkness -- An Editorial On Media Perspectives

A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

Mainstream media continues to resemble a slowly drying up, pollution filled, filthy little creek instead of being the massive conduit for valuable news and information it is supposed to be. 

For quite some time now, actually years, I've railed in this space and elsewhere about the mighty disservice major media has been doing us all.

From radio presentations, to writing in this blog, even producing YouTube videos, I've begun to intensify my attack on those I feel should be doing better.

The solemn duty that rests upon the shoulders of news organizations is simply not one to take lightly. Not when you have a municipality as dysfunctional as Baltimore City. Not when you have a police department that's now only solving about 25% of the murders taking place.

Intensifying Assault

The attacks were initially subtle, but in passing weeks, after witnessing the ongoing insult on the intelligence of it's readers, I've had to ramp up my attacks on The Baltimore Sun. A literal shadow of it's former self, as darkness descends upon the media scene and a once mighty beacon guiding us to safety and alerting us to danger, has now lost its own way.

Honestly, I hope someone over there begins to get the message and gets a clue as to why subscriptions continue to be cancelled, and less and less people are paying to see their information online.


Bread And Circuses Revisited

Earlier I spoke of sports and Twinkies being the modern day bread and circuses. It holds more true each day than ever before. For every in depth, hard hitting, investigative expose Baltimore Sun publishes, two or three sports and entertainment fluff stories is guaranteed to bury them into obscurity. 

To be clear, this is not a mistake or oversight. Some lame brain staffer somewhere on Calvert Street makes a decision as to which story should be featured more prominently on the front page. Critical pieces manage to meander away, just a day or two after landing. Many face a fate of being forever banished to the bowels of a once behemoth of news delivery.


You Can't Blame The Youth

While the average Baltimore Sun reporter these days, is likely to be 20 something years old, I'm not sure if this is to blame for the misdirection we're continually tugged in. These guys are supposed to be the leaders of local media, the future!

It takes continually effort to not look down on the well meaning staffers, many of them recent graduates of well known journalism programs. On the other hand, its hard not to think, they've worked in the news business, for less time than I've had a drivers license.

Maybe there's hope for them as they mature and gain experience.


Pit bulls Are People Too!

The brainstorming involved the latest line of new media ventures at MacArthur Media has led me to be more cynical than ever.

For young people to be naive and lack perspective is one thing, but for Baltimore Sun featured columnist, Dan Rodricks -- who's probably older than me -- to cling to myth and fallacy as often as he does, is quite perplexing.

In an ongoing vendetta, based on mistruths, rumors, urban legends and just plain old lies, the people of Baltimore have been subject to Mr. Rodricks spewing of incessant hatred towards what is an All American family dog.

Things would be bad enough if Mr. Rodricks were simply found only twice a week in a publication often used as fish wrapper, bird cage lining, and table top protection to facilitate easy cleanup after crab feasts.



Your Tax Dollars At Work

Public radio like WYPR, where Mr. Rodricks has a daily radio show, is funded in part by various government grants, set asides, and of course, massive tax breaks garnered from non-profit status.

For a government that's supposed to be moving Maryland forward, it's kind of scary that "we the people," are paying part of Mr. Rodricks salary as he tosses aside all evidence and promulgate and perpetuate a tired line with little factual basis. Pit bulls are dangerous says Mr. Rodricks.

No, pit bulls aren't dangerous per say. It's often the people who own them that are irresponsible that bring about a threatening menace to the community. In many ways, not much different that the irresponsible media work and "journalism" of Dan Rodricks.

Related articles

• Real issue Obama's efforts to cover up truth
• Got News? Choose Your Sources Wisely -- An Editorial
• Criminal Cops And Smokescreens - An Analysis Pt. 1
• Mainstream Media Misdirects Your Attention
• Baltimore Youth Killed In Record Numbers
• TROOP SWOOP! Maryland State Police Descend Upon Greenmount Ave The Corridor Of Death
• As Editorial Walls Crumble, Advertisers Rush In
• BALTIMORE UGLY - Truth Hurts! - Justice For Annie
• VENGEANCE KILLING: Home Invasion Victim Had Criminal Record
• EDITORIAL: Obama's Benghazi lie - Washington Times

Mainstream Media Misdirects Your Attention

Sport and twinkies, bread and circuses. Mainstream media like The Baltimore Sun keep you distracted from the truly important real issues.

Related articles

• Got News? Choose Your Sources Wisely -- An Editorial
• The Misdirection Of Currency Wars
• The Mainstream Media & the Question(s)
• MAINSTREAM MEDIA MONKEYS: And their approach to Benghazi: ...
• When mainstream media fails: Alternative media confronts us with the truth
• The Mainstream Media Is Not Our Friend: A Call To Arms
• CNN Journalist: Mainstream Media Takes Money from FOREIGN Dictators to Run Flattering Propaganda

Got News? Choose Your Sources Wisely -- An Editorial

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

Every week, sometimes daily, we learn of more layoffs, buyouts, and closures of big, traditional, mainstream media outlets.

 The Baltimore Sun is continuing to shrink. Both in staff, and worthwhile content. As a life-long avid consumer of news, the whole thing is somewhat disturbing to me.

On the other hand, companies like the The Baltimore Sun and their corporate parents Tribune media, are suffering a demise largely brought about by their own doing. For years Baltimore has had to endure a sort of junk journalism, diverting attention and focus from much of what really matters in.

With the dawn of the information age, news consumers have become more savvy,  more sophisticated, and more quick to know b.s. (big stories) when they see it.

ROLE OF MEDIA

A good assessment of the current state of affairs in Baltimore would reveal a place filled with criminal activity, corruption and grotesque waste. And that's just City Hall!

Deeper examination of the issues plaguing Charm City shows a large part of the problem being ignorance.

This ignorance is fostered, expanded and perpetuated by mainstream media outlets. They have long lost sight of what should be part of their fundamental core reasons for being. To inform, educate, enlighten and yes, even entertain the people. But somewhere along the way, the whole thing has fallen far out of balance.

When several people have been killed over the weekend,and police have little to no leads, no suspects, and a slim chances of solving the case, the top stories splashed on the front page for the last 72 hours really should be about more than just football and Twinkies.

Related articles

• BALTIMORE UGLY - Truth Hurts! - Justice For Annie
• THE FUTURE: Radio Veteran Praises Spectator News Coverage
• TRIPLE SHOOTING: Two dead after home invasion
• Real Talk Radio With James MacArthur Live At 7 p.m
• Man shot on Charles St. dies from his injuries
• Does The Winner Of The Debate Really Matter?
• Criminal Cops And Smokescreens - An Analysis Pt. 1

Interesting Sun Reader Comment on The Baltimore Grand Prix

The comment below was from the most recent Baltimore Sun article attempting to present both sides of the argument, for an against the Baltimore Grand Prix.

Capt. Buzz Nichols at 8:00 AM September 04, 2011

I lived in Long Beach, CA when the Grand Prix came to that city.  I’ve also lived in Baltimore, so I know what you are in for.  Two words: mayhem and chaos.  Just as in Long Beach, this venue is for the enjoyment of the few (wealthy and influential), while disrupting and inconveniencing the rest.  

Here is what you are experiencing this weekend :  People are dead because rescue medics are not be able to get to you in a timely manner.  There is a spike in crime, because law enforcement are tied up with directing traffic in circles and crowd control.  Businesses have to close because customers are not able to get to them.  Public transit is interrupted for the many that need it most.  If you are along the race route you are not allowed to leave your home, or get back to it if you have.  

And then there is the noise, the litter, the drunks, and people that could care less about their behavior.  The only people that will make money are the promoters (already wealthy at the expense of tax payers).  And a first time event of this magnitude will cause problems that no one previously thought of.  It took Long Beach about three years before they got it close to right.  Here is another thing.  The cars don’t just show up and race.  There are a few days of practice for the drivers and their crews to prepare.  And then a few days of after event clean up and dismantle of the course.  

Silent Shootings & Inaccuracies - Pt. I

If someone gets shot, and no one hears it, has that person truly been shot?

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

There were two murders over the weekend, but like most people, you probably didn’t hear about it. Even an avid follower of news would have easily missed it. Why? Because no one covered it. The little coverage eventually surfacing was sparse, bereft of detail, and filled with errors.

It’s a sad reality, a symbolic indicator of our collective disconnect and resignation to accept low standards, when people getting gunned down in the streets is no longer news. The loss of human life is relegated merely to another dot on an already crowded crime map. The shooting’s added to a list, a numerical statistic chronicling the battleground that is Baltimore.

Are we embarrassed by all the violence? Doubtful. Perhaps we’re tired of hearing about it. That’s scary. With problems as systemic as ours, ignoring and denying them certainly won’t make them go away.

ACCURACY IN MEDIA

So back to the two murders. The first happened early Sunday morning. At 1:40 a.m. Baltimore Police announced via twitter:

"Shooting, Liberty Hts/ Gwynn Oak, adult male shot 1:40 AM Apr 25th"

No further details were ever released by the police, but 59 minutes later, after arriving on scene, this writer tweeted the following via www.twitter.com/BaltoSpectator:

"Shooting at Liberty/Gwynn Oak appears to be fatal. Lots of crime scene tape & crime lab techs on scene.2:39 AM Apr 25th"

Sunday’s news saw no mention of the shooting. One wonders why a news paper, the daily paper of record, the only paper really, the largest local media, having a website and able to add news before press time, often finds itself so slow to break news. That’s if they ever mention it at all. Indeed many shootings never make the news.

It would not be until 7:45 p.m. that Justin Fenton of the Baltimore Sun reported the following in referring to the two weekend shootings;

“The first occurred about 2:30 a.m. Sunday in the 4800 block of Liberty Heights Ave., in Northwest Baltimore's Howard Park neighborhood.”

Just a second, if the police tweeted the shooting at 1:40 a.m., how come the Sun says it happened at 2:30? The case for having different voices in local media continues to be made. Without new media, including independent and alternative blogs and sites like this, who’s going to keep an eye on the establishment media? Who’s going to compel them to offer more comprehensive coverage of the scourge of violence destroying this city?

While having good sources and talking to spokesmen and public relations people is essential, often times, this is not a substitute for planting two feet on the ground and pounding pavement.

In Part II we’ll discuss the second shooting and how citizen journalism fills in the gaps.

Three Over Night Shootings - Within Three Hours - No Mention In Baltimore Sun

Already the conspiracy theorists are wondering if there is a concerted effort between the city and the media in suppressing or somehow limiting news of serious crime. It is interesting how the Sun will place a story title for one shooting/murder incident, and within the scant text that passes for a story, try to slip in a couple more. The Baltimore Spectator notes there has been a total of at least 25 shootings this week, but the majority did not make the news. Adding a twist, even the Baltiomore Police twitter, a normally reliable source, left of a random odd shooting or two this week.

Strange Reality? Spectator Speaks, The Street Answers?

On last nights radio broadcast, while ranting about there being no comprehensive crime strategy in Baltimore, I predicted to my co-host and guests there would be at least three more shootings by the next show. We signed off the air at 11:00 p.m. and by 11:02 p.m. the first shooting report came in, within two hours, there were two more. This is becoming a bit too easy.

-AFJM

Here are the latest:

SHOOTING: 2041 WHISTLER, ADULT FEMALE SHOT - 17 July 2009, 11:02 p.m.

SHOOTING: 600 McCABE, ADULT MALE SHOT IN HAND - 18 July 2009, 12:11 a.m.

SHOOTING: LENNOX / LINDEN, ADULT MALE SHOT. AN INDIVIDUAL TAKEN INTO CUSTODY - 18 July 2009, 12:21 p.m.

Baltimore Police, Major Shake Up Coming? Could Bealefeld Eventually Be Implicated?

Claims Of Crime And Malfeasance In The Department

In the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of accusations hurled towards the Baltimore Police Department the woman who's job it was to discipline officers speaks out. In Baltimore's daily paper, we learn JoAnne C. Woodson-Branche is "prepared to pull back the curtain on the cesspool that exists within the Police Department's disciplinary oversight unit."

The statement was released through ace defense attorney Warren A. Brown. It went further to say; "the truth will not only vindicate attorney Branch [sic], but should lead to a major shake-up of the Baltimore City Police Department and those ultimately responsible for its operation."

It should be noted this statement comes right on the heels of the department settling a federal racial discrimination lawsuit for $2.4 million dollars.

An exclusive Investigative Voice interview of one of the officers victorious in the law suit reveals further the level of criminal activity that many local critics know to be all too common and routine within the Baltimore Police Department, there we read;

For Antoine Travers, an officer who joined the force in 1982 and was fired in 1997 for insubordination. the victory marks the start of a healing process of wounds that began when a white supervisor threw a trash can at him during roll call in the Northwest District in 1994.

“He knew I was documenting what was going on, they were violating people’s rights.”

One day, Travers said, the same lieutenant pulled up on the corner of West Belvedere and Beaufort avenues.

“There were twenty people standing on the corner and he started frisking one guy, asking him if he had any drugs,” Travers recalls.

“When they didn’t find any, a white sergeant went into an alley and found some drugs and they were going to arrest him,” he said. “But the guy broke away, and ran into a house; they chased him and shot him in the back.”

“I said to the lieutenant, 'Why did you do that? He didn’t do anything wrong.' ”

Because Travers was taking notes on what he believed was the racist behavior of the white officers, he soon found himself facing termination for insubordination after speaking out that day. In 1997, he was fired after three years of fighting for his job.

“I just felt like I had to fight. If they could shoot Joe Citizen for no reason, what could they do to a police officer?”

Baltimore Police -- A Racist Institution? -- Tonight's Radio Show -- LIVE 9:00PM

Join us on the radio show What's Up Baltimore, tonight at 9:00PM

The Baltimore Police Department is settling a federal racial discrimination lawsuit for $2.5 million. The police officers are suing. If the departments own officers feel discriminated, how do the regular people of Baltimore feel?

LISTEN LIVE!

Baltimore Police Racism To Cost City $2.5 Million

Federal lawsuit alledging Baltimore Police Department discriminates against black officers to be settled.

Related:

TALK ABOUT IT! Baltimore Police -- A Racist Institution? -- Tonight's Radio Show -- LIVE 9:00PM

Crime Decline Continues

Let us all sing songs and celebrate, Baltimore Police and The Baltimore Police are saying crime is down.

From This Mornings Police Twitter;

SHOOTING: Reported @ 15 S. Eutaw , adult male shot multiple times

Shooting: Reported @ 1101 W. North Av, adult male shot. Police investigating

SHOOTING: Reported @ 1306 ROUNDHILL RD-ADULT MALE SHOT IN THE UPPER BODY

Nonsense Numbers -- Reported Crime Decline A Fraud!

With Thousands Of Found Bodies Still Unclassified, Accurate Crime Stats Unavailable

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

It's been said that numbers don't lie. I'm inclined to believe that. But conversely,, people lie all the time, and they use numbers to do so. Just look at any of the Fortune 500 companies that overstated their profits. Can you say Enron?

Investigative Voice reports the city has thousands of deaths, with some being possible murders, but they remain unclassified, therefore off the books. How interesting, you guys found a clever way to artificially keep the numbers down. This year, besides the known murders, nearly 200 bodies were found already. Think maybe our actual count could be higher? Have we collectively become that naive to not know the smell of a rat when we smell one? Especially one that's been chewing through a rotting corpse?

Come on people! Everyone is under pressure to produce lower numbers, by any means necessary. If you can't solve murders, can't prevent and reduce them, how about simply not report them? Make them go away, as if nothing ever happened.

The sad state of journalism in this one newspaper town could not have been put on better display than today's Baltimore Sun. Right there in a big bold headline, we're told that crime is down. Seriously folks, are we really expected to buy into this crap? It should have said, CITIZEN REPORTING OF CRIME DECREASED.

When is the Sun going to do a story on how much crime in the city is never reported to the police? Will they do a follow up piece, on how much crime is told to police, who then refuse to actually file a report? If these lies were not involving life and death, maybe I wouldn't be so passionate. But damn it, quit lying to us already.

Baltimore is as violent as it's ever been. We have street gangs growing exponentially in power and strength, and our teeny little under manned, under funded gang unit has very little intelligence on the situation. The fact that the gangs work the entire geographic area without respect for jurisdictions is another story. Local police departments don't even talk to each other about criminals who make the rounds crossing jurisdictional borders.

If crime is truly in such a steep decline, tell me why the jails and prisons remain overcrowded? Enough already, tell us the truth Bealefeld, we can handle it. Mayor Dixon, you know better. We all want to see Baltimore improve and become more desirable to outside investors, tourism and potential new residents. Being dishonest and playing games with the numbers is not the way to Achieve this, or maybe it is....

You guys may be onto something. Just look at Chicago and New Orleans. Two of the most known corrupt cities in the country, and both get 10 times more tourism than Baltimore. I think I get it now. Ingenious! Let's sink deeper into the foul putrefaction of collective dissolution, it just may bring us great dividends in return.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Baltimore Spectator On Twitter

Join the Office of The British Prime minister, The Baltimore Sun, and many of Charm City's top journalists. Become one of our followers. Get updates and random musings from the mad mind of A.F. James MacArthur. Baltimore crime, grime and politics with a sprinkling of nonsense thrown in for good measure. twitter.com/baltospectator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quadruple Shooting -- Arrest Made

Our friends at ABC2 News reports there's been an arrest made related to a quadruple shooting last month in the city.

The Spectator still wants to know, is this level of routine violence common anywhere else in this country? A third world country yes, but in the United States of America? Also on that note, we're still wondering, and waiting for an explanation from The Baltimore Sun on why they killed my Violence Reduction Symposium letter and ensuing discussions off their site? If they go under completely and something else replaces them, it'll be a victory for Baltimore.

By the way, we're not holding our breath either. We know old media is slow to move, and is generally unresponsive to the wants and desires of the public. Too bad the public is who their audience is. Now wonder readership continues to drop. Light to all.... YEAH RIGHT!

Crab Eaters Panic -- Newspapers Dying!

With Less Readers, Few Uses Left For Newspapers

by A.F. James MacArthur, Managing Editor

Now before my friends, or perhaps now former friends get even more upset with me (see Phony Baltimore Sun), you need to put on your analytical thinking cap and clearly grasp what is being said.

Although entire newspapers have gone 100% bankrupt, many closing their doors for ever, we are not suggesting that newspapers as a business will go away.

IT'S THE MEDIUM STUPID!

What's being said, and missed by so many. Those who've entrenched themselves so deep in defensive mode, they'd need a periscope to view the outside world are so caught up, they can't see what the rest of us do. The actual paper your print your news on, this will soon be all but gone.

Space does not permit me to go into a full cost benefit analysis. A few simple points can be made though. One, paper and it's costs are a fluctuating commodity. Much like gas, it's now nearly impossible to long term budget, because no one knows what the price of tea in China will be tomorrow. Speaking of gas, it takes a lot of it, and diesel also, to get those newspapers all over the place everyday. Can anyone say, E X P E N S I V E ?

So while those trucks are rumbling down the road, spewing greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, carrying around those rain forest depleting dead trees, change happens. By the time your papers reach their destination, the world has already changed since the stories were submitted for deadline. Put simply, it's already YESTERDAY'S NEWS.

Championing the rise of new media is not to suggest, the old companies are no longer needed. Those of us early adopters to fully integrated multi-media, new media platforms, just understand that the times are changing. The thought of using stimulus dollars to prop up a dying, environmentally destructive, financially inefficient business model is frightening and irresponsible.

Instead of pumping blood transfusions into a a nearly lifeless corpse, shouldn't we also be seriously considering reconstructive surgery? Lastly, I offer a couple analogies. In the forest (there's those trees again), the old stalwart hardwoods eventually must die. It is a cycle of nature, unavoidable and utterly inevitable. This is necessary to let the sun (yes pun intended) shine through to the newer younger growth hidden beneath the canopy. Be it natural death of old age, or the eventual forest fire cycle, nature has it's ways of ushering out the old, and bringing in the new.

The change is coming whether we like it or not. A choice can be made to stubbornly resist it and stand in front, or get on board and surf (the web) the wave, harnessing it's energy for rapid forward propulsion. If we were on the North Shore of Oahu, would you rather surf the big waves, or just stand there and get flattened as the water crashes over you?