Baltimore Makes List Of Poorest Cities In The Nation #StateOfTheCity

Baltimore's Bad News Continues Despite Denial By Officials

19 February 2015

By A.F. James MacArthur 
Agitator In Chief 
On Twitter: @BaltoSpectator 

The real life conditions of Baltimore -- beyond the fictional portrayal of The Wire -- continues to be way worse than Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake would like you to know. Though some are living well, forget what you heard, life in Baltimore is hard.

In the latest report based off reliable data, Baltimore is placed on a list of the 11 poorest cities in America.

Last December, the Census Bureau released its Five-Year American Community Survey (ACS). It aims to assist in the annual distribution of over $400 billion in federal and state funds to communities across the country while supplying those districts with data they need to help plan municipal investments and services.

A California-based online research group, FindTheBest.com, used that ACS data to compile a list of the nation's 33 poorest cities.

Baltimore is sixth on the list.

The report tells us the following sobering truths:

• Percentage of incomes under $25,000: 33.2%

• Percentage of population with bachelor's degree: 26.8%

• Percentage of incomes over $150,000: 6.4% (#22, tied with Louisville, Kentucky)

• Total population: 621,445 

Another city hit hard by the recession is Baltimore, whose unemployment rate stood at nearly 10 percent last summer. The city also is dealing with a relatively high cost of living and a low job growth rate. Baltimore lost around 5 percent of its population between 2000 and 2010, as people went elsewhere for work. And experts say many of the city's residents who were once getting by economically have fallen below the poverty line.

When Mayor Blake gives the annual "State Of The City" address on 23 February, you can be certain this is something she won't be talking about. In the meantime, don't expect Baltimore media to mention it either.

Police Commissioner Batts promises a safer Baltimore. He

claims to have never watched The Wire.

The Baltimore Spectator was first to report the cities placement on a list of The Worlds 50 Most Dangerous Cities. Baltimore media continues to ignore that one as well.

Clearly, part of the Charm in Charm city is lulling oneself into clinging to a false denialist sense of reality, while ignoring very grim, pressing social and economic hardships, steadily crippling an already long beleaguered city.

Having landed on two separate lists of dubious distinction in just the first two months of the year; one wonders as 2015 wears on, how many more honorable mentions the one time Jewel Of The Chesapeake will receive?

There seems to be no strategy to address the very real factors causing the city to be on these lists. The decision for continued denial seems to be a standing order among politicians and the press.

Perhaps Mayor Blake can find solace in one fact revealed by the report; Detroit was number one.

Baltimore oh Baltimore. Ain't it hard...

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As Director of the MacArthur Institute Center For Advanced Analysis and Critical Comparison; occasional media critic, researcher, independent investigator, and entrepreneur, A.F. James MacArthur is Baltimore's most well known independent journalist contributor. A member of the underground news network for over 20 years. During this time, he's been a frequent subject of attack by government 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.
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Get Better Connected With Me
Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook, YouTube channel 

Baltimore's Dirty Little Secret -- One Of Four American Cities On The World's Most Dangerous List -- This IS Harm City! #MobTown Chronicles

City Remains Ranked Among Most Violent In The World -- Leadership Largely Ignores Grim Reality
4 February 2015

By A.F. James MacArthur 
Agitator In Chief
@BaltoSpectator 
 
Baltimore is one of only four American cities making the list of the Fifty Most Dangerous Cities In The World. 

We understand the Mayor's reluctance in acknowledging this. She won't even talk about it at all. Unsurprisingly, no one in the media has shown any interest in discussing this less-than-desireable achievement of the city with her. Listening to her speak in public and observing her social media, you would never imagine things were this bad.
 

There are indeed two Baltimores. The one that Stephanie Rawlings-Blake wishes were the only one, and the one that Baltimore's majority must live -- and die -- in every day.

Two Men Murdered Sunday As Killing Streak Keeps On #MobTownChronicles

City Under Siege From Murder & Mayhem -- Few Patterns Or Similarities Seen
2 February 2015

By A.F. James MacArthur 
Agitator In Chief
@BaltoSpectator 

A car with nine bullet holes, leaving two male occupants shot, sits in front Johns Hopkins Hospital after a female passenger drove the car to the Emergency Room.  /FILE PHOTO -- MACARTHUR MEDIA

Double Shooting Leaves One Dead

Shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday, Baltimore Police responded to the 3000 block of East Monument St., for reports of a shooting. Responding officers discovered a man with at least one gunshot wound to the head. A second victim at the same location was a woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds throughout her body.

The man died of his injuries. The woman was transported to an area hospital and is believed to be in critical condition, though police have not given an update.



Sunday's Second Shooting Scene Also Fatal 

Less than two hours after the East Baltimore double shooting, police in West Baltimore responded to reports of a man shot in the 4500 block of North Rogers Ave., near the intersection of Wabash Ave. Adjacent to Baltimore's Arlington Cemetery.

Around 3:41 p.m. officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He did not survive.

Shooting: 1700 Ashburton Ave. - Year Of The Gun II

There has been at least one homicide everyday so far this year.

Father And Son Killed In Double Shooting

By A.F. James MacArthur
Agitator-In-Chief
@BaltoSpectator

A father and son were both killed in a double shooting that happened shortly after 3:00 p.m.Wednesday, on the 2900 block of Edmondson Ave., in the Edmondson Village neighborhood of Baltimore City.

The elder of the two victims is a man tentatively identified via social media as Frank Turner. His son Anthony Turner was with him when both were shot and killed on the sidewalk in a residential neighborhood.

The incident was witnessed and the story broken via twitter by local talk radio host Daren Muhammad, who happened to be driving past on Edmondson Ave.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Murder And Mayhem Continue To Grip City

By A.F. James MacArthur
Agitator-In-Chief
@BaltoSpectator

Very Violent Year Shows No Slow Down On Final Weekend

Worn out remnants of a murder memorial from a prior incident, 

cling to a post at the scene of one of Baltimore's last murders of 2013.

 Photo by @MolotovFlicker

Early Sunday morning around 1:20 a.m., Baltimore Police responded to the 2700 block of E. Monument Street for reports of a man shot. Police arrived and found Kevin Charles Brown, age 23, laying in the street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

 The Baltimore Spectator #CrimeChasers team was on scene within moments.

While the crew on a Baltimore Fire Department Medic Unit worked on the victim, the large gathering crowd echoed growing frustration with the nearly ceaseless violence that has made 2013 the most deadliest seen in years.

"What the fuck they shoot Kevin for?" 

A young man standing in the crowd asked the rhetorical question to The Baltimore Spectator as he stood there battling disbelief and desperately searching for an answer.

Neighbors young and old could be heard weeping and wailing out loud. One woman asked, with so many police in the area, since there's been a marked visible increase in patrol units, how come this happened?

The block has seen murder before. The neighborhood is well acquainted with death and violence.

With scenes like this becoming all too common in so many city neighborhoods, the question is probably one that is continually asked, with few answers ever given.

Currently, less than half of the murders that took place have been solved. At this writing, the official murder count for the year is 234. A four year record high.

Listen to a live, on scene report made moments after the incident took place.


Proximity Of Police No Guarantee Of Safety

A little over a week before, just five blocks away, Anthony McMillian, age 36, was shot multiple times and killed, while a Baltimore Police officer witnessed the incident. Despite the on sight occurrence of a capital crime, there were no reports of any effort being made by the officer to apprehend the suspect. Only a vague description of the shooter was given. No arrests have been made. The killer is still on the loose.

Earlier this year, police officers were standing in the same area when they heard gunshots nearby. A man had been shot mere blocks away from where they were.

Despite increased patrols often being touted by officials as a response to the rising violence, there were several other incidents of murder in 2013 where Baltimore Police were in the immediate proximity. On more than one occasion, bystanders or witnesses, rather than dial 911, literally ran up to police to alert them of an incident having just taken place.



War Weary Neighbors

Bystanders try to make sense of murder. Photo by @MolotovFlicker

At one point a young man was engaged in a heated verbal altercation with police that was beginning to turn physical as he wrestled to get closer.

"THAT'S MY BROTHER MAN! THAT'S MY BROTHER!" 

A police Sergeant attempted to restrain the young man, but he continued doing everything he could to get to the ambulance where the shooting victim was being treated.

Gripped by emotions, the young man grappled with police and was desperately trying to enter the crime scene.

As two police officers produced handcuffs, several residents approached the melee.

"Take him away or he's going to jail!" 

Visibly despondent, the young man reluctantly walked away with neighbors.

Police have not released information on a suspect or motive.

The Baltimore Spectator approached a group of older men standing in front a house in an attempt to learn more about the victim, a man sadly said "this is a very bad time."

Justin Fenton of The Baltimore Sun contributed to this report.
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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. He's often boycotted from being given any credit for his work by mainstream media.
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Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel

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