In reading the subject line, rest assured I expect no Christmas cards or holiday well wishes from those whom it negatively touches most. But the point of this article is to once and for all stop dancing around the issues which are plaguing this town.
Crime and deviant criminal activity are continuously escalating all over Harford County. But as residents of Edgewood it is within our interest to handle our own backyard while other towns/municipalities tackle theirs. It will take residents standing up to our local leaders and officials and demanding action rather than reaction, detainment rather than containment, and accountability rather than election survivability. I hope that I have not lost you yet because now the real conversation begins.
During visits to the Edgewood Community Council meetings, attendees were presented with well outlined charts/graphs representing crime in the Edgewood area immediately followed by reasoning as to why it steadily increases. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office participates in “Crime Reports” (www.crimereports.com) which shows reported incidents, broken down by layers, on a GIS-based map. Any resident looking at this for the first time may be initially alarmed, but look closely and you’ll see the very hot spot in which the Sheriff’s Office in our area spends most of its time and our tax dollars. Surprisingly it’s actually behind the precinct itself. In addressing this subject, why is it we the hardworking residents of Edgewood continue to shelter consistent crime in this “zone” as they frame it? The reason is two-fold and is a product of a mentality of “containment” with the Sheriff’s Office command, and outright negligence of local residents in reporting and/or holding officials accountable for actions taken in response to concerns. Keeping all would-be repeat offenders monitored in a square-mile radius not only defeats the purpose of deterrence, but provides a habitat for birds of a feather.
The true victims are not just Edgewood residents as a whole, but those residents who have lived in these neighborhoods are now trapped. These communities, before they were “hot” zones, are byproducts of what local politicians felt was opportunistic ingestion of low income housing years ago. If I just stepped on your big toe, put some ice on it and settle down. The fact is our area is being disproportionately molested by absentee landlords and low rent units. I do not want to generalize and say all low rent units are the culprits of crime. I believe that such programs are needed, in moderation, and with respective oversight. The key word is oversight. Additionally, I firmly believe your environment is not an excuse for poor behavior, personal responsibility and accountability is central upon every man. It’s whether individuals choose to accept it within their own moral compass. That is the key.
The disproportional application of low income housing/rentals in Edgewood was not only catered on a platter by the local housing authority years ago, but served by local leaders, some of whom today boast the need to now tackle the issue as if riding in on a chariot. How is that repeat offenders can continue to occupy subsidized rental units within the county all the while conducting business as usual and terrorizing those around them working hard to succeed. A ride through some of these areas show numerous units in dilapidation, rampant code violations, while receiving vouchers from the housing authority to absently “lease” these units. There are hard working law abiding citizens surrounded by this. Where is the oversight and accountability from local officials to stop this cycle of automatic money to those who blindly provide haven for criminal elements while quaintly living beyond the realm of personal association? Where are the county officials who say “No” to owning outright dumps and steadily collecting tax dollars sifted in subsidized vouchers? Who will say “No” to continued code violations and quality of life infractions which would bolt the door and condemn these establishments in even the most lenient of HOAs? Meanwhile remember you have hardworking neighborhoods and streets smack dab within these zones which have been engulfed. I ask local leaders to please stop “talking the talk” and start “walking the walk”. To all those leaders, YOU are on notice for accountability and will earn your pay because I’m fed up and encouraging those residents who are equally concerned with me to take a stand and grab our community back.
Cameras placed in “zones” are not going to solve the problem. In fact, Baltimore spent years putting up over 450 blue-light cameras only to phase them out due to poor evidence collection. After that money was spent and wasted, the city went to CCTV which is also providing its fair share of problems. Please do not use federal dollars now coming to Harford County to continue to put up these jokes and eyesores in target communities. Conversely let me offer a community oriented solution which I believe requires fewer tax dollars and helps to ensure the services and legislation we need to fit the quality of life deserved by hardworking residents.
Instead of cameras I encourage residents, even if you don’t live in a bad area, to organize neighborhood watches and document and report (not actively respond) to suspected criminal activity going on in your area. Use the two cameras placed on opposite sides of your nose. This means cooperating with the Sheriff’s Office in providing information for crimes and/or areas of concern. Additionally, by documenting and reporting you help to hold accountable your county officials and assisting local law enforcement in doing a job that is already hampered by “I didn’t see anything” behavior. Do not think that because a larger Southern Precinct is erected a half mile down from the current precinct this will reduce crime. You are sadly mistaken in coming to that conclusion. What will reduce crime are residents standing up, with demanded support of local elected officials, assisting law enforcement. In order to start an active neighborhood watch you need to have the participation of at least 50% of your street. Once participation numbers are gathered, you need to contact the community policing unit of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
Residents demanding more of their local officials and taking personal responsibility for their neighborhoods is only half the battle. Responsibility dually falls on local officials stepping up to the plate and sending a clear message to Harford County, as a whole, that Edgewood will no longer be your feeding ground for absentee landlords and low-rent investment properties for those living outside the crime lines. I do not expect members of the Harford County Council to have a vested interest in standing up to this issue due in part because if this area is not in their jurisdiction they have no obligation. They do have an obligation in making sure their communities and constituents are happy. And if that means once in a while peering over the fence and saying “that’s a shame” then so be it. I don’t hold that against them. I hold that against us as a community for not demanding more and not sending a clear message of clean it up or we’ll find new leaders who will.
It is due time for residents to attend meetings of your local leaders and “keep `em honest”. Know exactly what is going on legislatively so you are prepared to confront and/or support issues that affect individuals and families alike. Do not wait until election season to find out what your officials are doing, trust me they will be sure and let you know topped with a “vote for me” button. Make them accountable to you outside of election year and know exactly what is going on in your community. Edgewood needs to wake up and take what rightfully belongs to its hardworking taxpayers back. There will always be opposition when you demand more, and equally as such when you spotlight practices which have destroyed parts of this community over the years. But the consequences of continuing to wait or table these conversations in local government can no longer afford to be ignored by our community.
Fellow residents, if you do not stand up and voice your concerns, officials will easily conclude that all is well and continue to sidestep you as constituents in remaining silent on the issues that we face today. It took years for this problem to build, meanwhile you have not heard or seen any action to rectify it until now. It has grown into a developmental hurdle for this community, surrounding ones alike, and threatens to crumble the very foundation this community was built on. As goes Edgewood and its residents so goes the dynamic of continuing to draw and retain business and development.
Finally the time for playing politics on Route 40 has to stop. This is not a Democratic or Republican led problem. The tendency for local leaders alike to turn council meetings into blame games year in and year out not only takes away from the true intent of Community Council Charter, it alienates residents who come to try and get real solutions to problems without hearing the same song and dance. Edgewood has one of the most populace communities in Harford County and unfortunately someone at some point in time told you that your concerns and demand for action stop at the community council meetings. I am here to tell you they don’t. Your voice does not stop if not addressed within the meetings. If our population reflected our willingness to demand change in this county, the council would have to bolt the doors on the public comment sessions for fear of going into overtime. Attend the Harford Council meetings and have your concerns and possible solutions ready to go during public comments. When voting time comes don’t look at what politicians start doing six months before-hand…what have they done the rest of the time leading up (regardless of party)? The Harford County Council can’t fix what it doesn’t feel is an issue, especially if we remain silent and allow the same issues to recycle themselves in a whirlpool of politics that has continued over the years.
I’ve been a resident of this community for five years as a DOD member and was often frustrated by the lack of participation in community council meetings. I now understand where the frustration comes from but also understand that change comes with work and action that we have to take ourselves. I encourage all residents to please take a charge to get involved and stop the cycle of “go with the flow”. Get involved and get vocal. We deserve better and residents work too hard in this community to allow the status quo and standing waters of inaction continue to destroy this town.
Ron Chapman will appear live on WAMD 970 AM at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday to discuss Edgewood issues with host Maynard Edwards.
Listen in or watch live at http://khztv.com/wamd/ and call in at (410) 306-6270 with your questions or comments.
It is call get baltiomore city trash out of harford county to clean it up.
Get rid of the low-income housing, problem solved!
you’re an idiot
You make it sound so simple. This is not the end all be all solution. So many more factors are involved and there are many nice families stuck in low income areas who have nowhere else to go. They wish they could get out too.
While I respect your opinions, as I stated in the article I do not believe that is the silver bullet. You have to remember that you have retiree’s, seniors, and familiys, not committing crimes, that should not be generalized. What is the issue primarily seems to be a “cruise control” hands off the wheel approach that has built this problem up. Many times unfortunately residents are promised glitter and gold leading up to elections from various candidates, but when that time has come and gone you’d be hard pressed to find any action on these very same issues. Unfortunately it is a game that has been played for quite some time, and great longtime residents have are burnt out on it.
You can’t attract business to the Route 40 areas if you can’t even assure them of decent security for their investments. Until we address this comprehensively it will not change.
“yawn” Don’t u no they will tell u anything to get ur vote
Well stated, Ron. Let’s see if a non-election year, the “do nothings” (i.e. Jansen Robinson, Dion Guthrie, etc) actually do something. My guess, sadly, is not.
You nailed it. The problem is that for the county council (aka friend of developers) there is no incentive to clean up this pocket of crime. With this known pocket they can steer BRAC folks to higher priced areas and build even more developments for them. There certainly seems to be collusion among developers, realtors and the county council to as you said, peer over the fence and shake their heads at those poor folks in the southern part of the county.
“yawn” R U saying there is corruption in Harford County, I just can’t believe anyone would say that…….
The ECC is attended by the same people all the time. A lot of talk about reducing crime and bringing high end businesses to the area but nothing comes of it. Dion Guthrie, Jessie Bane, Nancy Jacobs, and Bob Frisch are the only elected to regularly attend. Recently a lot of talk about trying to incorporate Edgewood. Very much a group run by Democrats. May be why there are not more from the community attending.
Why would any businesses want to locate in Edgewood? There are regular incidences of robberies at businesses in Edgewood; many of which are committed in the middle of the day, broad daylight.
Its because the citizens don’t respect the police, but the police have given the citizens no reason to respect them….”yawn”
Jacobs and Frisch are both Republicans, Bane and Guthrie are Democrats. That’s 2 of each, so how is it mostly Democratic?
Bane and Guthrie are jokes. “yawn”
Well said Ron – maybe the County Council while they are displaced from their chambers could move around the County and hold Council Meetings. The first location could be from the existing Southern Precinct with a tour before the meeting.
A County Council meeting at the current Southern Precinct? Have you ever been inside it before? There’d barely be room for just the council members let along anyone wanting to speak or observe.
That’s not a bad idea to have the council meetings held around the county, but there are much better and more practical locations than the precinct (like one of the schools, Boys & Girls Club, etc.)
Well said Ron – maybe the County Council while they are displaced from their chambers could move around the County and hold Council Meetings. The first location could be from the existing Southern Precinct with a tour before the meeting.
Ron Chapman will appear live on WAMD 970 AM at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday to discuss Edgewood issues with host Maynard Edwards.
Listen in or watch live at http://khztv.com/wamd/ and call in at (410) 306-6270 with your questions or comments.
“yawn” I really start “yawning” when Maynard hits the airwaves……
Incorporate Edgewood. Taxes could be directed how those who live there see fit. Creation of a town code and the subsequent enforcement of such would lend to cleaner, more desirable communities. A town public works department could much better serve the community than simply relying on the county. I really beleive a town police force (with help from the HCSD and MSP) could have a huge, almost immediate impact on some of the biggest problems the town faces.
Of course there are those who will not want to pay more in taxes for this to happen, but if you want a nicer community – time to pony-up.
@Native – Me and Maynard talked about this point today and your exactly in tune with if incorporation is ultimately what the residents want it will come with increased taxes. You can’t have something for nothing and paying for those services would require tax revenue from the community it would serve. I personally would be more than happy to pay my share if it meant cleaning up the streets and fixing the issues, my only concern is if we keep the same song and dance approach in a city hall rather than a council the problems will still persists.
Then get your co-community members to stop harboring criminals.
More taxes, more government…like that works so well in Baltimore City. Go ahead incorporate, the same people will still live there, in fact things would likely get worse.
So let’s just live with the status quo, where the rest of the county subsidises the sub-urban plight, by putting band-aids on bullet holes. If the hard working people of Edgewood want to see real improvement, they must move forward with drastic change. As we all know, no drastic changes will ever come from the HCSD or County Council. It is beyond time for a structured central community force that has its own best interest in mind. Do you really want to continue to see people from Bel Air, Jarrettsville, Fallston, etc. making daily decisions about Edgewood?
I agree with you Native; let’s go with incorporation. Right now Edgewood residents have less power and control over issues affecting the area we live in. We are 24,000 strong; we need to have a platform or Edgewood will remain a dumping ground in every sense of the word.
@Native and Long term – Making Edgewood a municipality will not fix the socioeconomic status of the community, it will make it worse. A another layer of government in a poor community will just make the community poorer and stifle economic development. What businesses that are there will leave with greater taxation resulting in an greater impoverishment for those remaining.
the article spews lots of missinformation and expands on commonly held beliefs that don’t stand the light iof the truth. The “housing authority” as called here, even though there isn’t any such thing in the county, does not have the power to enforce any rental code, because there isn’t one. The county can’t make landlords and homeowners clean up their neighborhoods. In fact, most of those areas are managed by private enterprise, not govt. The only code right now on the books for HC is the Livability Code which has no teeth and can only be used if the tenant reports the landlord. The local HOA’s have derilict in enforcing their own bylaws and some of them are bankrupt because they haven’t enforced dues payments from the homeowners. The local politicians are not responsible for the lack of community involvement from those in the community whom only seek to complain about how bad things are, but are not willing to pony up the extra taxes to police their neighborhoods and open spaces. HCG has had many on going events, meetings and talks with the community council which is no more than a place to vent and demand 24hr surveilance of their neighborhoods while most neighbors will sit by and not report drug deals, prostitution and crime in front of their faces.
Frankly Speaking,
Thanks for the feedback and ts welcome, but there seem to be some contradictions. First, you are absolutely correct that the county’s current livability code is outdated and lacks the “teeth” as you put it. Conversely you are incorrect that if the livability code was updated, which of course has been in talks for far too long, that the only person who could report it is the tenant themselves. I assure you that if you even had a livability code similar to that of Howard County, MD you’d see realize that residents themselves, can report violations as quality of life impacts. If you see code violations in the neighborhood you can report it and with these “teeth” as you speak of the county has to make sure that these violations are addressed or resort to punitive actions.
Secondly, there absolutely is a Harford County Housing Authority http://www.harfordhousing.org/ which has some vested oversight in the counties allocation of rental and subsidized housing metrics based upon codes and previous agreements.
Additionally I agree with you that residents should take to council meetings and voice the concerns, unfortunately I believe that in recent years the Edgewood Community Council tried to be that liaison for concerns. Over the years however it has struggled to be a pipleline for residents to the community council, and rather somewhat a forum for the continuing to table ideas with no real movement. This is due to a number of reasons some of which I mentioned.
Finally I believe the majority of residents are willing to pony up tax dollars if it was decided for incorporation, but Frankly Speaking I ask you to look at the historic video of the last time Edgewood faced incorporation. There were a lot of outside competing interest who felt they knew what was better for our city. Higher taxes being one of them, I agree with a higher tax because that is what you have to do to pay. What I also agree with is if taken on this time around be on the lookout because outside interest again are looking at the bottom line which is approx 24,000 individuals and the revenue to go along with it being taken from the overall coffers. Its a decision that has to be thought out and doesn’t necessarily mean it will fix the issue if the same type of local politics is at play.
Thanks again for that feedback and I see some of your points
Ron-The Harford County Housing Agency has no powers over private subsidized apartments in the county. These units are self governing and report to HUD, not the HCHA as is commonly known. Our rental code as it stands does not allow for neighbors to report and file a complaint regarding rental occupancy standards, only the tenant can do so. The HCHA issues private housing vouchers which then the tenant can use to rent at an approved complex or private household. I can also let you know, that the HCHA has a “blighted” policy in which some areas, homes or communities are barred from using vouchers to rent and criminal background checks are issued on all adult household members. Most of the non-compliance with federal regulations comes from outside of the HCHA jurisdiction such as Quadel vouchers in the county, (you’ll have to google their program), part of the consent decree that Baltimore City/HUD/federal courts to move people out of the city, which of course falls out of the HCHA jurisdiction and ability to supervise. A true enforcement rental code would be one way to bring slum landlords and allow better tenants to occupy rental units, but the main problem with Edgewood remains the lack of community involvement and lack of a self-governing body to police their community.
“…the main problem with Edgewood remains the lack of community involvement and lack of a self-governing body to police their community.”
I agree with this statement.
I agree Native; people can balk at higher taxes all they want, we are still going to pay them anyway. Higher taxes are inevitable. I for one would like to know that while I’m paying them, the funds are coming back to Edgewood and making a difference where I live–giving us a stronger voice and getting better representation.
An unpaid, all volunteer town commission would be a great place to start with incorporation.
Incorporation is a good idea. Bel Air, Aberdeen and Havre de Grace has there’s and Edgewood needs there’s.
These 3 locations have a budget of around $14,000,000 that stays in each of their locations to be spent their. Where it is spent is decided by a Mayor and City Council that lives in those locations and elected by the people in those locations. Can you guess if you had that kind of money to spend in this area what could happen? Instead of sending “all” of our tax dollars to Bel Air and they decided what they are going to give us. Councilman Dion Guthrie and Sheriff Jessi Bane have done an outstanding job in recent years bring Edgewood around. The Edgewood Comunity Council bearly existed before Councilman Guthrie took office and the murder rate was in the 8 to 10 range before Sheriff Bane took Office. They work very well together. Where there is still a lot of work to be done, Edgewood has come a long way is recent years. The key, at this point, is more comunity involvement. They can’t do it all.
Many people who live in Aberdeen, Bel Air and Havre de Grace wish to dissolve their municipalities and turn over functions to Harford County. The extra money you pay to each municipality and what you must continue to pay to the county isn’t worth it.
I strongly disagree with this comment. I recall seeing multiple non-municipality residents an The Dagger expressing a desire to dissolve the local governments, but not the residents of the towns. I have never come across any town residents who desire unincorporation.
While I am a strong proponent of smaller government, the most effective gov’t. is local gov’t. I receive excellent municipal services for my additional tax money, and do not consider it a waste of money. Local (town) governments provide necessary infrastructure and services rather than bloated grants and programs, and I am happy to pay a premium for a local police force, slowplowing, trash service including yard waste and bulk pickup, and community recreation services (parks, events, concerts, etc.). The elected officials live directly in my community and have to answer to their neighbors.
The Edgewood Community Council Meeting is this Wed, 13 July, 7:00pm. Location is the Edgewood Recreation and Community Center at 1980 Brookside Drive, Edgewood MD. It would be great to get a strong community turnout here from around Edgewood so that we can start putting words to action.
I will also be looking to video tape sessions from here on out for podcast upload to the community website. Please bring your concerns and questions. We need more involvement and to have our voices heard.
Thank You
http://www.daggerpress.com/2011/07/11/edgewood-community-council-meeting-edgewood-needs-your-help%e2%80%a6everyone%e2%80%99s-help-to-stem-the-poor-image-and-to-fight-blight-in-our-community/
As someone who has been going to the council meeting for the past few years, I can say that there is a complete lack of community involvement. As for many of the people that show up, most only want to talk, they are not willing to do the work that needs to be done to get Edgewood from point A to B. Until a majority of Edgewood’s residents are willing to stand together and let their voice be heard, we will never get out of the situation we are in. We here in Edgewood hold the key to our future, and until we say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”, we are stuck.
Because the council is a complete joke. One meeting was spent almost entirely on writing a slogan for Edgewood. Like “Edgewood – A Nice Place To Live” or something. Seriously? Jansen Robinson uses that council for one reason only. To advance the agenda of Jansen Robinson. Period.
incorporation biggest benefit – bulk trash and snow removal. beyond that – not so sure if we get too much else in Bel Air. Not to take away from our police, but seems that function could be absorbed by HCSD. Who would pay the extra taxes in Edgewood when there is a high percentage on public assistance. Wouldn’t a few end up paying for many? Last time around Myrick and crew tried to answer this problem by including areas outside edgewood – portions of abingdon and joppa. hornets nest was shaken and incorporation sank – some because of Myrick’s perceived arrogance and a lot because of irate citizens decending on Harford County council then led by Joanne Parrott. Edgewood lost out when APG consolidated, Beth Steel and GM evaporated and door was opened to expand public assisted living concentrated in the area. A lot of problems for an area which could really be a decent place to live – but as long as there is Judy Way area behind the old Giant – and the proximity of old Meadowood and deteriorating Harford Square – it will always be an uphill struggle. My wife always said you make an area too affordable – watch out. I believe it now.
Maybe it’s the things that are not seen that make incorporation worthwhile. When is the last time you saw an open air drug transaction in Bel Air? When is the last time you saw a neighborhood in Bel Air that had trash piled up all over the place for weeks because the community didn’t pay its trash bill? How may armed robberies have there been in Bel Air in the past 5 years (I bet you could count them on one hand, now count the amount of armed robberies in Edgewood for that same time period). How about feeling safe walking to your neighborhood convenience store at 11pm? Etc, etc, etc…
Remember, when looking at the numbers, don’t forget that Edgewood has about twice the population as Bel Air does.
Okay, than double the crime stats from Bel Air, or cut the stats in half for Edgewood. I bet you would still see a huge difference.
You’re comparing apples and oranges and making a bad fruit salad. Bel Air is an incorporated town, and Edgewood is a census-designated place (CDP) as identified by the United States Census Bureau. There is no reason to believe that the entire Edgewood CDP would be included in an incorporated Edgewood.
To be a fair comparison of area and population, you must include the Bel Air CDPs in the total. Here is the info:
Edgewood CDP: 18 sq. miles, pop. 23,000
Town of Bel Air: 2.8 sq. miles, pop. 10,000
Bel Air North CDP: 16 sq. miles, pop. 26,000
Bel Air South CDP: 15.7 sq. miles, pop. 40,000
So, it looks to me like the Bel Air area has about 3.3 times the population of the Edgewood area.
A people without a vision perish. You need to give a beautiful and comprehensive vision of what you want Edgewood to
become. Then you must create the vision, brand it’s identity and develop a happening to show you mean it to the town.
Awesome statement– I feel this way about every troubled area.
“yawn”