Witness, jury intimidation shows need for reform
The paper's Page One story concerning an act of witness intimidation ("Courtroom threat shakes witness, jury," May 5) should be of concern to every citizen in the United States. It is obvious in the area of criminal law we are faced with 21st century crimes but practicing 19th and 20th century criminal law practice and procedures. This must change!
The governor or legislature should convene a committee to review conditions as they exist today and what can be done to improve, if not correct, what we are experiencing. This committee should be representative of the community and should consist of legal scholars, prosecutors, civil libertarians and others. It would meet, review conditions as they exist today and recommend laws to the General Assembly for enactment.
Certainly, a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, judged by a jury of one's peers unfettered by outside pressures and influences. However, we cannot continue to live in the atmosphere existing today. The various civil rights laws enacted in the '60s and later showed laws as we knew them could be changed, and we have to do it again.
Richard L. Lelonek, Baltimore
Build new housing, not Red Line
Robert Keith makes some very good points about rethinking and pulling back on plans for the Red Line ("Rethink flawed Red Line proposal," May 5).
Allow me to look at the situation a little differently. The objective of any of the rail transit proposals is to get cars off congested highways. The usual thought is to build a rail transit system that will take people from where they live to where they work.
All well and good - but very expensive unless there would be a dramatic infusion of multiple billions, perhaps hundreds of billions of dollars, to build a comprehensive underground system such as New York City's. The impact of smaller efforts has been minimal in the past.
I suggest turning the equation upside down and putting people where the work is and where the transit system is by stimulating the building of housing in the city.
It would cost much less. It would improve air pollution. It would, by increasing the supply of housing, make housing more affordable (paticularly for our police, firefighters and teachers). And it would create cost-effective incentives to build more public transit because there would be more people near transit hubs.
Mel Mintz, Pikesville
Derby winner right to pause
I was highly annoyed by your editorial "Chopped livery" (May 5). The owners of Mine That Bird showed great compassion in pausing to consider whether entry into the Preakness was right for their horse.
It's time for The Baltimore Sun, not to mention the Maryland government, to come to their senses and let this anachronistic sport die quietly.
Roy Birk, Glen Burnie
