Council Chambers

A capacity crowd of Baltimore residents filled the balcony of City Council chambers yesterday to protest a proposed $2.9 million cut for the parks and recreation department.Over three years, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke has cut $15 million from the department's budget, resulting in the closing of 18 recreation centers. At the same time, the city has started 27 Police Athletic League centers.Douglas B. Brady Jr., who retired three years ago after working 34 years for parks and recreation, complained that the PAL centers serve only those age 7 to 15. The proposed recreation cuts will affect senior citizens and tiny tots, Brady said.

THE COMMUNITY Clothing Store will hold several major sales in coming weeks before closing several days for repairs in March.The store is on Gill Avenue, next to St. John's United Methodist Church. It is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.The store will hold a 25 percent off sale this week followed by a 50 percent off sale next week. A bag sale will be held March 9, 11, and 13.The store will be closed for repairs March 15-19 and will reopen March 20.The Community Clothing Store collects usable clothing and household items and resells them at yard sale prices.

The City Council had an unusually active agenda yesterday -- approving a Northeast Baltimore rock crushing operation, receiving a lawsuit from a city activist and introducing legislation to borrow $41 million.Council President Lawrence A. Bell III cast a critical vote to approve the rock crushing operation proposed by Phipps Construction Contractors Inc. at 4300 Shannon Drive.Residents of the Frankford, Belair-Edison, Parkside, Claremont, Armistead Gardens and 4 X 4 neighborhoods fought the proposal, fearing increased noise, truck traffic, air pollution and potential runoff into Herring Run.Randy Phipps purchased the 23-acre site three years ago after being awarded a city contract to demolish vacant and abandoned houses.

Demonstrators protesting the police shooting of an East Baltimore man disrupted the City Council meeting last night, demanding that the legislators address the issue.About 12 protesters, who started the evening marching outside City Hall with signs stating "Stop Police Brutality," poured into Council Chambers and shouted over City Council President Lawrence A. Bell III as the 19-member panel was about to conclude its meeting."We really feel we need to address the issue," demonstrator Sharon Ceci yelled at Bell.

LAST WEEK Anne Arundel County Executive John G. Gary, long embroiled in disputes with the local school board, walked down to the County Council chambers -- past the protesting parents, past the pleading fifth-graders guaranteed to tug at council members' heartstrings -- and agreed to ante up nearly $6 million more in education funding.Mr. Gary is not always the most politically astute of politicians, but this time he knew when to say when. The school board says $14 million in new operating money isn't enough, and has since cut programs that directly affect students.

Baltimore City Council members, returning from summer recess, reacted angrily to a recent report from a former colleague, who criticized the lawmakers for failing to understand the municipal budget.Former council Vice President Vera P. Hall made the comments in a yearly review of the council that she issued to Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke in July.Hall, who served as Schmoke's council liaison for the past two years, also pointed out that certain council districts support the mayor while others consistently oppose him. The supporting districts contain mostly black members while opponents are mostly white.

DeGrange says he wouldn't act unethicallyI would like to clarify statements that were attributed to me in recent newspaper articles about my announcement to run for the District 32 Senate seat. I am quite concerned that the incomplete paraphrasing of my thoughts regarding my building business, and the resulting Republican hype, may have inadvertently left readers with an inaccurate perception.Had I been quoted directly, the quote would have said, "If I wanted to buy property and submit plans for a subdivision, I didn't feel like I could do that while serving on the council."

A coalition of some of Ellicott City's largest civic associations, a local church and an anti-pornography group is organizing a rally to push for stronger restrictions against adult entertainment businesses than those in a bill the Howard County Council will consider tonight.The Howard County Alliance to Maintain Community Values -- the group coordinating the demonstration at 7 p.m. in front of County Council chambers -- asserts that the proposed legislation would be the weakest in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

A coalition of some of Ellicott City's largest civic associations, a local church and an anti-pornography group is organizing a rally to push for stronger restrictions against adult entertainment businesses than those in a bill the Howard County Council will consider tonight.The Howard County Alliance to Maintain Community Values -- the group coordinating the demonstration at 7 p.m. in front of County Council chambers -- asserts that the proposed legislation would be the weakest in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

Anyone looking for Monday night entertainment should forgo forego watching television or cruising the Internet and head down to the City Council chambers -- which could also be known as the Bastion of Biliousness.This past Monday Feb. 26as they voted to confirm housing Commissioner Daniel P. Henson III, some council members outdid themselves by turning in exhilarating performances. They traded insults. They chastised each other. Some called down divine retribution on council President Lawrence A. Bell III for the way he opened the meeting.

There will be a march from a Towson church to the Baltimore County Council chambers Monday night to shed light on the plight of the county's growing homeless population. About 150 marchers, including residents of the county's shelters, are expected to participate in the sixth annual Rally for the Homeless, organizers say. "The county needs permanent affordable housing and resources to assist the homeless and those who might become homeless," said Diane Chotikul, chairwoman of Baltimore County Communities for the Homeless.

A dispute over land use among neighbors in Long Green Valley has prompted the Baltimore County Council to draft legislation to permit creameries to operate in agricultural zones. The measure, recommended by the county Planning Board and set for introduction April 20, may settle the debate, waged in court and before the council, between land preservationists who say the law would open the door to factory operations in their midst, and farmers who insist that they must diversity to stay in business.

News that the state prosecutor's office was searching Mayor Sheila Dixon's house gave City Hall a case of emotional whiplash yesterday. Less than 12 hours before, the mayor and members of the City Council had retired to Little Italy for a celebratory dinner at Da Mimmo to toast the passage of the mayor's first budget. "We were all so happy to have worked the budget out," said Councilwoman Rochelle "Rikki" Spector, who called the atmosphere at the Italian restaurant "totally copacetic."

City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake, a longtime council member, airs the first television ad of her campaign starting Monday. The ad is introductory, focusing on her family, background and goals. This is the second television ad in the four-way Democratic primary. The 30-second spot will be aired on all four major network local affiliates through the Sept. 11 Democratic primary, according to the campaign. What the ad says: The ad begins with 1970s footage of Baltimore and childhood photos of Rawlings-Blake, including one with her father, the late Del. Howard P. Rawlings.

TOMORROW City Council -- The Annapolis City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. in its chambers at 160 Duke of Gloucester St. to discuss items including raises for the mayor and aldermen, the conveyance of Mariner's Cove condominiums, parking fines and expired meters, and grant distribution for the housing authority. 410-263-7954. Ethics Commission -- The county Ethics Commission will meet at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers, 160 Duke of Gloucester St. 410-222-4412 TUESDAY Preservation commission -- The Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. in City Council chambers, 160 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis.

TOMORROW Aberdeen City Council -- will meet at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 60 N. Parke St. 410-272-1600. Harford County Zoning Hearing Examiners -- will hold public hearings at 6:30 p.m. in the County Council Chambers, 212 S. Bond St., Bel Air. Case information: 410-638-3349. TUESDAY Bel Air Board of Commissioners -- will hold a work session at 4:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 39 Hickory Ave. 410-638-4550. Harford County Council -- will meet in legislative session at 8 p.m. at 212 S. Bond St., Bel Air. Zoning Appeal Case No. 5533 (Hasselbarth)

TODAY BALTIMORE COUNTY COUNCIL -- The Baltimore County Council will meet in a legislative session at 4 p.m. in council chambers on the second floor at the County Courthouse, 400 Washington Ave., Towson. A vote is scheduled on funding to encourage redevelopment in Pikesville. 410-887-3196. TOMORROW ELECTION DAY -- Polls in Maryland will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the general election. The state Board of Elections Web site is www.elections.state.md.us. WEDNESDAY GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH -- Howard County Genealogical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. to discuss "Computer Software for Research and Recordkeeping."

In the strongest words she has used on the issue, Baltimore City Council President Sheila Dixon said yesterday she could support a local ban on smoking in restaurants and bars -- staking out a position that might become significant if she becomes mayor next year. Dixon, a longtime advocate on health issues, stopped short of vowing to vote for a ban. But she said that she does not believe smoking prohibitions affect the economy -- a chief claim made by opponents -- and suggested legislation could be crafted to appease the diametrically opposed advocates on both sides of the issue.

When he first ran for office, Kweisi Mfume took a page out of what he calls the Muhammad Ali handbook of psychological warfare. The former gang member, a newcomer to politics who had gained some celebrity as a local talk radio host, strode into the council chambers at City Hall and sat himself down in the chair normally occupied by the council member he was trying to unseat. As Mfume describes the scene in his autobiography, council members, citizens and reporters were gathering for the afternoon meeting when he made his announcement: "I'm here," he said.

With the Annapolis city council chambers temporarily closed due to a chunk of plaster molding falling from the ceiling, a new committee will look at ways to restore the historic character of City Hall. On Monday night, the council voted to formally establish a historical preservation committee that will explore options for improving the brick, post-Civil War structure. The city will apply for grant money from the Maryland Historical Trust and Preservation Maryland to commission a historical structure report and make any necessary improvements.