Drug Free Zones

The city of Annapolis says the American Civil Liberties Union is misinterpreting its anti-loitering law and has called the group's lawsuit challenging the statute in federal court "meritless." In a response filed Friday, the city argues that the law is constitutional and that enforcement hinges on the intent of an individual to engage in a drug transaction, not on "innocent" activities. "The law makes it illegal to loiter in a drug zone for the purpose of selling or buying drugs," said City Attorney Paul G. Goetzke.

The Annapolis city council might have violated state law when members discussed the city's anti-loitering law in a closed session in June, according to a complaint filed yesterday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland. The ACLU, which is challenging in U.S. District Court the law allowing the establishment of drug-loitering-free zones, filed the complaint with the Maryland Open Meetings Law Compliance Board on behalf of a city resident after reviewing a transcript of the council's June 6 regular meeting, an ACLU official said.

The upcoming week is a crucial one for Carroll state legislators campaigning for more stringent environmental protections.Hearings will take place beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the HouseEnvironmental Matters Committee on bills introduced by Carroll delegates concerning sewage sludge storage, the impacts of mining and recycling.Delegate Lawrence A. LaMotte, D-Carroll, Baltimore, will testify Wednesday on his bill that would require individuals to obtain a permit from the Department of the Environment before installing, alteringor expanding a recycling facility.

During the first mayoral candidates forum last night, Gene Michaels studied campaign literature like a horse player combing through a racing program. Like many of the 150 people who crammed First English Lutheran Church at 39th and Charles streets in North Baltimore for the event sponsored by the New Democratic Club, the 63-year-old Canton engineering illustrator and former teacher hasn't decided which of the seven Democrats he'll support. "It's too early for that," Michaels said.

ALDERMAN Herbert McMillan says his anti-loitering bill in the Annapolis City Council has taken an unfair pounding in the media, including in this column. Mr. McMillan has stood squarely behind his proposal in spite of a Supreme Court ruling this year that banned a similar measure in Chicago; in spite of concerns from African-Americans that it gives police too much power, and in spite of silence by those who supposedly support it. He has amended the bill to limit its reach to areas that want drug-free zones, but opponents feel it would give police carte blanche to arrest innocent young black men along with the bad guys in public housing developments.

In an effort to disrupt drug dealing outside of corner convenience stores operating in residential neighborhoods, a Baltimore councilwoman is pushing for legislation that would give police the authority to temporarily close such businesses. If Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke's bill is approved, Baltimore police would be armed with a power once enacted during some of the city's worst years of drug violence in the early 1990s. While some council members express concern about punishing business owners for activities of people congregating outside their stores, most side with Clarke and community leaders who say temporary curfews might stem the foot traffic fueling the drug trade in many neighborhoods.

Although his proposed curfew appears headed for defeat, Annapolis Mayor Alfred A. Hopkins plans to push the bill to a final vote before the City Council tonight."

Gunfire from semiautomatic weapons sprayed a crowded West Baltimore street corner yesterday, killing two men and wounding two others as people screamed and ran for cover.Police said there were two gunmen with semiautomatic weapons who fired at least 40 shots in a matter of seconds. Bullets hit two parked cars and passed through windows into a store and at least three nearby row houses. None of the occupants was hurt."From the area where it was and the fact there was such massive gunfire, it's looking like some kind of drug dispute," said Dennis S. Hill, a police spokesman.

It must have come as a great comfort to the citizens of Baltimore that President Bush wishes to fight crime in America by imposing the death penalty for treason and espionage.It must be a great solace to those for whom a trip to the supermarket can be a life-or-death proposition that our president wishes to fight crime by restricting the appeals of death row inmates.George Bush's new crime bill, which he wants Congress to pass in the next 100 days as a test of his postwar popularity, also contains all sorts of "crime-fighting" techniques like changing the rules of evidence and making it easy to deport aliens.