Sunny, with highs in the upper 70s today. Low 80s and sun tomorrow. Ahhhh.
Here’s your weekend catch-up:
Thanks, but no thanks. On Friday, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake decided that she won’t run for re-election, causing a flood of reactions from city officials, residents, and the growing field of candidates hoping to replace her.
One question worth asking: Will Rawlings-Blake be able to get anything done in her last 15 months in office? While taking herself out of contention, SRB may be able to dodge having every move viewed through the lens of the election, but she may find it tough to win support for new initiatives or prevent cabinet members from jumping ship.
So, about that election. Experts say get ready for a free-for-all. Over the weekend, former mayor (and now presumed front-runner) Sheila Dixon officially launched her campaign at an event in Pigtown. With the field getting crowded, it’s likely that several potential candidates still weighing a bid (Del. Jill Carter, council members Nick Mosby and Brandon Scott, author Wes Moore) will make their intentions known very soon.
In other 2016 buzz, pastor Jamal Bryant announced this morning his plan to run for Congress. Bryant will seek Elijah Cummings’ spot in the 7th District. Bryant is the leader of the Empowerment Temple, known in recent months for its post-Freddie Gray activism and opening a youth center near Sandtown-Winchester.
After the quietest week in months, at least five people were killed and even more were wounded, including a 9-year-old girl in weekend shootings. On Friday night, 23-year-old Romel Simms was shot and killed near Leakin Park. Moments later, 45-year-old Kirk Butler was killed in Barclay in a shooting that also grazed a 9-year-old girl. Also on Friday night, 26-year-old Thomas Meehan was killed in southeast Baltimore, near Dundalk. On Saturday, an unidentified man was killed on Vine Street in West Baltimore, near the scene of several other recent shootings. On Sunday, 34-year-old Troy Mitter was shot to death in a a double shooting on a gas station lot on Harford Road near Clifton Park.
It’s going to be a long season. In their opener, the Ravens didn’t just lose 19-13 to the Broncos, they also lost outside linebacker Terrell Suggs for the season, due to a torn achilles.