BALTIMORE - April 23 ACORN organized a bus tour of the neighborhood of Waverly. At about 5:30pm, the bus with 30 activists and residents, largely African American, left 38th Street and Old York Road heading south on Greenmount Avenue. State Legislator Michael Dobson was present as was an aid of Councilwoman Lisa Stancil. However, Mayor O'Malley, the Baltimore City Council, and other state Legislators representing Baltimore City were also invited, but absent.

ACORN activist and long-time Waverly resident Lynnette Gibbs said that even in the 1970s and 1980s under Mayor William Donald Schaffer the area was never "as bad as today." As we road east on Homestead Street, organizer Abby Kirsch pointed to the presence of a community garden as evidence of an active community. Yet, she said that residents complain that there are not enough stop signs for the protection of young children, many of whom we observed as the large yellow school bus drove down the narrow road.

We turned north on Hartford Road, then west on Gorsuch Avenue where we passed 1745, the lot from which ACORN members and other activists moved bulk trash onto Hartford Road on February 23 blocking traffic. While ACORN members heard the Department of Public Works say it was the Housing Authority's problem, and vice versa, the City did eventually send trucks out to the neighborhood for some clean-up work.
(IndyMedia coverage see baltimore.indymedia.org/feature/display/626/index.php )

When we got to the 1600th block of Gorsuch, Spring Frederick, who has lived in this block for five years even as the neighborhood got worse, pointed to the many vacant row houses. She said that there is a problem with termites in the area, but that the problem "can't be solved because [technicians] can't get into the vacant houses." (IndyMedia counted 21 boarded up houses in the 1600 and 1700 blocks of Gorsuch Avenue. In addition, a few houses have sale signs and 1749 is an abandoned Baltimore City fire station.)

At 1520 Carswell Road, Rosalyn DeShields said she purchased this house through an affordable housing program. She has been paying a mortgage, but finds herself in the situation of having to deal with squatters in the abandoned house next door.

We drove west on Gorsuch where Abby Kirsch pointed out that there has been a need in the Waverly neighborhood for a grocery store since SuperFresh closed down. Now Giant proposes to build a store, but wants to destroy the houses in the 600th block on the north side and replace them with a parking lot.

At 3336 Old York Road, Del Brooks pointed out that this house has been boarded up for three years. Crime, she said, is a problem in the area which needs brighter lights. At 35th and Old York, she pointed to the only playground for children in the area. Nearby, in a lot with high grass, Kirsch noted that a woman was raped at 3pm, and another woman was stabbed. After these events, the City gave the neighborhood a foot-patrol officer for only three months.

As we drove south on Greenmount a second time, Lynette Gibbs pointed to the community to the west, part of Charles Village, which is walled off and gets special attention from the City. This special attention, some ACORN members suggested, is a consequence of prejudice.

The bus turned onto 30th Street and stopped in front of the Snapple Beverage bottler. Here we did a tour of the alley behind the 2900 block of Greenmount Avenue (west side). Ms Gibbs, who owns property at 2942 Greenmount, described the problems related to the alley--trash, rats, and prostitution.

ACORN activists asked state legislator Michael Dobson what he can do to help. Dobson said "The City definitely needs to be more vigilant. These are city issues--housing, cleaning. The State provides funds."

ACORN activists raised the issue of predatory lending (the practice when a financial institution gives a house mortage to an individual whose resources are inadequate over the long-term) and flipping (the practice when a real estate buyer purchases a house at low price, then sells it to an individual at a much higher price). Dobson said that the State has passed an effective law against flipping. However, the predatory lending legislation "is not exactly where we want it to be." The legislation, according to Dobson, does require "clearer English" in loan applications and enables "credit counseling." (Note: ACORN had lobbied against House Bill 649 which prevents local government from legislating regulations on predatory lending).

In response to activists' questions as to why he does not consider the legislation perfect, Dobson noted that the state delegation from Baltimore City is only 26, but that there are 141 legislators, and that only 6 of the 47 state senators are from the City. Dobson said that the legislature's work is incremental. Dobson agreed that "we have some serious problems in the City" but that "it didn't start with O'Malley." Dobson gave his number (410-841-3521).

At this point, Reggie Scriber, assistant to Baltimore City Housing Commissioner Graziano, appeared apologizing for his lateness. Ms Gibbs, and other local residents, took Scriber on a tour of the alley. Gibbs also showed Scriber a letter from Mayor O'Malley, dated March 13, 2002, in which the Mayor responds "While I empathize with you, I need more information."

Scriber pledged to get the alley cleaned before the week was over. He also said he would come out with a map to determine if the alley, which is blocked by a gate and covered with accumulated dirt, legally extends all the way to 29th Street (the boundaries of the alley determine what is a direct city issue). Scriber also pledged to make a personal visit to the house of Spring Frederick in east Waverly. He also left his number (410-396-1977).

Close to 7pm, we boarded the bus and drove east to Hartford Road where the bus then headed north. Soon we were at the 4300 block of Walther Avenue, the neighborhood in which Mayor Martin O'Malley lives. On the way up Walther, organizer Kirsch noted out that the City must do a good job keeping this neighborhood clean.

A young ACORN member, followed by Indymedia video-reporters, went up to the Mayor's door to knock. But the police officer assigned to the O'Malley residence said that to knock on the Mayor's door is trespassing. Within a brief time, three squad cars arrived, but ACORN activists got back on the bus and drove back to west Waverly.

The prompt appearance of the police had symbolic value which connected to a point made by ACORN member Rose Taylor during the tour of Waverly. Taylor, who is retired, noted that "O'Malley emphasizes the police while supporting predatory lenders like CitiFinancial and Household Financial." Rose Taylor, along with other ACORN activists, is "determined to deal with this horrendous situation."