UMMS will emerge stronger from its board problems
Frank Kelly is a man of faith, family and community. As a director of Shock Trauma and the University of Maryland Medical System (“UMMS is not subject to Maryland public transparency laws, and state leaders aren’t pushing to change that,” Apr. 7), during the 1990’s, I saw his tireless commitment to community firsthand.
No one has done more to advance the mission of the medical system than Frank Kelly. Frank and Janet Kelly, and their family, are uncompromising and enthusiastic people of goodwill. They do extraordinary things every day to improve the quality of life in our region.
The University of Maryland Medical System and Mr. Kelly will emerge from this current crisis stronger and even more committed to work for the public good.
Hogan right to question order limiting state energy projects
Governor Larry Hogan is right to call out President Donald Trump’s effort to curtail the authority of states to object to projects that will impair the quality of their waters (“Trump signs orders making it harder for states to block energy projects; Hogan warns of threat to Chesapeake,” Apr. 10). The sole purpose of the president’s actions is to allow the oil and gas industry to run roughshod over states’ abilities to protect rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands. This comes as the EPA is planning to eliminate Clean Water Act jurisdiction over millions of acres of wetlands and thousands of miles of streams to “preserve ... the traditional sovereignty of states over their ... water resources.”
The president’s decision is the height of hypocrisy and a disastrous idea.
A loss on solitary confinement
I appreciate the editorial reviewing the work of the Maryland General Assembly (“General Assembly 2019: The pretty good, but… session,” April 9). I was disappointed that you did not comment at all on criminal justice legislation. The fact of the matter is that little criminal justice reform legislation was passed. What was passed was severely revised.
The Baltimore Sun has been a strong advocate to end the abuse of prolonged isolation (solitary confinement or restrictive housing) in state prisons. The legislature failed to pass bills that would have limited the abuse of solitary. One bill would have put a limit on the number of consecutive days in solitary for people with serious mental illness. The other bill would have ended the direct release to the community of incarcerated people from solitary.
In Maryland prisons, people with serious mental illness languish in solitary confinement. Each year, anywhere from 250 to 275 incarcerated people are released directly to the community from solitary. One bill never made it out of the House. The direct release bill was held up at the last minute in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. It is time for Marylanders to realize that solitary confinement undermines the safety and security of prisons as well as public safety.
Philanthropists should tackle racial justice
A recent commentary in The Baltimore Sun delved into the many ways that the institutions of American society discriminate against African Americans (“The case for reparations is clear; the means are not,” April 7). From slavery to redlining in housing to the War on Drugs to health disparities, America’s history has long been marred by inflicting harm and denying opportunities to black Americans. All of us, including those in the philanthropy sector, must examine the ways in which we have and continue to contribute to these problems and work implement equitable solutions.
The philanthropy sector likes to think of itself as the “good guys,” but our hands are far from clean when it comes to perpetuating systemic racism, consciously or not. Many philanthropies have a history of giving to institutions and organizations that have embedded racial inequality into the fabric of our social structure. It is long past time for us to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion training, to change our own giving practices and view our role in society differently. Increasing willingness to have these tough conversations is helping things begin to change, but we have a long way to go.
Philanthropy can be a critical player in solving all sorts of problems in our society. Eliminating systemic racism and our own role in contributing to its pervasiveness needs to be one of them. We must take a hard look at the ways in which we redistribute wealth and embrace equity in everything. Many of us talk the talk of racial justice. We have to walk the walk, too.
Nikki Highsmith Vernick, Columbia The writer is president and CEO of the Horizon Foundation and a board member of the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers.