Volume 117 No. 36
www.afro.com
March 7, 2009 - March 13, 2009, The Baltimore Afro-American
75 CENTS
B5
APRIL 18, 2009 - APRIL 24, 2009
Baseball Celebrates Jackie Robinson B5 Easter Sunday in Baltimore B1
Nations in Obamas Host First White House Easter Egg Roll
New Life
Africa,
For Bon
Americas
Secours
Bear Brunt
By Sean Yoes
Of Crisis
AFRO Staff Writer
During the final days of
By Zenitha Prince
its 2009 legislative session,
Washington Bureau Chief
the Maryland General
Assembly tossed a life-line
People of color in
to an ailing West Baltimore
developing nations in Africa,
hospital.
the Caribbean and Latin
Bon Secours Baltimore
America will be severely
Health System—whose
impacted by the global
ongoing financial struggles
AP Phot
financial crisis though they
have been exacerbated by the
had nothing to do with its
recent economic downturn—
o
origination, experts, advocates
was on the brink of closing.
and officials say.
But a $5 million allocation
“This crisis was caused
from the state’s 2009 budget
by the irrational behavior
has infused the venerable
of White people with blue
West Baltimore hospital with
eyes, who before the crisis
hope.
appeared to know everything
“I got final confirmation
and now demonstrate that
from Sen. (Verna) Jones on
they know nothing,” said President Barack Obama leans over to talk
Saturday,” said Bon Secours
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio
to his daughters Malia, center, and Sasha
CEO Dr. Samuel Ross.
Lula da Silva in a joint press
“The fact that they had
at the start of the White House Easter Egg
conference with Britain’s
the confidence to support
Prime Minister Gordon
Roll on the South Lawn of the White House
the development of our
Brown late last month.
in Washington on April 13. vision for how we wanted to
He added: “I do not know (For story visit www.afro.com)
continue to improve care in
Continued on A5
West Baltimore, I see as a
critical turning point for how
INSERT
we move forward.”
Sen. Jones, who
• Best Buy represents the 44
th
legislative
Continued on A5
Listen to “First Edition”
Baltimore News&Notes
Firing of Police
Internal Affairs Officer
Join host Sean Yoes
Sunday at 8 p.m.on public
Dixon’s Plans for PAL Centers Face Opposition Raises Questions
radio WEAA, the voice of
the community.
By Alan King
By Sean Yoes She could not be reached for
during other times of the day.
AFRO Staff Writer
AFRO Staff Writer comment.
In addition to impacting recreation
Robert Cherry, president
centers, the administration’s efficiency
The tumult that has of the Fraternal Order of
In response to some of Mayor Dixon’s plans also call for the closing of three walk-
plagued the Internal Affairs Police, said he believes
budget proposals, which call for a massive to pools and a reduction by one week of
Division of the Baltimore City Branche’s firing is connected
restructuring in the management and the swim season at all pools. Additionally,
Police Department for years to misconduct in handling
operation of city recreation facilities and budget reductions would close on Mondays
continued this week with the agency documents.
a reduction in library hours, community or Fridays all Pratt library branches, except
firing of JoAnn Woodson- “The FOP is interested
activists and concerned residents are planning Central and the Southeast Anchor Library.
Branche, the police official in at this time in making sure
to rally next week against the mayor’s plans. “Baltimore, like all cities, is suffering the
charge of conducting internal all members who have been
“I am extremely upset with the unnerving effects of the global economic crisis,” Dixon
disciplinary proceedings. charged administratively
news released by Mayor Dixon’s proposal for said in a statement when the budget was
“I think that this is a by the Police Department
the upcoming Baltimore City budget,” writes released last month. “I challenged my team
good opportunity to revamp have not had their cases
Leticia Fitts, program director and academic to make city government more innovative,
that whole department and compromised by the
affairs coordinator for a program called effective and efficient.”
deal with those weaknesses allegations of misconduct
Noble Enrichment for Children and Youth, Fitts and other community activists have
and strengthen that effort,” concerning Ms. Woodson-
which helps bridge the gap between urban responded to Dixon’s plan by circulating
said Baltimore Mayor Branche,” Cherry said in an
youths and community resources. an electronic petition against what they
Sheila Dixon following e-mail.
Fitts is particularly upset [See Opinion call the mayor’s “proposed budget cuts of
afro.com
a press conference about He wants Police
A8] about Dixon’s fiscal 2010 budget interventions and prevention program” for
cardiovascular health on April Commissioner Frederick
proposal to convert 14 of 18 Police Athletic city youths.
15. Bealefeld III to dismiss all
League (PAL) centers into recreation centers Working in partnership with the Robert
“I think that everyone disciplinary action against
Your History • Your Community • Your News
and the closing of three “underutilized” C. Marshall PAL Center and several
from the commissioner officers since Branche took
recreation centers. The Dixon administration communities served by PAL centers, NECY
on down wants to see that over the trial board office,
plan also calls for reducing hours is organizing a rally on Monday at 6 p.m. at
happen.” arguing those investigations
at eight other recreation City Hall.
Baltimore Police policy have been compromised.
centers to focus on Said Fitts: “I am requesting, not only the
prohibits discussing personnel “The FOP is requesting a
after-school PAL centers remain as an integral part of
matters, but police spokesman review of those cases and in
activities; the our communities, but [also be] given proper
Anthony Guglielmi did the event Ms. Branche signed
administration funding and support necessary to thrive as
confirm that Woodson- off on those cases. that those
says the PAL centers nationwide.”
Branche, an African- cases in turn be dismissed,”
centers are used
infrequently
More News&Notes on A10
American woman who was Cherry said.
s
raised in Columbia, was fired. However, Guglielmi
said cases connected to
OPINION
Woodson-Branche would
Sportsman’s Lounge
not be compromised because
INSIDE
It’s a Bo!
she “was not involved with
Don’t Close
OPINION
Petitions for License
investigations.”
A2
PAL Centers
A10
Renewal
A6
“We think that it may be
premature for the PIO to say
Continued on A6
Copyright © 2009 by the Afro-American Company
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20