'Tax Broke' Baltimore's Dirty Secret | Rattling the Bars

Just an FYI, Randy Newman wrote the song, "Baltimore" sung by Nina Simone.

Same way in Anchorage. Every year the buildings get bigger and the actual economy gets worse. Crime is unbelievable. I do find it ironic these same companies like Walmart who gutted out the local economy now suffer from massive amounts of theft as the amount of destitute and addicted has created an unseen expense.

Mansa Musa, well done... I look forward to the documentary... keep up the great work and thank you for being so active and caring about Baltimore. 👍🏽💌✌🏽

It is the eternal struggle between two principles, right and wrong, throughout the world. It is the same spirit that says 'you toil and work and earn bread, and I'll eat it.' No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation, and live by the fruit of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, it is the same tyrannical principle. -- Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln–Douglas debates, October 15, 1858)

How can i watch this documentary online? I don’t live in Baltimore (or even US)

Good Lord... Served 48 years

Great discussion as usual from RNW. Honest analysis from Mr. Janis in his interrogation of Building Developers. Speaking from Toronto, Canada, we likewise struggle with an increasing homeless crisis, unaffordable housing, and Conservative Provincial and City governments who seem hell-bent on putting more Tax Dollars into the hands of already wealthy developers, falsely claiming this going to help alleviate the housing shortage problems, create jobs, etc. We see a lot of "Luxury" condos going up rather than Affordable / Public Housing. I would like to add that Baltimore's biggest problem remains its ongoing struggle(s) with systemic Racism. Sorry, but I must say it. Like Buffalo and Detroit, once that ability to legally segregate neighbours ended, it appears all these cities went Bust and fell into decay. The dominant group was determined that their Tax dollars would never support any Black initiatives or progress, economically or residentially. Instead, tax dollars would be funneled to the Police Services.

Outstanding interview. I'm looking forward to watching the documentary. The American neo-liberal system (inverted socialism) is wholly unsustainable. Its collapse will be swift and terrible.

Nobody wants to keep putting money into these surrounding neighborhoods and they don't stay kept up

Corruption is rampant. Everybody wants a piece of the pie.

Great discussion! I would love to answer many questions as the city’s investor and on the behalf of developers.

Keep up the good work 👏 🙌

Well said!

When is the documentary available? Ge some Press and start some Discussion groups!

As soon as i seen Jayne Miller … i knew this was the real deal … Jayne don’t mess around … if you’re a lifetime Baltimorean (not a Canton , Fed Hill, Lower Fells, Locus Point, Hampden or JHU transplant or gentrifier) you know she has been doing stuff like this since the late 80s for Channel 11 here in Bmore

Is the actual documentary available anywhere yet?

How can I get a copy or stream the actual documentary?

Lying and stealing are the two things capitalism does best. Americans have lost sight sight of or been blinded to, the plain facts that are right in front of them. Commercial development does not benefit the community at large and never has. Even the jobs it creates in the literal building are temporary, while the long term revenues generated are horded at best and most commonly completely removed from the local economy. Every public property given over or sold to private enterprise is a dead loss to the public. Every sports stadium funded and built with taxpayer money is a transfer of public wealth into private hands, and publicly funded commercial spaces are no different. This system forces communities from to states to municipalities into a race to the bottom where even the eventual "winners" inevitably lose.

I tried to follow along as best as I could, but this is just great to me. TIFS? Bonds? But for? Credits? Debt service, enterprise owned tax credit, PILOT? So what exactly is going on here and what is this “dirty secret“?

Logan County Oklahoma used a TIF to get a much needed public sewer line under I-35 & Hwy 33. Ask the people at the Golden Chick/Travel Plaza whether it was worth it. They employ many Langston Univ students. They have excellent affordable chicken and donate a lot of chicken to Lunch on Noble for the needy. But, only because of the TIF sewer line.