October 14, 2003

The following Email has been sent to Governor Ehrlich in support of his
selection of Floyd Blair to serve as Director of the Baltimore City
Department of Social Services:

I approve your selection of Floyd Blair to run the Baltimore welfare office.
From 1970 to 1977 I was public relations director for the agency. In 1989, I
was fired from State employment for refusing to perform porter duties. In
the meantime welfare administrators have been promoting each other for years
with the result that they may find it difficult to supervise their friends.
A review of employment histories may suggest chance for major State savings.
An outsider is needed. I also like Mr. Blair's experience as a New York
welfare case manager. Believe a new city welfare philosophy needed with new
approaches to child care. Need to review integration of welfare and child
support services.

Topics for Steiner Radio Show (WYPRFM 88.1) - Sent September 3, 2003

FROM: Allan W. Garske, 3101 Guilford Avenue, Baltimore 21218
Mail: Box 27442, Baltimore 21285 (410) 880-2483 agarske@hotmail.com

Following are some suggestions for topics for your Show. I find your program
topics mostly valuable although sometimes a bit esoteric. As a sometime
journalist, I particularly enjoy listening to your host Anthony McCarthy
dish about local press and politics on your Friday news roundtable which is
a regular program with regular topics.

In order to start a discussion of my topics, I am sharing this Email with
others in the Baltimore community and also will be posting it on my weblog
which is located at

BALTIMORE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

I suggest you start each week with a program devoted to the Baltimore
criminal justice system, perhaps to be hosted by C. Fraser Smith as your new
news director.

Such a program might begin with a discussion of THE SUN editorial of March
19, 2000 about the city criminal justice system at that time, titled "A
Silence that kills". How have things improved in the 3 years since? Or have
they? If there have been improvements, let us hear about them.

Such a program might also track progress or lack of it in certain areas. For
instance, the July, 2001 issue of GOVERNING magazine in a profile of then
Maryland Juvenile Justice Secretary Bishop Robinson notes that in early 2002
a downtown Baltimore juvenile facility should be ready to house offenders.
What happened to that facility?

Such a program might deal with possible future problems with the Baltimore
City Police Department, an agency plagued in the past by bizarre personnel
policies and which may soon suffer a personnel drain. What is being done
about a possible loss of Police manpower? In particular, what is being done
to help Baltimore communities work safely with the Baltimore Police?

A CITY MANAGER

Since Baltimore is about to undergo political change, it may well be time to
consider an administrative change, specificallly the hiring of a City
Manager. Such a move was recommended in a July 20, 1997 SUN column by now
WYPR commentator Barry Rascovar.

Such a City Manager, hired under contract for a specific period of time,
might be independent of politics but able to provide a bureaucratic
institutional memory. This is something I as a sometime State bureaucrat
think could be important.

For example, a City Manager might point out to a new Mayor that if he gives
a pay raise to City Police (undoubtedly deserved) he is also going to have
to give a similar raise to City firefighters (undoubtedly also deserved).

Washington, D.C. has a city manager. So do Long Beach and Oakland,
California, Polk County, Iowa, Flint, Michigan, Richmond, Virginia and
Baltimore County. Why not Baltimore City?

Such a position could also be of service to the City Council and the
creation of a Baltimore City Manager might well be a first item of business
for the new City Council.

Open Letter To Gov. Ehrlich on Slots & Environment
March 11, 2003

Dear Governor Ehrlich,

Suggest you postpone your proposal for slot machines at Maryland race tracks. This would be contingent on Maryland General Assembly coming up with temporary tax increase to meet budget deficit.

After all, you as Maryland's first Republican Governor in nearly half a century are not responsible for the State's present budget situation. Also, must prepare for possible uncertain wartime economy. Suggest slots be studied with possibility of locations at other than racetracks. Also suggest successful American Indian gaming industry be studied as example.

As to difficulties with approval of your nominee for Secretary of Department of Environment, suggest this is due to the environmental lobby attempting to show you who is boss. As former PR director for State mental health association, feel role of such groups is to provide advice and support and criticism where appropriate.

What is important in State agency is how it carries out policy, budget and legislation. As a former Maryland State employee, I could even be Secretary of the Department as long as you tell me what to do and how to do it. Not that I am volunteering.

Sincerely, Allan W. Garske