I'm in no way an O'Malley fan but Baltimore hit the skids way before he was mayor. In fact, the reason he won was because everyone was hoping that he could help turn things around. In all fairness to him, he has an almost impossible job on his hands. I certainly wouldn't want his job in that city! Also, if I'm correct, murders are up. In fact, the local scene is actually getting a tiny bit better since he's been mayor, not that I attribute any of it to him.
Yes, the Charles and the Club Charles across the street use to be great places. Also, the Depot. I stopped attending all of them many, many years ago because crime got so intensely bad in that neighborhood that I was too afraid to walk by myself for several blocks or go back to a vandalized car. I knew of way too much shit that was going down around there back then, often to friends or acquaintances, and figured it was time to get wise and start watching out for myself a little more before I was yet another all too common statistic. Maybe it's gotten a little safer since then but I really doubt it.
