Friday, January 9, 2009

sheila dixon

Mayor Sheila Dixon: "Wars in our city"

MayorTV is a challenge from America's Mayors to 2008 candidates: start talking about cities! MayorTV asked Mayor Dixon what she thought a national agenda for cities should look like.

Sheila Dixon of Baltimore is the most recently elected Mayor we interviewed. But she already has her priorities straight -- tackling crime, guns and the flow of drugs into her inner city.

"I want to see one of the candidates come up with a comprehensive plan to eliminate the tide of drugs coming into our country," the Mayor told us. "I mean, we have wars here in our city. We should be making strides in that area, but its something I never hear [the presidential candidates] talk about."

She's right, of course. The '08 presidential race has distinctly eschewed issues of inner city violence and drug trade. Perhaps it's a blessing that we haven't had Willie Horton-style attack ads that demonize urban people of color; but we also haven't had any substantive talk about America's drug problem (the illegal one, not the prescription one).

Maybe not surprisingly, then, Mayor Dixon has yet to endorse a presidential candidate. "I've had a couple conversations with a couple candidates," said the Mayor, "and my first question is, What is your platform for urban issues? ... And then, what kind of commitment will they make for following up?"

For cities like Baltimore to not just get a lot more hot air, it's the latter question that matters. Good thing that Mayor Dixon is asking. Hopefully she gets a truthful answer.

(More interviews and your comments at MayorTV.com)

Video Tags:baltimore, dixon, drum, institute, major, mayor, mayorTV, nation, policy, sheila, the, urban, videonation

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Yahoo news related to sheila dixon

Bio info on Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (AP via Yahoo! News)
NAME: Sheila A. Dixon.

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon indicted (UPI)
BALTIMORE, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Sheila Dixon, the first woman to serve as mayor of Baltimore, was indicted Friday on charges involving gifts from developers, including a former boyfriend.

Bio info on Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (The Charlotte Observer)
(The Associated Press) NAME: Sheila A. Dixon. BIRTH DATE: Dec. 27, 1953, in Baltimore. EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree from Towson University, master's degree from Johns Hopkins University. WORK: Taught at a city elementary school before becoming an international trade specialist. POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Baltimore City Council member (1987-1999), City Council President (1999-2007), mayor ...

Google news related to sheila dixon

Baltimore Mayor Indicted in Theft and Perjury Case - New York Times  By DOUG DONOVAN BALTIMORE — Mayor Sheila Dixon of Baltimore was indicted Friday, accused of stealing gift cards donated to the city for needy families and ...

List of charges against Mayor Dixon - Baltimore Sun  The 12-count indictment against Mayor Sheila A. Dixon filed Jan. 9, 2009, includes four counts of perjury, three counts of theft, and three counts of ...

Biographical information on Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, indicted ... - Newsday  By AP QUOTEABLE: "I am being unfairly accused. Time will prove that I have done nothing wrong, and I am confident that I will be found innocent of these ...

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