Remembering Danny Pitts, a kind, decent man

Every six months, like clockwork, Danny Pitts would call my home to come over and clean the gutters, which was a strenuous proposition given the height of the house. You could set your clock by him. He’d come over, clean the gutters and send us a bill. Over the years, we discussed what a great businessman he was and when I’d be hearing from him next.

I find myself struggling with the news of Danny’s death in a road rage incident (“After teen allegedly killed Pasadena landscaper in road rage shooting in Baltimore, family struggles with senseless loss,” May 10). Normally, I would imagine some sort of confrontation followed by an exchange of harsh words and then the gunfire. I knew without confirmation that this would not be the case here. You see, Danny was a quiet as a church mouse. As punctual as a clock. As kind as a person could be.

To know Danny was to know what a good man does, what good men do. He kept to himself, ran a successful business and was kind and professional with his clients. He never asked for more than he was due. I don’t have words for the senselessness of this murder. All I can say is, rest in peace, Danny.

— John K. Bacci, Linthicum

How Dan Rodricks should spend his next 10 columns

Sun columnist Dan Rodricks recently took issue with Elon Musk spending his own money to buy Twitter, calling the purchase “obnoxious self-indulgence” and suggested 10 ways Mr. Musk could better spend his money “to have a positive and powerful impact on society” (“Dan Rodricks: 10 better things Elon Musk could do with the $44 billion he’s spending for Twitter,” May 6).

Setting aside the possible self-indulgence of such a column, assuming Mr. Rodricks made his suggestions in good faith and since he likes to tell others how to spend their money to improve society, perhaps Mr. Rodricks would be amenable to good faith suggestions about how he could use his time and column space to have a positive impact on our local community.

Here are some (mostly serious) topics for future columns:

1. What happened to the billions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds sent to local governments and school districts? What was the money spent on and to what effect? How much money remains unspent?

2. How long will the Baltimore Orioles who, directly and indirectly, benefit from millions of dollars in taxpayers’ money continue to have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball?

3. How much money is spent on Safe Streets in Baltimore and with what measurable positive results?

4. Why are many teachers, administrators and support staff, new and experienced, leaving public schools? To what extent do policies (or lack thereof) on attendance, lateness, grading, discipline and safety contribute to this exodus? Talk to people who work in schools, not policymakers or “education experts,” for insights.

5. Why are many parents taking their children out of public schools? To what extent do policies (or lack thereof) on attendance, lateness, grading, discipline and safety contribute to parents leaving public schools? Talk to parents, not policymakers or those education experts, for insights.

6. What do people who actually vote think about the newly drawn Maryland congressional maps? Ridiculously gerrymandered, very fair or somewhere in between? Do the new districts represent people with common interests and concerns? Ask voters, not politicians, professors or other “political experts.”

7. Baltimore and Washington, D.C.’s, bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup: economic boon or boondoggle for the region?

8. Should the Baltimore Book Festival return to its former location in Mt. Vernon?

9. Old Bay or J.O. seasoning? Or neither?

10. Are there any “Rodricks’ Rangers” still extant?

There you are, Dan. Looking forward to columns on any or all these topics.

— Bruce Ickes, Parkville

Washington could use some fresh blood

National term limits for members of the U.S. House of Representatives to three terms and U.S. Senate to two terms are a great idea (“National term limits debate resurfaces at inopportune moment for Maryland Rep. Andy Harris,” May 9).

All you have to do is look at all the “old farts” running our country today in both parties — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein being great examples, as well as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. All are long overdue at the retirement home. Their ideas are old and stale and it is only a natural theme to rotate new and younger representatives with “new ideas.”

It is a move in Washington well overdue, but the big question is will the old-timers who don’t want to leave vote for it? What would they do with their time? Play checkers with red and blue pieces? They would probably screw that up, too. Of course, there is always nap time.

— Stas Chrzanowski, Baltimore