How to deal with teens gathering in Fells Point

In regards to the recent article, “Lack of enforcement, or people enjoying summer nights? Fells Point crowds spark familiar debates” (June 14), reporter Darcy Costello notes how crowds that frequent the plaza in Fells Point have sometimes become unruly.

The concern about issuing juvenile citations is ridiculous, as juveniles usually carry no form of identification. Anyone approached by a police officer is most likely to give a false name and address. That only causes more problems. Someone would have to try to track down a citation on someone who does not exist.

It seems that Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement may have the answer in its arsenal. Why not deploy Safe Streets to the area to intervene? In addition on these warm summer nights, why can’t the city open several of the pools for a pool party from perhaps 9 p.m. to midnight? The city centers that were opened last year were a dismal failure so why not try something else to let the kids burn off energy?

— Paul H. Krebs, Kingsville

Pay Maryland teachers what they deserve

There are perennial shortages of math, upper-level science, world language and special education teachers in the public schools in the state of Maryland (“Maryland’s teacher shortage: Will the Blueprint’s plan for better pay, training do enough?” March 25).

What would happen if the negotiators for the school systems and the teachers’ unions admitted that the law of supply and demand is still intact and agreed to pay market-based salaries? Is there any school system willing to try a new approach to hiring?

— Keith Harmeyer, Towson

Electric vehicle push raises copper questions

Reading the Associated Press article, “Thieves cut charging cables” (June 12), it’s interesting that anyone finally thought having cables, thick and heavy with copper, sitting out in the open for anyone’s use might be a liability. In Baltimore, thieves steal copper downspouts in the more upscale neighborhoods. Recently, my property was broken into and all the copper water lines in the basement cut and removed. The job was very skillfully done by what I would call professional copper thieves. Neighbors saw and heard nothing. The police officer arrived and basically just handed me a slip of paper, a crime report. I need to secure the house. Nothing to be done.

So, of course, hearing the whining in the article by Electrify America’s Anthony Lambkin of how people depend on electric vehicle charging stations to get to work, kids to school, medical appointments, etc., coupled with the report of one EV station in Seattle having its cables cut six times makes me understand the officer who handed me my slip. There was nothing to be done. You simply can’t put a high priced semi-precious metal out in the open in an EV station for the public use like that.

The real question is, however, with all the research going into the EV push and nationwide crime on the rise, why didn’t someone think of that before?

— Georgia Corso, Baltimore

Critics of Israel make some valid points

Letter writers Rabbi Jonathan A. Seidemann (“Rabbi: Van Hollen is failing the Jewish community,” May 31) and Jeffrey D. Silverberg (“To stand by Van Hollen is to support Hamas,” June 14) have criticized U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen for his efforts to stop the slaughter of civilians in Gaza. Neither of them can be considered neutral on the subject.

First, this is a conflict in which there are villains and victims on both sides. “Barbaric” is too mild a term for the atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7. Despite Silverberg’s protests, “genocide” is an appropriate term for what Israeli forces have been committing in Gaza ever since, making Israel an international pariah.

Second, all of us would do well to recognize that the suffering residents of Gaza are not “Hamas” and did not attack Israel, yet they are caught up in the crossfire and neither side seems to care about them. At the same time, not all Jews hold the same opinions as the leaders of Israel. In fact, many Jews have spoken out in support of the people of Gaza.

Third, President Joe Biden is in a tough place and is working to resolve this very difficult conflict before it gets totally out of hand. But as Netanyahu brushes aside his pleas for restraint, he just looks weak and ineffective. Netanyahu assumes he has a green light.

— Sidney Turner, Catonsville