Senate candidates should be talking about childhood cancer

As the bereaved father of a young child lost to cancer, the recent article, “Maryland lawmakers backing Angela Alsobrooks recount abortion battle with Larry Hogan” (Sept. 13), was the latest reminder of how abortion dominates our political discourse about children.

This endlessly contentious issue drowns out discussion of other important children’s health causes. I would like to see the Maryland candidates for U.S. Senate rally around a shared goal of ending the nation’s leading cause of death by disease in children — cancer.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the perfect time for the candidates to commit to transformative federal investments in pediatric cancer research. Brave young patients in Maryland deserve to be seen and prioritized in this campaign.

— Gavin Lindberg, Germantown

The writer is president of The EVAN Foundation.

Baltimore needs to better monitor spending

In the recent article, “Baltimore pours millions into youth fund that lacks routine auditing” (Sept. 14), it is observed that the Baltimore City Children and Youth Fund administered by the Associated Black Charities has not been audited since 2019. To be fair, it is not part of the city government. However, it is funded by 3 cents of every $100 of assessed property in perpetuity. That is no excuse for a lack of accountability. First, why does the city provide funding for a project with no expectation of an audit and the receipt of an annual report on the effectiveness of these tax dollars in helping our youngsters?

Additionally, Bill Henry, the city comptroller, states that he does not support the use of an outside auditor for this if he has the money to support additional auditors for the city. Let’s think about this. The city could engage an outside auditor for the project or hire an additional city auditor. As the comptroller, I would think Henry would want to save money for the city. Thus, would hiring an additional city auditor for an annual salary plus benefits be cheaper than hiring an outside auditor to do the job? Is the comptroller trying to expand his fiefdom?

As taxpayers, we want to know that our tax dollars are being spent wisely. Mayor Brandon Scott should want our tax dollars to be spent effectively. Where are the controls?

— Louise Laurence, Baltimore

A leftward tilt would be welcome

My response to the recent column by Armstrong Williams (“America is tilting to the left,” Sept. 15): I certainly hope so!

Let’s not forget that the “traditional morality” Williams seems to mourn also included widespread injustices such as misogyny, racism, homophobia and other forms of bigotry. The acceptance of others, perhaps unlike us, is not about “feeling good,” but about liberty, respect, justice and, yes, love for one’s neighbor. I seem to remember that was one of the primary gospel commandments.

Let’s remember the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous reassurance in the face of persecution: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” I’m pretty sure Williams’ “Sovereign” would agree.

— Elizabeth Fink, Towson

U.S. presidents should be chosen by popular vote

As a Maryland citizen, shouldn’t my vote for president be equal to a vote in Pennsylvania or Arizona (“Maryland elections boards put out the call for judges as Election Day approaches,” Sept. 13)?

Although former Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump each lost the popular vote, the Electoral College awarded them the White House anyway.

As long as the Constitution permits a handful of voters in “battleground states” to decide who wins the presidency, something’s substantially awry.

— Grenville B. Whitman, Rock Hall

Maryland has millions for O’s, Ravens, but not for transportation?

So we can’t find $1.4 billion to fully fund Maryland’s Consolidated Transportation Program (“Maryland faces challenging road ahead on transportation,” Sept. 15) but we can give the Ravens and Orioles $1.2 billion for stadium improvements?

Hmmm.

— Bill Marker, Baltimore