Why won’t gaming revenue cover state budget shortfall?

I have been an avid reader of The Baltimore Sun for over 20 years. Lately, all I keep reading about are the woes of the Maryland state budget which brings up a question that I’m sure many readers are wondering: Where is all the lottery and casino revenue (“Mysterious ‘No Moore’ campaign launches Maryland’s next gubernatorial race as Republicans, Larry Hogan battle Wes Moore,” Feb. 24)? I read in January that the state brought in $164 million just from the casinos. In November, an article stated $151 million. Let’s multiply that by 12 months and that is over $1 billion. Where did it go? The Maryland State Department of Education is still claiming financial difficulties and yet an extra $1 billion is being collected each year in casino money while annual lottery profits are in the neighborhood of $700 million and sports wagering and daily fantasy sports make over $60 million each year.

Where’s the money? Something is not adding up properly and someone needs to investigate.

— Laura Sudano, Baltimore

Can’t Tucker admit mistakes and apologize?

Why doesn’t Justin Tucker admit that he made some mistakes several years ago and apologize publicly and privately? If he has not misbehaved since 2016, then he has learned to conduct himself appropriately in massage sessions.

Massage services and health care, where one party is at least partially-naked, are situations where unwanted sexual advances can happen (“NFL investigators in Baltimore interviewing Justin Tucker accusers,” Feb. 21).

Over the years, I have spoken with male friends who discussed the expectation of a “happy ending” to a massage session. I have been sexually-assaulted once and propositioned once in medical situations. I have heard from a few other males who have had similar experiences during health care sessions. Over the years, there have been media reports of medical providers behaving inappropriately with female patients.

Employers and supervisors of workers in these situations should provide response training to workers who might be in such compromising scenarios. There have been news reports that such training happens at massage facilities. Workers who choose such employment should expect to deal with challenging sexual situations. Customers of such services should behave considerately and appropriately and apologize for inappropriate behavior.

We all know that these things happen. The Baltimore Ravens kicker should admit that he behaved inappropriately years ago and apologize. Then we should all just move on and strive to do better. There are many more-serious misbehaviors for us to be concerned about happening now.

— Al Gruber, Catonsville

Canada merger would expand US by 10 states, not 1

A recent Associated Press article published in The Baltimore Sun, “Could Canada really become 51st US state?” (Feb. 15), mentioned the electoral implications of the proposed U.S. expansion: 2 new U.S. senators and 55 new members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

But it neglected a reality: Canada currently consists of 10 states (called “provinces”), so if it joined the United States, it would be the 51st through 60th states, bringing 20 new members to the U.S. Senate. Of course, the writer would’ve realized that if he’d talked to any Canadians when researching the article, but seeking the opinion of people living in Canada doesn’t seem to be done anymore.

— Spike Y. Jones, Dundalk

Don’t confuse Legionella lobbyists with public health experts

Careful reading of The Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease’s website, along with publicly available IRS filings, gives little indication that this organization is a source of expert, objective or unbiased professionally grounded information (“More Legionella bacteria found in Baltimore, as group slams city, state response,” Feb. 23). This is the quality of information that’s critically needed when public health uncertainties need to be understood by the public.

Only one degreed health professional is noted within this organization. Close reading of Internal Revenue Service filings suggests that this organizations primary function is as a District of Columbia-based, conduit for lobbying. Latest IRS reports indicate the greatest expenses (2022) went to a named lobbying firm and unnamed “consultants.” Beyond this, the source of their funding and or “membership” is less than fully transparent. Despite well-meaning IRS regulations that restrict commercial-interest lobbying from tax exempt status, this format for special interest lobbying is not uncommon, particularly when claims are made for the public good. The Baltimore Sun should dig just a little deeper and seek balance from local, internationally recognized experts before asking readers to trust any one viewpoint, particularly with challenging (and uncertain) public health and policy issues are found, as when Legionella is sought for and then found.

— Dolph Druckman, M.D., Baltimore