Park Heights residents say they’ve lost confidence in city leaders amid poverty

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — In Park Heights, residents said their trust in City Hall is fading as they grapple with abandoned homes, drug activity and poverty — and as city leaders move to undo voter-approved term limits.

A street interview in the neighborhood where the mayor once lived found deep skepticism about city government.

“As of now I don’t have any confidence in them, they make you not even want to vote for them anymore,” a Park Heights resident, who chose not to be identified, said.

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Others described a community they feel has been left behind.

“There’s a lot of houses abandoned and there’s drug activity,” one resident said.

Another added, “Look at it now you don’t see anyone walking down the street. Park Heights used to be jumping.”

When asked whether city leaders have residents’ best interests at heart, one person responded, “No not at all. I mean you can look around and it’s still a lot of poverty.”

The frustration comes as city leaders took steps this week that residents said reinforced their concerns.

During a Tuesday council hearing, one council member said, “I think there still remains a lot of appetite for the concept of repealing term limits.”

Council members launched a process aimed at repealing term limits that voters overwhelmingly approved four years ago. They also rejected fast-tracking a proposed charter amendment that would have given voters the right to decide whether the inspector general should have unlimited access to city records.

In Park Heights, some residents questioned whether city leaders are listening.

“Everybody’s doing the same thing looking out for number one. That’s it,” one resident said.

Some residents said they want elected officials to be held accountable at the ballot box.

“Give them two years, see how they do and if they don’t get them out of there,” another resident demanded.

Others pointed to past political scandals as a reason for their distrust.

“Look at [Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine] Pugh. Look at all of them…[Former Baltimore Mayor Sheila] Dixon….they all took money,” one resident said.

Still, some said change is possible if priorities shift.

Asked what it will take, one resident said, “It’s going to take people getting their mind right and spend money in the right place.”