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Powerful commercial interests dominate Baltimore’s city government, where corruption and backroom deals are part of the fabric of how decisions are made. The recent scandal involving Mayor Pugh is part of a long history of political office being used for personal gain and handing over public funds and favors to wealthy elites.

Can city charter amendments aimed at democratizing Baltimore’s government put more power into the hands of the community? Charter amendments could help eliminate the “all-powerful mayor”; get big money out of city elections; establish community control of the police; and create a transparent budgeting process that prioritizes making the city safer by reducing poverty and unemployment. Is any of this possible without an organized and engaged people’s movement

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Executive Producer
Eddie Conway is an Executive Producer of The Real News Network. He is the host of the TRNN show Rattling the Bars. He is Chairman of the Board of Ida B's Restaurant, and the author of two books: Marshall Law: The Life & Times of a Baltimore Black Panther and The Greatest Threat: The Black Panther Party and COINTELPRO. A former member of the Black Panther Party, Eddie Conway is an internationally known political prisoner for over 43 years, a long time prisoners' rights organizer in Maryland, the co-founder of the Friend of a Friend mentoring program, and the President of Tubman House Inc. of Baltimore. He is a national and international speaker and has several degrees.