Read More...
WBAL News Radio 1090: The selection of Maryland’s Lieutenant Governor
Read More...
Don Fry Commentary
Read More...
WBAL News Radio 1090: Maryland Business Climate Survey
Editor’s note: The following commentary aired on wbal.com on October 5, 2018. Listen to the commentary. A survey of Maryland’s businesses found that a growing number of business executives see sunny skies for the state’s economy. But the skies are cloudy as they seek more skilled workers and move about the state’s transportation infrastructure. The survey, conducted by the University of Baltimore’s Jacob France Institute, found that 46 percent surveyed had a positive … Continue reading
The Daily Record: A better way to select a lieutenant governor
Editor’s note: The following commentary appeared on thedailyrecord.com on July 19, 2018. When then-Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama was searching for a running mate, he did not have to look far for qualified candidates. The hard-fought Democratic primary had featured several highly qualified candidates, including Sen. Joe Biden from Delaware and Sen. Hillary Clinton from New York. Biden dropped out of the race following the Iowa caucus but his … Continue reading
The Daily Record: Thinking big about Pimlico
Editor’s note: The following commentary appeared on thedailyrecord.com on June 14, 2018. Justify’s sprint to win the Belmont Stakes and capture the Triple Crown last Saturday was remarkable and uplifting. It once again reminds us of just how fortunate Baltimore is to be home to the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness. As such, Baltimore has the distinction of hosting one of the most heralded sporting events in the United … Continue reading
The Daily Record: A look at today’s Greater Baltimore region
Editor’s note: The following commentary appeared on thedailyrecord.com on May 18, 2018. Construction cranes are prevalent throughout the Baltimore region these days — from downtown Baltimore to Towson, Columbia and beyond — and to many they are the most visible sign of changes afoot in Baltimore City and the surrounding counties. But the recently released 2018 Greater Baltimore State of the Region Report makes clear that other changes have occurred during the … Continue reading
The Daily Record: General Assembly delivers on public safety
Editor’s note: The following commentary appeared on thedailyrecord.com on April 20, 2018. Decades ago a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, not known for his colloquy, reportedly rose as the legislative session came to an end and stated: “I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausage — the less you know about the process the more you respect the result.” That assessment was … Continue reading
WBAL News Radio 1090: Baltimore region’s impact on Maryland’s economy
Editor’s note: The following commentary aired on wbal.com on April 6, 2018. Listen to the commentary. It is disappointing that a recent Goucher College poll found that two-thirds of those surveyed did not think of Baltimore City as “the economic engine of the state.” Disappointing but not totally surprising or inaccurate. Today regions, not individual jurisdictions are the economic drivers. The Greater Baltimore region – Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford … Continue reading
Baltimore Business Journal Letter to the Editor: GBC’s Fry says article on crime reduction strategy falls short
Editor’s note: The following Letter to the Editor appeared on www.bizjournals.com on March 15, 2018. Dear Editor: It was concerning to read the Baltimore Business Journal’s story on the Greater Baltimore Committee’s March 8 Newsmaker Breakfast event featuring Drew Vetter, director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. The article regrettably focused on comments by one attendee who stated that her organization has employees who are deeply concerned about crime in the city and want to … Continue reading
WBAL News Radio 1090: Uncertainty for State Legislators
Editor’s note: The following commentary was recorded at WBAL News Radio 1090 on January 11, 2018. Listen to the commentary. The Maryland General Assembly opened the 2018 legislative session with its usual pomp and circumstance. But behind the upbeat tone, uncertainty looms on the horizon. Why? It’s election year. Politics is always in play during any legislative session but it has a stronger presence with election day ahead. The less … Continue reading
The Daily Record: How to gain a competitive edge
Editor’s note: The following commentary appeared on thedailyrecord.com on January 18, 2018. Gov. Larry Hogan provided some glad tidings to the business community just after the Christmas holiday by announcing that his administration had identified more than 650 state regulations that are outdated and would be repealed, streamlined or otherwise updated. The Maryland Regulatory Reform Commission, appointed by the governor in 2015, did the heavy lifting, analyzing the state’s large … Continue reading