This weekend is Ceasefire weekend where our collective peace action brings an energy of calm and ease to the city to prevent violence and seed love: nobody kill anybody. That’s right. Starting this weekend, can we in the city generate enough loving kindness, wishing all of us the conditions to find peace in ourselves so we bring this into the spaces we occupy. We know that during past Ceasefire weekends, violence was reduced between 30% – 60%. This is what happens when we intention and act into community events that affirm our wellness and open-heartedness for peace and goodness for all. There are some 50 such life-affirming events happening over the weekend! Join one, organize one, or simply stop and take a mindful breath or step, intentioning your mind and energy toward peace in our city. The majority of our violent crimes in Baltimore, like other cities, occur in a a geographic area that is no more than 5% of the city- in hotspots. These areas require our care and attention.

Councilman Burnett earlier this week introduced a public hearing to discuss treating gun violence as the public health issue it is. There will be more on this and we should get on board with supporting this. Also this week, Councilman Eric Costello introduced a resolution to the City Council to reexamine the possibility of reopening the PILOT agreement (Payment in Lieu of Taxes, which allows non-profit institutions (like Johns Hopkins Hospital system and university and other private universities and hospitals in the city) to pay a meager amount to the city instead of taxes on their property like homeowners do) which allows non-profit institutions to pay a less than 5% of the taxes owed on the land they own. The money collected from these taxes, if they were paid, would enable our public school system, recreational system, and other public funds to support our city in a more equitable way. Both of these issues are public health issues as they are social and economic determinants of the health of our city. A city deprived of equitable social support systems (good public education, access to health care, adequate recreational facilities, affordable and available health food choices) and economic opportunities (vocational training, apprenticeship programs, affordable housing and living wage jobs) results in health, income, and wealth inequities which lead to poverty, crime, and death. We have the means to cease the violence and disparities that lead to violence in our city.

Join Ceasefire this weekend and help make our city a healthy and happier place for all to live.