(BALTIMORE – November 27, 2025) – The contrast couldn’t be starker in Maryland’s 41st District State Senate race. On one side: incumbent State Senator Dalya Attar, who pleaded not guilty Monday to federal extortion and conspiracy charges in an alleged blackmail scheme. On the other hand, Delegate Malcolm Ruff, who just secured a stunning $21.5 million jury verdict – including $10 million in punitive damages – against negligent landlords who hired convicted sex offender Jason Billingsley. Attar’s Legal Troubles Mount According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Attar, her brother Joseph “Yossi” Attar, and Baltimore Police Officer Kalman Finkelstein allegedly conspired…

(BALTIMORE – November 20, 2025) – The opening of The Hammond at Greenmount Park marks a significant milestone for Johnston Square and for Baltimore’s broader conversation about neighborhood revitalization. Located between Biddle and Chase streets, the project replaces 42 long-vacant lots with mixed-income housing, a new Enoch Pratt Free Library branch, and dedicated space for the neighborhood association that helped shape the development. Its completion underscores a core idea: when community leadership is respected and paired with strong institutional partners, sustainable neighborhood change becomes possible. The foundation for this progress was laid more than a decade ago. Johnston Square residents,…

November 14, 2025 Letter from the Mayor Dear Washingtonians, After 43 days, the longest federal shutdown in history came to an end this week. Shutdowns hurt Americans everywhere, but they are especially devastating for those who live and work in our nation’s capital. And if nothing else has come from this shutdown, we have once again been reminded that 700,000 DC residents deserve a vote and a voice in our Congress. I say often that in DC we take care of ourselves. Especially in difficult times, we stick together and we look out for our neighbors. Throughout the shutdown, we…

(BALTIMORE – November 13, 2025) — National civil rights attorney Ben Crump flew in from the Bahamas to stand with Delegate Malcolm Ruff at a well-attended fundraiser this week, signaling rising momentum in Ruff’s bid for State Senate in Maryland’s 41st District. Ruff, a respected trial lawyer at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, works closely with famed attorney Billy Murphy — a mentor to Crump and a major figure in Baltimore’s legal community. That connection made Crump’s appearance both personal and powerful, underscoring the depth of support Ruff is building. Ruff is challenging incumbent Sen. Dalya Attar, who is currently under…

(BALTIMORE – November 13, 2025) – Baltimore! World! Last week showed me something I’ve been waiting to see for years: New Baltimore is here. The Renaissance isn’t coming—it’s already arrived. And it’s not just the City. Baltimore County is also waking up. If you’re watching from the sidelines thinking otherwise, you might want to look again. The Heavyweights Are in the Room Last week, Shelonda Stokes presented the Downtown Partnership’s Annual Report—a major networking event that celebrated downtown achievements, recognized leaders, and mapped the future. The room was packed with power: Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. Otis Rolley, the new CEO…

Ben Crump Backs Malcolm Ruff’s Senate Bid as Dalya Attar Faces Indictment Two weeks until the BMORENews benefit. Two weeks to decide if this kind of coverage continues. State Senator Dalya Attar is under federal indictment for allegedly conspiring with her brother and a police officer to blackmail a political opponent. The charges have shaken the 41st District and raised an urgent question: What happens next? Legally, Attar can still run for office. But that answer only scratches the surface. Will her running mates—Delegates Sandy Rosenberg and Sean Stinnett—stay on the ticket with an indicted senator? What does the Democratic…

(REISTERSTOWN – October 31, 2025) – Last night, Delegate N. Scott Phillips gathered his supporters for a fundraiser at a popular cigar lounge in Reisterstown. The evening drew a virtual who’s who of Greater Baltimore as the Northwest Baltimore County delegate gears up for the upcoming 90-day General Assembly session in Annapolis. Phillips has been increasingly active in state politics, weighing in on key issues that affect Maryland’s business community. Most recently, he shared his perspective on the federal freeze impacting Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) — a major concern for small and minority-owned firms. Working closely with the Legislative Black…

(BALTIMORE – October 30, 2025) – I guess Malcolm was right. No, not Malcolm X — the other Malcolm. The one from Park Heights. When he told me he was running for State Senator of the 41st, I was skeptical. “Nah, you should run for Delegate,” I said. But he stood firm on his decision. Now, barely three months into the campaign, the sitting State Senator faces a federal indictment. The timing couldn’t be more consequential. Suddenly, Delegate Malcolm Ruff’s Senate bid looks less like a long shot and more like vindication — a mental victory at minimum, but possibly…

(BALTIMORE – October 29, 2025) – Unbeknownst to many, a cultural revolution is quietly underway in America. It’s been simmering for generations — and now, it’s starting to boil. From Hawaii to California, from Georgia to Detroit, more and more melanated people are tracing their indigeneity, their true lineage. This isn’t just about ancestry websites. People are digging into family records, calling courthouses in other states, and connecting dots that were deliberately erased. What they’re finding is mind-blowing — history we were never taught. I saw this shift years ago when I posted a video on “Black Indians.” It got…

(BALTIMORE – October 27, 2025) – In the early 1970s, West North Avenue was alive with Black enterprise. I remember Ike Dixon Insurance, the beauty salons, the barbershops, the eateries — the heartbeat of our neighborhood. Fast-forward to more recent times, and only a few Black-owned businesses remain. My cousin Jamal ran Jamal’s Hauling in the 1800 block between Monroe and McKean. He loved his community deeply, and his business was one of the last to go after his passing. Everyone’s Place stands tall as a true staple. I remember when Nati started — from a street vendor to a…