The paint is worn thin, but the message is still there, a puzzling declaration from a foggy past. At some point in history, someone decided to emblazon the city’s public benches with the hyperbolically proud slogan:  Baltimore – The Greatest City in America. Where’d this over-the-top motto come from? And how’d it end up on all those benches? Baltimore Banner reporter Clara Longo de Freitas teams up with Aaron Henkin to find the answers.

In this episode, we hear from:

Martin O’Malley, Mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007

Steve Kearney, Director of Policy and Communications during O’Malley’s Mayoral Administration

Kurt Schmoke, Mayor of Baltimore from to 1987 to 1999

Sandy Hillman, Former Head of Mayor William Donald Schaefer’s Office of Promotion and Tourism

The paint is worn thin, but the message is still there, a puzzling declaration from a foggy past. At some point in history, someone decided to emblazon the city’s public benches with the hyperbolically proud slogan:  Baltimore – The Greatest City in America. Where’d this over-the-top motto come from? And how’d it end up on all those benches? <a href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/">Baltimore Banner</a> reporter <a href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/local-news/slogans-charm-city-greatest-city-in-america-A4UVV2AHCNFU5GKGZQELSINGGU/">Clara Longo de Freitas</a> teams up with Aaron Henkin to find the answers.
In this episode, we hear from:
<a href="https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013000/013090/html/msa13090.html">Martin O’Malley</a>, Mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007
<a href="https://www.kopublicaffairs.com/steve-kearney">Steve Kearney</a>, Director of Policy and Communications during O’Malley’s Mayoral Administration
<a href="https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/011600/011606/html/msa11606.html">Kurt Schmoke</a>, Mayor of Baltimore from to 1987 to 1999
<a href="https://www.hillmanpr.com/">Sandy Hillman</a>, Former Head of Mayor William Donald Schaefer’s Office of Promotion and Tourism

What’s got you curious about Baltimore, the region, and its people? Is there a local mystery that’s always left you scratching your head? Veteran WYPR journalist Aaron Henkin is reporting to a new assignment editor: You. And together, you’ll find some answers, or at least learn something new along the way.

What&rsquo;s got you curious about Baltimore, the region, and its people? Is there a local mystery that&rsquo;s always left you scratching your head? Veteran WYPR journalist Aaron Henkin is reporting to a new assignment editor: You. And together, you&rsquo;ll find some answers, or at least learn something new along the way.

The Maryland Curiosity Bureau

What’s With Those “Greatest City In America” Benches?

What exactly are community schools? How are they funded? How are they different? And how well do they work? Maryland is spending almost 4 billion dollars a year to convert public schools to the community school model, and Baltimore Banner reporters Hallie Miller and Kristen Griffith join Aaron to visit some community schools and see how it’s going for students and their families.

In this episode, you’ll hear from:

Cheryl Brooks, Principal at Berkshire Elementary School

Malik Sollas, Community School Liaison at Berkshire Elementary School

Heather Chapman, Vice President of Neighborhood Zones, United Way of Central Maryland

Kelly Oglesbee, Community Schools Program Manager, United Way of Central Maryland

Michelle Gross, Family Center Director at Benjamin Franklin High School

What exactly are community schools? How are they funded? How are they different? And how well do they work? Maryland is spending almost <a href="https://blueprint.marylandpublicschools.org/">4 billion dollars a year</a> to convert public schools to the community school model, and <a href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/">Baltimore Banner</a> reporters <a href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/author/hallie-miller/">Hallie Miller</a> and <a href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/author/kristen-griffith/">Kristen Griffith</a> join Aaron to visit some community schools and see how it’s going for students and their families.
In this episode, you’ll hear from:
Cheryl Brooks, Principal at <a href="https://berkshirees.ss3.sharpschool.com/">Berkshire Elementary School</a>
Malik Sollas, Community School Liaison at <a href="https://berkshirees.ss3.sharpschool.com/">Berkshire Elementary School</a>
Heather Chapman, Vice President of Neighborhood Zones, <a href="https://uwcm.org/">United Way of Central Maryland</a>
Kelly Oglesbee, Community Schools Program Manager, <a href="https://uwcm.org/">United Way of Central Maryland</a>
Michelle Gross, Family Center Director at <a href="https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/schools/239">Benjamin Franklin High School</a>

What’s Happening With Community Schools in Maryland?

Theo Hill hosted a series of intimate and honest conversations with people battling addiction on his WYPR podcast, One Day at a Time. His producer, Aaron Henkin, takes some time this week to remember Theo, who died recently due to complications from a stroke. Mr. Hill was 22 years substance-free at the time of his death.

Theo Hill hosted a series of intimate and honest conversations with people battling addiction on his WYPR podcast, <a href="https://www.wypr.org/podcast/one-day-at-a-time-in-recovery-in-baltimore">One Day at a Time</a>. His producer, Aaron Henkin, takes some time this week to remember Theo, who died recently due to complications from a stroke. Mr. Hill was 22 years substance-free at the time of his death.

Remembering Theo Hill

It’s down in a gully near Bunker Hill Road in Hereford. Peer through the trees and you’ll see it, a vintage Baltimore streetcar, forgotten and rusting away in the forest. Hiker (and WYPR host) Ashley Sterner discovered the derelict streetcar a few years ago and has been obsessed with the mystery ever since: How did it end up there? And why? This episode, we pay a visit to The Baltimore Streetcar Museum and find answers.

It’s down in a gully near Bunker Hill Road in Hereford. Peer through the trees and you’ll see it, a vintage Baltimore streetcar, forgotten and rusting away in the forest. Hiker (and WYPR host) <a href="https://www.wypr.org/people/ashley-sterner">Ashley Sterner</a> discovered the derelict streetcar a few years ago and has been obsessed with the mystery ever since: How did it end up there? And why? This episode, we pay a visit to <a href="https://baltimorestreetcarmuseum.org/">The Baltimore Streetcar Museum</a> and find answers.

What’s With Those “Greatest City In America” Benches?

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The Maryland Curiosity Bureau

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