Brooklyn
I stand with John Locke.
I am headed in a different direction with this.
Make a "deal deal". Sit down with the enemy. Find out what they want. Empathize and find a way to get them what they want, and help them get it in a way they can take credit for it, be a hero to their people, and win elections and donations.
Open a collaborative discussion with folks in Baltimore City. I don't know the power players personally, but guys like Frank Conaway come to mind. Learn about who he is and what he is about before the first meeting so the likelihood of an inadvertent misstep does not occur out of the gate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_M._Conaway,_Jr.
Notice his relations on the right side of the screen. You won't be speaking to one man.
He wants to see his people stop killing each other with guns. We understand guns. Look for ways he can get what he wants, in ways we get what we want. We can probably solve his problem better than he can. In helping him perhaps we can help ourselves. Small pieces of common ground can be grown into trust. Small steps can achieve bigger goals. Focus on his needs, because he won't give a rats rear end about ours.
We listened to the plight of Baltimore during the last fight. We are here to help.
What he does not want is to see his people spend their lives in jail. Go in with a mission to focus on larger sentences for use of a gun and it will be a short conversation. That piece probably doomed us in the last fight.
I did that as well in the session. I switch hit. A lot.
Problem is I do not bargain with folks I can not trust. And I do not give up what is mine to keep some of what is mine.
I will and have engaged on anti crime issues. I will not engage on gun crime issues.
I promise you will lose any grand bargain that includes the likes of frosh.. if we meet offline I will explain why.
You need to understand why I say this.
That said I intend to meet with the Baltimore city delegation this session.. I am trying get folks from that community to join me.. and others of course..
I will know more if they show on the 4th..
I have started the process but I will not bargain on their terms... only mine....
I can prove my good faith.. they have yet prove Thiers.. this too must occur before any bargaining...
BTW the link comes up dry...