01/29/2026
Link to the article will be in comments.
From today's Baltimore Banner. We ask ourselves a couple questions imagining the numbers aren't impossible to calibrate. For instance, what impact do these international goods - in this quantity - have on good quality jobs, diesel freight rail and diesel truck use in our state? In a given time period we can all understand? The state government depends on Port of Baltimore as part of the economy. We know it. We get it.
And. What are the short term economic benefits of this type of global trade, who gets them. Then, what are the short and long term economic and public health costs - both in dollars/cents and in quality of life for local waterways and marine life, trackside, portside communities, anyone near busy roads and train tracks carrying this freight? Isn't much of the freight foreign cars? Thoughts on the long term consequences of that kind of transport? And so on? Surely, an updated open-eyed thorough cost/benefit analysis of this global goods trade economy is needed, no?! Long past time to do so, imho. Starting with prioritizing good clean safe jobs for people in any trade already dependent on this dirty port economy. We have heard port officials from other ports in the U.S. recognize this need, calling this a 'just transition in jobs' as collectively, we transition to what's overdue: a zero emissions economy. Baltimore?
