Reddit reviews Baltimore Unbound: A Strategy for Regional Renewal

I don't think a local sales tax will work. It will punish residents as commuters choose to spend their money in the counties and residents will pay more at home.

I think Baltimore City gov needs a comprehensive audit as there is clearly waste and fraud. Where to cut how much fat and tighten up efficiency of services cannot be known without this basic step. There are things underway to begin 3 audits right now.

Baltimroe city is unfortunately trapped as its own county when clearly it is the economic driver and ancestor of this area. Baltimore's lack of including in teh metro area that it spawned has allowed the younger counties to strand local poor and problems int eh city, then underfund it while they ironically complain about the condition of the city - the very condition they created and reinforce.

Baltimore needs to significantly cut its property tax just as San Francisco and Boston did 30 years ago and this will spur reinvestment and in turn begin to remedy many of the city's ills. All a local sales tax will do is further encourage money to move/stay in the counties.

Here is a great book written about inelastic cities, particularly Baltimore - David Rusk's Baltimore Unbound:
http://www.amazon.com/Baltimore-Unbound-Strategy-Regional-Renewal/dp/0801850789