BALTIMORE — Similar to St. Louis, Baltimore borders a thriving county. Both function with separate governments and services. Over the years, some have called for a closer look at consolidation to give the region a boost.
"Baltimore is a city that has a very rich character,” radio host Jayne Miller said.
She previously worked as a television journalist in Baltimore for more than three decades. She said too often, the city and county function as a tale of two cities.
"Many cities are part of counties. Baltimore and St. Louis are not. That means the city is cut off from county resources, a county that's financially better off than the city,” Matthew Crenson, retired John Hopkins University professor, added.
“Each has its own police department, services and fire department and school system,” Miller said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Baltimore's population sits at more than 585,000 people. Compare that to Baltimore County, with a population of more than 850,000.
"The county has a much larger population. It wasn't always that way but once everyone fled, that's where they went … there's no connection between the two other than they are adjacent to one another … this is a very clear kind of ‘us and them’ attitude," Miller said.
Although, when it comes down to the things everyone cares about, you begin to see collaboration.
"There was recently a community meeting with city and county residents about crime. I can’t remember that happening so that was a step to realizing that crime doesn't know a border,” she said.
"We were one of the first in the state and definitely in the nation to investigate just carjackings being our sole focus,” Sgt. Brendan Duker with the Baltimore County Police Department said.
He sits on the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, a combination of some 30 officers from Baltimore City and County that hit the streets every day as one unit.
Last year alone, thieves nabbed more than 4,200 cars in the Baltimore area. More than 60% of those were Kia and Hyundais. In more than 100 of these cases, the victims were carjacked.
"We recover hundreds of cars a year … I'd say on average 10 to 15 cars a week … we have the resources to be able to send detectives out there whereas the precinct level detectives are tied up investigating various robberies and burglaries and various crimes,” Duker said.
Partnerships that produce results have prompted a conversation in Baltimore residents of St. Louis have also debated: Should the city and county merge?
"I think at the end of the day, what some business leaders want is for this to become viewed as a metropolitan area, not a city and a county,” Miller said.
She has even hosted community roundtables on a potential merger.
Supporters said they believe creating a regional water system would be a good place to start. Right now, a task force is underway exploring that option.
"They're looking at, both the city and the county, having a more shared governance of the water system," Miller said.
Adding to that, the Greater Baltimore Committee is working to spur economic growth in both the city and county. Some 400 organizations maximize their different parts to become a stronger metro.
"This is an attractive place and location, right in the middle of the Mid-Atlantic between New York and Washington,” Crenson said.
Collaboration could be key to furthering the region's charm, as it works to create its next chapter.
"Always hopeful. Baltimoreans live on hope,” Crenson said with a smile.
While there are no current plans to merge, in many ways, leaders are finding that working together is producing results.
Next Thursday at 10 p.m., 5 On Your Side will take a look at education and how a Baltimore public school is improving outcomes for students, while also engaging the total family.