The purpose of a newspaper it to inform, entertain or persuade. In 26 years of writing them in my long-ago life, I cannot recall one time I persuaded anyone to do anything. My editor had a nasty habit of removing anything that wasn’t as dry as the Sahara. I tried my best to keep them factual.

Now what happened 8 years ago when the owners sold the 30-story building cashed in and pocketed $66 million for a building that is now worth $24 million?

The Freddie Gray riots.

When a career criminal died in the hospital from spinal cord injuries, the ignorant masses blamed the police. The city filed charges against 6 officers but none stuck because they were political prosecutions. Nevertheless, the city gave Gray’s family (spins dial) $6.4 million.

The real problem was Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake sided with the rioters. She ordered police to stand down and allow rioters to loot and destroy businesses.