Baltimore's Image Takes A Beating Due To The Riots
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Besides the physical damage and dollar loss of the past few days, there's the very real potential of future loss for Baltimore.
Alex DeMetrick has more on the beating Baltimore's image is taking.
A picture is worth a thousand words and lately, there's been a lot of bad pictures.
The rioting that rocked Baltimore may be painful for a city and state, but it's also worldwide news---and images like this tend to stick. Those images do not make a good impression.
"Sure, it's a concern. This is not the Baltimore we know and love. This is certainly not putting us in a very good light. It doesn't help restore us or bring in new business," said Governor Larry Hogan.
And there is worry it won't bring in tourists. What's happened certainly wasn't on the itinerary of those visiting this week.
"I mean, it's just really sad and I hate it," said Michelle Johnson.
But there is also understanding that you can't write off Baltimore as a stand-alone trouble spot.
"It's happening everywhere. It's happening throughout the states; it's not like it's isolated to just Baltimore," said Butch Blaise.
But along with the images of a city tearing itself apart, there are counter images of the city pulling itself together. Before the sun came up, others took to the streets.
"And I seen this gentleman up here by his self cleaning up the destruction so I decided to come out with my good old cedar broom and help clean the destruction," said Myra Keene.
"Because there are too many of us who believe Baltimore is much better than what you're seeing today," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
And those people cleaning up may just help the city clean up its image.
In terms of air time, the past few days saw more exposure and viewership of the city than the two years of positive coverage of Baltimore's War of 1812 bicentennial.