Redmer and Olszewski both oppose reduction of bus service from White Marsh Mall following altercation

Following an altercation Saturday evening in which seven teens and two young adults were arrested outside the White Marsh Mall, council members Cathy Bevins and David Marks asked the Metropolitan Transit Authority to limit late-night bus service from the area. 

But the current Baltimore County executive and both of the candidates vying for the job say that’s not the way to go. 

“I will inform the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) that I do not support any effort to limit bus service from Baltimore City to the County. While I understand the frustration that was caused by a recent disruption at White Marsh Mall, stigmatizing and creating hardship for City residents is not an acceptable response,” County Executive Don Mohler said in a statement Friday. 

“It is 2018. Not 1950. We are neighbors with Baltimore City and stand with them. We cannot and should not put a moat around our City partners. We must continue to work together on complex issues for the good of the Baltimore region,” Mohler said.

John Olszewski Jr., the Democrat running to be the next county executive, also disagreed with the request from Bevins and Marks. 

“Families are rightly concerned and deserve a strong response, which I believe must be holistic — improving public safety without limiting transit access,” Olszewski said. “This approach should include working with the mall to revise their policies regarding unaccompanied minors and engaging our law enforcement community to develop a community-focused plan for the mall and surrounding areas.”

Al Redmer, the Republican running against Olszewski, said he’s also against limiting bus service. 

“This is not an issue of limiting access to the mall or deciding who can shop there and who can’t. This is an issue of security and instituting policies that ensure customers are safe, and that guests at the mall are acting appropriately,” Redmer said in a statement.

Bevins’ district includes the mall, and Marks’ district, which includes Towson, is nearby.

Baltimore City Council President Jack Young told The Baltimore Sun he thinks the request to limit bus service has racial undertones.

“What about the county kids who come down to Fells Point and the Inner Harbor and wreak havoc?” Young said to the Sun. “If it was county kids fighting, I doubt they would have made any remarks.”

“The mall closes at 9 p.m.  Our proposal is to increase the number of buses until 11 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays, so that employees and patrons can immediately reach their destinations,” Marks said in an email. “There are people of all backgrounds who work and patronize the mall. They deserve safe conditions. Perhaps some of our critics can start offering solutions instead of just rhetoric.”

Officials are also talking with the White Marsh Mall about implementing a rule against unaccompanied minors, similar to what is in place at Towson Town Center.

Related: Brawl in downtown Towson goes (locally) viral