Dan Rodricks: Turning graffitists to muralists, trash to cash and catfish to hash | STAFF COMMENTARY

Nobody asked me, but, with graffiti out of control in parts of Baltimore, why not round up the vandals, exchange their spray paint for paint brushes and put them to work on murals? It could be a collaborative effort led by the mayor’s staff, similar to the effective approach taken with squeegee guys. Maybe graffitists could be convinced that their contributions to murals — new ones, such as  Saba Hamidi’s amazing “corridor of color” along the Maryland Avenue overpass of the Jones Falls Expressway, and touch-ups of old ones — would be more lasting than graffiti and certainly more appreciated.

Nobody asked me, but nothing better sums up the sorry state of the nation than the contrast in political parties: Democrats “in a panic” because their candidate for president is a decent old guy who gave a shaky performance in a debate, Republicans totally at ease with a vulgar felon found guilty of fraud by one jury, liable for sexual abuse by another, and under indictment for trying to subvert our democracy.

Nobody asked me, but I hope Gov. Wes Moore considers setting aside some steel from the Key Bridge for its replacement. It would not take much to have those involved in recycling the scrap save some for the company that will produce steel for the new bridge. That’s not an extravagant idea; melting scrap for new steel is a common practice in modern U.S. mills. So why not save a pile as a tribute to the fallen bridge and those who built and maintained it? If Tsao Baltimore can turn Key Bridge steel into its expensive watches, the state of Maryland can get some poured into the new bridge.

Nobody asked me, but we should forget naming the new bridge after a single person. Instead, considering the immigrant workers who died in the disaster, we should find a name that celebrates the nation’s history of immigration — the millions who believed in the American dream and made a life here.

Nobody asked me, but Baltimore’s lawsuit against Pepsi and Coke to recover the costs of plastic pollution brings up the repeated failure of the Maryland General Assembly to pass a bottle deposit bill. It’s never been the complete answer to trash, but refunding a dime for each bottle would be an incentive to get more plastic and glass into the recycling stream. Twelve years ago, a University of Maryland study found that refunds on empties curtailed litter in the 10 states with bottle-deposit laws by 30% to 64%. But, pressured by industry lobbyists, lawmakers in Annapolis consistently and stupidly rejected the idea. A new bill emerged in the last two sessions, supported by a coalition of environmental groups, and, says Martha Ainsworth of the Maryland Sierra Club, it will be back in 2025.

Nobody asked me, but, for an organization that declared bankruptcy, the Archdiocese of Baltimore seems to have plenty of funds for television commercials promoting Catholicism.

When the Redemptorists sold St. Michael the Archangel Church in Upper Fells Point, the old church was “rendered to profane use,” and not just because the buyer transformed it into a huge brew pub. “Rendered profane” is Roman Catholic for the closing of a church in preparation for its sale for any new purpose. Based on the archdiocese’s final plan for the consolidation of parishes, there’s going to be a whole lot of profanity around here.

Nobody asked me, but Jamie Costello deserves recognition in the Baltimore Museum of Industry’s communications gallery for being a rarity in local television: “A Rosedale boy who lived out his dream in living color in his hometown.” That’s how Costello describes his good fortune, growing up in Baltimore County, graduating from Overlea High, having a lifelong desire to be a Baltimore broadcaster and achieving that goal, first as a reporter and later as an anchor, at WMAR-TV, the city’s first television station. He just left after 37 years, having carried 2 News for much of that time, a beloved and authentic Baltimore guy who reported stories as the native son he is. His new job is with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, where, he says, “I’ll be telling stories.” Sounds like a challenge, but Jamie’s up to it.

Nobody asked me, but Iron Bridge Wine Co. in Howard County needs to make its recent lunch special of steamed mussels in whatever-that-extraordinary-broth-was a regular offering. I realize this calls for printing new menus, but that dish deserves a promotion.

The Polish wedding sausage at Sophia’s in the Broadway Market is superb. Try the smoked mackerel, too.

Reminder: It’s the Year of Eating Chesapeake Catfish , our effort to take a bite out of the invasive (and voracious) blue catfish. Sun reader Dottie Doepke bought a filet at the Pennsylvania Dutch Market in Cockeysville and found it “beautifully white, sweet and tastes of what it eats.” She’s planning to buy more of “this marvelous protein source” for the freezer.

This month’s recipe, Blue Catfish Hash : Two large potatoes peeled and boiled until fork tender; one pound of blue catfish poached in salted water, white wine and lemon juice; one bell pepper and one onion diced and sauteed until soft; a cup of cooked corn off the cob. After draining the potatoes and catfish, mash them together in a bowl, add the peppers, onion and corn, then cook the hash a bit more in a skillet, seasoning with Old Bay and a dash of ground cloves.