Based on the highly arguable assertion that it would “root out corruption in City Hall,” city resident Jovani Patterson, in a campaign funded by county resident David Smith, argues that we should shrink the size of the City Council.

He is wrongheaded because this diminishes political participation for a Black community in Baltimore that has for far too long been denied, and then organized to utilize, their basic voter rights. When you take something away from people, as has recently been done to women on reproductive rights, you diminish basic freedoms promised by our democracy.

Mr. Patterson and his sponsor David Smith, The Sun’s and Fox 45′s owner and Sinclair Broadcasting’s boss, and in all three an activist right-wing influencer, should recalibrate their civic advocacy to advance and not restrict the rights of all Baltimoreans.

Stan Heuisler

Baltimore