Baltimore neighborhood objects to plans for school
Fearful for their safety and property values, residents of Baltimore's Canton neighborhood are furious over a decision by the city school district to put a new middle/high school in their midst. Neighbors of Canton Middle School say its students have repeatedly attacked and harassed them, and they thought the trouble would be over when the school closes within the next year. Now, the district is planning to use the building to house one of six new combined middle/high schools run by outside operators. City Councilman James B. Kraft, who represents the area, is so angry about the decision -- which he says was made with no community input -- that he is threatening to hold up the school system's budget when it comes before the council for approval.