More martial arts training, less guns needed in District

Re: "The 3-Minute Interview: Furman Marshall," May 7

Thanks to Liz Farmer for a refreshing reminder of the days when we studied the "art" of fighting. I too was a student of Ki Whang Kim.Simba DoJang was a respected place on Wheeler Road Southeast when I went to Ballou High School back in the late 1960s and into 1970.Although my "crew" from Ballou went to the 12th Street Y in Northwest to study under Mr. Kim, Furman Marshall was as renowned as Muhammad Ali in Southeast back then, and just as respected.

There were a bunch of drunken kids on my street fighting this past Saturday night, and a neighbor and I were a bit relieved that the bloodied young'uns were only injured by fists.In an era when all too many conflicts end in gunfire, especially in the Southeast Washington where I still reside, the short interview with Mr. Marshall served to remind some of us of the days when we learned the disciplined and spiritual methods of themartial arts.

[If only there] were 100 Simba DoJangs in the Washington region today -- and fewer gun stores.

Ronald R. Hanna

Washington

Maryland, not Virginia, is winning economic race

Re: "A tale of two states: Why Va. Has a brighter economic future than Md.," Local Editorial, May 1

This editorial is sadly underwritten by cherry-picked data, incorrect assumptions and full-on factual inaccuracies. The Washington Examiner's editorial board is free to issue their own opinions, but not entitled to their own version of the facts.

Virginia simply did not create the 32,200 jobs in March that The Examiner gives them credit for. In fact, they actually lost 400. On the other hand, far from losing jobs, Maryland created 1,500 net new jobs. It's also worth noting that in the first quarter of 2012, Maryland created 20,200 net new jobs -- our best start to a year since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began reporting seasonally adjusted jobs data in 1990. Virginia created half that number.

If The Examiner were to look even deeper into the jobs numbers, they would also find that over the last 12 months, Maryland created 49,600 new jobs (96 percent in the private sector), while our neighbors in Virginia gained 38,000. Correcting for population, that means Marylanders enjoy the 10th fastest rate of private sector job growth in the nation. Virginia ranks 24th.

To be certain, both states have fared well in this economic recovery. Both states maintained their AAA bond ratings and both are recovering jobs significantly faster than the nation as a whole. Despite the recession, Maryland public schools have been named No. 1 in America for the fourth straight year, and Virginia's are not far behind in 4th place.

But while The Examiner is fond of citing research papers paid for and published by radical anti-tax advocates, we proudly point to Maryland's ranking as a Top 5 State for growth by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. And in the Kauffman Foundation's estimation, Maryland is one of three states best positioned to win in the new economy. To borrow a phrase from your editorial, none of this happened by accident.

Alex Sanchez

Secretary,

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

State of Maryland