* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
Introduced by: Councilmember Costello
A Bill Entitled
An Ordinance concerning
title
Corrective - City Streets - Renaming Violet Hill White Way to Violet Hill Whyte Way
For the purpose of changing the name of Violet Hill White Way, which is located between the 700 blocks of West Lexington Street and West Fayette Street and before Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, to Violet Hill Whyte Way.
body
By authority of
Article 26 - Surveys, Streets, and Highways
Section 7-3
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
Recitals
In 1998, per subdivision, a block was redrawn, and the former street name of West Rose Aurd Place was stricken on the drawing and replaced by the name Violet Hill White Way. That was the year that the Baltimore City Council adopted, after a public hearing, a Council Resolution entitled “Violet Hill Whyte - “Lady Law”, which honored the life and service of Violet Hill Whyte, the first African- American woman appointed to the Baltimore City police force and an outstanding citizen of Baltimore City.
Violet Hill Whyte was appointed to the Baltimore City police force in 1937, and she was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1955, and to the rank of lieutenant in 1967, two months before her retirement. When first appointed to the police force, she was assigned to the Northwestern District, at Pennsylvania Avenue and Dolphin Street, and was not issued a gun, a night stick or handcuffs, but was given only a badge and a police-box key. Officer Whyte, who soon earned the respect of her fellow officers and of the residents of the West Baltimore neighborhoods she patrolled, became affectionately known as “Lady Law”.
The welfare of children was of special interest to “Lady Law”, and she often lectured on her six-point bill of rights to:
(1) be born healthy;
(2) receive spiritual training;
(3) have the advantage of a good education;
(4) be given nurturing custodial care;
(5) be protected under child labor laws; and
(6) be exposed to information about the dangers of narcotics use.
Violet Hill Whyte's life serves as an important lesson in the equality of men and women and sets an invaluable example of teaching tolerance and understanding through the personal demonstration of these virtues.
It is unfortunate that the street named after Violet Hill Whyte misspelled her last name. Although in 1998, that street name change did not go through the Ordinance process, it is now necessary to formally use the process to correct this technical error.
Section 1. Be it ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the name of Violet Hill White Way, located between the 700 blocks of West Lexington Street and West Fayette Street and before Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, is changed to Violet Hill Whyte Way.
Section 2. And be it further ordained, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.