I spent the morning speed dating.

My fellow speedsters were Baltimore City department heads and their top staff.

I stayed at the same table while the bureaucrats rotated among the legislators in the six districts in the City delegation to Annapolis.

If nothing concentrates the mind like a hanging – or in Annapolis, a bill hearing, having the ear of top bureaucrats concentrated my mind today.

Among the issues I raised were:

Can we use slots dollars designated for neighborhoods near Pimlico Race Track to conduct a site study for commercial development near the Cold Spring light rail station? Both the private and public parties involved have said they don’t have the money. This morning, the light went on, and I thought of this alternative.

Many couples who integrated communities in West Baltimore nearly 50 years ago still live in those residences. However, they’re aging in place. Census data can tell us the number of such homeowners. The City Housing Department will do the research. Then we can discuss whether the program that the Jewish community is running to help seniors maintain their homes in Upper Park Heights can be replicated with public dollars.

The Forest Park Golf Course wants to add a driving range. Senator Gladden has told me that. So I asked the head of Recreation and Parks to set up a meeting for his staff, the people running the golf course, and the 41st District delegation.

I’ll let you know whether any of these brief encounters turn out to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship – policy-wise.