Harvey, it would be a huge mistake to confuse The Wire with reality. The author has done two other shows about life on the streets
in Baltimore. Some of the show is based on his experiences as a crime reporter for the Baltimore Sunpapers. I enjoy his work a lot...as entertainment.
On the other hand, I have a political reporter friend who lives in Federal Hill. He is apoplectic over the portrayal of his much-improved and much-maligned hometown.
Baltimore has been very much improved over the last 40 years. I remeber when the most well known feature of the city was "the Block"; the seedy strip-club, dive bar, bordello section of town.
Now, most folks know it for The Inner Harbor and Fells Point. It's an upscale restaurant, business and residential area stretching over a couple of miles. The quay is completely packed with families and groups of every stripe on any summer day.
Baltimore has become a beautiful city through a lot of hard work by its citizens and public officials. Is there corruption in Charm City? Sure, but at a MUCH lower level than in the past.