Baltimore Sun contributing editorial cartoonist, Kevin Kallaugher (KAL) recently learned one of his cartoons from 1992 had changed a politician’s mind on a city issue of how to handle an adult store in the downtown area that was attracting drug dealing and prostitution. The four panel cartoon depicted then mayor Kurt Schmoke blowing up a building called The Block only to find the remnants blown outward into smaller pieces where they’d take root and spread. The mayor decided to withdraw his legislation to rezone the area and pursue other enforcement options to deal with the area.
KAL learned about the affect of his cartoon after the former mayor penned an essay describing the influence of a newspaper on local politicians.
That has to feel good to know. Not sure many politicians would 1) change their mind (due to a cartoon) or 2) admit it.