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Health Department May Soon Grade Baltimore Restaurants

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore City council is moving forward with a plan to have the health department grade restaurants in the city.

Pat Warren reports supporters consider it a benefit to public health---but not everyone agrees.

Before you even walk in the door, you should be able to judge what you're getting by looking at the window. That's the plan City Councilman Brandon Scott has for the city health department: to put letter grades on restaurant windows to help customers decide if they want to eat there.

"The average person doesn't understand what goes on to an inspection report so grading systems or rating systems are a sure way for every citizen, for the common taxpayer, to know the results of the inspection that's done on their behalf," Scott said.

The Restaurant Association of Maryland argues that giving an A or B or C to a restaurant is a scarlet letter system that runs the risk of being unfair.

"I just think that it's opening up a huge can of worms," said Ann Costlow, who owns Sofi's Crepes.

Costlow worries that giving a health department inspector the power to grade a restaurant based on a single inspection is a recipe for failure.

"I think it's ridiculous that the health department would have such control over the business aspect of the restaurant," she said.

A 2013 state health department review found deficiencies in Baltimore City's current health inspections but Councilman Scott dismissed it.

"It was a task force appointed by the governor who does not want restaurant grades and that's what happens," Scott said.

Instead, he argues in other cities, a grading system has been an incentive to keeping restaurants clean---but owners like Chris Hannan say it should be open or shut.

"You're either able to serve food in a healthy manner or you're not. Our position would be shut those restaurants down that aren't complying and in fact be even more aggressive with that as opposed to being more lenient," he said.

Grading, he believes, just adds another layer of bureaucracy.

A work session on the legislation may be scheduled next week.

Several city agencies have endorsed the grading system.

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