That doesn't mean Sagamore's plans should get a free pass. Far from it. Mr. Plank may have proven himself a strong supporter of the city and of local charitable causes, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't think carefully about how the deal is structured and ask questions like whether there is a chance such a large TIF could impact the city's bond rating or whether the state and federal investments in this project might crowd out other priorities for the city. Still, all involved need to stick to the facts and not misrepresent the nature of a TIF, a public financing mechanism that has proven extremely valuable in the past, nor try to pit one neighborhood against another. Baltimore can ill-afford to let a project of such potential slip away because of public misconceptions, whether the result of a simple misunderstanding or a deliberate act of political opportunism.