Johnson is president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers. He also won five NBA championships while on the team.
The basketball great became one of the most successful black businessmen in the country. He said he wants to assist Charm City with an economic rebound.
«I’ve played on one dream team, and now I’m about to play on another one,» Johnson said.
Johnson and Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh met at his Sodexo-Magic Venture in Gaithersburg to talk about a game plan.
«We had a great dialogue today, Mayor Pugh and I, about how we can get them involved, how we can get them a trade, so they can provide for themselves and their families,» Johnson said.
«To have this opportunity, to sit down with Magic and to talk about the needs of Baltimore and the opportunities that exist here, I think he was as excited as I am,» Pugh said.
Not only did Pugh talk to Johnson about bringing job opportunities to young people in the city, they also spoke about business development, including a movie theater at Mondawmin Mall.
«We bring a retail and a housing option, which we call mix-use. That really jump-starts the redevelopment of urban corridors. And then others will come in, big boxes and others, will come in and invest in the city,» Johnson said.
Many of his enterprises have involved inner-city entrepreneurships such as movie theaters and Starbucks locations.
«We are a city of opportunities. Sometimes you need an extra push from those who are looking form the outside,» Pugh said.
«I’ve already turned around Harlem. I was the first to invest in Brooklyn. Look what happened to Brooklyn,» Johnson said. «Baltimore, you’re the magic city. Here comes the magic man.»
Johnson said he plans to come back to Baltimore in September to walk through the city.
http://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?fk=eegorREs&cid=8572&sound=off&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on&floatwidth=400
