Top Ten Maryland Stories 2019

(Baltimore, MD) The politics of Maryland is changing.  Stalwarts who shaped the state faced health challenges paving the way for “new blood” into the system. Maryland continues be challenged by corruption. From the rural to the urban areas we saw overlapping issues of education, transportation, and crime. There is optimism on the horizon but who will help shape it and to whose advantage.

10. The Mike’s who run Annapolis – At the beginning of the year Speaker Michael Bush and Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller faced health challenges. Speaker Bush had been recovering from a transplant and President Miller announced he was being treated for cancer. Their second in command were woman. For several days we had Speaker Pro Tem,  Adrienne Jones and Senator Kathy Klausmeier presiding over the two chambers in Annapolis (a first). Sadly, Speaker Bush succumbed to illness with Jones serving as the Speaker of the House. President Miller announced he will step down in January 2020 with Senator Bill Ferguson taking over. This will be the first time in 32 years Senator Miller has not presided over the upper chamber.

9. GTTF – What a mess in the Baltimore City Police Department. We learned the fate of the Gun Trace Task Force. Seven officers were indicted in federal court on racketeering, robbery, corruption, extortion,overtime pay and filing false paperwork charges in 2017 (an additional charge of conspiring with a drug organization was tied to one of the defendants). This year they discovered their fate. Five plead guilty and two others were convicted. The fallout is ongoing.  The Baltimore States Attorney, Marilyn Mosby, asked the courts to toss 800 cases that were tainted by these corrupt cops. Then Mosby said some cops could not take the stand in court because of credibility issues (183 officers). This is occurring as a record number of murders and shootings are going on Baltimore.

8. Kirwan Commission – The state is about to undergo a wholesale transformation of its educational system. Leading this effort is Dr. William “Brit” Kirwan. Using experts and statistical models they have laid out an ambitious plan.

They were able to get the idea through the legislature despite the governor’s objection. Now the heavy lifting, the details and how to pay for it. The Governor has called the group the “Kirwan Tax Commission.”

7. Governor Hogan’s Next Act – For awhile it looked as though Governor Larry Hogan might challenge President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for POTUS. Governor Hogan didn’t quell the rumors and embarked on a listening tour as the President of the Governor Association. We saw him in Iowa, and New Hampshire.  Instead he opted not to face off against a President who he is no fan of. Instead he has decided to create Change Maryland Action Fund, a Super Political PAC, which allows him to raise unlimited money. The is likely to be targeted swaying voters from embracing the Kirwan Commission recommendations and its funding model.

6. The Lexington Rat – In one viral video, a rat was seen in the cookie/cake glass stand at Lexington Market. The fallout was immediate, the entire market was closed by the Health Department.

Customers stop going and the need for improvement was laid bare at one of the oldest markets in United States. The various Public Markets in Baltimore were being rehabbed with new vendors and under new management. Time to start over.

5-Tied - I want to run for Mayor – With Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh under investigation and indictment, people were wondering who should run the city. The field includes current Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young, the City Council President Brandon Scott, Former Police Spokesman T.J. Smith, Former States Attorney Thiru Vignarajah, State Senator Mary Washington, and Former Mayor Shelia Dixon are but a few who believe they have what it takes on the Democratic side. There at least four Republicans. The primary should be interesting.

5-Tied - I want to Represent the 7^th Congressional District – The death of Congressman Elijah Cummings came at a time when he questioned the nations handling of the immigrant children at the border by putting them in cage like structures. “We can do better than this?” Adding to this was POTUS saying, “Why would anyone want to live there (his district)”? His death meant a crowded field to replace him (24 Democrats and 14 Republicans). It includes and is not limited to his wife, a former Congressman, at least 6 current members of the legislature, and a host of first-time office seekers.

4. I Got Caught – I take no solace in the downfall of politicians. This year there were a record number in the state with a number of state legislators were found accepting brides and using them for personal expenses. Delegates Cheryl Glenn and Twanna Gaines were charged with taking bribes in federal court. Then there was Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti who was censured by the legislature for using a racial slur.  Delegate Jay Jalisi was reprimanded by the legislature for bullying staff. The “biggest fish” caught in this political net, former House and Senate member Catherine Pugh (more below).  

3. Traffic Nightmare – The DC Beltway and I – 270 traffic is a nightmare. There are times where you are better off waiting, then joining those already stuck in traffic. This deserves a solution.

So, the Hogan Administrationseized on an idea in Virginia to use toll roads to ease congestion and usingthe money to pay for more lanes. It struck a sour-cord with those in the region who were told it might take ten years to do and a private company was going to own the road. Everything seemed to going well till Comptroller Peter Franchot balked and things are on hold. Also, Secretary Pete Rahm who was no fan of the region and its problems says he is going back to New Mexico.

2. Lamar Jackson/Ravens – “’Woo Woo,’ may I present to you, the MVP front runner, Lamar Jackson in the flesh.” This according to Ravens Running Back Mark Ingram, II, dubbed Jackson’s hyped man. I loved it and he was right. “I'm about that. If you don’t believe me, meet me at the ‘Bank,’”

Jackson has galvanized a city/a state/a nation in search of something to believe in. His fans can’t wait to see his moves. Michael Vick is awed – he broke his record. Allen Iverson’s crossover in basketball has noting on Jackson leaving defenders in the dust. 14-2 and the AFC championship goes through Baltimore. Thank You!!! “Woo, Woo.”

1. The Downfall of Cathy Pugh – Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh was seen as a refreshing change from Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. The word was she could make deals. That part was correct. She parlayed her influence in the Maryland Senate, and as Mayor of Baltimore to enrich herself at the expense of her constituents. The “Healthy Holly Book” series became a cash cow with various groups buying hundreds of copies that were never disturbed or printed. The money flowed into her personal accounts. She will be sentenced in Federal Court in 2020.

Person of the Year – Speaker Adrienne Jones

Delegate Jones confided in me a year ago she was interested in becoming the Speaker if the current Speaker, Delegate Michael Bush’s health did not allow him to continue. Midway through last year his health got worst and Delegate Jones was asked to run the House of Delegates. Then the inevitable occur Speaker Michael Bush died on the eve of Sine Die (last day of the session). The next morning, she told me in interview on MPT she would seek the office permanently. I reminded her there we those who thought she should not be the Speaker. “We’ll see.”

Several weeks went by and two other candidates threw their names in the ring, Delegates Maggie McIntosh and Derek Davis. Each of these individuals began to call in “markers” for support. It was clear with two Black candidates it was going to split the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus vote.

I received a phone call early one morning telling me I should be at the Reginald Lewis Museum for an important announcement. When I inquired to as to why. My source said Del. Jones was going to endorse Delegate Davis for Speaker. I was shocked but not surprised. Delegate Jones did not run a committee which meant her influence wasn’t as strong as Delegates Davis and McIntosh who chaired some of the most powerful committees in Annapolis.

After Governor Hogan called for a Special Session, the process for vote counting was underway. The early tallies showed the race close. Members of the Maryland’s GOP for the first time concluded they were in the driver seat to select a Speaker. Delegate McIntosh was too partisan and so they threw their support to Delegate Davis.

Tension was high in the Democratic and Republican caucus rooms. In the Democratic caucus room varied constituents personally lobbying each other to flip their votes. According to several sources there were two to three votes taken where no candidate had a clear majority. Partisans confessed dis-illusion that Del. Davis could be over the top by a Republicans.

If was clear no one was willing to move, until a suggestion was brokered to the Davis and McIntosh camps, would they be willing to revisit the idea of Del. Jones being Speaker. Sometimes you have to make a political deal and this was it. To the surprise of all the parities (including the Republicans) Delegate Jones named advanced to floor. With praises of her selection in the from all.

During the post vote press conference surrounded by her supporters. I reminded her in my question. “You know now your name will be included with Harriet Tubman in Maryland?” As Speaker Jones began to ponder, “I haven’t had a chance to let that sink in yet.”

Speaker Jones holds to high honors in the state, the first woman and first African-American to hold one of the three leadership position of the state. FYI, the pictures of the past speaker are on the walls of the House of Delegates, she will be the first woman.  

Dirty Secrets

(Annapolis) Shhh! The dirty little secret of this week’s Special Session in Annapolis is the white men who’ve governed this state are getting company. They’re about to add a person of color or a female. It’s easy to see as you walk into the chambers. Their portraits adorn the House of Delegates, the Senate Chamber on the first floor and grace the reception areas in the Governors Chamber. These are white men with power who’ve held on to it for generations. That’s about to change and it’s an anathema or a welcome change.

Make no bones about it, when the Maryland Legislature convenes for this Special Session on Wednesday May 1^st the grit of “hardball politics” will be laid bare.

When Marylander, Frederick Douglass claimed, “Power concedes nothing without a demand, never has and never will.” He had no idea a (gay) women and an African-American man would via for one of the three chambers of Maryland politics.

“If not now, then when? I think this is our time, this is our opportunity and we are going to seize the moment,” according to Maryland Legislative Black Caucus (LBC) Chairman, (D) Delegate Darryl Barnes of Prince Georges County. The caucus put down it’s marker for one of its own, Delegate Dereck Davis to become the first African-American Speaker of the House.

Delegate Maggie L. McIntosh, a Democratic from Baltimore City, has made her case suggesting she has some sixty for votes in hand. She all but declared victory during a phone press briefing, “I feel like it’s mine.” If elected she would become the first female and gay Speaker of the House. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Delegate McIntosh can call in a number of favors. She has solid roots in the Union movement and educational communities. During this phone call she said she would be the “Education Speaker,” making funding of the full Kirwan Commission Report a reality, and the building of schools in the state her first priority. In a dig at her opponent, “he’s said nothing about education.” Well that’s not true. Her supporters see her as being the right foil for a popular Republican Governor Larry Hogan. Her loyalties run deep and can be found far beyond the Baltimore City boundaries.

The endorsement by the Black Caucus on Monday was a formality that everyone had expect since the decision by Delegate Adrienne Jones to step aside on Friday, allowing Delegate Davis to be the only African-American candidate. It was a majority but not a plurality.

Noticeable absent from the announcement was Delegate Regina Boyce of Baltimore City. According to reports, she resign from the Black Caucus via email after hearing (Reported by Maryland Matters) that the LBC Chairman Barnes said, “We are going to let a white lesbian be the Speaker of the House?” Delegate Boyce, who shares a district with McIntosh, said, “I was ashamed and embarrassed that our caucus could be so obsessed with having a ‘first black person’ in leadership that they would tear down someone else to express that desire,” During a Bill Signing ceremony on the eve of the vote she said, “I had no idea the email would be made public.”

Delegate Barnes addressed comments attributed to him regarding McIntosh, as being a “white lesbian.” He was appalled by the letter. There was a meeting on Sine Die (30 days ago)… “Those words never came out of my mouth.” The Prince Georges Delegate “attributed it to political posturing.”

Refuting this assessment was Delegate Jose Pena-Melnyk of Anne Arundel and Prince Georges Counties. “I was there, I heard it.” She has gone on record to support Del. McIntosh. Also weighing in on this controversy was Del. Robyn Lewis of Baltimore City who called the comments “appalling.”

The varied divisions in the Democratic Caucus was not lost on Delegate Davis who knows wounds are raw and open in the race. Putting together a coalition of liked minded people to elevate him to the Speaker post will come with challenges. “We all have relationships down here in the General Assembly we work with different people. I have no ill will towards anyone who doesn’t support my candidacy…You can’t take this stuff personally.”

Easier said than done. Some battles get under your skin and linger long after the war. “Sometimes I can be with you, sometimes I can’t,” said the “would be” Speaker.

For the first time we also heard McIntosh admit she reached out to the Republican Party leader, Del. Nick Kipke. “What I told him, I would work with the Republicans.” While this across the aisle "kumbaya moment" was notable, understand this, the Baltimore City Delegate is highly partisan. It was clear when she suggested a Democratic candidate put in the Speaker’s Chair by Republicans would be unacceptable.

While we watch the lead up to an actual vote, the question is what will happen when the Republican Caucus meets? Their leader Del. Kipke of Anne Arundel County says despite his differences with the late Speaker Michael Busch they often comprised and left the “hard-nosed” uncompromised political stances in the background or on the campaign trail. 

When asked during the bill signing ceremony on Tuesday about the GOP and its positions on either candidate, “I believe there both good candidates…we’ll meet and make a decision Wednesday.”

The Prince Georges County Delegate Davis says he has had conversations with Delegate Kipke. “I’m running and I will continue in the tradition of Mike Busch."

A signal that has the Democratic Leaders in the state feeling burned. They want the Speaker elected by a majority of the Democratic Caucus. They feel if the members of the GOP have a hand in crafting who will be the next Speaker they have lost their power.

Davis says Kipke gave him a compliment during one of his committee hearing this session, “When I look at Chairman Davis I see myself in him.”

“Not all my skin-folks are my kin-folks,” an African-American Proverb.

Watching all these events unfold are observers with vested interests. The Leaders of Beautiful Struggle (LBS), a grass roots organization advocating for African-American criminal justice reform, was tempered in the decision by the Maryland Black Caucus to have a single candidate. Dayvon Love of LBS noted it was time for them (the Black Caucus) to “exercise their muscle.” He’s not new to the ways of Annapolis on important issues as it relates to “Black-folk.” “Having a Blackface in a high place doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s…good for the masses of Black People.

A question a number of Delegates will face begins with a simple question. “Can being Gay out weigh being Black?´It’s a conundrum facing a number of people. “If a support a Gay candidate, and not a Black candidate does that make me prejudice?” “If I support a Black candidate and not the Gay one, does that make me homophobic?” If I support a man over a woman does this mean I’m discounting women or the reverse, I’m I discounting men?”

The numbers are stark. Delegate Davis noted there was only on African-American Chair in the House of Delegates when he arrived in Annapolis. There still is only one today (Davis- House Economic Matters Committee), some 20 years later. Delegate McIntosh also mentions the fact there are more women in the legislature than ever before. It's also true that the number of Chair-persons who are Gay have also increased.

These scenarios are going to play out in the vote. It’s likely to get nasty. After the vote will the other side be able to reconcile. Here’s one thing I do know, this vote is going to close.

Skepticism abounds around this race for Speaker of the House. The permutations of the potential outcomes will have your head spinning. While this weeks will end speculation for now…it could come back again in January 2020 when a new legislature is seated.

Negro Mountain et al...

(Annapolis, MD) - The ability to frame a debate can often be curious. Such as the case involving a natural wonder in western Maryland, called Negro Mountain. To the uninitiated holding on to a name like this seems to relate to a different time. Some would even suggest a time which has come and gone. It's not like people didn't know this existed, in fact some people have posed in pictures with signage.

The story behind the name apparently relates to former slave who saved a group of White Frontiersmen. In honor of his heroic efforts they honored him by calling this scenic mountain, Negro Mountain.

Many of the attempts to change the name have often come from people outside of Western Maryland where it sits. The feds tried but were thwarted. State Senator Lisa Gladden from Baltimore has tried to unsuccessfully for a number of years to change the name.

This year however, she has also included another mountain name that some suggest is politically incorrect, Polish Mountain. Senate Joint Resolution 3 has nine sponsors. FYI, when this was brought to the floor of the house and the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus had not taken a position on the name change.

For Western Maryland delegates some suggest this is a bit much. Listen to the arguement Del. Kevin Kelly made to me in the Maryland State House.









The irony about his position, he's apparently been willing to battle any and all comers on this subject.

"What was I thinking"

There have always been people who want to stir the pot in Annapolis, enter Delegate Curt Anderson. Delegate Anderson (I don't know if he was joking or trying to balance a new caucus) announced he was joining the Tea Party Caucus in the the Maryland Legislature.

When news of his joining the caucus was discovered, there were gasps. There was even a suggestion he could be stripped of his seniority in the Judiciary Committee.

This only lasted a few days because according to sources who went to an open delegation caucus he received a tongue lashing from several high powered Democrats including Delegates Maggie McIntosh, and Melvin Stukes. Len Lazarick of Maryland Reporter.com says, all Del. Stukes could do is shake his head, "I'm disappointed."