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.  

Everything Changed After Charlottesville

(Baltimore, MD) Cites across the nation did not want a repeat of pro-confederate demonstrators clashing with protesters who saw the statues perpetuating the idea of southern sympathies, segregation and worst of all Nazi sympathizers. Baltimore became ground zero with Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh deciding to remove Confederate monuments overnight to avoid protesters. 

The move was shrewd. It didn't quell the concerns which led to questions about what to do with the statue to Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney in Annapolis. Early on this blog I talked about the Taney and Dred Scott families reconciling. In a matter of days it was gone.

Across the country a number of Confederate statues were removed. Was this a matter about re-writing history; righting a wrong or correcting the official record? I an conflicted by the removals. Get past the Civil War rewrite and the southern sympathizers. A lot of racist used this as a way to legitimize their beliefs. I reject any comparison. 

Did I miss something? The south lost the war and the Civil War ended slavery. No country honors the losers.  There was a collective rewriting of the Civil War by 1910. Edged on by the idea "The South will Rise Again." Civil Rights incensed those who wanted to control the growing Black middle class.  Veterans coming back from a pair of World Wars were not going to be regulated to second class citizenship. 

But these statues were permanent markers. A signal of racial superiority that was legislated into law. Time has a weird way of equalizing the battlefield. Charlottesville and its imagery in August of 2017 turned the tide.  Talk was already in the works to remove a statue of Supreme Court Chief Judge Roger Taney.  Baltimore had a created commission to removed the statues. When it happen it started a "domino effect." I watched and listen and tried to compile how some saw the removal and perspective.  

https://www.mixcloud.com/charlesrobinson547/confederate-monument-removal-podcast/

Chief Judge Roger B.Taney which was at the entrance to the Maryland State House

The statue gone replaced by a green box

Top Ten Maryland Stories of 2016

There were a lot of holdovers from 2015 and the biggest players in the state, got bigger. The national political climate had little effect on local politicians. As a simple disclaimer you are welcome to disagree. In fact I encourage you to create your own list.

10. The loss of political power by women in Maryland. The Maryland Congressional Delegation has no women and there are no female County Executives. The top two women in the state are Nancy Kopp, the State Treasurer and Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh. What’s really a lost Sen. Barbara Milkulski is leaving the US Senate. Her feistiness enabled more women to enter politics and she was seen as the Dean of Women Politicians. It’s even worst on the GOP side. While Del. Kathy Szeliga (R) of Baltimore and Harford Counties challenged for the US Senate. She ended up losing. The bench on the Republican side isn’t deep. If there is a silver lining, women are becoming a larger share of the Maryland Electorate.

9.  Political Power Shift to Washington Suburbs. We saw this coming. The draining of population from Baltimore City and its overall influence on Maryland is waning. The interesting part is Baltimore is still the state’s economic engine. You can’t discount this. However, places like Montgomery County (the state’s wealthiest district) and Howard County are demanding more for their tax dollars. I would caution those who live around DC, be careful of flexing your political muscle.

8. Devastation of Ellicott City. We know how powerful water can be and its potential destruction. We saw on July 30, 2016 what the neglect of infrastructure can mean for a commercial district. I will not forget water pushing cars down Main Street and the number of human rescues. County Executive Alan Kittleman vowed to rebuild and has done it with the help of the state.

7. Rejecting Candidate Trump. Early on Governor Larry Hogan was a supporter of New Jersey Governor Christ Christie's run for President of the United States. When Governor Christie dropped out and endorsed Donald Trump, Governor Hogan did not follow suit. Maryland’s Governor also skipped the GOP Convention in Cleveland. What did Hogan gain? A 70 percent approval rating. Those numbers will be used to squash any Democratic challenger as he runs for a second term.

6. Chesapeake Bay – After years of doom and gloom the Bay got a report card that was encouraging. The crab population increase by 35 %. Bay grasses expanded by 21%. The numbers provided by Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) gave the movement to “save the bay” momentum. I watched as CBF moved its oyster recovery project to Baltimore City. The foundation was able to bring science to the conversation without being preachy.

5. Under Armour – Kevin Plank. Under Armour’s worldwide headquarters is based in Baltimore. With investment resources and a large staff the apparel maker solidified its position as a major economic player in the city. They doubled down in asking the cash strapped city for a 760 million dollars in tax abatements to take over an industrial area called Port Covington. Critics suggest the city gave away too much. The deal was modified to accommodate job training, infrastructure, and the state kicked in some additional money. It was the only train leaving the station and the city punch its ticket. 

4.    Transportation – This is tricky. The Beltways, the Interstates, and well-traveled roads are in need of repair. Philosophically, Gov. Larry Hogan decides what priorities to push. For years it was about public transit. For the people who elected the governor, they didn’t see the cost benefit in public transportation. New gas taxes provide money to make either one of these transportation ideas possible (the governor wanted to reduce the gas tax but couldn’t). At the beginning of the last legislative session the Governor laid out a plan to provide road construction money to rural areas and a conditionally green light to the Purple line in the Washington suburbs. He summarily rejected the Red line in Baltimore calling it a “boondoggle.” It angered the Baltimore delegation. The delegation help push through a scoring plan for all road projects. It passed without the governor’s signature (This year he’s made the repeal of the law his legislative priority). To squash the anger surrounding the rejection of the Red Line, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) says it was going to redesign bus lines for Baltimore.

3. Fallout from Freddie Gray – The six Baltimore Police Officers who were charged with Gray’s death dodged a bullet. Three were acquitted of charges and the remaining three officers had their cases dismissed. Weeks after the trial the US Justice Department who had been investigating the Baltimore Police Department released a devastating report detailing civil rights violations and a culture of indifference between the Police Department and Black communities they serve. What we await is a consent decree which will fix these problems.

2. Governor’s Race 2018 – Two years into his term, Governor Larry Hogan has solidified his political footing in the state. As the second Republican Governor in the modern era, he has confounded his critics and posted the best approval numbers (70%) of any governor. He has chided potential challengers (Kevin Kamenetz) and found an ally in Comptroller Peter Franchot. Being a Republican in a Democratic state has not boded well for second terms. If you ask me right now, Hogan is likely to win re-election.

1. Dysfunction in Annapolis – The rhetoric has ratcheted up with name calling from the Legislative branch to the Executive Branch. While the Governor sets the agenda, the Legislature sifts through the debris. The Appropriations Committees in both chambers has found money cut from the budget to fund additional educational funding which the governor has rejected. This year the Governor wanted something the legislature had control over, tax incentives. In return for giving Northrup Gruman/Marriott Hotels favorable tax relief, the Governor released more money to school districts. Sen. Mike Miller and Delegate Michael Bush are cautious and they would like to make sure Governor Larry Hogan doesn’t get a second term.

Person of the Year

P. Kenneth Burns

First I am mentor of P. Kenneth Burns. I have watched his career and know he is a solid a reporter at WYPR-FM. When I received word he was banned from Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's briefing in a conference room, I was stunned. I asked, “Are we talking about P. Kenneth Burns?” Then I hear the reasons: “He appears threatening; he types loudly; and is rude.” Then I saw the video of the press conference in question. He presses the Mayor on asking for additional money to fund the Police Department and asked who was in control of the police force? She says, "we’ll get back to you later." We later learned the Police is controlled by the state and the city did ask for a supplemental budget to implement changes in the BPD, which he reported.

I’ve been through banning a reporter at the Annapolis State House. The resolution always makes the accuser look bad. I wrote in open letter to the Mayor (signed by my colleagues) asking her to rescind the order. I appeared on radio to talk about this injustice. I also asked for “better angels” to intercede to correct this wrong. Sadly, Mayor Rawlings-Blake charged the media with “circling the wagons” to protect Burns. Far from the truth. Truth is the only currency reporters have and we value it. There were no facts. Burns spent a two months away from the briefings. He returned with the swearing-in of Mayor Catherine Pugh.  

Burns didn’t stop reporting because of this incident and that for me makes him the perfect “Person of the Year.”