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Coming Up This Weekend...
 I have heard one of the most lively interviews of a local politician I have ever heard...in recent memory, and it didn't happen in Baltimore or the Capital Region. This one happened in the studios of an Eastern Shore radio station in Salisbury. The story is coming up this week's edition of Maryland Politics Weekend.
Frush Responds
Email For Colleagues; Resents Attacks
 Delegate Barbara Frush (D-Dist. 21) tells MarylandPT that she wrote the email that stirred controversy on this very blog last week.
Frush tells me that the email was written and sent by her to fellow members of the 21st District Delegatation Team of State Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D) and Delegates Ben Barnes (D) and Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D).
According to Frush, who is also chairwoman of the county delegation, "[The email] was for informational purposes only to my colleagues after being sharply criticized by the LBGC over not getting bond money." She says that a member of Rosapepe's staff thought it was a response to the Boys and Girls Club and forwarded to them without her permission.
Frush adds that no one on the district delegation team are on the committees that decide bond funds, nor do they have control over who receives these funds. "Our requests are forwarded with every other request to the committees who make the final decisions."
The illegal activity that was referred to in the email, according to Frush, was the club's alleged participation in the last election by placing a candidates sign inside of the complex on Montgomery Street. She says constituents brought up the concern. Because the LBGC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, they cannot participate in political activities.
Delegate Frush says that what is between the club and Prince George's County Councilman Tom Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) has no bearing on her opinion of the club and that she certainly has no vendetta against the club telling me the extent of her involvement with the club. "When my daughters went to Palotti High School, I helped coach their cheerleading squad." Frush also said that they worked with the club as part of her daughters community service.
Frush also says that she resents the manner in which the club has approached the issue. "I will not be threatened. I work extremely hard for my constituents - all of them. I am neither vindictive nor difficult."
On April 24, you read first on MarylandPT that Frush sent the email citing "several issues" concerning the bonds for the Laurel Boys and Girls Club. Two days later, you read the email in it's entirety along with the response from LBGC President Levet Brown.Labels: Barbara Frush, Boys and Girls Club, Laurel, Prince George's County
Burns Is Spreading Blame While Virus Is Spreading
 Recently, I was invited by Doni Glover of BMoreNews.com to a networking event that he was sponsoring in Downtown Washington. Truth be told, I did not find out until two days prior because gmail has a spam filter that acts liberal when it wants to. I still encourage everyone to reach me at pkbnews@gmail.com in addition to commenting on the individual stories, but I digress....
Among the people that I met that night was Johnetta Morgan from HERO (Health Education Resource Organization) which has been serving Central Maryland for nearly 25 years. She told me something that is scary, especially in 2007. I asked her to send me some numbers and I have also done some research myself.
In the most recent statistics in AIDS Cases in the United States, the Baltimore-Towson area ranks second behind Miami and well above Greater New York.
 Even more startling when I saw the latest stats from the Maryland AID Administration, Baltimore City accounts for nearly half of the total HIV/AIDS cases in the free state.
 That is over three times as many in Prince George's County, six-seven times as many in Montgomery and Baltimore Counties and you can see the other numbers above in the counties that had at least one percent. Then you get to the racial break down which pegs the question, How do African-American's account for nearly 82% of HIV/AIDS cases statewide when the African-American population accounts for 29% of the estimated population. Then I remember that Baltimore City and Prince George's County have majority black populations. I can live with that fact, but then a new question comes up...How the hell do our elected leaders allow this to happen.
It's bad enough that they allowed for a disproportionate number of blacks to get infected, but to allow Metro Baltimore, our queen city to be ranked second in the number of AIDS cases in the whole country is appalling. Yes, I realize that personal responsibility has a great deal to do with this, but when you read the story that I found from the Baltimore City Paper where federal funding was cut by five percent, I feel that our elected leaders have failed us.
Why didn't our federal officials fight the cut in funding? More importantly, why haven't they done more to bring support to community-based organizations or better yet, why haven't they supported the organizations themselves.
I am also disappointed in some of our religious leaders...YES I SAID IT! You can teach all of the abstinence in the world, but God still gave man a choice, sin or not to sin. God advocates that we don't sin, he doesn't make us do anything. Personally, I think the way that abstinence-only is being taught, it's making teens go and have sex because the teachers are not telling them anything truthful about sex. I am also disappointed that some religious leaders are not doing anything to help and support people who are truly in need like they are suppose to.
It is 2007, allow me to remind you that not all HIV/AIDS cases are due to sex and/or drugs. Tennis legend Arthur Ashe kept his diagnosis private because of ignorance, he received this disease through a blood transfusion, just like a young man from the Midwest named Ryan White.
Overall, I want to know where is our leadership when it comes to securing funds and giving support to the community based organizations such as HERO, who deal with each case on the front line. Community Organizations seem to the only ones fighting to keep people alive and give support to those in need.
Now, there are some politico's who support these organizations, but where are the heavy hitters? I would like to see Governor Martin O'Malley help out at an event or organize a fund raiser. How about Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon or her counterpart in Baltimore County, County Executive Jim Smith, getting involved and giving support to these organizations?
I am not saying that they are not involved, but it would be nice to see them out and more often in light of this news.
With that in mind, I encourage all elected officials and religious leaders, particularly in Central Maryland, to do me this one favor. HERO is having their 20th Annual AIDS Walk in Baltimore City on Sunday, June 10. I will not be able to attend because of my employment obligations in Virginia, but I would love to turn on the TV or check online to see a good amount of support for this organization and hopes that it will spread to other groups throughout Maryland.
The 20th Annual AIDS Walk in Baltimore will step off from Druid Hill Park on Sunday, June 10 with registration beginning at 7:00a.m. More information is available online at heroaidswalk.org.
Everyone, especially black voters, need to start getting on our leaders whether they are elected or religious, for covering their eyes and ears for too long. It's time to face the truth and try to save as many lives as possible.Labels: Commentary, HIV/AIDS
 Edwards Getting Ready
 The 2008 election cycle has started early for us here at MarylandPT officially. I know, it seems that it had started already as we pick Bush's successor, but none of them had done anything in Maryland yet. But for the time being, we have created the logo for "Free Vote 2008." The woman to your left is the reason for that.
Donna Edwards this past September surprisingly gave Rep. Albert Wynn the political fight of his life, only losing by just over three percent in the democratic primary. The Gazette says that Edwards filed for candidacy last week. This sets up a rematch for the 4th Congressional Seat (Prince George's and Montgomery Counties.)
Some say that Wynn is a newly charged man. Edwards acknowledge that he is a different candidate now, and so is she.
This comes as last week, I told you about a blog that wants to make sure that this is the last term that Wynn serves. At last check Edwards' campaign website, www.donnaedwardsforcongress.com, is still online.Labels: 4th Congressional District, Donna Edwards, Free Vote 2008, Montgomery County, Prince George's County
Johnson Is Confident!
Hospital Money Can Be Found
 According to The Gazette, Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson is confident that the county will be able to bail out the hospital system in 15 months. Well, at least he is confident in something. He's also confident that the estimated cost of the bailout is about $30 million. Del. Barbara Frush (D-Dist. 21) who is the leader of Team Prince George's (the delegation) says that they are confident that the county would meet this obligation.
Shortly after the end of The Assembly 2007, Johnson and County Council Chairwoman Camille Exum (D) announced a plan to keep the hospital afloat until 2008, while Exum led the council to say no to a plan that was driven by the county delegation and Governor Martin O'Malley (D).
The paper also reports that this situation will be discuss between Johnson and O'Malley while they attend a convention in Las Vegas. I guess it is to make sure that whatever insults they want to throw at each in Vegas, stays in Vegas.Labels: Prince George's County, Prince George's Hospital Center
Western Anne Arundel Spared Another Wal-Mart
 Oh somewhere in Laurel and Glen Burnie, there are falling prices and children screaming. But there was somewhat joy in Crofton, Wal-Mart has struck out.
Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold announcing today that the "planned" Crofton Wal-Mart will not be coming.
Leopold said that the established principle of his administration was that economic development will not proceed where infrastructure is not adequate to service the development
Leopold says that he is "pleased to have reached an accommodation with the project's developer (Lancer Corporation) and Wal-Mart to forestall the construction of the project."
A Wal-Mart spokesman said that the company appreciates the hard work of Leopold and the County Council and hopes to work on future projects.
The project was to go along Route 3 in Crofton.Labels: Anne Arundel County, Crofton, Wal-Mart
Tuition To Be Frozen...at least that's the plan
 Governor Martin O'Malley (D), despite looming budget woes, is seeking to keep the tuition freeze at the schools that comprise of the UNiversity System of Maryland.
The Baltimore Sun reports from College Park, Prince George's County, that O'Malley does not believe that enough has been done to make higher education is affordable.
O'Malley this past election cycle has promised to do that, going as far as depicting to kids in one of his television ads reaching for a college degree. They were not able to get it until O'Malley (heroic looking I should say) takes the degree off the wall and hands it to the children.Labels: Governor, Martin O'Malley, Tuition, University System of Maryland
BGE Special Session Part II?
 A member of Team Baltimore City who is running for mayor is calling for a special session to deal with the proposed 50 percent rate jump for the BGE service area, and she is know to call out the Governor.
Del. Jill Carter charged the utility with putting profits before people. She's also urging state leaders to take immediate action to stop the rate increase.
The Gazette is reporting that Governor Martin O'Malley restated his confidence in the Public Service Commission saying that they will make the right decision for consumers.Labels: BGE, Jill Carter, Public Service Commission
Citizens To Thomas: Please Leave
 We have yet to make the six month mark of the post-2002 Prince George's County Board of Education and then this happens. Last Week, I told you that At Large member Nathaniel Thomas took a student with him to a conference in San Francisco. The student was not the one serving as a board member. That student was flown back the same day it was discovered that they were not in Maryland.
Prince George's School Officials announced an independent investigation in the matter would be carried out. But that is not stopping the calls for the 26-year-old Thomas to step down.
The Gazette says that many are asking four days after the investigation was launched.Labels: Board of Education, Nathaniel Thomas, Prince George's County
Property Taxes To Stay Put...For Now
Governor Martin O'Malley and Comptroller Peter Franchot said heck to the no when it comes to raising the state's property tax rate at the Board of Public Works meeting. The 'professional' board voted 2-1 against, with Treasurer Nancy Kopp being the lone dissenter.
Keep in mind we have a budget deficit of at least a Billion dollars. Governor O'Malley says that it's on his mind. He tells The Baltimore Sun that he knows that difficult financial decisions will have to be made next year that will likely include a tax increase.
Hate to say this, but former Governor Robert Ehrlich might be right back in December, where he speculates about the democrats setting us up for a tax increase.Labels: Board of Public Works, Tax
Judge Katie Resting Comfortably
 Our first lady, Judge Catherine O'Malley is resting comfortably tonight at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
This after she was feeling a little light headed and had trouble breathing while she was attending a fund raiser at M & T Bank Stadium for the House of Ruth.
The governor accompanied her. The Baltimore Sun says that Judge Katie was staying at the hospital overnight for observation.Labels: Catherine Curran O'Malley, First Lady
April: The Month of Hypocrisy
 Last week, I read The Gazette like I normally do on Thursday nights. Then I came across their editorial, A lot of problems, little action (April 19)", after which, I literally fell to the floor in laughter.
This was after reading the call from the editors of the paper for higher caliber leaders. A call coming six months after they endorsed a number of incumbents, but in particular Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson.
I would like to congratulate The Gazette Editorial Board as well as the majority of citizens in the county for voting these leaders in to office. The majority voted for leaders who hire based on committment to the county over experience in a particular field. They have also voted for Elliot Ness-style of crime fighting which has proven unsuccessful in the past, just like the current re-implimentation of the crime fighting plan.
The majority also voted for leaders with questionable ethics and for leaders who do not want to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to providing world class health care.
The Gazette as well as Prince George's residents this past election cycle had a chance to change the leadership (which usually starts from the top and trickles down.) They didn't and it will be more than three years from now before we can start fresh.
I was rather shocked after it came out that Councilwoman Marilyn Bland (D-Dist. 9) was being questioned once again for her spending in office. Remember the first time this happened while she was on the pre-2002 elected Board of Education? Yet the people in District 9 saw fit to re-elect her.
If anyone (despite me being a registered Republican) is a cheerleader for a two-party system, especially in Maryland, it is me. We need something other than the status quo. Unfortunately, the Republicans in Maryland have not had the proper direction since Micheal Steele was the state chairman of the party. The time is ripe, but unfortunately Republican Leaders lack a whole lot of stuff, including recruitment and logistics, but I digress.
For The Gazette to call for better leaders is like William Donald Schaefer saying something genuinely nice about former Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens...or Governor Martin O'Malley now that I think about it. May is thankfully two days away. I pray that we will not have the month of hypocrisy that we had in April. It seemed to be rampant.Labels: Commentary, Prince George's County, The Gazette
Two For The Topic Of One
 Despite that the combined populations make up less than a third of the population of ALL of the free state, a Capital News Service Analysis says that Baltimore City and Prince George's County accounted for MORE THAN 75 percent of homicides for the entire state. Unfortunately making them the murder capitals of Maryland.
Baltimore City, historically dwarfing Prince George's since 1985, they account for nearly 55 percent of all murders in Maryland. Prince George's made up for lost time in 2005 breaking a 14 year old record with 164 murders. Even though the number dropped in 2006, with County Executive Jack Johnson leading the PR celebration party with Police Chief Melvin High, they are right back on pace to break the 2005 numbers (78 percent higher than at this time over last year.)
More details in The Gazette.Labels: Baltimore City, Crime, Prince George's County
Baltimore City:Boring Is Okay
 Three months into being the Mayor of the state's only independent city, Mayor Sheild Dixon (D) is turning heads, by not turning heads. The 53-year-old single mother of two tells The Gazette in this week's edition that nothing has been really hard and that she lives a dull life. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
Anywho, neighborhood groups seem to be happy. Her rival in Free Vote 2007, Councilman Keiffer Mitchell Jr. (D) is not. He says that people are looking for leadership and "we haven't seen that." Mitchell adds that she has the city in a holding pattern while maintaining the status quo.Labels: Baltimore City, Mayor, Sheila Dixon
Ehrlich: Please Support Me
 Former Governor Robert Ehrlich (R) is quite busy these days, but apparently it's not enough. The Baltimore Sun is reporting that he recently sent a letter to his supporters asking for donations to keep his campaign office operating.
He does not say whether he is planning a rematch against Governor Martin O'Malley (D) but he says that the purpose was to fund grass roots political organizations and to confront the "ultra-liberal bosses in Annapolis."Labels: Robert Ehrlich
Laurel: Who Dropped The Ball?
On Tuesday, April 24, I received an anonymous email from someone calling themselves a concerned parent, who sent a copy of an email sent by Del. Barbara Frush (D-Dist. 21) to the District 21 Delegation team (state Sen. Jim Rosapepe, Del. Ben Barnes and Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk.) The email discussed funding not received from the Laurel Boys and Girls Club. The email, allegedly written by Frush, said “There were several issues with the bonding of the [Laurel Boys and Girls Club]. First the committee was surprised by the "Gaithersburg" boy who testified on behalf of the club.” The email also alleges that the club turned down the city’s request to testify to the state on their behalf. In addition, Frush allegedly adds “There were several issues with the bonding of the LBGC. First the committee was surprised by the "Gaithersburg" boy who testified on behalf of the club.” That email prompted a response from Levet Brown, the clubs president, who in short calls for Frush to retract the statements. Calling the email a justification for failing to secure funding from the state. Click Here to see the letters… One thing I was not expecting was the reaction from readers in the Laurel area, including City Councilman Mike Sarich. Also among the emails, one from LBGC Executive Director Patrick Reed asking Sen. Rosapepe to sponsor a bill from this past legislation. He also outlined repairs needed to the facility totaling $675,000. Reed also tells me that he has emails stating the Del. Frush was on board with the bond bill. Now enter a new player, Prince George’s County Councilman Tom Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) who has allegedly kept $200,000 in funds from the club through the Community Block Program. Many in the comments have suggested that Dernoga drew first blood in attacking the club and that Frush jumped on the bandwagon. In a letter from November 2006, which I obtained from the LBGC website, Dernoga says that he provided the money in the 2006 budget year, but did not fight for additional funding in 2007. He says there were several reasons, which among them include:
· Payments for Property Taxes.
· Internal disputes.
· Lack of a Certified Audit.
· Payments for Attorneys Fees.
· Substantial Out of County participation.
· Disputes with the City of Laurel. In an email response, Dernoga said that he has certainly not attacked the club and have been subjected to perodic emails since last summer over club funding. He also says that if his explanation is an “attack,” it is all that he has to say on the matter. “I stated at that time that I would not comment further because I do not see how continuing controversy benefits anyone.”
Dernoga also notes that he has brought “substantial” funding from the county during his tenure as a councilman, adding that the funding places the club in the Top 3 countywide.
I have an email in to Delegate Frush seeking comment on the email (whether it’s true or not) as well as any other comments she would like to add. Labels: Boys and Girls Club, Laurel, Prince George's County, Tom Dernoga
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