A City Council investigation into Baltimore’s problem-plagued speed and red light camera programs hit a bump in the road Tuesday when a move to authorize immediate subpoena power got caught up in a turf battle between committee chairmen.
Councilman Carl Stokes, who chairs one committee---Taxation, Finance and Economic Development—moved last week to take over the investigation, but failed to get enough support from the full city council. Instead, the authority went to the Judiciary and Legislative Investigations, chaired by Councilman Jim Kraft.
That committee voted Tuesday to maintain control of the investigation, but failed—on a tie vote--to approve the authority to immediately issue subpoenas.
Kraft said he will introduce a bill next week to expand the power of his committee to issue subpoenas and to refer matters to law enforcement for prosecution, if necessary.
He conceded that may delay the investigation while council members work out details of how to proceed.
“This is an investigation and it’s not about whether it’s done in a day or a week,” he said. It’s whether it’s done right.”
An angry Stokes complained to The Baltimore Sun and WBFF-TV (Channel 45) about the delay.
“[This] could have been the first day of the investigation itself," Stokes said. "Yes, I'm angry. Yes, I'm upset, because the people in the streets are upset,” said Stokes.
First Steps Taken Towards The Red Line
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake moved Monday to begin work on the Red Line, an east-west rail link connecting Woodlawn to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital in East Baltimore.
She introduced one bill to give the Maryland Mass Transit Administration the right to operate and maintain the service within Baltimore City limits while requiring the agency to comply with city laws and maintain the stations.
A second bill gives the mayor and city council the authority to acquire property to build the line through purchases or condemnation.
Caron Brace, the mayor’s press secretary, said they may need to condemn fewer than a dozen properties. She said the city would exercise condemnation powers if a property threatens public safety and health.
Chow Confirmed As DPW Director.
Also on Monday, the council confirmed Rudy Chow as the new Director of Public Works. Chow was formerly head of the Bureau of Water and Wastewater. He succeeds Alfred Foxx who left the department at the end of January.
Kumasi Vines has been appointed to Chow’s former role in an acting capacity.