The re-trial of former Prince George’s County Schools CEO Andre Hornsby is continuing in Greenbelt Federal Court.
The prosecutions star witness, Sienna Owens, Hornsby’s ex-live in girlfriend, brought forth more evidence into the trial. The Washington Post reporting that Owens testified that his daughter flew to Florida in 2006 with a prepaid cell phone, along with a letter and a secret code from Hornsby which according to Owens was to use to secretly send Hornsby the number of the new cellphone so he could contact her using his own prepaid cellphone.
Hornsby’s attorney on cross to a swipe at her credibility, pointing out that she lied to her then employer, Leap Frog, Inc., and on her tax form for the commission she earned on a contract signed by Prince George’s County with the company, half of which she left Hornsby for what she calls “grattitude.” The $1 million deal was one of the largest deals the company has done.
This is a bit of irony as I tell you about this story. During the course of my weekly appearance on the “Word on the Street” radio program heard on WAMD (970AM) in Harford County, myself and host Warren Monks agreed that no big developments from the investigations into Baltimore Mayor Shiela Dixon (D) and Prince George’s Senator Ulysses Currie (D-Dist. 25) were leaked, err, released due to it being a holiday week and we had expected to stuff to happen after the 4th of July weekend. Boy were we wrong…about the latter.
The Baltimore Sun, 12 hours later after those statements from myself and Warren were uttered (based on the time I wake up and see the paper) reported an exclusive story in which it obtained records and interviews linking the embattled chairman of the senate budget and taxation committee to the redevelopment of the Mondawmin Mall in West Baltimore.
Here are the puzzle links. Currie’s home in District Heights was searched pursuant to a warrant, while at the same time, a warrant was also executed on the headquarters of Shoppers Food Warehouse in Lanham. That when it revealed that Currie was employed as a consultant to the company by it’s parent, Supervalu, Inc. of Minnesota. This was a fact that was not disclosed on financial forms filed by Currie. Earlier reports indicate that Currie intervened on behalf of Shoppers several times on redevelopment projects. In addition to Mondawmin, he also was present during a hearing about developing land news the West Hyattsville (Washington) Metro station which is close to a Shoppers.
Also, for what it’s worth, the story mentions that Currie was to meet with Dixon and Ronald Lipscomb, head of Doracon Contracting. No details as to what the meeting was about but Lipscomb did get a subcontract for work at the mall. It was revealed that Dixon and Lipscomb had a personal relationship between 2003 and 2004.
CURRIE COPIED IN Continue reading ‘Currie: Linked and Copied In’
The Anne Arundel County Police Department is starting to feel the pain of high gas prices.
County Executive John Leopold (R) and Police Chief James Teare Sr. have asked officers to incorporate new measures to conserve fuel and save the strain on the county budget.
Among the measures are encouraging officers to shut off the air conditioner unless it’s oppressively hot. They also encourage officers to perform more foot patrols when able, in addition to carpooling to trainings, crime scenes and other activities. In addition officers are being asked not to idle regardless of how long the traffic stop is with the only exceptions being at a red light or if they are on K-9 patrol.
Teare said that as the largest consumer of fuel in the county, the Police Department is committed to exercising accountability and responsibility for the resources they consume. He adds that the fuel-saving measures will not solve the fuel price crisis but they must continue to spend taxpayer dollars responsibly when possible.
Yesterday was New Law Day in Maryland. Among the highlights is the crack down of the video bingo games that look like slots, the ousting of children’s toys with unhealthy led levels and more rights given to those of you in “Felix and Oscar” type situations.
More from The Capital.
When you get a chance, Prince George’s Delegate Jolene Ivey (D-Dist. 47) made a appearance on National Public Radio’s “Tell Me More” with New York Mocha Moms to discuss the challenges of raising a child in the big city. Ivey is a regular Mocha Mom on the program, she is a co-founder of the organization. She also accompanied son, Julian to Brodway during his six month run as Simba in “The Lion King.” The NEw York panel was in celebration of the program’s newest affiliate WNYC in New York.
Ivey is a media veteran who is the wife of Glenn Ivey, Prince George’s State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey. I should also note that she is a fellow HIgh Point High School alum and a graduate of Towson University, where I hope to be getting by Bachelor’s from in the future (long story.)
Former Baltimore County Senator Thomas Bromwell (D) began serving a seven year federal prison term at the Devens Federal Medical Center in Massachusetts. Bromwell’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, told The Baltimore Sun that he was sent to the New England facility because he has a heart condition and takes several medications which will likely be changes when he enters. Pollack adds that the former tavern owner could be moved to another federal pen if he adjusts well to the different medication.
It was one year ago where Bromwell and his wife Mary took a plea deal on an indictment that was originally opened in 2005. Mary Bromwell was sentenced to one year in prison and is currently being held at a facility in West Virginia.
As I have been hinting at over the past few months, a total redesign of Maryland Politics Today, including a new logo!
This is technically the fifth design in the sites two year history, so call this Maryland Politics Today 4.0. Don’t worry, this site will still have the media roll, as well as the Maryland Blogger Alliance list, in addition to the latest national political headlines from MSNBC, and now we will have local news from WJZ-TV (Channel 13). Don’t worry, the irony has not gotten to far from me in that I am a member of two content networks that are competitors (WJZ is owned by CBS.)
Please enjoy the new Maryland Politics Today! No bear with me because some of the graphics you will see will be from the previous generation (2006-2008.) These will be faded out over time, but will be kept at a minimum.
Baltimore Mayor Shiela Dixon (D) says that a state investigation into her dealings as city council president is being fueled by sexism and racism.
WBAL-TV (Channel 11) gave wind to a story published in the Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper this past Thursday. By the way, shame on all of us for not picking this up sooner.
In an exclusive phone interview with the Afro, not only does Dixon say that racist and sexist feelings were fueling this probe, but she says that the catalyst came from someone in city hall.
The question that Prince George’s Senator Ulysses Currie (D-Dist. 25) had for the attorney general’s office was can he use campaign funds for his legal defense. An Assistant Attorney General says yes, as long as the campaign is being investigated.
WJZ-TV (Channel 13) says that Currie, who is under federal investigation sent the letter seeking the formal opinion on whether or not he can use his campaign chest if charges are filed. The opinion states that the money can only be used for investigations into his campaign, but added that it’s still unclear whether the investigation relates to campaign activities, Currie’s conduct in office or a personal matter.
Another addition to the E-List, Maryland Democratic Party spokesman David Paulson.
Paulson, in spectacular partisan form,has started to openly practice selective hearing through his weekly PolitickerMD.com column beginning last Monday. Paulson, who claims that he recorded the Bob and Kendel Ehrlich Show heard weekly on WBAL (1090AM) from June 14 if anyone wanted to challenge him.
As much as I want to paraphrase, it would not do justice so here is the transcript from Paulson’s column when the topic was why Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) should not be elected:
Dee (Female Caller): “I think that if he (Barack Obama) is elected President that you will have all these people coming out of the woodwork - the militants, the Muslims, the Black Panthers - and then on the white side you will have the Ku Klux Klan with the skinheads. I mean they will be empowered because they will be, all these people will be emboldened with all this hate. And I don’t see how that’s going to heal this county because, huh, this is what we’ll have to deal with.“
Mr. Ehrlich: “Dee, I wish I could clone you. I wish I could clone you (laughter). I know it’s illegal.”
Mrs. Ehrlich: “You are an informed voter, which is what we were talking about, you have gotten into specifics.”
Prof. Vatz: “Exactly…”
The Corrections: Well, excuse me if I don’t check with the KKK or the skinheads before voting.
Apparently, someone did challenge him on his “corrections.” None other than the hosts of the Bob and Kendel Show! I was not able to hear the show because I am producing a show that airs at the same time (and then tape delayed in Baltimore.) However, WBAL in their wisdom posted the call from Dee in Jarrettsville, Harford County. If you rewind the tape a little bit Dee says before the part that Paulson dissected:
“I don’t see how Obama can bring the races together or have a healing effect on the country because of the friends that he hang around are very radical and I think that if he is elected President that you will have all these people coming out of the woodwork - the militants, the Muslims, the Black Panthers - and then on the white side you will have the Ku Klux Klan with the skinheads. I mean they will be empowered because they will be, all these people will be emboldened with all this hate. And I don’t see how that’s going to heal this county because, huh, this is what we’ll have to deal with.”
But does Paulson acknowledge that he might have gone a little too far…that’s a big heck no good buddy!
Paulson this week writes that “The point was in the column. Many other people were able to understand
it. Maybe Mr. Ehrlich will read it. I depicted his words accurately as they were spoken within a forty second portion of his program. The caller said what she said. Mr. Ehrlich followed it immediately with what he said and so on. Audio of the entire 5:45 conversation between the Ehrlichs, a guest and the caller named Dee was sent to a reporter who requested it.”
WELL DONE SIR!!! Not only did you not depict Ehrlich’s words accurately, but you did not include all of the words Dee said, making her sound like an uninformed voter. Dee has a very arguable point in that it’s not the fact that Obama doesn’t know any radicals, but he has a known association with radicals. At that point it’s going to be hard for anyone to take him seriously about working with the other side.
Oh and this Black thing, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that Dee was a black woman. The tone of the voice along with the signs that followed like talking about being a registered independent and looking at sources outside of the mainstream, encouraging Ehrlich to go after young black voters and talking about being brainwashed by the democratic party. It’s not just Dee and it’s not just me, I suggest you pick up the book “Party Crashing: How the Hip-Hop Generation Declared Political Independence,” written by political analyst Keli Goff, which is a dead on read so far (I’m halfway through the book.)
If you thought the words were so important, you should have included all of them. By the way, if you had a bad recording, couldn’t you use a family connection to get a clean copy of the tape. They do work for Hearst last time I checked.
David Paulson, THE WORST OF MARYLAND!!!
