Baltimore Mayor Designee Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Holds First Press Conference
By Staff, www.bmorenews.com
(BALTIMORE – January 7, 2010) – While yesterday marked another low in the city’s history – adding Mayor Sheila Dixon’s name to a burgeoning list of black elected officials who have fallen short while in office, today was the start of a new beginning.
Surrounded by the members of the Baltimore City Council, Mayor Designee Stephanie Rawlings-Blake took the helm by having her first press conference. Highlighting her decision to keep the Fire Chief, Jim Clack, and the Police Commissioner, Fred Bealefeld, Mayor Designee Rawlings-Blake spoke with poise and confidence about her hopes for the city.
“[Pledging] orderly and transparent transition focused on public safety and essential city service,” Rawlings-Blake stated, “During the next 30 days, and beyond, my focus will be on ensuring an orderly, transparent and effective transition of power.” She added, “We will at all times make the decisions necessary to protect our citizens and to continue the delivery of essential services.”
Rawlings-Blake pointedly asked the Dixon administration to take steps to ensure the preservation of all public records, including emails and other records. She asked that all pending contracts and pending announcements be submitted to her office for review and a Law Department summary of all major city contracts signed within the last 30 days.
She also asked all agency heads submit a status report that includes immediate action items, budget information, legislative items, and a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis.
While Rawlings-Blake is expected to deal with the current issue of rotating fire stations, she only had good things to say about the police department and seemed particularly optomistic about the future of Baltimore City Public Schools. Clearly, the city's budget deficit will demand her immediate attention, especially in light of the upcoming Maryland General Assembly. The General Assembly is the 90-day session that historically deals with some 2,600 pieces of state legislation.
While yesterday’s mood was somber as Mayor Sheila Dixon announced her resignation, it appeared that members of the City Council wished Rawlings-Blake well as they gave her individual hugs after the press conference.
To read her entire remarks, click here. Also, see www.bmorenews.com/video/.
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