Baltimore for a New Harborplace reported receiving no donations while owing more than $100,000 to political strategy firms for “field expenses” and “media.”
Stop Sinclair has $155,952 on hand, a sizable advantage over Baltimore County media executive David Smith’s group, which has just over $5,100 in its account.
Thursday’s ruling means voters will cast ballots on a charter amendment which would allow MCB Real Estate, a private company, to redevelop the site of the existing Harborplace pavilions.
The detailed plan would redirect all money the city gives the nonprofit to a wing of the mayor’s office and other organizations to put on BOPA’s signature events.
The plan would set the property tax rate on vacant properties at triple the current level for the first year it is in effect and then quadruple the current rate in subsequent years.
Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis wrote on social media that his agency made the request in an effort to prevent “potential disenfranchisement” or “undervoting” while an appeal is ongoing.
At the same time the city’s top arts organization was struggling to make payroll, its CEO went ahead with plans for Artscape, BOPA’s premier event, without consulting anyone.
The U.S. Justice Department accused the operators of Dali, the container ship that brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, of negligence and mismanagement.
An Anne Arundel County judge ruled Monday to invalidate a ballot question asking Baltimore City voters to rezone the Inner Harbor for development on the grounds that it’s not proper charter material.