Bernard "Jack" Young, Baltimore City Council President
“It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice.”
By Doni Glover, www.bmorenews.com
(BALTIMORE – April 29, 2010) – Jack’s drawers and Sheila’s shoes; what’s the world a’coming to?
The City of Baltimore just got over one corruption bump in the road with our former mayor, Sheila Dixon. Most recall the general details, so I won’t belabor the point. Well, Jimmy Choo shoes and a shoe on the podium do come to mind.
Now, Baltimore City Council President Bernard “Jack” Young, the same guy who asked reporters if they wanted to see his drawers, is in the hot seat.
When he was asked by WBAL TV-11’s Jane Miller where he actually lived, my understanding is that he didn’t do himself justice – at least from a PR perspective.
Jumping to the TV-11 headline story for the past two evenings, Miller has been reporting on what role the City Solicitor, George Nilson, plays in Young’s case.
According to TV-11, Young has paid back $12,000 for a Central Avenue house that was bought for his sister, who does not live there. Young says he lives there. Neighbors refute.
Further, earlier reports note that this house was purchased when Young was on the board of Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coaltion (HEBCAC). HEBCAC was originally organized as central East Baltimore’s Empowerment Zone village center. In other words, this was an initiative to help empower community residents who might not otherwise have the opportunity to become homeowners.
I am an unapologetically black advocate for the black community. However, right is right. Wrong is wrong. Black people of my generation and before were taught that we had to be twice as good as our white counterparts. Therefore, pulling the race card, crying victim and stating that “white people do it, too” just ain’t my cup of tea.
In my best estimation, it’s apparent that too many black politicians keep forgetting the whole concept of public service. If you want to be rich, do it before you go into office or after you come out. To use the public trust for personal gain is simply wrong. And it’s illegal and unethical.
Once again, City Hall seems to be home to greed, arrogance, and entitlement. No one else will respect us – especially if we don’t respect ourselves. Once again, corruption has raised its ugly head at City Hall, and … we have no one to blame but ourselves.
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Doni Morton Glover, the founder and publisher of www.bmorenews.com, has been a journalist for the past 15 years. He is a writer, photographer, and a political analyst for WBAL TV 11. Additionally, he is a local radio personality and host of “Empower Hour” on Radio One’s WOLB 1010 AM. The show is now in its 10th year and is the longest-running customized program on the station.