The curious case of Scott Bloodsworth brings to light some interesting aspects of behind the scenes politics in Baltimore. Major Scott Bloodsworth was commander of the Southern Police District until a few days ago. His removal came as a shock to many residents. He is a popular figure and many felt he was doing a great job. There was a letter writing campaign that tried to get some answers. Bloodsworth has now announced that he has retired. At some point during the debacle that Bloodsworth was offered his original job back.
On Friday I was contacted by a resident of the Southern Police District who informed me of what was about to happen and the politics behind it. My source told me that Major Bloodsworth played a large role in facilitating the night tour City Council President Jack Young took of the Federal Hill bar district earlier this year. The Council President saw many wild out of control alcohol-fueled scenes that night. The bar owners were not given a warning so they had no time to clean things up and calm things down before Jack Young and the media got there. The bar owners expected a warning and that is wrong. They should be running their establishments properly at all times instead of just when an inspector or a leader comes by. They are not pleased with the prospect of higher fines for violations that Jack Young supports.
Many of the bar owners are associated with a certain Baltimore fundraising consultant. They give a lot of money to political clients of this fundraising consultant like Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Martin O’Malley. My source told me that even though this fundraising consultant is not a registered lobbyist that she was able to use her influence at the highest levels of city government to get Major Scott Bloodsworth punished for his involvement in the Jack Young tour (which was a totally legal and appropriate tour). We have a situation where a fundraising consultant is now dictating public safety policy.
Those who donate lots of money to political campaigns in Baltimore own Baltimore. Those who control the flow of money to political campaigns are king makers.
Filed in: Uncategorized.
Tags: Baltimore, Federal Hill, Jack Young, Police, Scott Bloodsworth, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Adam is the most recognizable face of the recent resurgence in Reservoir Hill. He has appeared on many national and local radio shows, in several news publications, and at numerous events discussing his innovative urban redevelopment ideas and his unique lifestyle. Adam is a successful entrepreneur, community activist, and a local political guru who ran for city council in 2007. He is the founder and director of the TechBalt.com Buy a Block Project and BaltimoreHourly.com. His fearless local political commentary has rocked the local blog scene for most of this decade and he plans to take it to the next level in the next decade here on Charm City Current.
scott bloodsworth is a fine man and gave his life to the uniform. i am uncertain why anyone is shocked that baltimore politics is corrupt. i am uncertain as to why anyone would be surprised that this kind of thing is so common. the city could care less about the folks who have given their lives to public service. they’d rather be taking charity gift cards and buying fur coats for themselves. i left baltimore because of the cesspool the politician turned it into. its a dying city.
Colleen Martin Lauer?
Is the fundraiser Colleen Martin Lauer? Why is she so in the shadows? I’d like to see the Sun do a profile story on this woman of mystery and her company…more like an expose’. I will not hold my breath. I know it would not help the democrat machine.
Can you name the fundraiser? Colleen Martin Lauer?
Glad to see someone around here does their homework and gets the real story out. All of this because bar owners in one of the most privileged areas of the city didn’t get a warning? When have they ever gotten a warning like that?
With all of this bs going on I hope the city raises quality of life fines.
Sorta off topic, but I was glad that Jack Young did that tour because for a while all you heard about were how venues frequented by minorities were bad for everyone and the police wanted to shut them down for one offense, but bars in Fed Hill could get away with murder.