In a show of solidarity, in a city government that's been rocked by scandal, fourteen members of the Baltimore City Council sent a succinct, two-sentence letter Monday morning to Mayor Catherine Pugh, urging her to step down.
Copies of the letter were sent to Acting Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young, City Solicitor Andre Davis, Pugh’s chief of staff Bruce Williams, and Baltimore’s senators and delegates in the General Assembly.
“The entire membership of the Baltimore City Council believes that it is not in the best interest of the City of Baltimore for you to continue to serve as Mayor,” the council said in their letter to Pugh. “We urge you to tender your resignation, effective immediately.”
Pugh has been heavily criticized after it was reported that she had been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for her book series called "Healthy Holly" by several businesses that work with the city government.
In a separate statement, Councilman Brandon Scott, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee, said “[t]he ethical and financial allegations involving Mayor Catherine Pugh are extremely concerning and embarrassing for the City of Baltimore. I believe Mayor Pugh’s decision to take a leave of absence at this time is the right thing for Baltimore.”
Scott said he is fully confident that Interim Mayor Young is capable of providing the steady leadership our city needs during this unprecedented time.
Through her office, Pugh fired back with her own statement showing she has no intentions of stepping down.
“Mayor Pugh has taken a leave to focus on recovering from pneumonia and regaining her health. She fully intends to resume the duties of her office and continuing her work on behalf of the people and the City of Baltimore.”
The mayor has been facing some major backlash over her "Healthy Holly" book deal with the University of Maryland Medical System while she was a board member. The House of Delegates and the Senate have approved separate bills to overhaul the medical system's board. Governor Hogan has even asked the state prosecutor to launch an investigation into Pugh's dealings.