Baltimore's Acting Mayor Bernard "Jack" Young is calling for an audit of the Associated Black Charities management of the 12-million-dollar Baltimore Children and Youth Fund.
In a statement, Young said he has no concerns that ABC's management of the funds is related to its relationship with Mayor Catherine Pugh or Healthy Holly, LLC, but he wants to ensure full transparency.
“I am aware that these payments came well before ABC was selected to administer the Youth Fund,” said Young. “I am calling for two steps to be taken to ensure that the historic Children & Youth Fund is well-managed:
· I request the Department of Audits to review Associated Black Charities’ management of the first year of funding for the Baltimore City Children and Youth Fund, and
· City Council Bill 19-0358, which extends the City’s agreement with ABC for one year, should be put on hold until the audit concludes.”
Associated Black Charities collected more than 87-thousand-dollars from five organizations to buy and distribute the mayor's Healthy Holly books. Young said it is of the utmost importance that [the] fund continues to benefit the children and youth of Baltimore City. “This fund represents our dedication to serving the youth of this city, said Young. “Therefore, it is important to maintain the public’s confidence that the historic Children & Youth Fund is managed appropriately.”
Young is Baltimore’s Ex-Officio Mayor as Mayor Catherine Pugh remains on indefinite medical leave amid investigations into her Healthy Holly book deals with the University of Maryland Medical System while she was a state senator and a member of the board of directors and with health insurance companies and other entities seeking city contracts. Pugh resigned from the board last month and returned $100,000 of the $500,000 UMMS installment payments for the book deal she received. So far, it’s alleged that netted $800,000 from her Healthy Holly books.