WHO: Baltimore City Election Director Armstead Jones
WHAT: Jones’ office is canceling hundreds of ex-felons’ voter registrations because the former criminals did not contact his office. The letters asked the ex-felons to contact the office and verify their eligibility to vote in the upcoming election — but the letters were unsigned, were undated and did not give a phone number at which to verify. Jones said he was not authorized to send new letters and that people are welcome to look up the phone number, which was listed in small print on the stationery.
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WHY IT’S A BAD IDEA: Whether you believe in giving former felons — the ones who have completed their sentences — the right to vote or not, the Maryland General Assembly gave them that right, and the Baltimore City Board of Elections is taking that right away by canceling voter registrations. Selective application of laws must stop.
WHERE TO VENT: [email protected]
Dim bulb: Fee fever
We keep reading that Maryland’s pension fund is hemorrhaging money — and yet, last year, investment fees for the system spiked $16.9 million. The spike in fees is allegedly part of a new investment strategy designed to stem billions of dollars in losses. But something doesn’t add up here. Now taxpayers are on the hook for higher fees — and contributions caused by the major downturn in the stock market.
Quote of the day
“Mr. Fabian presented to the world an image of success that was untethered to reality. This is a man who has a lot of supporters but fooled a lot of people. He deceived a lot of people and caused a lot of pain. … Mr. Fabian was a very effective con artist.” – Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein on Alan Fabian, a Baltimore County businessman sentenced to nine years in prison for an alleged $40 million in fraud.
