By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway (D-District 4) was set to lead a legislative oversight hearing on July 10 about Baltimore’s recently revealed opioid crisis, but it was abruptly canceled.
The cancellation led to a public exchange about why it was called off when Conway released a statement on the matter, saying he didn’t agree to cancel the hearing.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Kyle Pompey/Baltimore City Council
“I specifically asked that we hold off on any decision on the hearing until I had a strong understanding and agreement from the administration on how we were going to go forward. We did not get that,” Conway told the AFRO. “The purpose of the hearing was to understand the problem, and I’ve requested private hearings with the agencies that could help me understand the problem. I thought we were working towards understanding what that might look like. Instead, I was offered a meeting with the city solicitor.”
Conway expressed that he didn’t believe that a meeting with the city solicitor would be the best way to gain the comprehension he needed about where the city is concerning the public health crisis.
“I understand we have pending litigation that we want to be careful about. I fully agree and respect that,” said Conway. “I don’t feel fully equipped to make decisions on this matter unless I can get briefed from our city agencies. I think that’s a pretty basic and very reasonable ask.”
Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) released a rebuttal to Conway’s comments shortly afterward.
“Councilman Conway’s statement regarding this cancellation is categorically false. Private briefings were offered to the Councilman in lieu of a public hearing, which can only serve to endanger the litigation that we have been fighting on for more than six years and are now poised to win at trial later this year,” said Scott. “Our administration is handling this case with the diligence and care it deserves, and have repeatedly communicated our position publicly and directly to the Councilman. We will avoid doing anything that endangers this case – because winning this case is what’s best for our residents.”
Councilwoman Danielle McCray (D-District 2) is also leading legislative hearings on the opioid crisis, an ongoing effort for the Health, Environment and Technology Committee since 2022. Her committee’s hearings are still set for July 24, August 28 and Sept. 25.
McCray did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“This is all still very fresh,” said Conway. “We may revisit the idea of a hearing – I’m still evaluating that.”
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