Dixon Responds To Latest Probe Allegations BALTIMORE, MD (wypr) - Following a routine meeting of the city Board of Estimates, Mayor Sheila Dixon spoke briefly about the ongoing probe. Several city employees have been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury this week.

TAPE: (18 SECONDS), track 17, 3:05
IC: I would love to have a timely resolution on this, because this is really clouding a lot of good work that's going on. You know, I've been asking for this for the last several years, so I would love for it I've cooperated, I will continue to cooperate. I will continue to provide them the information they want.

On Monday, Dixon acknowledged a personal relationship with developer Ronald Lipscomb in 2003 and 2004. The two had previously denied they were personally involved. While president of the City Council during those years, prosecutors claim Dixon voted as a member of the Board of Estimates in favor of tax breaks for Lipscomb's company, Doracon Contracting. The company is involved in a number of developments in Baltimore, including the Gold Coast of Inner Harbor East and a massive redevelopment in East Baltimore near Johns Hopkins Hospital.

The mayor said there was a list of companies available that she had abstained from voting on. She declined to answer specific questions about Doracon.

TAPE: (48 SECONDS), 3:32
IC: I'm not going to elaborate on that but are a whole list of companies that I have been recused myself from since I have been under federal investigation I think you need to check that before you ask that question. There's a whole list that I abstained from. And I will say this, despite my relationship and Ron Lipscomb is a great person it was a personal relationship, but there is a process. I wasn't the mayor then. There's a process that Baltimore Development Corporation and housing goes through that was under the O'Malley administration that handled those. You can look on the records of all the different companies that I abstained from at the Board of Estimates.


The mayor had insisted she has taken no gifts from Lipscomb. But a search warrant affadavit for Doracon offices filed last November - and first published in The Sun on Tuesday- stated she had accepted and cashed a 2,000-dollar gift certificate from Lipscomb to a Towson furrier for two new fur coats four years ago. Today, the mayor was asked about other expensive purchases made on a 2004 trip to Chicago with Lipscomb. They totaled 78-hundred 53-dollars and included a 570-dollar pair of designer shoes and a 44-hundred-dollar purchase at designer Giorgio Armani's boutique. At the time her salary was 80-thousand dollars.

TAPE: (04 SECONDS), track 17, 1:05
IC: Well, I don't buy that often, but when I buy, I buy quality.

Dixon was asked if she had received a subpoena to appear before a grand jury. She paused before offering this answer:

TAPE: (02 SECONDS), track 17, 5:20
IC: No comment.

City Solicitor George Nilson said he also could not comment on the mayor's case. Dixon, Nilson said, has hired her own attorney.

TAPE: (09 SECONDS), track 18, 00:42
IC: There are issues that are being dealt with by the mayor and her counsel. And that's appropriate. It's not my job to deal with those issues.

Dixon has received support from some members of the City Council. Councilman Robert Curran attended the Board of Estimates meeting today to lend encouragement.

TAPE: (05 SECONDS), track 10, 00:05
IC: I'm 100 percent, want me to say 110? I'm 100 percent behind the mayor. And I will continue to be.

Following the six-minute press conference, Dixon returned to her office. Just back from a meeting of U.S. mayors in Miami, she said she wanted to focus on what she termed pressing local matters: Crime, grime and education.

I'm Melody Simmons, reporting from City Hall, for 88.1, WYPR.

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