The advent of a billionaire real-estate mogul with fingers in many pies as president of the United States has helped educate us about the many forms of public corruption more subtle than direct cash-and-carry transactional deals. Sure, we all understand the latter kind of gross corruption, including, perhaps most famously, the bribes then–Vice-President Spiro Agnew received from Maryland road contractors. His corruption was accidentally detected by prosecutors, which led to Agnew’s forced resignation, and eventually to Gerald Ford’s ascension to the White House when the other half of the Nixon-Agnew ticket resigned as well.
But there are more baroque forms of corruption that can arise when people with government-adjacent business holdings assume public office and then ignore conflicts of interest in making decisions that just happen to benefit the family enterprise. You know, like quietly encouraging those with important business with the federal government to stay in one of your hotels or resorts, or cutting deals with foreign governments that compromise your independence.
Now allegations of a similar nature have arisen involving one of Spiro Agnew’s successors in that legendary wonderland of casual corruption, Maryland. According to a very extensive investigative report by theWashington Monthly’s Eric Cortellessa (disclosure: I am a former writer for the Monthly), current Governor Larry Hogan Jr. has made a habit of directing state transportation resources toward areas where his family real-estate business is heavily invested:
As governor, one of Hogan’s signature policies has been to expand state spending on roads, highways, and bridges at the expense of mass transit. His most controversial policy to date was to cancel the Red Line — a planned $2.9 billion metro rail line through Baltimore, for which the state had already acquired land. In the process, Hogan gave up $900 million in federal aid from the Obama administration. As The Baltimore Sun put it, “Hogan freed up hundred [sic] of millions of dollars he plans to use to undertake a significant shift in the state’s transportation priorities from public transit to road projects.”
Hogan has advanced a number of major state transportation projects that are near properties his company owns, a development that can boost the value of those properties. Before canceling the Red Line, he approved construction of an interchange down the road from a parcel of land his company controlled. Later, he approved millions of dollars in road and sidewalk improvements near property he had bought approximately two years earlier and was turning into a housing development.
Aw, no doubt this guy has something going on in the way of corruption. Look at the Korean face mask debacle. He likes showing off. People like that make me wonder about them. It’s all about me type.
Well of course, politicians are just criminals without the orange suits!
This is really calling the kettle black in my opinion and I’m interested in what other people think. Can we hold Hogan accountable for this and still turn a blind eye to President Trump using his own properties for meetings, essentially using tax dollars to enrich his family business in the same way Hogan is building up the infrastructure around his businesses? Food for thought.
Is that you Hogan. The article is about a RINO MD Governor. Stick to the facts. The good president has made the country more powerful, safer, etc., etc. etc. Gives his salary to the needed causes. What a ludicrous statement. Hogan is washed up. All he does is run his mouth about Trump, thinking it will take the heat off of himself. Big dummy.
Louis L. Goldstein was a really good comptroller but he made a fortune many times over in real estate. As a member of the Board of Public Works he knew in advance where new roads and public building were to be built. His family would swoop in and purchase land in the areas in question and resell it back to the State of Maryland when the contracts were signed.
9:24 President Trump does not have control of these businesses. His Family and Board members controls them so get your facts straight. These properties have put out bids and have set fees available to all.
Hogan manipulated policy to his benefit. No different from insider trading, except he set the rules for his profit of tax dollars. Typical Democrat move.
Always said he was a DEMOCRAT and called a HOGAN hater. Hate to brag but I was correct again concerning ADOLPH HOGAN the Democrat.
The one reason why I’m voting with my feet as soon as I can. it’s pretty obvious That Maryland is the top liberal knee jerk reaction state in the nation. Any marxist or liberal cause that comes along MD is first in line to erase your freedom increase your taxes and impose conditions that kills any free enterprise..unless your a big corporation of course… 30 round mags, NO CCW, high taxes with no reprentation or services, medical pot, more taxes to fund a failing educational system, fostering encouraging and harbouring anchor babies, illegals education, housing, medical, and WELFARE. Hogan has been a joke!! Just another TDS fool!!! This election was my last in this failed state. I recomend you get out now before the years of failed democratic policies come home to roost.
Most likely well deserved as all politicians are crooks anyway!!!but would really really disgusts me is a lack of prosecution, jail and perp walks for the democrats involved in the corruption. More evidence of the crimes by democrats but yet they are still in power when 99.999% need to be in jail or hung for treason!!!
He Better Re-Route some damn $$$$$$ to Unemployment Extensions in MD !!!!