Baltimore’s spending panel delayed approval of two AIDS-related grants totaling $14.23 million on Wednesday amid a push for more transparency that has left the city reeling after the “Healthy Holly” scandal.
The grants were set up by the city’s Health Department to be administered by Associated Black Charities. The nonprofit is ensnared in an ongoing scandal out of City Hall over Mayor Catherine Pugh’s business dealings tied to her “Healthy Holly” paperback books. The funds being reviewed Wednesday included $12.8 million from the Ryan White Part-A Minority AIDS Initiative.
ABC has administered the AIDS-related grants for nearly two decades. But recently, there has been greater scrutiny over city contracts and grants.
Ex-officio Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young asked if any ABC officials were present to answer questions about the grants and the nonprofit’s role in administering them, but no one from the charity was present at the Board of Estimates meeting. Two employees of the health department approached the panel, but were unable to explain details.
“Someone needs to come explain this,” Young said. “We’re going to pull this until you guys come back.”