Mayor Rawlings-Blake trades licks with David Cordish during a May 11 announcement of improvements to Cordish’s Power Plant Live.
Photo by: Daily Record video
Categories
Developer David S. Cordish, whose push to win $3 million in rent relief for his Inner Harbor entertainment properties has sparked controversy, donated $16,000 to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s reelection campaign.
The Brew’s review of campaign finance records found the contributions coming from a group of Cordish Co. business partnerships that do not list the Cordish name and skirt around state election laws, which limit individual contributions to $4,000.
The contributions were made in early May, in the middle of private meetings between the developer and the city’s business arm, Baltimore Development Corp. Among those involved in the discussions were BDC President M.J. “Jay” Brodie and Deputy Mayor Kaliope Parthemos.
A week after the contributions were made, Mayor Rawlings-Blake herself traded (pretend) guitar licks with the 71-year-old developer at Power Plant Live, publicizing a new glass roof on the outdoor stage of the entertainment and nightclub zone.
(See: Cordish, Rawlings-Blake announce upgrades to Power Plant Live! from Maryland Daily Record on Vimeo.)
Cordish’s bid for a bailout was first disclosed by this website after the BDC closed its monthly meeting to the media in June and sent its still-secret recommendation to Rawlings-Blake, who will make the final decision.
No Timeframe for Decision
City Hall spokesman Ryan O’Doherty did not give a timeframe yesterday of when the mayor might decide on Cordish’s request for cheaper rents.
He said Deputy Mayor Parthemos “has sent additional questions to BDC before the mayor reviews the proposal.” Campaign contributions will have nothing to do with her decision, he added.
David Cordish and his vice president of operations, Zed Smith, did not answer an e-mail request for comment. Keiana Page, spokesperson for the Rawlings-Blake campaign committee, also did not respond.
Cordish wants rent and/or ground rent relief for the Power Plant Annex and Pier V Parking Garage he leases from the city. He already pays nominal rent for the Power Plant building itself.
With vacancy rates high after the loss of ESPN Zone and several other tenants, lenders are unwilling to finance needed upgrades for the buildings.
In return for lower city rents, Cordish pledges to spend $6 million to upgrade the Power Plant and about $10 million to support Power Plant Live, which he owns outright.
Workers Stage a Protest
Disclosure of the proposed deal has sparked anger in some quarters. In July, a group called United Workers protested outside of BDC offices, demanding that the agency release information about its closed-door meetings with Cordish. The group said it is trying to organize low-wage workers in the Inner Harbor.
At a mayoral forum last week, the ministerial group BUILD condemned city government for being too cozy with downtown developers – an accusation Rawlings-Blake rejected, but her mayoral opponent, Otis Rolley III, seconded.
Donations from Cordish interests were funneled to Rawlings-Blake’s re-election committee through eight entities – Holly Hall LLC; Riviera Plaza Associates Ltd. Partnership; Rehoboth Mall Ltd. Partnership; Ocean City Factory Outlets LLC; North East Plaza Associates; Kent Plaza Associates; Kent Landing Ltd. Partnership; and Elsinore Ltd. Partnership.
Each entity donated $2,000. The Cordish Co., a private company controlled by David Cordish and his family, could have donated more money, but it is difficult to know because Maryland law does not require businesses contributing to candidates to register their owners’ names.
No donations were made in the name of Cordish or Cordish properties in the Inner Harbor. But the eight entities that donated to Rawlings-Blake listed Cordish’s East Pratt St. headquarters as their business address.
The entities control and lease Cordish-owned shopping centers such as Riviera Plaza in Riviera Beach, Md., and Rehoboth Mall in Rehoboth, Dela.
The contributions were disclosed in the campaign finance information provided by the Rawlings-Blake campaign committee to the city and state election boards, which covered the period January 13 – August 15, 2011.
Baltimore Brew is a moderated site that encourages the free and open exchange of ideas in a climate of mutual respect. We reserve the right - but do not assume any obligation - to delete or withhold the publication of comments that violate our standards. Comments that are obscene, libelous or defamatory, or include vicious personal attacks will not be published. Racist remarks, sexist remarks, disgusting stuff, blatant commercial self-promotion – you get the idea – if it crosses our line, we’re not going to run it.