Sheila Dixon's sixth sense
Recently, when The Sun broke news that Baltimore’s top officials had quietly voted to approve pay raises for each other in the midst of global recession and a municipal budget crunch, what was Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon’s initial reaction to the storm of criticism?
She said she was going to keep her $3,700 raise.
Asked whether she would give, as some had suggested, her pay increase to charity, Dixon said: “To be honest with you, no, 2 1/2 percent, based on what I do seven days a week, 24 hours, trying to raise a family, a daughter in college."
In other words: “No way. I’m entitled to this.”
Entitlement seems to be the mayor’s sixth sense, and it appears to be stronger than any other sense she might have.
Though she ultimately backed off her I-deserve-mine stance and announced an intention to give at least some of her pay raise to charity, the initial reaction is the one people will remember. And the same sense of entitlement comes through in the behavior she exhibited a few years ago, as city council president. Some of this behavior has been described in Sun reports and some of it is contained in the embarrassing criminal indictment against Dixon handed up on Friday.
Get her sister a job in the council president's office? Why not?
Vote to approve a contract that benefited a company that employed the same sister? What’s the problem?
Hire her campaign chairman to do computer work for the council president’s office? What’s wrong with that? We’ll just pay him in installments of less than $5,000 each; that way, the Board of Estimates won’t have to approve the deal.
Engage in a romance with a man whose company is a subcontractor that gets tax breaks from the city? That’s personal, and nobody’s business.
Accept gifts from the guy and fly off with him for romantic adventures and shopping sprees, even though this may give the appearance of conflict and favoritism? Hey, I work hard. I’m entitled.
Take a few gift cards intended for the poor? It’s not how it looks – only $25 worth is unaccounted for, according to my lawyer.
“I am being unfairly accused. Time will prove that I have done nothing wrong,” Dixon said after the indictment.
Such is the defiant and unapologetic attitude that comes across in all of Dixon’s statements and actions over the time The Sun, and then the state prosecutor, examined her conduct in office.
She hired her sister to work in her office when she was council president, in apparent violation of the city’s ethics code. When she had to fire her sister, Dixon told the press: "You all are really discouraging people from wanting to make sacrifices" for public service.
Her sister moved to a new job with a computer management company. Dixon, as a member of the city Board of Estimates, used an investigative hearing to press a major city contractor, Comcast, on why it was not awarding more work to the company, Utech, that employed her sister – again, a violation of the ethics code. Asked after the hearing whether her sister worked for Utech, Dixon said yes, then demanded to know who alerted the Sun reporter, Doug Donovan, to the information and refused to identify the company. "You figure it out," she said, adding, "I'm not trying to hide anything." Dixon claimed to have disclosed her sister's employment. But her financial disclosure form on file with the Board of Ethics did not list her sister's Utech job.
In 2006, The Sun smoked out Dixon's dealings with Dale Clark, her former campaign chairman, and the smoke has been in the air since.
Between 2001 and 2006, Dixon steered no-bid government work worth at least $600,000 to Clark - and most of it without a written contract. A Dixon staffer crafted a way to keep the payments to under $5,000 each, which means they didn't need approval of the Board of Estimates.
Dixon's reaction at the time? She accused the newspaper of printing "lies" about her and her staff.
Now she's under indictment. The Ravens are on a run to the Super Bowl. President-elect Barack Obama is due at City Hall Plaza on Saturday. And here’s Sheila Dixon, charged with lying and thievery, relatively small-scale stuff from her days as council president, but in keeping with a pattern or behavior and a sense of entitlement.
Since Friday, several people have moaned that the charges against Dixon appear to be petty and the result of prosecutorial vendetta.
That’s because filching gift cards intended for the poor and not reporting goodies from a contractor-boyfriend seem small compared to trying to sell Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat.
But Dixon’s actions over time show a pattern – the gift card filching alone is alleged to have occurred at least three different times over three years -- that a criminal jury might consider more than just sloppiness or stupidity or naiveté. Though the charges, at first blush, may seem petty to many, they represent something that simply isn’t acceptable for a public official.
Sheila Dixon has been in public office for two decades. She should have known better, and I’m sure she did. It’s that sense of entitlement – that she deserves a little bonus now and then, no matter what the rules say or what the public might think – that took over, or may have driven her to run for public office in the first place.
Comments
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER SHE TOOK ONE DOLLAR OR FIVE DOLLAR GIFT CARDS. SHE IS BEING COMPENSATED BY TAXPAYERS TO DO WORK. SHE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED FROM OFFICE FOR THE "ETHICS" VIOLATIONS ALONE. SHE IS A PUBLIC SERVANT AND SHE IS PAID. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR HER LYING OR STEALING IF THAT IS WHAT SHE HAS DONE.
Posted by: john barrick | January 11, 2009 9:45 AM
Dixon is so crooked it's not even funny, and the citizens of Baltimore City who voted for her have nobody to blame but themselves for putting a crook into the Mayor's Office.
Posted by: Steve | January 11, 2009 11:31 AM
Dan, terrific work on this write-up. For an out-of-towner with limited knowledge of Dixon and the backstory of the indictment, this is very eye-opening. I would encourage you, or someone on the staff, to put this information into video form (voice-over, etc) and put it on YouTube or something similar to be able to reach more people such as myself who don't know all of these details. Thanks, again.
Posted by: Paul F. Villarreal | January 11, 2009 11:46 AM
I am personally outraged by all this. As a college student in Baltimore for only four years, I didn't think I would be as invested in the politics of Baltimore as I am now after slowly coming to love the city. I highly question the legitimacy of having someone with so many questionable actions still in office even during the investigation. It doesn't matter what kind of 'improvements' she's brought about if she hasn't been forthright the entire time. Just look at the the resignation of the former Dean of Admissions at MIT.
Posted by: Andrew M. | January 11, 2009 12:06 PM
Baltimore is a city made up of good, caring people. We deserve to have the same in office - good, caring officials.
Having a Mayor in office who has 12 indictments for theft and conning the people of Baltimore reflects badly on the city. We need someone in office who reflects the soul of Baltimore.
With an indicted citizen in the office of Mayor, we look like a city of crooks!
We've had far too much crime in the offices of our government. We need some clean, upstanding citizens in office who care more about the workings of Baltimore than they do about personal gain.
If you care about this city as you claim you do, Mayor Dixon, please step down and let someone who doesn't have indictments attached to their name, run this fine city. It's not about you, Mayor Dixon; it's about Baltimore and what we need!!
Posted by: Karen G/Hamilton | January 11, 2009 12:17 PM
"She hired her sister to work in her office when she was council president, in apparent violation of the city’s ethics code. When she had to fire her sister, Dixon told the press: "You all are really discouraging people from wanting to make sacrifices" for public service."
This quote by itself describes why We as a city, state and nation should not WANT long term public servants.
If the only incentive to public service is the perks, we don't want ya.
Posted by: Will A | January 11, 2009 12:35 PM
Is any body really surprised?
Posted by: al | January 11, 2009 3:24 PM
The Mayor's Office used to be known for fixing up a run down city and doing great things for the citizens of Baltimore. Now it has a reputation of wrongdoing. This is sad. How much more will Mayor Dixon get away with before she is brought to justice? And her attitude makes the whole situation that much more upsetting. It's as if she has done nothing wrong and the media is out to get her. Look in the mirror, Mayor Dixon! Baltimore Sun - keep up the great reporting on this thief!
Posted by: Trish | January 11, 2009 4:16 PM
"entitled" is exactly how she comes across.
Posted by: RBH | January 11, 2009 4:30 PM
What is really amazing is that anybody is surprised by this. A few years back Washington had a Mayor name Marrion Barry. Anybody remember him??? After all he had done on camera after his first term, he was elected as Mayor a second term. I am curious as to how many people who are outraged by this actually live in the city.
Shelia Dixon, Joan Pratt and the rest of Baltimore City's officials is exactly the type of govt' the people of Baltimore city want. One that won't snitch, convict, or prosecute any criminals. The current administration clearly is only interested in "Getting Theirs."
Posted by: Simply Shocked | January 11, 2009 4:41 PM
What has she really done that has been that bad in comparison to the improvements she has done. During the term of Mayor O'Malley hardly any streets were fixed, programs to deteriorate crime were not enforced. Everyone keeps complaining about these petty, yes i said petty things. 25 dollars in gift cards gone unaccounted for?? really that serious. Just because they went unaccounted for isn't to say that she took them. I want to know why should she seem cool with being accused of petty things and things she didn't do. I don't understand why she should have to give her pay raise to a charity. Are you going to give some of your pay raise to the poor? No none of you are. The only reason she quietly took the raise is to possibly avoid the reaction she got. Mayor Dixon is a great mayor. She does things to improve Baltimore. I remember being in high school and O'Malley was supposed to visit my elementary school, middle school and high school several different times but never showed. Mayor Dixon keeps her face in the communities. Mayor Dixon is doing her job and well. I live in a less fortunate part of Baltimore and never in my life have I seen my neighborhood look as beautiful and feel as safe.
Posted by: Jaiva | January 11, 2009 5:20 PM
The Sun's coverage of these events has been great. I am a fairly new resident in Baltimore, having moved here in 2007, but it was obvious even to me that Sheila Dixon was not fit to be a mayor. Hopefully she will be out soon so that citizens will have a leader they can actually look to with pride, or at least some sense of trust.
Posted by: Eric | January 11, 2009 5:22 PM
Some of us Black professional womne (labeled, "Dixon's base") did not vote for her ticket. I never felt right about her. I'm not surprised by her actions. What a dissappointment! What a missed opportunity!
Posted by: queen | January 11, 2009 9:21 PM
excellent work im a citizen of baltimore who never liked dixon, she's always seemed like a crook to me she helped alot of her family members get jobs with the city, she's one of the most unprofessional political figures ive ever seen GOOD RIDDENS!!!
Posted by: mwhite | January 11, 2009 9:53 PM
Thanks Dan for this article.
Im going to use it as reference as I edit her Wikipedia entry!
Her criminal acts will now live in infamy and be her legacy!
Posted by: John | January 12, 2009 1:33 AM
If Mayor Dixon keeps deflecting media questions regarding her culpability/guilt and is so concerned about getting on with the business of the city, then why are so many of our city's youth dying at an alarming rate ???
Posted by: patrick lynch | January 12, 2009 6:03 AM
Dear Jaiva,
What you don't seem to understand (and it may be the fault of the Baltimore City schools), is that it is quite possible for someone to achieve the many recent improvements without being a thief.
Let us all hope that someone will emerge as a candidate for mayor who is committed to helping others and not to helping themselves.
Posted by: AmyLynn | January 12, 2009 7:46 AM
While she is being indicted on petty charges the real citizen of Baltimore ( not the ppl. who just moved here or have been here temporarily) know that she has improved one thing that our past mayors could not reduce our HOMICIDE RATE! Does any real person from Baltimore know that our city was ranked 189 for murders in 2008? To me that is a great improvement! She has increased police patrol and has cracked down on illegal gun possesions. (Check her Record). Okay a few gift cards are unaccounted for, how do we know it wasn't someone else who took them other than her? Not only had the homicide rate gone down but she has helped to increase funding for affordable housing which is a definite bonus in these hard economic times. As well as increase funding for the upkeep of Baltimore. She is also trying to secure federal funds from more crime prevention/crackdown programs.
Now if she is such an unethical politican then why did she win an overwhelming 87.7% of the vote?
Bottom line is she does put the well being of our city and the people of Baltimore first. Okay so she had a wealthy boyfriend who bought her things so what? That is her personal business I don't know too many women who would pass up gifts legitimate and legally bought gifts from their significant other.
Posted by: TJones | January 12, 2009 8:27 AM
I cant believe how shocked everyone is that a democrat mayor appears to be crooked. The naive are the ones who vote people like this into office, reminds me of all the fake entitled preachers that take money from the poor. Its a shame we live in a society where people vote with such indiscretion and put these people in offices where they can lie, cheat, and steal from the people who believe in them.
Posted by: Rudy | January 12, 2009 8:52 AM
Well, it was pretty apparent when she was running for mayor that she was corrupt. Of course, that has never been a problem in Maryland politics, and she was elected by people with the knowledge and understanding that she was corrupt. The surprise, really, is how petty a crook she is - it's all penny-ante stuff. I've always felt that corruption in government is almost unavoidable and should be tolerated to some extent as long as the government is effective, but this is almost embarrasing - it's like she doesn't care enough to do the job right!
Posted by: JohnR | January 12, 2009 9:21 AM
It is sad to see the comments from those who still support her - we all deserve someone who will make positive changes to Baltimore without the shady dealings. Why should we settle for a crook? We should demand someone with integrity along with the power to change things for the good. A breach of ethics is just that - unethical, no matter how "petty" it may seem now.
Posted by: Natalie | January 12, 2009 10:29 AM
It is so great to see this many people caring about Baltimore and putting a foot down.
Posted by: Dunn | January 12, 2009 10:32 AM
Queen -- No one cares if you're a "Black Professional Woman". Why must you label yourself? Race doesn't matter when it comes to being guilty or innocent...corrupt or not corrupt. How you voted doesn't count. Stop giving yourself so much credit and learn to have a little humility will you. If there are improprieties proven to be against the law then she'll have her price to pay. We don't care what your race is. Its a wonder you didn't state your salary and employment status. Positions in life have nothing to do with character or judgement. Stop patting yourself on the back for whatever accolades you 'think" you deserve.
Posted by: DARNELL | January 12, 2009 10:48 AM
This is what happens when you have a one-party state. Who are all of the Russian oligarchs now but people who had been party apparatchiks before? To me, this kind of behavior should be a wake-up call to those who believe the Democratic party is the only solution for this state and can do no wrong. Where is the titular head of the Maryland Democratic Party right now, Governor O'Malley? Why has he not criticized this behavior and demanded her resignation? He should be setting an example and explaining to Democrats, Independents, and Republicans that this type of behavior, whether proven or not, is not good and that it is in the best interest of the city and state for her to step down, even temporarily until she "clears" her name. What kind of example does this set for our community, our children?
Posted by: joek | January 12, 2009 11:49 AM
T. JONES MUST BE FROM THE COUNTY? THE 87% THAT VOTED FOR SHE-LIE WERE WHITE, UPPER CLASS,
FAT CAT DONORS THAT LIVE IN FELLS POINT, CANTON, LOCUST POINT AND ROLAND PARK AREAS. PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SCHOOLS, STUDENTS OR UNDERPRIVLIDGED FAMILIES. WAKE UP BALTIMORE. BESIDES ILL. BALTIMORE HAS BECOME THE LAUGHING STOCK OF MARYLAND. SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT A BLACK WOMAN IN CHARGE. SHE-LIE ONLY CARES ABOUT GETTING TO THE ATHLETIC CLUB(EVERYDAY), GETTING HER HAIR, NAILS AND FEET DONE EVERY THURSDAY. SHAME ON YOU BALTIMORE.
Posted by: MARK | January 12, 2009 12:14 PM
Rudy: Don't be naive. If you think this is limited to democratic pols you're fooling yourself. I could make a list just as long of republican and independent politicians who take advantage of their position for personal gain. There is nothing to be gained from petty partisan trolling.
Posted by: Jerry | January 12, 2009 12:30 PM
TO ALL OF YOU MARION BARRY BASHERS: Yes, Marion Barry had a substance abuse problem, but in 40 years of public service there has not been one single allegation of corruption against him. That cannot be said of any elected official in Baltimore City. Marion Barry has served the people of DC very well. And no, we will not hate him because of his personal problem.
I bet if the FBI spent $10 million investigating the personal lives of any of you self-righteous Barry-bashers not one of you would come up clean.
Posted by: Joe | January 12, 2009 12:54 PM
One of O'Malley's puppets finally gets caught. I'm sure he is no longer returning her calls.
I really hope Mr. Obama refuses to stand on stage with this criminal. I didn't vote for Obama, but I believe him to be a person of principle and character, which Sheila Dixon clearly is not.
Posted by: Chris S. | January 12, 2009 1:12 PM
Give her some of the bailout bucks! Then she can pay back the citizens of Baltimore.
Posted by: Fridley Wallheimer | January 12, 2009 1:13 PM
I refused to vote for this woman in any election. She is everything that is wrong, not only with politics, but greedy people in general. "I work hard, I refuse to scarifice however you will suffer so I don't have to." That is Sheila Dixon, that has always been her.
Posted by: Candylyn | January 12, 2009 1:19 PM
Dear bloggers 'Jaiva' and 'TJones',and others who are trying to defend this woman. It is clear from your posts that you have either not read the full text of what she is being accused of, or you just want to defend her while ignoring the facts. Case in point - you make reference to 'just a few missing gift cards'. That is not the case, there is evidence that she stole them to buy, of all things, an X-box. A few of them were also found in her house when it was searched. This is just one example and I suggest you take time and read the full text of the case against her, and also read the history of this case from related articles before posting to defend this criminal/liar who, as Mr. Rodricks rightly puts it, feels that she is entitled to everything. By the way the 87.7% vote refered to by one of you is not overwhelming in a positive way, it is an overwhelming indication of how shallow Baltimore city voters are.
Posted by: She lie Dixon | January 12, 2009 2:40 PM
It's sad that otherwise effective leaders get in trouble for criminal acts, but the crimes always trump the good deeds.
Posted by: Bill | January 12, 2009 3:59 PM
Sure, the homicide rate is down- and Mzzz. Dixon did this all by her itty, bitty self. Get real. She has stolen from indigent children, even with every other ethically wrong thing she has done wrong, she has stolen from the very same children whose lives she has sworn to better. What's the message ?
Posted by: Pamala Weatherington | January 12, 2009 4:29 PM
Ms Dixon has made some nice moves. And she has chosen some good people, I think, to head up some departments. But this is still a town where I don't feel comfortable calling a cop. Baltimore continues to be I think a lost opportunity, even in a recession.
Posted by: Allan | January 12, 2009 6:19 PM
I was kinda feeling for Sheila til I read this. I do think she has done a good job as mayor, and am looking forward to the new trash program of once a week pickup and weekly recycling like so many other areas do, but I cannot agree with you all more that someone ethical could do things like this too.
Yes, she should have given up ALL of her raise this year. It is not going to make or break her; hell, look how much her attorneys will cost, but this is one of those years where everyone in government has to be willing to make financial sacrifices, including the mayor.
Posted by: Rich | January 12, 2009 9:17 PM
Marion Barry did more for D.C. than any other mayor ever. Sorry he was weak. But Mrs. Dixon seems to be strong 6 years of being investigated is hard for anyone ask a drug dealer they didn't make it. Stop the madness. All you want to do is drain her of her salary for lawyers. Anyone involved in this should be sorry for thier participation. Hopefully the Obama administration will get rid of anyone who wastes the goverments money in this capacity!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Michelle Makel | January 12, 2009 10:19 PM
Dixon is part of the largest Church in the city.
THAT was her base.
Posted by: James from Hampden | January 12, 2009 10:26 PM
I have to say that I love the city for its richness in history as well as its charm. That speaks volumes for the good people of Baltimore than it does for the mayor.
Sheila Dixon (I love the She-lie BTW) may have made vital improvements to the city but that is her job to make Baltimore safe and liveable for its citizens and appealing and safe for its visitors. For that, she is entitled to her paycheck. That does not mean helping herself to gift cards intended for needy families, or a $1518 plane ticket from BWI to Chicago in 2004. Are you kidding me? It costs me less to fly first class from CA to BWI in 2009 with one day's notice! Maybe it is because I'm not "entitled".
For those lauding her for all the good that she's done and excusing her indictment as "petty", consider that others who are considered immoral or even very bad, have done a lot to help their cities and states. During the Great Depression (not the current one), Al Capone subsidized a South Side soup kitchen which dispensed 20,000 free meals to the needy. Never mind how he got the money for that and who he had to kill to further his efforts.
As NY Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer prosecuted securities fraud, prostitution, corporate corruption, occupational safety and health, internet fraud, yet he was sampling the goods of very trade he pursued in trying to rid NY of prostitution rings. He truly did more good than bad but that he in fact did do the bad deed, he had to suffer the consequences. And he did the RIGHT thing by resigning.
Baltimore is a great city and really deserves better; if Sheila Dixon cares that much about the dignity of her city, she should lose the hubris and do the only right thing, which is to step down.
Posted by: Jonie | January 13, 2009 5:54 AM
I can't believe we live in a society where even 1 person finds it acceptable for your mayor to smoke crack with prostitutes.
Posted by: MIke | January 14, 2009 9:43 AM