Gov. Larry Hogan says state saved Baltimore, quelled riots

 

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —Gov. Larry Hogan didn't hold back when he spoke out about the state's role in quelling last April's unrest in Baltimore.

The governor said state resources saved the city by making quick and decisive decisions while the mayor sought political advice on how to handle the situation.

The governor told the American Action Forum, a conservative forum in Washington, D.C., that Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake "hesitated" when he offered to send in the National Guard.

"I called the mayor of Baltimore and said, 'We are ready to act and assist in any way possible,' and she said, 'We don't need your help. Everything is under control.' I said, 'It doesn't look like it's under control. It looks like the city is on fire,'" Hogan said.

Hogan said he never expected the mayor to offer a thank you for sending state resources to quell the rioting, and he's certainly not still waiting for one. An audience member at the Q&A session asked Hogan how appreciative the mayor must be.

"She hasn't expressed her gratitude, actually," Hogan said.

The mayor's press office released a statement saying, "The mayor prefers to focus on governing the city rather than obsessing on perceived past slights or difference of opinion."

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