BALTIMORE (WJZ)– The second highest elected official in Baltimore feels it’s time to let the dream of a second Baltimore Grand Prix die.

Mike Schuh explains why Council President Jack Young says it’s time to put the brakes on the race.

This race could go down as one of Baltimore’s most successful failures.

Plenty of fans, but there was $15 million in debt and lawsuits afterwards. The original organizers have been asked not to return.

Until recently, city politicians put up a united front with Council President Jack Young, an early supporter.

But now, Young is putting his foot down.

“We have to learn from our mistakes,” he said.

In an op-ed in Thursday morning’s paper, he wrote the city doesn’t have the resources to help people and stage a race.

He told WJZ youth and senior center funding should come first.

“Why are we chasing something that didn’t produce the financial windfall that we thought it was going to produce,” Young said.

The mayor is clearly at a loss for words at how Young communicated that he’d changed his mind.

“It’s a free county. No, have no comment,” Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.

Schuh: “Is this indicative of a rift between you and the mayor?”
Young: “Well, I don’t have a rift with the administration. You know, I speak my mind. And when I’m for something, I’ll tell you I’m for it. When I’m against it, I’m against it. So do they have a rift with me?”

“Honest minds can differ,” Rawlings-Blake said. “We’ve disagreed before. It’s not the first time, won’t be the last time.”

Young has talked with the mayor since the article appeared, but they have not talked not about the article.

“As long as I can lay down at night without twisting and turning, I’m good,” Young said.

The mayor doesn’t need Young’s approval should the administration find a promoter to take over the race.

The mayor hopes to bring a deal with a new promoter to the Board of Estimates for approval by the middle of February.