New City Council Rejects Trump's Rhetoric Ahead of President-Elect's Visit

Baltimore (WJZ) - The new Baltimore City Council met yesterday, and in it's first official act, voted unanimously to condemn statements made by President-Elect Donald Trump, just days before he is expected to visit the city.

That's according to our media partner The Baltimore Sun.

The resolution formally opposed Trump's "divisive and scapegoating rhetoric, rooted in hate and prejudice."

Councilman Ryan Dorsey said that he sponsored the measure as a way to affirm the city's values.

"Donald Trump's campaign struck a shocking tone from the start," Dorsey said from the council floor. "Trump routinely made wrongheaded statements about African-Americans in the United States. Here in Maryland, he referred to youths in Baltimore as having 'no spirit.'"

This comes as the President-Elect is expected to attend the Army-Navy football game at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, his first visit to the city since being elected.

Meanwhile, new Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh told Republican Governor Larry Hogan during her inauguration ceremony that she wanted his help get Trump to invest in the city.

"I already prepared my letter for you to go with me to Washington, D.C., to deliver to the next president of these United States," Pugh told Hogan. "When he talks about the infrastructure needs of an urban environment, I say, 'That's our city.'

"When he talks about creating jobs and opportunities, I say, 'That's our city.'"

A spokesman for Pugh did not take a position on the council resolution.

"Mayor Catherine Pugh congratulates the new City Council on their first meeting and looks forward to working with them on the many challenges and opportunities for our city," spokesman Anthony McCarthy said."She is also hopeful that she will build a relationship with President-elect Trump that moves our city forward."

Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary's College says the stance against the President-Elect could hurt their chances of building that relationship and getting that aid.

"For the council in a city that needs aid desperately and on the eve of hosting the president-elect, it is sort of mind boggling that you would do this," says Eberly, "Baltimore City needs to be building bridges, not burning them."

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