Baltimore City Councilman Brandon Scott plans to introduce legislation calling for the destruction of all Confederate-era monuments in the city.
According to "The Baltimore Sun," Scott's resolution cites the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that resulted in one death and says, quote, "Baltimore has had more than enough time to think on the issue; it's time to act." In a released statement, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh said she has contacted two contractors about removing the statues and relocating them to Confederate cemeteries elsewhere in Maryland.
"We have identified cemeteries where confederate soldiers have been buried," said Pugh. "Among the identified cemeteries are the Washington Confederate Cemetery in Hagerstown, Maryland and the Point Lookout Confederate Commentary in Scotland, Maryland. We will inquire as to their willingness to accept the monuments and prepare agreements for the transfer."
As for Councilman Scott’s proposal to destroy the Confederate monuments, Pugh said it is her intention to follow the recommendations of the report from the previous administration to move and not destroy the monuments. Pugh said after identifying storage space for the monuments afor removal, receiving reports from the task force and the contractors, “we will provide a public time line for removal of the monuments.”
According to the mayor, the cost of moving the monuments, she consulted with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to understand the process he used in removing the monuments in the Crescent City, and the cost related to their removal. “In New Orleans the cost of removing four monuments totaled $2.1 million dollars. The cost attributed to actual removal of the four statues [in Baltimore] was $1.065 million, which does not include police and security overtime, and storage cost.”
Mayor Pugh said various tasks that need to be completed include identifying legal requirements for deaccession, negotiating and executing agreements with potential recipients, procuring funding, and receiving approval from the Maryland Historical Trust Easement Committee for moving the Lee Jackson Monument.
The City has identified cemeteries where confederate soldiers have been buried. Among the identified cemeteries are the Washington Confederate Cemetery in Hagerstown, Maryland and the Point Lookout Confederate Commentary in Scotland, Maryland. Pugh says her office will inquire as to the willingness of the cemeteries to accept the monuments and prepare agreements for the transfer.