Nicole Raz
WMAL
WASHINGTON (WMAL) — A third of Maryland’s Democrats in the House of Delegates are calling for Gov. Larry Hogan’s top housing official to resign.
At a conference in Ocean City, Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Kenneth Holt said he’s interested in loosening the state’s lead paint poisoning laws.
To support that idea, he said he’s heard that a mother would deliberately poison her kid to get free housing.
Landlords “at this point have unlimited liability,” Holt said.
“I heard a story yesterday: If a mother wants to put a lead weight–a fishing weight–in the mouth of her child and take the child for testing, the lead is going to register off the top of the charts. And, if that child and mother live in a Maryland residence, that landlord is on the hook to provide housing for that child until the age of 18.”
State Delegate Andrew Platt told WMAL that’s not only insensitive–but it’s also wrong.
“Not only are those comments totally offensive and insensitive, they’re also a complete misunderstanding of the law,” Platt said.
“Landlords don’t have to provide free housing to a minor until they’re 18 if they have lead point poisoning. They only have to provide free housing during the lead abatement process.”
Platt wrote a letter to Holt asking for his resignation, with the support of 30 other state delegates.
“After making a comment like that he’s pretty uniquely unqualified to be serving as the Housing Secretary,” Platt said.
For his part, Governor Hogan is maintaining support his top housing official, but a spokesman says Hogan had a lengthy and direct conversation with Holt on Monday.
“The governor expressed his disappointment and directed the Secretary to continue reaching out to advocates, legislators, and the community as a whole to reassure them of his commitment to the safety and health of all Marylanders,” Mayer said.
Holt’s office also issued an apology.
“Secretary Holt is committed to working with advocates, legislators and families to move forward, rebuild trust, and strengthen the already-strong record DHCD has on this important issue,” said department spokeswoman Audra Harrison on Monday.
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