Salisbury councilwoman challenges mayor’s push to end collective bargaining amid budget concerns
SALISBURY, Md. — Mayor Randy Taylor is proposing to end collective bargaining amid concerns over a strained budget.
Councilwoman Michele Gregory challenges Taylor’s push to cut the city union, arguing the problem lies elsewhere.
“The amounts of the lawsuits are in the tens of billions of dollars. That’s where the money is going. That’s the money that’s supposed to pay our employees and keep the city running,” Gregory said.
The city is facing litigation due to stalled projects green-lighted during the previous administration.
“He has held these projects up by whatever means he can, whether it is withholding $4 million in funds, refusing to disburse it to the person who was supposed to receive it for building a hotel and convention center or constructing housing,” Gregory said.
Gregory described one experience: “We had to force his hand with Mitchell’s Landing and moving that property forward. I know there was a report that came out showing how terrible the conditions were in that building. His answer was, ‘Oh, we can just slap some paint on it.’ No, we’re not doing a landlord special. We’re going to move forward, make sure this housing is safe for people who need it, and keep it affordable.”
WMDT reported on Mitchell’s Landing back in 2024. The report explains that 18 of the 24 units at the complex were condemned because of deteriorating external staircases or plagued with dangerous levels of moisture. Units in the complex were also plagued with extensive amount of black mold and vandalism.
She added, “That alone should tell people that this mayor has been holding back the city in creating more housing and expanding our tax base.”
One of her biggest concerns is the lack of transparency. She said the council has had to request city attorney bills.
“We shouldn’t have to request the bills. Those are things we were accustomed to receiving, and we just don’t know what is being spent in the courts right now,” Gregory said.
With taxpayer dollars and collective bargaining rights on the line, she is asking the mayor to explain the budget breakdown.
“I really feel this is something taxpayers deserve to know, and they deserve to hear from their mayor,” Gregory said. “He needs to explain himself. Why are you trying to roll back protections for our employees? Where is the money going?”
The City of Salisbury did not respond to requests for comment.
