Gov. Wes Moore’s first responsibility is to the people of Maryland. That means putting aside national politics, swallowing your pride when necessary and focusing on results. Sadly, he seems more interested in polishing his national profile than solving the real problems facing Marylanders (“Gov. Wes Moore to President Trump: ‘Keep our name out of your mouth,'” Aug. 21).
Look at Western Maryland. Communities in Allegany and Garrett counties have been devastated by flooding, with roads, bridges and basic infrastructure in ruins. Maryland’s request for disaster relief was denied — even though damages clearly met the federal threshold. Only after weeks of delay and mounting losses did the governor appeal. Families out west don’t need more press releases. They need leadership that delivers.
In Baltimore, the collapse of the Key Bridge has disrupted lives, jobs and commerce. Rebuilding it will take years and demands steady cooperation with the federal government. Yet instead of protecting those funds and keeping the focus on rebuilding, Moore picked a fight with the president, telling him to “keep our name out of your mouth.” Predictably, the response was a threat to withhold critical dollars.
The governor may think he’s scoring points in a national debate. But it’s Marylanders who are stuck in traffic, businesses losing money, and families in Western Maryland still waiting for relief. These are the costs of a governor chasing his next promotion instead of doing the hard work of governing.
Marylanders deserve a governor who puts their needs first, not his own ambitions. Rebuilding the Key Bridge, securing flood aid and tackling affordability and infrastructure require focus and results — not posturing and presidential daydreams.
— Hugh Halloran, Solomons
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