* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Conaway
At the request of: Bernadette Clay, Sharon clay and Robert Clay, Jr., c/o Bill Goodin
Address: 6210 Northwood Drive, Baltimore, MD 21212
Telephone: 410-433-8123
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
A Request to the Baltimore Police Commissioner - Reopen the Investigation into the Death of Robert Lee Clay, Founding Father of Minority Contractor Associations, Successful Businessman, and Outspoken Political Activist
FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore Police Commissioner to reopen the investigation into the untimely death of Robert L. Clay to answer questions surrounding the manner of his demise, to reassure the public of the political impartiality of the Police Department, and to allow the family, friends, and admirers of Mr. Clay to take solace in the knowledge that, finally, to him will come an eternal, restful peace.
Body
Recitals
On August 16, 2006, fully 1 year and 3 months after his death, a prominent Baltimore newspaper published in the Opinion section: "Robert Lee Clay cannot see the people shouting for answers, nor can he hear the clamor of their voices. But supporters of the deceased contractor and political activist are hoping their calls to reopen the investigation into his death are loud enough to rouse even the dead. Or at least reach [City Hall]." According to press reports, the NAACP joins prominent black local, state, and federal officials in requesting the City to re-examine the Clay case, asserting that evidence suggests something other than the official finding of suicide with which Baltimore officials closed the case.
Controversy has surrounded the death of Mr. Clay since he was found with fatal gunshot wounds to the head in his Reservoir Hill business office on May 16, 2005. The first public police reports would only confirm that the 58-year old contractor had been shot but would not specify whether the death was a homicide or a suicide, but family members reported that police had told them that suicide was not a consideration and that the death was being investigated as "suspicious." Further questions were raised when it was learned that Mr. Clay had received several death threats in the days immediately proceeding his demise.
Mr. Clay was a controversial figure in life as well. The son of a backhoe operator, who began his working life digging ditches, Robert Lee Clay rose to a position of influence through his longtime leadership of the Maryland Minority Contractors Association and his behind-the-scenes role in local, state, and national politics. He parlayed his business savvy into an successful entrepreneurship that won contracts for development of portions of the metro subway system and the Fort McHenry Tunnel, and, in 2004, was appointed to the Governor's Commission on Minority Enterprise Reform. Overcoming personnel legal entanglements, he emerged as a major influence in the political careers of many esteemed elected officials and as a much admired civic leader.
Shocked and saddened by his sudden death, his friends, family, supporters, and admirers have since held steadfast to the belief that because of his controversial life his controversial death has not been thoroughly examined. Since the case was closed, those loyal to the memory of Robert Lee Clay have clamored for a reinvestigation. On July 17, 2006, those voices united in a press conference held at the entrance to Police Headquarters, delivering an impassioned cry for justice and asking that those political figures that had benefitted from Mr. Clay's largess support a request to the Police Commissioner to re-open the case.
In the PETITION TO RE-OPEN THE MURDER CASE OF ROBERT LEE CLAY it states "There is an insurmountable amount of evidence to suggest that Mr. Clay was murdered and that it was not suicide as the Medical Examiner ruled. As a citizen of this City of Baltimore and this State of Maryland, I am one of many who request that [the] City Council ask that this case be re-opened."
If the case was closed with a just conclusion, re-opening it to public scrutiny will not hurt any, but will go far in soothing the anguish of the many who loved Mr. Robert Lee Clay.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Baltimore Police Commissioner is requested to reopen the investigation into the untimely death of Robert L. Clay to answer questions surrounding the manner of his demise, to reassure the public of the political impartiality of the Police Department, and to allow the family, friends, and admirers of Mr. Clay to take solace in the knowledge that, finally, to him will come an eternal, restful peace.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the family of Robert Lee Clay, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, the Executive Director of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC), the Director of the Baltimore Office of the FBI, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of State Relations, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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