Public concern deepened at the January 13 Oxford Commissioners meeting as town officials laid out the circumstances that led to the condemnation of the Robert Morris Inn at 314 North Morris Street, and residents warned that delays could result in permanent damage to one of Oxford’s most historic buildings.

Town Manager Holly Wahl, in her report to the council (video highlight), said the town had been tracking worsening conditions at the property for months after repeated property maintenance notices went unanswered. A town inspection found significant deterioration, including ceiling damage from ongoing water intrusion, pooled water on interior floors, visible staining, and peeling ceiling materials. No corrective action was taken by the property owner.

The situation escalated in early January when multiple residents reported a strong gas odor coming from the building. The Oxford Fire Department responded and determined that a pilot light that had been extinguished on an appliance had allowed gas to leak into the structure. Fire officials shut off the gas supply and observed active water leakage inside the building, despite dry weather, indicating an internal issue unrelated to rainfall.

“Based on these findings, the town determined that the property posed a serious threat to public health and safety and declared it unsafe,” Wahl said. A condemnation notice was issued on January 6, utilities were disconnected, and temporary closures were placed around sidewalks and parking areas adjacent to the building.

During public comment, residents repeatedly stressed the building’s historic importance and the urgency of intervention. One speaker called the inn “one of the most important historic buildings in Oxford,” warning that it “may be experiencing what can become irreversible damage.” Another urged the town to move quickly to prevent further deterioration.

Several speakers advocated seeking a court-appointed receiver to stabilize the property. “The real thrust of appointing a receiver is the issue of standing,” one resident said. “Only the owner has standing. Since the owner has effectively abandoned the property, that gives the town the opportunity to petition for a receiver.”

Residents also pressed officials on what actions might follow. Wahl said the town currently lacks legal access to the building. “We would need a court order to be able to do that,” she said, confirming that the town is pursuing that option.

Concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Talbot County figured prominently in discussions before the Police Accountability Board (PAB) during 2025, according to the board’s newly released annual report. Board members said residents—particularly within the Hispanic community—have expressed fear and confusion about recent ICE actions and have asked repeatedly about their rights and the role, if any, of local police.

Local law enforcement leaders told the board that Maryland law sharply limits cooperation with ICE. Police agencies may assist only when federal agents present a valid judicial arrest warrant. Officers do not ask about immigration status when responding to calls for help, and police stressed that residents should not avoid contacting authorities out of fear that doing so could trigger immigration consequences.

At the same time, police acknowledged that individuals already in custody may be held if a federal detainer has been issued, a long-standing practice that allows ICE to assume custody after local charges are resolved. Law enforcement officials noted that ICE does not routinely inform local agencies of enforcement actions, a lack of communication that has made it harder to counter rumors and reassure anxious residents.

The report also documents a decline in participation by Hispanic residents at public events, which police attribute to heightened fear of immigration enforcement. In response, the Easton Police Department has visited Hispanic churches and worked with community groups to explain state law, outline available resources, and emphasize that local police are focused on public safety—not immigration enforcement. Police have also said they are willing to verify the identity of individuals believed to be ICE agents when residents are unsure.

While federal immigration enforcement falls outside the PAB’s authority, board members said the issue underscores the fragile nature of public trust. The report stresses that clear boundaries between local policing and federal immigration actions are essential to community safety, particularly if residents are to feel secure reporting crimes, seeking help, and engaging with law enforcement without fear.

Read the full report here.

On Sunday, Easton Mayor Megan Cook condemned a rash of hate-related graffiti incidents that took place on the evening September 5. Responding to the arrest of a 32-year-old Easton woman who spray-painted the Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School and other buildings in the East End Neighborhood. She has has been charged with multiple counts, including defacing religious property, malicious destruction of property, disturbing school operations, and use of a hate symbol.

Mayor Cook wrote:

That night, officers responded to Ulta Beauty for another spray-painting call. A suspect matching surveillance images was located in the Talbot Town Shopping Area. Police identified her as Sian Radaskiewicz-King, wearing distinctive shoes seen in the footage. She was arrested and charged with multiple counts, including defacing religious property, malicious destruction of property, disturbing school operations, and use of a hate symbol.

When acts of vandalism or hate strike close to home, it shakes the sense of safety we want for our community. Yesterday, our town was hit by vandalism at Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School and other locations in the East End Neighborhood. Given the tragedies at other schools across the country, including last week’s shooting at Ascension Catholic School in Minnesota, this kind of incident feels especially painful. It reminds us of the responsibility we all share to ensure our children’s safety and well-being. We condemn such acts of intimidation, they have no place in our community.

I want to thank the Easton Police Department not only for their swift response and arrest but also for maintaining a presence at Sts. Peter and Paul School on Friday. Their actions provided reassurance to students, parents and our community that safety is a priority and that acts meant to spread fear and division will not be tolerated here.

As a community, we must continue to come together, support one another, and ensure Easton remains a place where all children can feel safe.

Megan Cook
Mayor
Town of Easton

In a major policy announcement aimed at addressing longstanding racial inequities in Maryland, Governor Wes Moore unveiled a series of actions Tuesday at Bethel AME Church in Cambridge. The centerpiece was the formal launch of the state’s Just Communities designation, a framework intended to steer up to $400 million in competitive state investment to communities that have been historically impacted by discriminatory policies.

Speaking before an audience of more than 200 attendees, Governor Moore emphasized the economic and social costs of racial inequality. “We know the racial wealth gap affects all of us. It hurts our economy, restrains job growth, and limits our potential as a state,” he said. “We cannot afford to delay progress—we need action.”

The Just Communities program, signed into law in 2024, uses racial equity and community-based metrics to identify and support areas disproportionately harmed by redlining, urban renewal, environmental injustice, and high incarceration rates. Following a yearlong review by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, 419 of Maryland’s 1,463 census tracts—across 17 counties and Baltimore City—have been formally designated for priority access to funding. These five-year designations take effect July 1, 2025.

“This is a first-of-its-kind designation,” said Housing Secretary Jake Day. “It is a critical step in lifting the barriers that create separate and unequal neighborhoods across our state.”

In tandem with the designation, Governor Moore also announced an expansion of his administration’s clemency actions. An additional 6,938 pardons for low-level cannabis possession convictions have been granted, extending the historic 2024 executive order that cleared more than 175,000 such convictions—the largest in the nation. The pardons will be reflected in criminal background checks, and all records will be removed from public view by January 31, 2026, per the Expungement Reform Act.

The announcement aligns with several other equity-focused initiatives from the Moore-Miller administration, including:

• The launch of a Community Investment Venture Fund for entrepreneurs of color;

• Funding through the UPLIFT initiative to address racial disparities in property appraisals;

• A $4 million expansion of the Roads to Careers program supporting high-skill workforce training;

• Previous investments of over $1.3 billion in Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities;

• Over $816 million in state procurement awards directed to Black-owned businesses;

• Expanded mortgage access for 1,500 first-time Black homebuyers; and

• The ENOUGH initiative is a state-level plan to end concentrated poverty.

The event took place within blocks of Long Wharf, a former site of the domestic slave trade, and in a church central to the Eastern Shore’s Black heritage. Officials and community leaders reflected on the symbolism of the Juneteenth announcement.

“This designation represents more than funding. It signals that Maryland is serious about repairing the damage of past injustices,” said Jaelon Moaney, Vice Chair of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture. “This is how inclusive governance looks in practice.”

Cambridge Mayor Lajan Cephas and Dorchester County leaders echoed that sentiment, pointing to the ENOUGH initiative and its potential to foster generational change.

Governor Moore concluded the event by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to results-driven policy: “We are going to continue the work of repair with action that delivers results—not just rhetoric.”