In what has been no terrible surprise to me, the investigation into alleged improprieties during Sheila Dixon’s time as President of the Baltimore City Council continues.  You will not count me among one of Sheila Dixon’s vociferous supporters.  As a matter of fact, I can potentially look into getting a bumper sticker that would say:

“Don’t blame me.  I didn’t vote for Dixon.”

To describe myself as non-plussed by Dixon becoming Mayor last Fall would be an understatement.  I was suspect of her and the ethics problems that had been at issue since she first became City Council President.  Additionally, I like my politicians to have above average public speaking skills, and Mayor Dixon certainly does not rank first among her peers in this category.

So, to see new coverage of the ongoing investigation into her dealings with the awarding of contacts is not terribly surprising.  What has been fascinating–and highly annoying, actually–has been the focus on the Dixon’s spending habits.  She apparently bought some fur coats, some expensive shoes, and some other womanly accessories.  Of course, if one were to read the local rag, you would find nothing but article upon article about what Dixon purchased as opposed to the investigation, its history, and other pertinent matters.  If I read another article about her expensive purchases, I will tune out this investigation.

Ultimately, how surprised would one be if there was ill-gotten gain for Dixon and her associates as a result of her position of power?  In the continuing evolution of urban poltiical machines, is this terribly surprising?  Yesterday’s Tammany Hall has evolved into today’s nameless political machine.  By no means does this make it right, and it certainly is not an indictment of every local politician.

Nonetheless, I demand more substance to the coverage of this investigation.  Would it be too much to ask to actually get investigative journalism as opposed to the style of tabloid journalism that is currently being exercised here?  Thus far, that desire seems a bit outlandish.