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Currie contacted Cabinet members

Papers show actions on behalf of Shoppers under 2 administrations

August 05, 2008|By Laura Smitherman and Gadi Dechter , Sun reporters

Currie interceded, not only on the Mondawmin Mall project, but also on routine transportation projects, such as traffic signals and road improvements near Shoppers stores, and other matters far from his legislative district, according to documents released by various agencies under Maryland's Public Information Act.

Currie's letter to White was released after an information request was made to the Department of Legislative Services, whose offices also were issued a subpoena by authorities. Around the time that Currie sent the letter to White, the senator was actively engaged in lobbying state officials, according to previously released documents.

For example, he arranged a meeting with Flanagan that winter about the agency's reluctance to relocate from its Mondawmin location to make room for a proposed Shoppers grocery there. He also was involved when the project hit another snag in early 2004 when Supervalu told state officials it needed $2 million to close the deal with Rouse.

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The economic development agency agreed as part of a $3.6 million low-interest loan to Rouse to forgive $540,000 of the debt, with the understanding that the money be passed through to Supervalu. But after Rouse was bought out by General Growth Properties, plans changed and the agency offered the developer a $1.8 million grant instead.

In an interview yesterday, Edgerley described the meeting in May as "straightforward" but added that he didn't know Currie worked for Shoppers. He said the senator made introductions and then spoke very little after that.

"We looked at it as a fairly routine meeting," Edgerley said.

laura.smitherman@baltsun.com

gadi.dechter@baltsun.com

Get the back story on the investigation into Currie at baltimoresun.com/currie

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