On Wednesday, April 7, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) held a press conference to open its new mass vaccination site at the Greenbelt Metro Station. After mutually congratulatory remarks from Governor Larry Hogan, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and senior representatives from FEMA and the National Guard, Mayor Colin Byrd soured the celebratory tone by sharply criticizing state and county leaders regarding the vaccination rollout and pandemic reopening. Byrd is assumed to be seeking re-election for another two-year term in November’s city council election, while simultaneously campaigning for U.S. Senate next year.
Other speakers emphasized the site’s goal of increasing vaccine equity on many levels: FEMA provides wheelchairs, along with French, Spanish and Sign Language translators and medical personnel to support people with functional needs. Vaccinations are available regardless of immigration status and the on-site military personnel support medical logistics, not law enforcement.
Accusations
Speaking next from notes on his cell phone, Byrd directly accused the governor of “subjecting people of color and people of all backgrounds in places like Prince George’s County and Baltimore City to claims of over-entitlement.” He stated that, although people of color have a high demand and need for vaccines, “from the early days of the vaccine being rolled out in the State of Maryland, this state has unfortunately been one of the most inequitable in all of America when it comes to vaccine distribution.” Byrd said the state had chosen, “on many occasions, to scapegoat people of color across the state as people who simply do not want the vaccine.” Byrd continued, “Nothing could be further from the truth,” noting many people of color and of all backgrounds have had “heartbreaking difficulty” getting vaccinated. He slammed the state and county rollout as having major flaws in registration systems, mass confusion and very long waits.
Congratulations
Byrd went on to emphasize that the new facility is federally run, thanking Congressmen Steny Hoyer and Anthony Brown for their roles, and praised the Biden administration’s choice of site. He praised those participating in the previous day’s rollout, which he had heard went seamlessly.
Reopening Criticisms
Byrd’s criticisms included accusing the governor of not following the science in reopening, as he said he would – stating Hogan ignored recent CDC concerns by reopening too soon. Byrd also noted that a former Trump Administration official (presumably Dr. Robert Redfield, CDC director from 2018 to 2021) is now a senior advisor on the state’s pandemic and vaccination rollout. Byrd averred that this individual’s “credibility on the vaccine and the pandemic in general is widely in question.”
Byrd also specifically criticized Hogan’s and Alsobrooks’ reopening plans, characterizing them as premature and raising the specter of more illness and more deaths from a potential fourth wave. He cited a rally held the same day at Eleanor Roosevelt High School by teacher Chrissy Wilkins, in which teachers were protesting being returned to classrooms under conditions they felt were unsafe.
In My City
Having spoken more than two and a half times as long as any other official, Byrd was asked to conclude, but repeatedly refused to stop. He dismissed Hogan, saying “You are in my city, good sir.” When the deputy executive director of the Maryland Emergency Management Administration attempted to cut him off, noting that the governor had other events scheduled, Byrd retorted, “You can definitely go to another event,” and continued speaking.
Hogan’s Response
In remarks on his own Facebook page, Byrd stated he would “continue to work with” FEMA and others to increase vaccinations for county residents – implying that he could take credit for working with FEMA on establishing the Greenbelt Metro vaccination site. Likely aware of this statement, a clearly angry Hogan stated in his response to Byrd’s accusations that Byrd had not been involved in any way in negotiations placing the FEMA site in Greenbelt nor with any other sites.
Hogan also pointed out that Maryland had been praised twice that week by the Biden administration for leading the nation in terms of equity of vaccine distribution among diverse communities, and was ranked 15th among the 50 states in vaccine delivery. Hogan also rose to the defense of Maryland and Prince George’s County by saying that Byrd “denigrates the incredible partnership we’ve had with Prince George’s County and with our Equity Task Force, led by [Brigadier] General Birckhead, with our vaccine effort and this site.” Hogan said Byrd “didn’t have any idea what he was talking about.”
Asked to respond to Byrd’s comments, Alsobrooks said, “As public officials, it’s our job to deliver solutions,” going on to laud Birckhead’s critical role in establishing the FEMA site. Alsobrooks added, “It does not take very much talent to spot what’s wrong, it takes much more talent and commitment to fix it,” reminding the audience, “we’re here today to fix it.” The complete press conference can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=oZ8lkcr6FIc and lasts nearly 30 minutes.
The site will offer up to 3,000 vaccinations per day. Parking fees are waived at the Metro station for those getting the vaccine. Anyone age 16 or over can register at onestop.md.gov/govax or by calling 1-855-MD-GoVAX. Those already registered with the state do not need to pre-register again.