BALTIMORE (AP) - When Bernard "Jack" Young automatically became Baltimore's acting mayor on April 1, he emphasized that he'd act only as a "placeholder" for the embattled elected mayor.
But it's been more than three weeks since Mayor Catherine Pugh slipped out of sight on an indefinite leave of absence, and it appears Young is settling in for a lengthy stint as Baltimore's No. 1 official.
On Tuesday, Young suggested that a return to City Hall "could be devastating" for Pugh. But he also says the decision is up to her and there's nothing in the city charter to remove an elected mayor.
Citing deteriorating health, Pugh departed the same day Maryland's governor asked for an investigation of the lucrative sales of her self-published children's books to agencies doing business with the city.
