The Baltimore City Council delivered a short, but strongly worded letter to Mayor Catherine Pugh early Monday morning, urging her resignation.

In a response just before noon Monday, Pugh vowed to return to office. In an emailed statement from spokesman James Bentley II, her office said the Mayor “fully intends to resume the duties of her office and continuing her work on behalf of the people and the City of Baltimore” once she has fully regained her health following a bout of pneumonia.

Signed by the entire membership of the City Council and delivered to the Office of the Mayor, as well as City Council President and Ex-Officio Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young, City Solicitor Andre M. Davis, and Bruce Williams, the mayor’s chief of staff, the two-sentence letter urges the mayor “to tender your resignation, effective immediately.”

The call for Pugh’s immediate resignation comes as the first-term mayor remains embroiled in a children’s book scandal that is now under investigation by the state prosecutor. In a story first broken by The Baltimore Sun, Pugh received $500,000 from the University of Maryland Medical Center while she sat on UMMS board for 100,000 copies of her self-published Healthy Holly book series. In addition, The Sun has reported, Pugh received another $300,000 allegedly for copies of her book by companies and organizations with business before the City.

Most of the books, the majority of which were said to have been donated to the Baltimore City Public School System, have yet to be located. Currently, Pugh remains on an official leave absence while recovering from pneumonia. City Council President Young has been assuming the official duties of the mayor in her stead.

“It is beyond thinkable that she should ever return to a role in government,” said 3rd District Councilman Ryan Dorsey in a Facebook post while sharing the council’s letter to the Mayor. “If she has any ability whatsoever to put the welfare of the more than 600,000 residents of Baltimore City ahead of her own self-interest, she will not delay in offering her full resignation.”

‪First District City Councilman Zeke Cohen, who along with Dorsey was among the first elected officials to call for Pugh’s resignation last week, said in a post that in addition to “this unprecedented step,” the City Council “is discussing several structural reforms to our city’s code and charter.”

That said, Cohen told Baltimore magazine, with the General Assembly coming to a close Monday there is no time to make a change to the city code and charter this session that would enable the City Council to remove the mayor from office.

As the City Council and Baltimore residents learned during the criminal investigation of former Mayor Sheila Dixon, removing even a mayor convicted of a crime might not be legally possible. In 2010, Dixon resigned as part of a corruption plea deal after she pled guilty to perjury and embezzlement. As part of that deal, Dixon got to keep her $83,000 pension.

Prior to serving as mayor, Pugh served two terms on the City Council and 10 years in the state senate. The book saga has begun receiving national attention in recent days, including a skewering take from HBO’s John Oliver. Washington Post book critic Carlos Lozada recently “reviewed” Pugh’s Healthy Holly: Exercising Is Fun!

On Friday, the fundraising consulting arm of Pugh’s 2020 reelection organization, TruBlu Politics, cut ties with the mayor over the ongoing book scandal. “In light of recent events, we decided to end the relationship with Mayor Pugh,” David Goodman, a TruBlu partner told Baltimore. TruBlu, which has worked with a roster of politicians in Maryland and beyond, signed on to Pugh’s election campaign in October 2017.

Also on Friday, Jim Smith, a top Pugh advisor and former Baltimore County executive and former judge, who was cited for an illegal loan to Pugh’s 2016 campaign, resigned from his cabinet post as chief of strategic alliances.

Another source close to the Pugh campaign and familiar with TruBlu Politics told Baltimore that the mayor has decided to suspend her 2020 re-election bid even as she plans to fill out her current term. No formal announcement has yet been made, however, regarding her reelection effort.

According to a January filing with the Maryland State Board of Elections, Pugh’s re-election committee has $968,790 in cash reserves. With more recent fundraising events that have yet to be reported, the number could be above $1 million at the moment. In an off-election year, she will not be required to file another financial report until next year.

Campaign chairman Steve Sibel, a partner with Caves Valley Partners, a Baltimore real estate development company, would not comment when reached Friday and asked if the Pugh had decided to suspend her 2020 campaign.

If Pugh does decide not to run for re-election, she will have several options regarding the money in her campaign coffers. She can return funds to donors. She can also donate the funds to charity, as the widow and sons of former Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz did after he died unexpectedly during his bid for governor.

Pugh may also reimburse herself for any personal loans she gave her campaign. She may also pass funds to other politicians, although who would accept that kind of financial gift from the mayor while she remains under investigation isn’t clear.

“You saw how fast Johnny O [Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski] returned the campaign contribution he’d received once the news broke,” Goucher College political science professor Mileah Kromer notes. “My guess is very few politicians will touch it. It’s tainted money.”

The scandal surrounding Mayor Catherine Pugh and her “Healthy Holly” children’s books gained more national attention last night.

A segment on HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver devoted almost five minutes to breaking down the events of the past week surrounding the mayor and money she received from the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) as part of book deals over the past several years.

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Oliver poked fun at the content of the books and Pugh’s misspelling of one of her main character’s names. He also lampooned a press conference Pugh gave in which she discussed her idea for a Healthy Holly kids’ clothing line.

Watch the segment below, where Oliver calls the scandal “truly remarkable.” (As a warning, there is some explicit language.)

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your holiday weekend.

 EAT

Dec. 31: Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Ida B’s Table

Ida B’s Table, 235 Holliday St. 9 p.m. $91.79. 410-844-0444.

Although Ida B’s Table opened its doors four months ago, it has quickly become one of the most exciting establishments in the city. If you haven’t experienced this modern soul food yet, make it a New Year’s resolution and find yourself there for a special Sunday feast. Ring in 2018 with a four-course dinner by chef David Thomas plus live music by local soul singer Ama Chandra to boot. Each plate on the menu is inspired by African-American history and traditions, including the re-envisioned “chicken” and waffles, black bass with black-eyed peas, and grilled rack of lamb with spoon-bread masala. Just be sure to leave some room for Ida B’s fantastic desserts, like scratch-made sweet potato cheesecake with a champagne toast.

 DRINK

Dec. 31: Suspended Brewing Company’s First Pour New Year’s Eve Party

Suspended Brewing Company, 912 Washington Blvd. 8 p.m. $60.

After three years in the making, Suspended Brewing Company is finally pouring out the first brews from its brand-new brewery in Pigtown. On Sunday evening, grab an inaugural pour (or few) of their creative and sustainable microbrews before singing “Auld Lang Syne.” Cocktails will also be on tap, non-alcoholic drinks will be flowing from Vigilante Coffee and Wild Kombucha, and hangover-repellent chow will be slung by the bun masters of Ekiben. Partake in a midnight beer toast when the clock strikes 12 and fill up a crowler to take home.

 SEE

Dec. 31: John Oliver

The Hippodrome Theater, 12 N Eutaw St. 7-9:30 p.m. Prices vary.

This New Year’s Eve, say goodbye to another crazy year with some much-needed, unfiltered humor from this irreverant British comedian. We were as surprised as anyone when John Oliver became one of America’s most beloved nighttime talk show hosts after cutting his comedic chops as one of Jon Stewart’s foreign correspondents on The Daily Show. But his brainy, sometimes cantankerous brand of comedic news has become a household favorite thanks to his half-hour HBO show, Last Week Tonight. With two back-to-back shows at the Hippodrome this New Year’s Eve, allow this beloved Brit’s charming wit and candid commentary send 2017 off with a bellyaching bang.

 HEAR

Dec. 30: A Tom Petty Celebration

The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m. $15. 410-625-2000.

In early October, heartbroken fans and fellow musicians mourned the loss of Tom Petty, one of the greatest singer-songwriters and guitarists of all time. Known as a mainstay of rock-and-roll since the 1970s, Petty, with the help of his band, The Heartbreakers, has become a legendary icon with his masterful guitar skills, signature harmonica riffs, and insightful lyrics, evident in hit songs like “Free Fallin’,” “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” and “I Won’t Back Down.” On Saturday, pay homage with a tribute concert featuring local musicians such as Jack Denning, Warren Boes, Keith Tuttle, Eric Dixon, and Steve Blake. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grammy Foundation’s MusiCares Charity, who named Tom Petty their Person of the Year.

 DO

Dec. 30: Kwanzaa Celebration 2017

Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 12-4 p.m. $5. 443-263-1800. 

The New Year is just around the corner, but we’re not quite finished with the holiday season. After all, we’re only midway through Kwanzaa. This holiday is not limited to a religion but is rather an all-encompassing celebration of African-American culture, tradition, and heritage. On Saturday, learn about the seven-day holiday at Baltimore’s biggest Kwanzaa event featuring African-American dance, storytelling, workshops, and art at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Catch performances by the Sankofa Dance Theatre, listen to lectures by food nutritionist Tambra Raye Stevenson and genealogy expert Dr. Donna Hollie, and participate in a gallery walk with quilter Joan Gaither through her new exhibit, Freedom: Emancipation Quilted & Stitched. And don’t miss out on the traditional African marketplace where artisans will be showcasing unique crafts and handmade gifts.