John E. Kyle's recent letter ("Angelos and other critics late to weigh in on State Center," June 1) is yet another example of a proponent of the $1.5 billion State Center project refusing to explain how and why the state's competitive bidding laws were ignored.

Time and again, State Center advocates refuse to address the critical issues. Instead, they divert attention by attacking one of the messengers.

Contrary to critics' aspersions, Peter Angelos has done much to better our city and state. His views are shared by countless property owners, retailers and restaurateurs who have committed their resources to help build the city.

But public attention can't be diverted from the real issues by sensationalism, community meetings or colorful commentary. These things have nothing to do with whether the competitive bidding laws were followed. And, as proponents well know, many of the bidding transgressions only arose recently — not five or six years ago.

Here's but one example. In a recent article published by The Daily Record on April 17, the project's master developer refused to identify the members of her organization's board of directors and admitted that her company had obtained the rights to the State Center project in a 2009 private transaction.

While state construction projects must be awarded through a public competitive bidding process, this one wasn't. And that basic problem can't be explained away with community presentations and unwarranted claims of delay.

Apparently, what else lurks beneath the surface can only be exposed through the legal process. What a shame. We deserve better than sugarcoated community meetings and attacks on those who raise legitimate questions to protect our interests.

If the state's competitive bidding laws don't apply to a $1.5 billion state construction project, then they don't apply to anything.

David E. Johnson, Baltimore

The writer is president of Stratford Realty Management Co. and senior vice president of Lexington Charles Limited Partnership. He is a plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging that the state failed to follow procurement law in the State Center project.