By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) was sworn in by Xavier A. Conaway, clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, on Dec. 3 for his second term. The well-attended ceremony included numerous current and past Maryland leaders such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) and former Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake (D).
Scott won his bid for re-election on Nov. 5 during the general election with 82.15 percent of the vote, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. During the Democratic primary, he beat out former Mayor Sheila A. Dixon (D) for the seat with 52.78 percent of the vote.
“I am very aware that it is the first time in 20 years that Baltimore has given its mayor a second term,” said Scott. “I am acutely aware that my first inauguration four years ago was not the typical celebration, as we were restricted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of all, I am especially aware of how rare it still is – in this city and across this country – for young Black men who grew up in the type of neighborhood where I grew up to be entrusted with leadership in executive positions.”
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center at Morgan State University and featured a variety of performances. The Connexions African Dance Team, the Morgan State University Choir, Merganthaler Vocational-Technical High School Cheerleaders and more all took to the stage during the celebration.
During the ceremony, Scott reflected on where his passion for making a difference began.
“I witnessed my first shooting before my ninth birthday on the church lot near our house. Though it was only 20 seconds away from home, it was impossible to get there – all I could do was jump into the bushes and hope a bullet didn’t jump in there with me,” said Scott. “After it happened, it was that feeling of fear and frustration that took over. And somehow, still, I was expected to go to school the next day, as if everything was normal. But it wasn’t.”
Scott shared how his mom played a part in initiating that spark.
“I kept asking my mom, my dad, aunts, uncles, grandparents, everyone: ‘Why did this happen? Why does no one care?’ My Mom responded…‘If you want something to change, you’ll have to do it yourself. No one is coming to save us,’” said Scott.
Moore praised Scott during his speech at the ceremony, touting Scott’s achievements throughout his first term and his ability to lead the city.
“I’m here not just to celebrate countless achievements of Mayor Scott– I’m here to celebrate this man from Park Heights,” said Moore. “No one needs to tell Brandon Scott about Baltimore. Brandon Scott is Baltimore.”
“You don’t just have a partner, you have a friend,” Moore said to the mayor.
In addition to the governor and local legislators, the ceremony brought in other officials such as the first Black woman to hold the Office of the Mayor in St. Louis, Mo., Tishaura O. Jones, and Fredrick County, Md. County Executive Jessica Fitzwater (D).
Scott reflected on his accomplishments during his first four years in office.
“This year, we’re seeing a 24 percent reduction in homicides and a 34 percent reduction in nonfatal shootings,” said Scott. “That is on top of a historic 20 percent reduction in 2023 – which at the time, was the largest single-year drop that Baltimore had ever seen.”
“We have invested more in our young people than ever before – opening rec centers and expanding programs like YouthWorks, B’More this Summer, and our Attendance Challenge,” said Scott. “Whether it’s programs like the squeegee collaborative or opening 11 new or renovated rec centers. These investments make a difference in our kids’ lives that could change the trajectory of their future and Baltimore’s future, forever.”
Scott reflected on implementing the city’s first Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan, and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.
“We also improved the way that our law enforcement officers work alongside community partners, strengthened our coordination with federal agencies and the State’s Attorney Office, and have gone after gun manufacturers and distributors in court – like the ghost gun company Polymer80 and Hanover Armory – to directly address the source of guns on our streets,” said Scott. “Since I took office – we have taken more than 10,200 guns off the streets of Baltimore.”
Throughout his speech, Scott emphasized that he is putting into action long-term solutions– not short-term remedies.
He highlighted the five pillars of his administration’s goals: building public safety, prioritizing youth, clean and healthy communities, equitable neighborhood development and responsible stewardship of city resources.
“They remain our guiding light and will continue to structure our priorities moving forward,” said Scott. “But we will renew our efforts in each of them and tackle new challenges wherever they arise.”
Scott addressed federal partnership concerns with another presidential administration soon to take office in January 2025.
“We hope that those assuming power in Washington are able to see our progress in curbing gun violence through a holistic, public-health-informed approach alongside our federal partners,” said Scott. “We hope they continue to see the value of federal transportation investment for projects like the Red Line and the Key Bridge and fixing the ‘Highway to Nowhere.’ But unfortunately, we simply do not know the attitude they’ll take to these things.”
“Regardless of what is happening on the national stage, we will do everything in our power to keep moving our city forward – together,” continued Scott. “We will continue to work to build generational wealth for families – particularly Black families – who were impacted
by decades of intentional disinvestment.”
“We’re going to take some big strides over the next four years,” said Scott.
Scott said he will continue to expand the Group Violence Reduction Strategy to be city-wide and implement public safety plans outside to provide alternatives to throwing people in jail during his next term.
“We’re going to revolutionize the way cities tackle blight and increase housing stock that families can actually afford to live in with our vacant strategy,” said Scott. “There is no reason that we should be losing Black Baltimoreans because they feel forced into either staying in disinvested-in neighborhoods or moving away to find affordability.”