By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
On Aug. 8 at 10:00 a.m., Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley kicked off a series of community engagement meetings that will give Baltimoreans a chance to ask pressing questions and learn more about Worley, who was officially nominated by Scott on July 17.
The first session, a telephone town hall for older residents, will be followed by six more in-person and virtual sessions and one more telephone town hall.
Attendees can RSVP at http://bit.ly/baltcitymeet0823 or call 311.
“Together, we can discuss how best to build a safer Baltimore, connect with one another, and hear from you about what you want to see from Baltimore’s Police Commissioner,” said Scott to his social media followers, in reference to the upcoming meetings.
The Baltimore City Council initially set the confirmation hearing for Worley’s nomination for August 15th, but the city council decided to postpone the hearing due to a community engagement series, according to the Mayor’s Office.
“In order to ensure the voices of Baltimore’s residents are front and center, the decision has been made to postpone Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley’s confirmation hearing until after all of the planned community engagement meetings have taken place.”
“In order to ensure the voices of Baltimore’s residents are front and center, the decision has been made to postpone Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley’s confirmation hearing until after all of the planned community engagement meetings have taken place,” said Scott and the City Council Chair of the Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer (D-District 5). “We both look forward to advancing Acting Commissioner Worley’s confirmation once those meetings are completed and to finally have him assume his role as Baltimore’s next permanent Police Commissioner.”
There will be seven community engagement meetings in various parts of the City, including one virtual meeting and two Telephone Town Halls.
The Lord’s Church will host the first in-person event of the series on Aug. 14, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., held at 5010 Park Heights Avenue.
“It will be a guided conversation for people to express the issues that they’re dealing with and look for answers,” said Bishop Kevia F. Elliott of the Lord’s Church of Baltimore and We Our Us, a prominent Black men and boys unity movement. “The ongoing issue is, of course, gun violence. We have concerns about drug dealing in the Park Heights area, which hinders the community’s growth. I can’t say specifically because we’re just the host, but these problems we’re dealing with will be addressed at some point during the forum.”
Elliott said the venue is equipped with a ramp for wheelchair accessibility.
Sessions listed below:
Aug. 8, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Telephone Town Hall for Older Adults
RSVP at bit.ly/baltcitymeet0823
Aug. 9, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Virtual Community Meeting
Live-streamed on: Facebook.com/MayorBMScott
Aug. 14, 2023, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The Lord’s Church
5010 Park Heights Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
Aug. 22, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Shake & Bake Family Fun Center
1601 Pennsylvania Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
Aug. 24, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
National Federation of the Blind
200 E. Wells Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
Aug. 28, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Telephone Town Hall
RSVP at bit.ly/baltcitymeet0823
Aug. 29, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Greater Paradise Christian Center
2900 E. Oliver Street
Baltimore, MD 21213
Tashi McQueen is a Report For America Corps Member.