By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
For Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, 2025 unfolded as a year of pressure and progress. There was public criticism from a new White House administration, racist attacks online and naysayers at every turn. Still, he persevered to achieve notable advances in public safety, workforce development and youth development. In fact, 2025 will be remembered as the year Scott tackled many of the city’s long-standing challenges.
At the center of it all was a milestone Scott called his biggest win: Baltimore recorded its lowest year on record for homicides and violent crime. When Scott first announced his comprehensive violence prevention strategy, which treats gun violence as a public health issue, some were skeptical. Now, the results are speaking for themselves.
“Gun violence is the reason I decided that I wanted to be mayor before I was 10 years old. It’s what I ran on when I ran for city council. Even before I ran for mayor, I said that we needed to have a comprehensive public health-based approach that balances all the things necessary to reduce violence in the city— with policing, community violence intervention and investments into youth education and job training,” Scott told the AFRO. “What we saw in 2025 is the culmination of that plan and everyone involved with that plan coming to true and full fruition.”
Baltimore experienced 133 homicides in 2025 and there were 311 non-fatal shootings, down from 411 non-fatal shootings in 2024.
(Photo courtesy of the Baltimore City Office of the Mayor / J.J. McQueen)
The homicide declines build on a multi-year downward trend in violent crime: the city reported more than 300 homicides in 2022, 262 in 2023 and 201 in 2024.
Scott stressed that the decline in homicides reflect a collective, citywide effort, crediting community violence intervention workers, police, prosecutors, federal partners and community organizations for sustaining the work.
“This is Baltimore’s win together. When I unveiled Baltimore’s first-ever comprehensive violence prevention plan and said we were going to reduce homicides by 15 percent from one year to the next, people literally laughed,” said Scott. “Now we have done something that folks said we couldn’t do.”
On a more personal note, the mayor says his proudest accomplishment in 2025 was the birth of his daughter, Camden Lee Scott, who became the newest member of Baltimore’s first family on March 8. Scott married his wife, Hana Augins Scott on Aug. 11, 2024. At the time of their nuptials, the couple had already been blessed with Charm Jamie Scott in December 2023 and Ceron, Hana Scott’s son from a previous relationship.
Now, with his personal and professional life flourishing, Scott’s momentum shows no signs of slowing in the new year. He plans not to depart from the strategies that have proven effective, but to build on them.
Reducing violent crime in the city remains a major focus, but Scott also highlighted progress and plans in other areas. When he took office in December 2020, Baltimore had roughly 16,000 vacant houses. Today, that number stands at roughly 12,257— the lowest in decades. In collaboration with the Greater Baltimore Committee, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development, key city agencies and state partners, he aims to continue reducing that number through his $3-billion Vacancy Reduction Initiative.
Investments in youth and recreation are also a priority. Scott said the city currently has five recreation centers under construction and expects to open three brand-new centers in 2026. The operational budget for Baltimore City Recreation and Parks has grown by 40 percent since he’s been in office, amounting to over $200 million. The city will also continue its historic investments in public schools, including opening new buildings.
In 2026, Scott said economic development will focus on both downtown and neighborhoods across the city. Under the leadership of Baltimore Development Corporation CEO Otis Rolley, the city plans to advance projects from the Convention Center renovation and Harborplace transformation to community development in Park Heights and Cherry Hill.
But there’s one more thing Scott has set his heart and mind on: in 2026, the 41 year old said he hopes to change the national narrative about Baltimore. For decades, Baltimore’s unique culture and charm has often been overshadowed by the images of crime and poverty portrayed and popularized by the hit HBO series, “The Wire.”
Scott told the AFRO people to see the true story of Baltimore. In 2026, he urges residents to tune out the distractions and forge ahead in the work to make Charm City the greatest city in America.
“We have to continue to ignore the noise no matter where it’s coming from— even if it’s coming from the highest on the high in Washington, D.C., national media or even if it’s local noise,” said Scott. “We have to continue to ignore that and do what we know is right for the city of Baltimore, even when it’s unpopular or some people don’t like it. History will tell the tale, and all of the lies and crazy things that they’ve been spouting from down there will be an afterthought.”
Community and elected leaders say Scott’s 2025 record depicts both tangible progress and personal leadership. Sen. Cory McCray (D-District 45) praised the mayor for his work in East and Northeast Baltimore, noting new recreation centers, the city’s first public school stadium and the first new public library on Greenmount Avenue in 15 years.
“My brother and friend, Mayor Brandon Scott, has grown not only as a leader but as man— showing up with clarity as a husband and father, fully aware that our communities and our children are watching,” said McCray. “He represented Baltimore on the national stage in a way that was authentically ours, reminding the country what Baltimore excellence truly looks like. Most importantly, he’s giving hope to elementary school students navigating our K-12 system that their wildest dreams are possible.”
Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) commended the mayor’s work to stabilize communities and enhance downtown partnerships while still boosting collaboration in other parts of the city.
“I’ve lived here under 10 different mayors, and while we all can describe things that we still want to see changed or addressed, there’s no denying that this city has come a long way in a short time under his visionary and energetic leadership,” said Mfume.
Terry “Uncle-T” Williams, founder of Baltimore-based Challenge 2 Change, praised Scott for his vision and holistic approach to public safety, noting the sharp declines in homicides and nonfatal shootings since the mayor took office.
He added that Scott’s leadership— particularly his engagement with the youth and focus on neighborhoods— has created a lasting effect on Baltimore that won’t be forgotten.
“He made a difference and not just a difference but an impact that will be remembered forever. He is sketched into the history books as being not only the youngest mayor but the most effective mayor when it comes down to creating a shift in safety for Baltimore City,” said Williams. “I’m just honored to be living in this period of time in his life.”
