Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway (D-District 4) led an April 28 oversight hearing on MONSE after an Inspector General report raised concerns. Ongoing litigation limited discussion of alleged fraud as officials examined accountability, transparency and oversight gaps.
Tag: Baltimore City Council
Posted inBaltimore News
Mayor’s office seeks ethics review of IG’s social media post amid ongoing legal dispute
A senior aide to Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked city ethics and oversight boards to review Inspector General Isabel Cumming’s online conduct following a Facebook post that included a YouTube video with an AI-generated image of the mayor. The request comes amid an ongoing legal dispute between the mayor’s office and the inspector general over access to city records and the scope of the OIG’s investigative authority.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore residents speak out as BGE skips oversight hearing
Baltimore residents, especially Black families, are struggling with skyrocketing utility bills, forcing some to take on debt or cut essential expenses. City officials and advocates are pressing BGE for answers during rising cost concerns.
Posted inBaltimore Government
City Council holds hearing on bill to protect immigrant residents
The Baltimore City Council is considering the “Safe Spaces and Communities” bill, which would protect immigrant residents by codifying executive order safeguards and limiting local agency cooperation with federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore inspector general challenges city over limited access to records
By Megan SaylesAFRO Staff Writermsayles@afro.com Baltimore City Inspector General (IG) Isabel Mercedes Cumming has filed suit against Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Baltimore City Council after the city denied her office access to certain records and provided heavily redacted information in response to subpoenas. The suit seeks a court declaration confirming the Office of […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Mayor Scott reflects on historic crime drop and looks toward 2026
Baltimore ended 2025 with a record low of 133 homicides, the fewest in nearly 50 years. Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) and city leaders highlighted strategies to sustain reductions and announced a new five-year violence plan, which will be released later this year.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore residents demand end of private police force at Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore residents and students rallied at War Memorial Plaza on Dec. 15 to demand the abolition of the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD). Activists called on the Baltimore City Council to halt hiring, exit the MOU with JHPD and reimagine public safety beyond policing.
Posted inBaltimore Government
Mayor Bradon M. Scott signs $4.6B FY26 Baltimore City budget
Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) signed a $4.6 billion fiscal year 2026 budget that closes an $85 million gap without layoffs or broad tax increases. The plan increases funding for youth programs, public safety and immigrant communities, and takes effect July 1.
Posted inMaryland News
Family, city council members call for reform after in-custody death of Dontae Melton Jr.
The family of Dontae Melton Jr. is speaking out against his death in police custody, which was ruled a homicide, and is demanding full disclosure and improved police training on mental health calls.
Posted inBaltimore Government
Baltimore City Council approves $4.6B FY26 budget in 13-2 vote
The Baltimore City Council approved a $4.6 billion fiscal year 2026 budget on June 16, highlighting new investments in immigrant support, traffic safety and waste reduction.
Posted inBaltimore Government
Council addresses staffing, overtime and potential federal funding challenges in FY26 budget discussions
As the Baltimore City Council gets closer to passing the fiscal year 2026 budget, they’re wrestling with issues like escalating overtime costs, staffing gaps and uncertain federal funding. The hearings revealed a focus on keeping children engaged and neighborhoods safe through strategic investments.
Posted inBaltimore News
From tragedy to change: Freddie Gray’s death and the road to reform in Baltimore
Ten years after the death of Freddie Gray and the ensuing “Baltimore Uprising,” Mayor Brandon Scott and other legal and community leaders are reflecting on the systemic failures that led to the unrest and the reforms that followed.