A recent OIG report says that the Baltimore Mayor’s Office failed to follow policies for 336 procurement card transactions totaling $167,455.06, including purchases for food, flowers and sporting events. The questioned spending represents less than 1 percent of the office’s $36 million in P-card use since June 2022.
Tag: Mayor Brandon Scott
Posted inOpinion
Is it density or destruction? A look at the Housing Options and Opportunities Act
By Nneka Nnamdi Council Bill 25-0066, otherwise known as the Housing Options and Opportunities Act, is a part of Mayor Brandon Scott’s plan to bring down housing costs by making it lawful to create 2-4 units in a single structure that is greater than 1,500 sq ft. The logic of the bill seems to be […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Baltimore’s violence drop proves investing in Black-led youth and the arts works
Baltimore’s historic drop in youth homicides and gun violence is the result of intentional investments in Black-led organizations, youth arts programs, recreation centers and public spaces, not chance. Drawing from her work with Creative Nomads, Kayenecha Daugherty argues that art, community-based leadership and equitable funding are proven public-safety strategies—and warns that recent gains are fragile without sustained support.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore mourns the loss of longtime civil servant and deputy mayor Anthony Barksdale
Baltimore Deputy Mayor Anthony Barksdale died Nov. 6, prompting Baltimore leaders to share reflections on his life and legacy.
Posted inBaltimore Events
Jazzy Summer Nights bids Baltimore farewell with a legendary Dru Hill finale
After 25 years of music, community and culture, Baltimore’s beloved Jazzy Summer Nights ended its run Oct. 2 with a blockbuster finale headlined by hometown legends Dru Hill. Thousands filled City Hall Plaza to celebrate the legacy of founder LaRian Finney’s iconic series, which united generations and left a lasting mark on the city.
Posted inBaltimore News
Wes Moore, Brandon Scott reject 47th president’s National Guard plan for Baltimore
Gov. Wes Moore and Mayor Brandon Scott denounced the Oval Office’s plan to send the National Guard to Baltimore, calling it unnecessary and “performative.” At a Sept. 5 press conference in Park Heights, they pointed instead to record crime reductions, with homicides at a 50-year low. City leaders and community advocates stressed that resources should go toward collaboration, jobs and housing — not militarization.
Posted inArts & Culture
Jean E. Merrick, Baltimore icon of fashion and fine millinery, feted at 90th birthday celebration
Baltimore icon of fashion and millinery, Mrs. Jean E. Merrick, was celebrated at a 90th birthday luncheon in Catonsville, where nearly 150 family members and friends gathered to honor her elegance, lifelong service, and legacy of style. The afternoon featured tributes from loved ones, citations from public officials, and a display of her famed hat collection, making the milestone a fitting tribute to her remarkable life.
Posted inU.S. Government
White House targets Black-led cities despite record crime declines
The 47th president’s takeover of Washington, D.C.’s police force and his threats to extend the same approach to other Black-led cities are being denounced as racially motivated and tied directly to the Project 2025 blueprint.
Posted inBaltimore News
Charm City is farm city: How Baltimore’s urban farms might be the best weapon against rising food costs
Baltimore’s network of 40 urban farms and 60 community gardens is helping residents cope with rising grocery costs by providing affordable—or often free—fresh produce in neighborhoods with limited healthy food options. Rooted in a century-old tradition and strengthened by decades of city policy, these farms not only feed communities but also foster job skills, entrepreneurship and social connection.
Posted inSports
Adam Jones to be inducted into Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame
Orioles legend Adam Jones puts on an Orioles jersey for the last time after signing a one-day contract to officially retire as a Baltimore Oriole on Sept. 15, 2023.
Posted inBaltimore News
Community acts fast as drug crisis grips Baltimore
A mass overdose involving 27 people in Baltimore’s Penn-North area has sparked urgent community and city-wide response, highlighting both the depth of the drug crisis and the effectiveness of rapid interventions like Naloxone distribution. City leaders, including Sen. Antonio Hayes, emphasized the need for long-term investment and wraparound services to address the systemic neglect that has long plagued the area.
Posted inBaltimore News
2 shootings in 1 night leave 8 people wounded in Baltimore
By Tavon N. ThomassonAFRO Intern Within the span of a few hours on June 23, two separate mass shootings erupted in Baltimore, leaving multiple people wounded. The first incident occurred about 7 p.m., after the sound of gunfire echoed from the 1900 block of McHenry St., alerting officers nearby. At the scene, police found three […]