What’s happening?
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott delivered the annual State of the City Address on Tuesday, April 5 from the newly reopened City Hall, CBS Baltimore reports. Baltimore City Hall opened to residents on Monday for the first time since it closed in March 2022 and is one of the last city halls in the country to reopen.
What did Mayor Scott highlight in his speech?
Scott emphasized the city’s commitment to public safety, including its Reimaging Police Strategy, which aims to refocus police efforts on reducing violence rather than non-emergency calls. Scott said that the city is engaging with community organizations and both state and federal law enforcement agencies to combat rising crime.
Scott announced funding and partnerships geared toward improving programs for Baltimore youth through schools, parks and recreation centers as well as others that will provide equitable housing, fill vacant homes and enhance transportation.
“We will continue to address violent crime and gun violence, restore our communities, and revive the way in which our city government operates,” Scott concluded. “That is how we will shape a better future for Baltimore.”
Scott also revealed that a local developer, MCB Real Estate, will revitalize Harborplace, the dilapidated waterfront mall at Inner Harbor.
Anything else I should know?
With the influx of visitors at City Hall following its reopening, residents may expect to wait in long lines and will be required to wear masks and complete covid-19 pre-screenings. Virtual testimonies are temporarily unavailable, potentially for the next several weeks or months, while officials organize the proper technology.
You can read the full text of Scott’s speech here, and read more about City Hall here.
