Baltimore Leaders Differ on City Crime, Public Works, and Youth Funding

Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen revealed today differing approaches among the city’s top leaders – himself, Mayor Brandon Scott, and City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates – regarding key issues including violence prevention, the Department of Public Works, and youth funding, potentially impacting the future direction of city policy.

Cohen highlighted recent declines in violent crime, stating, “Right now, we have been seeing record declines in violent crime…Everybody in this city is winning.” However, disagreements exist on how to maintain this progress. Bates voiced concerns about the Safe Streets program, saying, “I don’t know what Safe Streets is doing. They’re not helping us in any way, shape, form or fashion.” Cohen supports Safe Streets but advocates for evolving the initiative to offer more resources and choices to individuals involved in risky lifestyles. For more information on violence prevention strategies, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s resources.

Further division surfaced regarding the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF). Cohen is co-sponsoring legislation to increase transparency in how the BCYF allocates funds, stating, “All this bill does is say we’re going to audit the money. We’re going to hold folks accountable.” He and Bates also expressed disagreement with Mayor Scott’s assessment of progress made in reforming the culture at the Department of Public Works (DPW), with Cohen anticipating continued oversight and potential legislation related to work safety at DPW. You can find more details about the DPW and its initiatives on the city’s official website.

Cohen acknowledged the differing opinions, stating that navigating these disagreements is part of his role as City Council President. Officials indicated further discussion and potential legislative action are expected in the coming weeks.