DISTRICT 13

Tackling crime

I have spoken out against failed policing tactics that have perpetuated violent crime in Baltimore City neighborhoods. Crime in our neighborhoods have left many residents and visitors feeling unsafe, tarnished the reputation of the City, and stifled economic development and opportunity. In order to build healthier communities, it is important that the City gains control of the local police force and that the consent decree is fully implemented to ensure that our neighborhoods are being policed fairly and constitutionally. This will facilitate stronger relationships between City residents and law enforcement officers, which will in turn make community policing strategies more effective.

Last year, Baltimore suffered 347 homicides—the highest murder rate per capita recorded in our city’s history and in 2019, Baltimore struggled with a 32% homicide clearance rate. This is unacceptable, and given the $530 million budget of the Baltimore Police Department, it is unjustifiable that we still have a shortage of qualified police officers who live in the City keeping our families safe. Hiring, recruiting, and training more officers, and investing in modern technology would reduce response times and reduce the need for millions of dollars spent on police overtime. Auditing the spending of BPD to ensure the most effective use of taxpayer dollars is imperative to make the most of our public safety spending. With more effective management of BPD resources, we will be able to invest in workforce development, addiction treatment, and connecting residents with employment opportunities for residents in need of opportunity.

Breaking the cycle of crime will not be easy. That is why our plan involves proactively attacking crime at its root. Funding for YouthWorks should be expanded and implemented year-round in order to provide opportunities for young people to have access constructive activities, and prevent them from entering into the criminal justice system. Residents formerly involved in the criminal justice system must receive adequate resources to support re-entry, such as housing and job training. The City must continue to enforce Ban the Box laws, as many residents seeking employment still face barriers to employers’ discriminatory employment practices.

As a community liaison in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, I know firsthand that the Office requires more support in order to keep repeat violent offenders off our streets and more resources for victims and witnesses of crime. Effective coordination between City agencies, the SAO, and BPD will facilitate lower rates of crime, especially with the City allocating more funding to the SAO to recruit and retain talented prosecutors and investigators. Baltimore cannot arrest its way out of our current circumstances. More police and policing is not the answer; having the courage and the creative vision to address the systemic issues which contribute to poverty, failing schools, and unmotivated and ill prepared young people, is. In this way, those who have been given the honor to serve as representatives of their respective communities, must be willing to make adequate funding for our schools, affordable housing, jobs paying a decent wage, and substance abuse and mental health programming, a priority. This is the only solution. Otherwise, we, as a society, will continue to put band aids on wounds which will never stop bleeding hope, family and neighborhood security, and any chances for upward mobility and economic prosperity.