Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott gave his State of the City Address, centered on “Built Different, Building Different.” Mayor Scott emphasized Baltimore’s positive momentum over the past four years, highlighting successes in reducing homicides, rehabilitating vacant properties, and renewing support for local businesses.
Over the past three years, students across Baltimore have ranked second in the country for their reading progress. As part of a renewed commitment to keeping this progress going, Mayor Scott announced he is working alongside city schools to meet two goals, including increasing the percentage of students who are reading and writing on grade level by more than 10 percent by 2027 and more than double the percentage of students on grade level for math in that time.
To date, Baltimore has recovered nearly $700 million in settlements and legal victories tied to the opioid crisis. Through a comprehensive strategic plan led by the city’s new Office of Overdose Response and supported by the Restitution Advisory Board, this money is being invested directly back into communities. Mayor Scott also announced a complete overhaul of the 311 system, which began with the launch of the 311 Reimagined Project in October 2024. His goal is to improve communication and accessibility to make 311 work better for all Baltimore residents.
Mayor Scott announced the launch of the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment- MOACE- a unified office that will shape the future of Baltimore’s live events, cultural workforce, creative economy, nightlife, and film industry- positioning the arts as a core driver of the city’s growth and identity. He also announced that, with the leadership of Councilman Dorsey, he is proposing comprehensive changes to the city’s building and zoning codes. These reforms will overhaul outdated standards that prevent the city from expanding multifamily housing options. These reforms will make housing more abundant and affordable – while expanding options, including more 1-bedroom apartments.
Watch the Mayor’s full remarks here.
At a time when our rights, freedoms, and futures are under threat, Democratic Mayors are showing the nation what real leadership looks like.
