By Clayton A. Mitchell, Sr.
I have been consistently critical of Baltimore’s leadership over the years—and often with good reason. The city has faced more than its fair share of dysfunction, with public safety, government accountability, and basic quality of life all suffering as a result. However, fairness demands that when things begin to improve, we acknowledge that fact, even when progress comes from a leader we did not expect.
Mayor Brandon Scott delivered his State of the City address recently with a message that was not only hopeful—it was backed by real, measurable results. Since 2020, homicides in Baltimore are down 40 percent. Shootings are down 43 percent. Robberies, carjackings, and auto thefts are all down by significant margins. That is not political spin. That is a real change.
Mayor Scott credits this progress to Baltimore’s Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan—a combination of law enforcement coordination, community outreach, and investment in long-neglected neighborhoods. Whether one is a skeptic of such programs or a strong believer in them, it is difficult to argue with the outcome.
To be clear, I am not offering a blanket endorsement of the Scott administration. I have questioned his priorities in the past, and I likely will again. However, when a mayor presides over one of the most significant drops in violent crime in recent memory, it is only right to acknowledge the achievement.
What is also clear is that this is not the same Brandon Scott who took office in 2020. In many ways, we are seeing the emergence of Mayor Scott 2.0 – a leader who has grown into the job through trial, error, and, most importantly, experience. The early days of his administration were marked by lofty rhetoric and an unproven governing philosophy. But over time, he has shown a willingness to adapt, to test new approaches, and to learn from what works and what does not.
That evolution deserves recognition. There is a steadier hand on the wheel now, one more focused on outcomes than ideology. Scott’s tone in his address reflected that growth—not triumphant but measured and committed. “This is progress, but we have more work to do,” he said, reaffirming a goal of reducing homicides by at least 15 percent each year. That kind of realism is welcome, especially in a city where leaders have too often substituted slogans for serious solutions.
And while I may not be inclined to adopt phrases such as “Baltimore is built different,” I understand what the mayor meant. This is a city with grit, pride, and residents who have not given up—even when their government appeared to have done so.
So yes, I give credit where it is due. Mayor Scott has helped bring about a meaningful reduction in violent crime in Baltimore. That deserves recognition. If he remains focused, avoids distractions, and continues to lead with a results-driven mindset, there is no reason that this progress cannot continue.
We will continue to hold him accountable—as we should. But we must also be willing to acknowledge when something is working. And at this moment, on crime, something in Baltimore clearly is.
Clayton A. Mitchell, Sr. is an attorney who resides on the Eastern Shore and is co-host of the Gonzales/Mitchell Show podcast.