Brandon Scott will Tackle Baltimore’s “Public Health Emergencies" as the City’s Youngest Mayor

Pledging to tackle gun violence and the coronavirus pandemic, 36-year-old Brandon Scott, has been sworn in as Baltimore’s youngest and 52nd Mayor. During a small inauguration ceremony, Scott addressed growing concerns that have plagued the city. Rising COVID-19 cases, struggling small businesses, an eviction crisis, and economic struggle throughout the city awaits the young former councilman; to which he says “will require sacrifices,” to help change.

“We cannot accept this as normal in our city,” Scott said, regarding all that he faces during his first term. “We must also understand that these dual emergencies of violence and this pandemic exacerbate the underlying and obvious inequities facing residents of Baltimore. I am humbled by the task before us and I have hope, but I am not naive to the challenges we face.” Although most media was barred because of pandemic guidelines, Scott was still able to address the growing concerns of violence and the challenge to defund the police, a call to action that has grown since the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. “Baltimore, we must re-imagine what public safety means for us,” Scott said. “Gone are the days where we try to police our way out of our problems. That strategy has not worked, it will not work,” he continued.

Raised in a working-class family, Scott graduated in 2006 from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a degree in political science. A year later, back in his hometown, he ran for city council, once an opening was left by then-Councilwoman Stephanie Rawlings-Blake during a political shuffle following Democratic Mayor Martin O’Malley’s election as governor. Scott wasn’t selected, but In 2011, Scott was elected to City Council, representing the 2nd District. He became council president in 2019.

He often spoke about his upbringing on the campaign trail, stories that related to voters in Baltimore. With eyes watching, spectators are hoping to see the same Brandon Scott that in 2018 proposed a racial equity bill ultimately signed into law that requires city agencies to determine whether existing or proposed policies have different outcomes with regards to race, gender, or income. It also requires them to develop policies to address disparate outcomes. He also proposed a $15 million annual fund to work toward eliminating institutionalized racism. Knowing the challenges ahead for his city, the historic moment seems to have been quickly overshadowed, like many news stories during this hectic 2020 year.