Baltimore: Mayor Blames Lack of Funding for Rising Crime Rate

Baltimore: Mayor Blames Lack of Funding for Rising Crime RateBaltimore: Mayor Blames Lack of Funding for Rising Crime Rate Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has attributed the city’s rising crime rate to a lack of funding for public safety initiatives. In a recent interview, Scott argued that budget cuts have severely weakened the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) and made it difficult to effectively address crime. “We have not been adequately funded for many years,” Scott said. “We have had to do more with less, and it’s just not working.” According to Scott, the lack of funding has led to a decrease in police officers on the streets, a shortage of equipment, and inadequate training. He pointed out that the BPD currently has around 2,000 officers, down from a peak of over 3,000 in the 1990s. The mayor also highlighted the importance of community policing programs and intervention strategies, which he said have been underfunded in recent years. He argued that these programs are essential for building trust between law enforcement and the community and for preventing crime from occurring in the first place. Scott’s comments come amid a surge in violent crime in Baltimore. Homicides in the city reached a record high in 2020, and the numbers continue to be alarmingly high in 2021. The Baltimore Sun reported that as of July 13, 2021, there had been 210 homicides in the city, compared to 177 during the same period in 2020. Critics of the mayor’s position argue that funding is only one part of the problem and that the BPD also needs to address issues related to accountability, transparency, and racial bias. They also point out that the city has received significant federal funding for crime prevention and policing initiatives in recent years. Despite the challenges, Scott remains optimistic about Baltimore’s future. He said he is working to secure additional funding for public safety and to build stronger partnerships with community organizations. He emphasized that he believes that every resident deserves to feel safe in their city and that he will not rest until that goal is achieved.