By Nate Gilgeous
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott on Monday unveiled a draft of his plan to reduce violence in the city.
“Deep challenges require innovative solutions,” Scott said. “Violent crime is a major issue in Baltimore, and our residents deserve to know how their leaders will address it in the most effective and urgent way possible.”
Joining Scott at a press conference were Shantay Jackson, director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, and Letitia Dzirasa, Baltimore City Health commissioner.
“I have long advocated for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing violence in Baltimore,” Scott said. “The release of this draft plan today represents the first step in working together to build public safety in Baltimore.”
Under the plan, the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement is responsible for coordinating an all-hands-on-deck approach to building a safer Baltimore and working to ensure accountability.
“Past public safety practices have failed to yield long-term results for Baltimore,” said Jackson.
“This Draft Violence Prevention Framework and Plan is based in equity, healing, and trauma-informed practices.
“My team will work closely with the mayor to implement this plan, which operationalizes a public health approach to violence, centers on community engagement and collaboration across agencies, and focuses on data-driven practice and accountability.”
Last September, Dzirasa said she convened a citywide Violence Prevention Taskforce. The group, which included city and state agencies, organizations, and technical assistance partners, met over eight weeks to develop a framework to prevent violence. The neighborhood safety team worked with the Health Department to apply elements of the framework and develop the plan released by Scott on Monday.
The plan will be presented to the City Council’s Public Safety and Government Operations Committee in April, officials said.