Baltimore

A $10K incentive opens the door to homeownership for city employees

In a bid to attract and retain workers, Baltimore will double its financial incentive for city employees who purchase a home in one of its “middle neighborhoods.”

  • By Molly Bolan

Unfair Property Taxes and What to Do About Them

In some places, the taxes fall unequally on lower-income and minority homeowners. But can they be redesigned without jeopardizing a major source of local government revenue?

  • By Liz Farmer

A City Seeks to Undo a Legacy of Trauma

A Baltimore law requires agencies that interact with children and families to receive training in trauma-informed care. It's changing how the city engages with residents, with a greater emphasis on healing rather than hardline policies.

  • By Daniela Altimari

How Cities Are Addressing Mental Distress

Successful programs include partnerships between social workers and first responders, incorporate data and recognize larger social factors affecting health and well-being, like racism, experts say.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

This Week in Federal Funding

In the Aug. 17 edition, we talk with Shamiah Kerney, director of Baltimore's new Office of Recovery Programs. Also, updates from St. Louis, Hoboken, N.J., and Memphis.

  • By Bill Lucia

What One City Hopes to Learn by Pausing Use of Facial Recognition Technology

A ban in Baltimore would restrict the city from purchasing facial recognition technology and temporarily restrict use by city agencies, residents and businesses (but not the police).

  • By Andrea Noble

Baltimore Latest City to Consider Banning Facial Recognition Technology

The Maryland city joins several other localities that have banned or are assessing the controversial technology, or are limiting its scope and use.

  • By Brent Woodie

Baltimore is Latest City to Cap Delivery App Fees Paid by Restaurants

Other cities have enacted similar policies, meant to help restaurants struggling during the pandemic. At least one delivery app company has responded with a new customer surcharge.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Judge Rules Cities’ Muni Bond Rate-Fixing Lawsuit Against Big Banks Can Proceed

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | One Republican governor says he voted for Joe Biden … Federal judge strikes down “public charge” rule … Oil clean up on Maryland and Delaware beaches.

  • By Bill Lucia and Laura Maggi

Supreme Court to Hear Energy Companies’ Appeal in City Climate Change Lawsuit

The suit brought by Baltimore is part of a national trend of cities, counties, and state governments suing oil and gas companies over the impact of climate change.

  • By Emma Coleman

Employers in D.C. Region Expect Some Remote Work Into Mid-2021, Survey Finds

About 60% of respondents anticipated less than a third of workers would return to the office by early September because of coronavirus risks. Some are planning for a portion of staff to still be working remotely even next summer.

  • By Bill Lucia

What the Gentrification of Baltimore's Chinatown Means

As developers turn to Baltimore’s historical Chinatown, Ethiopian residents worry about displacement while others worry about cultural commodification.

  • By Amir Khafagy, CityLab
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Money for Silence: A Gag Order Policy with Legal Settlements Divides a Local Government

An executive order signed by Baltimore Mayor Jack Young says the city can’t offer “unreasonable” nondisclosure agreements to people who sue the city and work out agreements—but the city council might try to ban them outright.

  • By Emma Coleman

The Ransomware Attack in Baltimore: A Failure of Organizational Resilience

COMMENTARY | Employing best practices and adhering to international standards can help organizations and governments weather cyber attacks and other disruptions.

  • By Willy Fabritius

Boxing As a Solution to Help End Gun Violence

Baltimore Mayor Jack Young suggested that letting young people settle their differences in a boxing ring might stop people from shooting each other. But would an intervention like that really make a dent in the murder rate?

  • By Emma Coleman

Many Officers Hired by New Police Departments After Misconduct Probes

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Developments in local and federal investigations into officials across the country … A bill banning sanctuary cities passes the Florida House … Federal judge says it is legal to sell fireworks on tribal land.

  • By Emma Coleman

Baltimore Mayor Takes Health-Related Leave as Book Scandal Grows

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | The 100 Resilient Cities program will close up shop this summer ... Supreme Court allows Missouri execution to move forward ... Eagles causing problems at Washington state landfill.

  • By Laura Maggi

Cities Deploy High-Tech Boots on Parking Scofflaws

Officials tout the 'self-remove' boots as a convenience. But advocates for the poor say the technology is just part of a larger fine-focused justice system that hurts those who can least afford to pay.

  • By Jenni Bergal

Crime and Murder Rates Drop in Most Big Cities

While the trend isn’t universal, Brennan Center for Justice research findings “definitively reject any claims” of the nation being in a “crime wave.”

  • By Laura Maggi

How Baltimore and Tulsa Are Using Data to Foster Community

“The great thing people need to understand about data—and this was the incorrect understanding I had at first—is it is not about efficiency,” said Tulsa’s mayor.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Investing in Your Employees' Best Ideas

COMMENTARY | "Baltimore put money down on its own creativity and has raked in results. Other cities should make the same bet," writes former Baltimore budget director Andrew Kleine, previewing his new book.

  • By Andrew Kleine