Ahead of the city’s budget hearings week, some leaders of the City Council are making specific requests for information before more money is allocated.
Councilman Eric Costello, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, sent letters to the Baltimore Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.
Included in the list of requests in the letter to MONSE are questions about how the city’s public safety agency is handling federal American Rescue Plan spending allocations, updates on the community violence intervention ecosystem plans, and staffing requirements and vacancies, including an update about who will replace outgoing MONSE Director Shantay Jackson.
In early May, FOX45 News reported that Jackson was set to leave her position inside City Hall. Mayor Brandon Scott and Jackson later confirmed the news, noting her resignation would be effective June 30, 2023; questions about who will replace her or what drove her decision to leave have gone unanswered by both Mayor Scott’s Office and Jackson herself.
“Let me stop right here, let me stop right here. Never ever will I prioritize news about me over news about our young people,” Jackson said when questioned about her plans after a news conference on May 25, 2023.
FOX45 News did not ask Jackson the question during the news conference about the youth curfew, but rather waited until the end to speak with her.
“We can save that question for a time when I’m ready to share it. Thank you,” Jackson said and walked away.
Costello said there is always a transition period when an agency head leaves, but said he wants to hear “about the administration’s efforts to find a replacement” for Jackson.
“That’s a critically important role in the crime-fighting strategy in Baltimore City,” Costello said of Jackson’s position.
According to city records, Jackson received a promotion that took effect Nov. 1, 2022, that came with a salary increase, bringing her annual earnings to $223,165.
Costello also noted he wants to learn more about how MONSE has grown into at least 30 people and said he wants to get specific job descriptions for everyone on the city’s payroll.
Beyond staffing concerns outlined in the letter, Costello wants specific information about how MONSE awards grants to various groups in the city and plants to spend the $50 million in American Rescue Plan funding.
“There’s been some questions about the folks who have been awarded the grants from MONSE, so better understanding the criteria that’s used to select those awardees, what performance metrics are in place, etc.,” Costello said. “The role that MONSE plays is critically important and we want to make sure that those tax dollars are being spent the most effective way possible.”
Also included in the letter, Costello is asking for updates on the city’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy and the implementation of Mayor Scott’s curfew, which is now in place through Labor Day Weekend.
The Group Violence Reduction Strategy, or GVRS, is the city’s attempt at disrupting group – or often gang – violence and offering people an off-ramp to their current life of crime. The program was piloted in the Western Police District and currently, the city has plans to expand into other police districts throughout the year.
The Baltimore Police Union has raised concerns about having adequate staffing levels to expand the program, given the understaffing crisis facing BPD.
In the letter, Costello asked for GVRS data that include the number of people in each district that GVRS has engaged with, successfully diverted in each district, and recidivism rates. Costello also asked for a “comprehensive definition of engaged” while describing the participants in the program.
As for the youth curfew requests, Costello is demanding a detailed budget breakdown of staffing of the curfew and what will happen when kids do not comply with the referrals to youth centers.
“Citizens across our City remain concerned about violence, but more acutely the rise of youth violence over the past several months,” Costello wrote in the letter. “With the summer months quickly approaching, we need immediate and effective implementation of short-term strategies to enable the continued progress towards these longer-term solutions you are working to establish.”
MONSE’s budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, June 5 from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at City Hall. City Council has the authority to move money around within the budget for the first time this year, after voters approved a charter amendment. Councilman Costello said it’s too early to say whether the council will exercise that power, adding he will have to wait and see how the budget hearing itself goes.
Costello gave MONSE until the close of business on Friday, June 2 to respond in writing to the requests. Questions from FOX45 News to MONSE went unanswered Tuesday about whether the information would be provided by Costello’s deadline.
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