Mayor Brandon Scott’s seeds are bearing fruit; he deserves credit for violence reduction | GUEST COMMENTARY

I have recently been attempting to grow avocados and have learned it takes countless weeks just to get a pit to sprout roots, let alone a stem and leaves. If I am patient, I should see fruit in eight to 10 years. Maybe five, if I am lucky.

Effecting lasting and real change to a culture of gun violence is like growing avocados in that it will not happen overnight. It takes dedication, patience, resources and cooperation among many parties. During the 1980s and ’90s, while Mayor Brandon Scott was growing up in Park Heights, Baltimore experienced significant increases in violent crime and drug addiction along with economic decline.  He knows and understands the complexity of the problem from firsthand experience and is pursuing a comprehensive public health approach to gun violence. It truly takes a vision and a village.

I first moved to Baltimore City in 1989 for work, and have been here ever since. It has become my home. Like all homes, it has its good and bad points, but for me, the good have outweighed the bad, and I have stayed. There have been seven different mayors since I moved to Baltimore. Each tried to address violent crime with a variety of approaches and, at best, temporary results. Frequent turnovers in leadership can be detrimental, as seeds that are planted are abandoned before they can come to fruition.  New seeds are planted, starting over again and again.

I recently saw the documentary “The Body Politic” at the Senator Theatre, which follows Mayor Scott’s first years in office and his approach to addressing violent crime. The film and the question-and-answer session that followed were both powerful and emotionally moving. There is much happening that, I suspect, many like me did not know about. For example, Erricka Bridgeford told of the Baltimore Peace movement and how every space in the city where a murder has been committed is cleansed in a blessing ceremony. Another surprise for me was learning that one aspect of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) involves outreach to those most likely to commit violent crimes. Through personal contact, information is given to them about resources available to help change lives. Such a strategy is a means of changing a culture of violence one step, one person, at a time.

The film and Mayor Scott also spoke of the value of therapy, which many offenders could benefit from. I had never considered this before, as I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where I didn’t directly experience violence and poverty, but it makes sense. At the conclusion of the film, I heard from many in the audience who have been impacted by gun violence. Their stories were powerful, as were the stories of those, including the mayor, who are working to effect change. I left the theater with great hope and a renewed love for this city.

Last year, Baltimore homicides dropped to 263, the first time they were below 300 since 2015. Non-fatal shootings decreased by 7%, according to a January Associated Press article. There was also a decrease in unconstitutional arrests. My recollections over the years are that some past strategies temporarily improved crime statistics, but often coincided with increased arrests without probable cause and incidents of police misconduct. To see simultaneous progress in reducing violent crime, and improving police practices is a huge step in the right direction toward not only changing the culture of violence but improving relationships between police and communities plagued by violence.

Personally, I have witnessed a huge reduction in encounters with “Squeegee Kids” and have read about the city’s intervention to help steer them toward job training, employment and resources — another way to create a lasting change.  My interactions, and those of friends with calls to 311 and the mayor’s office related to city services, have been positive. I also applaud Mayor Scott for not entertaining opponent Thiru Vignarajah’s recent request for a job in exchange for his endorsement as he dropped out of the close race.

Several of my avocados have finally grown leaves. Mayor Scott’s efforts are having an impact. I do not personally know the mayor. I am not an influencer, a politician or a celebrity. I am a senior citizen who has spent most of my adult life in this city.  My endorsement will not have an impact, but I wholeheartedly endorse Mayor Brandon Scott for Mayor. I hope to see what more he can accomplish in another four years.

Melissa Falen (mfalen@verizon.net) retired in 2022 from Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she was an associate professor.