“Built Different, Building Different” – Theme for 2025 State of the City Address
Baltimore—When Mayor Brandon Scott stepped on the platform of the M&T Exchange, one of Baltimore’s shining examples of the investments shaping the city’s renaissance, he did so with the confidence and swag so justly deserved, given the progress his administration has made in drafting Charm City’s new narrative. The theme for Mayor Scott’s fifth State of City Address was “Built Different, Building Different.”
Following a glowing introduction by Maryland’s 7th District Member of the U.S. Congress, the Honorable Kweisi Mfume, Mayor Scott treated the standing-room-only audience to a litany of positive statistics displayed in a multimedia presentation that squarely validated his previous campaign promises. Flanked by Baltimore’s First Lady, Hanna Scott, their three children, and his parents, the mayor referenced his roots as a Baltimorean and proud graduate of Mervo Vocational High School. Throughout the evening, he offered glimpses of authenticity and celebrated “all things Baltimore.”
Continuing to note the many and varied successes realized over the past four years, he cautioned those attending that these gains, while significant, were not cause for celebration, but instead should be viewed as motivation to work ever harder to achieve goals he has set for the city’s continued growth. Baltimore is indeed on the rebound.
The mayor’s use of illustrations, data points, maps, and video clips, addressed a wide range of citizen concerns, from the reduction in homicides and non-fatal shootings to the much-heralded recent population growth, giving cause for hope even among his staunch naysayers.
Applause and cheers rang out repeatedly as the news of Baltimore’s descent on lists that track the nation’s leading locales for less than favorable outcomes. Standing ovations were received as our rankings increased for positive metrics, such as public-school achievement in recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic learning loss realized by students across the country. He particularly beamed in noting Baltimore school students were second in the nation for improving reading and writing skills.
The dedication of teachers and administrators was on display as well when the efforts of Bettye Adams, Principal, and staff at Samuel Coleridge Taylor Elementary School were amplified through a short but touching video.
The evening was dotted with highlights of heroism, courage, and personal sacrifice that embodied the spirit of Baltimore’s grit and determination. The subjects of several such stories were introduced and celebrated. Among them was Sid Grossman, who served as City Hall’s gatekeeper for decades. He was as much of a fixture as the clock that adorns the building’s dome. Now retired, this former Baltimore City schoolteacher was welcomed by all, and his celebrity status was cemented by dozens of requests for selfies.
Also uplifted was the work of the Roca project that has played such a significant role in the mayor’s violence reduction strategy. Members of the Roca team were present and rose to applause following a brief video sharing the deeply personal insights of a young man’s life-transforming testimony. Baltimore’s success in drastically reducing crime has made it a model for other US cities and continues to set the standard through its innovative and comprehensive approaches.
There were few dry eyes in the house when Mayor Scott announced the presence of Doctor Michael Zollicoffer, a patron saint of Park Heights, now affectionately known worldwide as “Dr. Z.” His plight, and the community’s response, shared locally and nationally on broadcast television and social media, serves as a symbol of Baltimore’s courage, tenacity, and giving spirit. Dr. Z., a second-generation pediatrician known for his kind-hearted and selfless service to the city’s uninsured children, is now being supported by thousands of former patients and perfect strangers in his struggle to finance his cancer treatment.
When laying out his 10-year plan for Baltimore, the mayor acknowledged that many may view his approach as aggressive or ambitious but stated that nothing less would be acceptable.
The event ended on a positive note with the mayor’s pledge to reduce property taxes, repair 1,000 potholes and clean every alley in our city. Finally, he offered a challenge for all to join him in this and the many other efforts required to continue Baltimore’s Renaissance beginning with a citywide cleanup this weekend. To join in, call 311 to register.
For a full copy of the Mayor’s State of the State Address: https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/sotc-2025