Baltimore Brew

License plate reader technology for Baltimore Police approved despite public opposition | Baltimore Brew Residents cite mistrust of BPD and the technology’s use elsewhere to assist ICE, but a majority of the Board of Estimates, including Mayor Scott, vote to approve the $1.46 million contract

Before city approves license plate reader contract for @baltimorepolice.bsky.social, residents speak against it. tinyurl.com/9ek27enz “We’re dealing with two community members killed by BPD ... now we’re giving them more tools to harass people?”

With city officials no-shows, lawmakers tour garbage pile sitting at DOT facility | Baltimore Brew With the Falls Road gate left open, private haulers have been dumping clandestinely at night and Baltimore city trucks have been dumping there, too. How this could go on for months remains “a mystery....

Lawmakers tour that garbage pile sitting at a DOT facility. tinyurl.com/4k5fys8x With the Falls Rd gate left open, private haulers have been dumping clandestinely at night and Baltimore city trucks have been dumping there, too. How this was allowed to go on for months remains “a mystery.”

Expansion of BPD’s license plate reader capability is dangerous – and flying in under the radar | Baltimore Brew Baltimore officials should shoot down the request on today’s Board of Estimates agenda like they shot down another surveillance tool, the spy plane [OP-ED]

A dangerous expansion of @baltimorepolice.bsky.social license plate reader capability is flying in under the radar on today's BOE agenda. tinyurl.com/5n85jh5 As we did with another surveillance tool, the spy plane, Baltimore should shoot it down. [OP-ED]

Two more Baltimore-area bridges confirmed to be shedding lead paint flakes | Baltimore Brew Chips from an I-95 overpass in Baltimore County, as well as the Orleans Street Viaduct in the city, test positive for lead, says Blue Water Baltimore; Meanwhile the state says it won’t test Baltimore’...

Two more bridges are confirmed to be shedding lead paint flakes, including an I-95 overpass which is dropping them on the Baltimore County community of Halethorpe, says @bluewaterbaltimore.bsky.social, which had the orange flakes independently tested. tinyurl.com/mryv92rc

Despite months of complaints, a garbage pile on city-owned property near the Jones Falls remains | Baltimore Brew There it sits, easily visible from Falls Road, amid 311 complaints, environmental concerns and irate emails to top Scott administration officials – plus questions as to why Baltimore City trucks, as w...

Despite months of complaints, a big trash pile on city-owned property near the Jones Falls remains tinyurl.com/mssznvm5 No explanation from the @mayorbmscott.bsky.social administration as to why it hasn't been cleaned up and why City trucks, as well as private haulers, have been dumping there.

Remembering Baltimore Mayor McKeldin, an extinct species: the moderate-to-liberal Republican | Baltimore Brew Researching a play about our city in the 60s took me back to a time, unlike today, when America’s major political parties weren’t so polarized and history’s arc seemed to be bending, slowly, towards j...

Remembering Baltimore Mayor McKeldin, an extinct species: the moderate-to-liberal Republican. tinyurl.com/57pkkm4u
Researching his latest play took @danrodricks.bsky.social back to the days of a different GOP.

Delegates @RyanforMaryland and @DelegateStewart have introduced a bipartisan bill in Annapolis to clarify that local inspector generals are not bound by restrictions in the MPIA, as claimed by Baltimore City and Montgomery County. tinyurl.com/h4jvy9az

Baltimore residents demand reimbursement for “nauseating” sewage backups | Baltimore Brew Drawing attention to a long-term, systemic problem that ends with raw sewage bubbling up in residents’ basements.

Describing "nauseating" sewage backups erupting in their basements recently, Baltimore residents demand the city follow an EPA order to expand a reimbursement program needed by thousands like them who suffer from the city's failure to fix its system. tinyurl.com/y5zbtxzf

Baltimore mayor’s office spent over $890,000 on food, office parties and flowers, IG report finds | Baltimore Brew The Scott administration’s new restrictions on OIG access to documents “would have limited this investigation,” Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming notes.

The Baltimore mayor’s office spent over $890,000 on food, parties and flowers, new Baltimore IG report finds - including a $7,055 farewell party for a top staffer who then decided NOT to leave and remains on the payroll as a $190,000/yr senior advisor. tinyurl.com/2n68ejts @mayorbmscott.bsky.social

How Connecticut handled the release of lead paint flakes from its bridges | Baltimore Brew With still no action plan or health advice provided by Maryland or Baltimore after hazardous lead paint was found flaking off a city bridge, we look at another state’s comprehensive response in 2023.

With still no action plan or health advice provided by Maryland or Baltimore after hazardous lead paint was found flaking off a city bridge, we look to Connecticut, which acted quickly and comprehensively after the same thing happened there in 2023. tinyurl.com/5n7k7ass @mayorbmscott.bsky.social

Unprecedented: Baltimore inspector general sues Baltimore mayor over records access | Baltimore Brew An IG has never before challenged the mayor in court, but Isabel Mercedes Cumming says today’s lawsuit is essential to preserve the independence and integrity of her office.

Unprecedented: Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming sues @mayorbmscott.bsky.social over records access. tinyurl.com/6vr34kah An IG has never before challenged the mayor in court, but Cumming says today’s lawsuit is essential to preserve the independence and integrity of her office.

Maryland files lawsuit to block construction of an ICE detention center | Baltimore Brew The Williamsport facility would serve as the new “ICE Baltimore Detention Facility” with 1,500 beds.

Maryland files lawsuit to block construction of an @ICEgov detention center outside Hagerstown. tinyurl.com/5d4py63z The Williamsport facility would serve as the new “ICE Baltimore Detention Facility” with 1,500 beds.

A new state mandate requires jurisdictions to permit accessory dwelling units. Baltimore is making a mess of it | Baltimore Brew Why is the Scott administration’s controversial zoning bill 25-0066 at odds with Maryland housing legislation passed a year ago?

A new state mandate requires jurisdictions to permit accessory dwelling units - Baltimore is making a mess of it. tinyurl.com/r7r4vtwn Why is the @mayorbmscott.bsky.social administration’s controversial zoning bill 25-0066 at odds with Maryland housing legislation passed a year ago? [OP-ED]

Mid-Atlantic mega-storm is mild-mannered in Baltimore | Baltimore Brew Forecasts to the contrary, the Baltimore region escaped a second big snowstorm, like the one that blitzed New York/New Jersey and New England.

Mid-Atlantic mega-storm is . . . mild-mannered in Baltimore. tinyurl.com/5587s32y

Amid worsening odor from the Back River plant, reports that sewage sludge has been backing up again | Baltimore Brew Community members are concerned biosolids are being stored on the ground and washing into the river; documents show the plant stopped processing the material onsite months ago.

UPDATE - @BaltimoreDPW responds, saying reports that the Back River sewage treatment plant has been overwhelmed with biosolids and has been releasing partially treated sewage into the river are not accurate. tinyurl.com/32fvd83p

Paint flakes falling from the 28th Street Bridge contain lead and are hazardous, MDE says | Baltimore Brew Maryland orders Baltimore officials, who initially denied the chips were lead or posed a hazard, to remove them from the ground and the Jones Falls and to prevent more paint from falling.

Those orange paint chips that fell from the 28th Street Bridge that Baltimore officials said are of no concern? They ARE lead paint, the state confirms. tinyurl.com/3ar25ekc Maryland Dept. of the Environment finds lead levels 36 times the standard limit. Violation issued, clean-up ordered.

Amid worsening odor from the Back River plant, reports that sewage sludge has been backing up again | Baltimore Brew Community members are concerned biosolids are being stored on the ground and washing into the river; documents show the plant stopped processing the material onsite months ago.

The stinky smell is worse than ever, the red pollution warning light keeps flashing and insiders say sewage sludge is backing up and clogging the Back River treatment plant once again. tinyurl.com/dpj86xf9 Documents show they stopped processing the bio-solids there months ago.

MDDC Press Association, joining area inspectors general, supports Baltimore IG’s records access fight | Baltimore Brew Both groups are pushing back on a Scott administration policy they say would “incapacitate” watchdog inspectors general and cut off an important source of information for reporters and the public,

.@mddcpress.bsky.social, joining area inspectors general, supports the Baltimore IG’s records access fight. “Our members rely on clear, consistent access to public information to inform residents about how government operates and how public resources are used." www.baltimorebrew.com/2026/02/17/m...

Union denounces AI-generated news stories, as Baltimore Sun management predicts more of them | Baltimore Brew Reporters are protesting after the recent publication of two news “analyses” about Gov. Wes Moore and President Donald Trump, produced with artificial intelligence tools: “It’s embarrassing, insulting...

Looks like @baltimoresun.bsky.social readers may see more AI-produced news stories like the ones published last week that @baltsunguild.bsky.social quickly denounced as SLOP. tinyurl.com/yaafhvd8 Sun management: "To ignore this powerful tool would be a mistake.”

Offered at a Council work session: amendments and arguments to allay concerns about Baltimore zoning bill | Baltimore Brew “An appeasement effort,” one opponent said, while Sharon Green Middleton drew applause with a plea to stop ignoring “the Black homeowners in legacy neighborhoods.”

Offered at Council work session: amendments and arguments to allay concerns about Baltimore zoning bill. tinyurl.com/59h9stks “An appeasement effort,” one opponent said. Stop ignoring “Black homeowners in legacy neighborhoods," Council Vice Chair Sharon Green Middleton said, to big applause.

Maryland AG: “It could have been written by a second-year law student” | Baltimore Brew The “advice letter” used by the Scott administration to restrict the Inspector General’s access to records was “really just a summary, nothing more,” Attorney General Anthony Brown says.

A non-binding "summary, nothing more," that "could have been written by a 2nd year law student." tinyurl.com/5b7yavzu That's what AG Anthony Brown says about the "advice letter" used by the @mayorbmscott.bsky.social administration to restrict Inspector General Cumming's access to documents.

Maryland Supreme Court to hear anti-SLAPP lawsuit filed by Clipper Mill residents against two developers | Baltimore Brew At issue: Can people hit with a lawsuit found to be a malicious attempt to shut them up collect damages?

Maryland Supreme Court to hear anti-SLAPP lawsuit filed by Clipper Mill residents against two developers.

At issue: Can people hit with a lawsuit found to be a malicious attempt to shut them up collect damages?

www.baltimorebrew.com/2026/02/12/m...

Baltimore Inspector General Cumming says she will go to court to fight for records | Baltimore Brew The IG Advisory Board approves the hiring of outside legal counsel. Cumming reveals her fight with the Scott administration centers on her investigation of MONSE, the mayor’s violence prevention progr...

Inspector General Isabel Cumming reveals her fight with the @mayorbmscott.bsky.social administration centers on her investigation of MONSE, the mayor’s violence prevention program tinyurl.com/2vy9djcs She's going to court to fight for records after her Advisory Bd OKs hiring outside legal counsel.

Pastor says city’s sweeping zoning bill, which promises progress, may instead “deliver pain” | Baltimore Brew Faith leader joins Baltimore residents and councilmen denouncing Bill 25-0066, as opponents plan an online town hall tonight and the bill heads to committee on Thursday.

Baltimore pastor says city’s sweeping zoning bill, which promises progress, may instead “deliver pain.” tinyurl.com/4b5phxn7 He joins residents and councilmen denouncing Bill 25-0066, as opponents plan online town hall tonight and the bill heads to committee on Thursday.

Mayor Scott’s war on Baltimore’s inspector general: Part II | Baltimore Brew The administration’s latest assault on the city’s corruption watchdog doesn’t hold up to legal scrutiny and raises a harsh question: what are they hiding? [OP-ED]

The @mayorbmscott.bsky.social administration’s latest assault on Baltimore's Inspector General - the city’s corruption watchdog - doesn’t hold up to legal scrutiny. tinyurl.com/bdcdawk2 . . . leaving a harsh question: what are they hiding? [OP-ED]

Flaking orange paint from the 28th Street Bridge is littering Falls Road and the Jones Falls | Baltimore Brew The chips resemble the lead paint flakes that fell in 2022 from Baltimore’s TV Tower. City officials do not believe they contain lead, but MDE is now testing them.

Flaking orange paint from the 28th Street Bridge is littering Falls Road and the Jones Falls tinyurl.com/3ynsbcx9 Chips resemble the lead paint flakes that fell in 2022 from Baltimore’s TV Tower. City officials don't believe they contain lead, but the MD Department of the Environment is testing them

Amid copious campaign contributions, city officials approve developer’s marina for police heliport | Baltimore Brew Scott Plank’s generosity to Baltimore electeds – including $20,000 to the Democratic Senate Caucus Committee – came ahead of the Board of Estimates’ approval yesterday of a $17.9 million lease deal.

Amid copious campaign contributions, city officials approve developer’s marina in Canton for a heliport for the Baltimore Police Dept. tinyurl.com/54j28d69 Records we reviewed, for example, show Scott Plank's largess includes $20,000 to the Democratic Senate Caucus Committee.

Citizen advisory board backs Inspector General Cumming’s quest for unredacted records | Baltimore Brew Without access to IT system data and financial records, the Office of the Inspector General cannot effectively identify and prevent waste, fraud and abuse in city government, the board says.

BREAKING - Citizen advisory board backs Inspector General Cumming's quest for unredacted records. Says restricting IT system and financial data hurts the Baltimore Office of the Inspector General's mission to identify waste, fraud & corruption in Baltimore city govt. tinyurl.com/y2zsk2w7

Your voice won’t be heard at tonight’s Baltimore County Council meeting | Baltimore Brew Building renovations, not recent public controversies, are the grounds for the cancellation of public testimony, council chair says.

Building renovations, rather than recent public controversies (i.e., those proposed skyrocketing pensions
), are the reasons for shutting down public testimony at tonight's Baltimore County Council meeting, officials say. tinyurl.com/3t62muyr

An alarming and baseless attack on Baltimore’s inspector general | Baltimore Brew Mayor Brandon Scott and his law department are making bogus claims to deny Isabel Mercedes Cumming access to records needed for her watchdog role. [OP-ED]

THE OPPOSITE OF TRANSPARENCY: @mayorbmscott.bsky.social has launched an attack on the Baltimore Office of the Inspector General. Here's why its legal basis is flawed, and why residents and electeds need to take a stand against City Hall overreach and potential coverups [OP-ED] tinyurl.com/mv6x67xc