(BALTIMORE – April 3, 2026) – When all else fails, society reaches for the oldest, most convenient scapegoat: the parents. When young people struggle, act out, or fall short of expectations, the narrative quickly turns to what wasn’t done at home—what values weren’t taught, what discipline wasn’t enforced, what guidance was missing. It’s a familiar refrain. It’s also incomplete and deeply flawed. Blaming parents ignores the broader ecosystem shaping today’s youth. It sidesteps the uncomfortable truth that many of our institutions—particularly our schools and public systems—are failing to meet the needs of the very children they are meant to serve.…

November 14, 2025 Letter from the Mayor Dear Washingtonians, After 43 days, the longest federal shutdown in history came to an end this week. Shutdowns hurt Americans everywhere, but they are especially devastating for those who live and work in our nation’s capital. And if nothing else has come from this shutdown, we have once again been reminded that 700,000 DC residents deserve a vote and a voice in our Congress. I say often that in DC we take care of ourselves. Especially in difficult times, we stick together and we look out for our neighbors. Throughout the shutdown, we…

(BALTIMORE – November 13, 2025) – The federal government shutdown is finally over. After 43 days — the longest in U.S. history — President Trump signed a bill to reopen, and more than a million federal workers can breathe again. Strip away the speeches about “bipartisanship” and “working together.” This shutdown made one thing clear: power matters, and it matters most when you use it. Republicans Didn’t Hesitate to Use Power For 43 days, Republicans held the line. They allowed a shutdown that furloughed workers, disrupted essential services, strained airport operations, and hit families who rely on federal programs. Democrats…

(BALTIMORE – October 27, 2025) – On or about October 16, 2025, Maryland’s Department of General Services (DGS) issued a notice to vendors adopting the position of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) regarding the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Interim Final Rule (IFR) on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. In plain language, this rule removes the long-standing presumption of eligibility for firms owned by racial minorities and women. It marks a fundamental shift in how minority business participation will be recognized — not only in Maryland but across the nation. USDOT’s justification for this IFR stems from recent federal court rulings…

(BALTIMORE – October 27, 2025) – Years ago, while in Jamaica, I found myself in conversation with a Rasta. I asked him what wisdom he’d have me carry back home. He paused, smiled, and said two simple words — words I will never forget: “Love life.” Then he repeated them, slower this time. “Love life.” Today, the world feels upside down. What was left is now right. What was right is now passé. It’s as if common decency has become retro — a relic from another time. People’s mental health is stretched thin as we try to make sense of…

Are We Moors, Hebrews, or Indigenous? (BALTIMORE – October 12, 2025) – Call it cognitive dissonance—the tension we feel when new information collides with what we’ve always believed. Many of us grew up with two big narratives: that humanity’s oldest roots trace to southern Africa, and that people we call “Black” in the Americas arrived solely via the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. But what if the fuller story is more complicated? What if some of our families have been here far longer than our textbooks suggest—and what if many we call “descendants of slaves” are, in fact, descendants of prisoners of…

(RANDALLSTOWN – October 4, 2025) -If you live in Maryland’s 10th Legislative District — stretching from Woodlawn to Owings Mills — you should know Senator Ben Brooks. He’s not just another elected official. He’s a longtime businessman, family man, and community servant who built his legacy right here along Liberty Road. For decades, Senator Brooks and his family have operated a respected CPA firm on Liberty Road. That business is more than a professional enterprise — it’s a community hub. From that foundation, Brooks worked his way up the political ladder, ultimately succeeding the legendary Senator Delores G. Kelley in…

(BALTIMORE – August 29, 2025) – I just finished watching the recent Hurricane Katrina documentary on Netflix, and it truly gutted me. At the time of Katrina, In 2005, I was 14 and I didn’t fully grasp connection between disaster, tragedy, and systemic racial injustice. Watching now, has hit me in a way I wasn’t ready for. The aftermath was worse than I remembered: families displaced, residents criminalized instead of cared for, and recovery that too often felt like punishment. One line stuck with me: “My mother said gentrification was on the way when she saw the bike lanes.” By…

(BALTIMORE – August 27, 2025) – As we step into the 2025–26 school year and data, funding, and policy dominate conversations in the education space, I offer prayer. Prayer is how I frame hope, summon courage, and speak to the possibilities we hold for our schools, students, and communities. For me, it’s both personal and purposeful. Prayer is not just about closing our eyes—it’s also about opening our hearts and minds to vision. District Office Leaders I pray this year brings innovation, courage, and responsiveness to the complex challenges you face. May every decision reflect both vision and practicality, balancing…

(TOWSON, MD – August 12, 2026) – In Baltimore County, Maryland, the Black or African American population (non-Hispanic) is approximately 29.8% — nearly one-third of the county. Two of the county’s seven council districts are now majority Black. These numbers matter, because history shows that when Black political power is concentrated, the system will adjust itself to contain it — unless we stay awake. Which brings us to Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan. Since her appointment in January 2020, I have been told by multiple county employees — more than just a few — that they fear her. Not…