TGR: New Baltimore: Mayor's Renaissance in Progress featuring Bramble, Stokes, Thomas, & Rolley

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(BALTIMORE – Revised July 10, 2025) – Baltimore isn’t just a city of struggle — it’s a city of grit.

This town has raised champions: Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Ray Lewis. Cal Ripken. Lamar Jackson. Sam Cassell. Mo’Nique. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. Jada Pinkett Smith. Angel Reese.

What do they all have in common? Baltimore. This city doesn’t fold. It fights. It rises.

Baltimore raises people who don’t flinch in the face of adversity. We fight for what we believe in. We don’t quit. We resist — and we win. As long as there is life, there is hope. And as long as there’s a Baltimore, there will be boldness, resilience, and the audacity to triumph.

Just ask Derik Queen — University of Maryland basketball standout and now New Orleans Pelican. When asked how he made it, he gave the only answer that mattered:
“I’m from Baltimore. That’s why.”

And right now, we’re watching something extraordinary: a rebirth. A city that’s been counted out too many times is striding forward with fight in its heart and vision in its step.

The Brandon Scott Era

At the center of this renaissance is Mayor Brandon M. Scott — one of the youngest mayors in America and a proud son of Park Heights. Say what you will, but the record stands: no scandals. No corruption. No headlines for all the wrong reasons.

What we’ve gotten instead? Steady hands. Focus. And a genuine commitment to the people.

He rolled up his sleeves. Not perfect — but present, visible, and working.

A perfect example of that is the bold, transformative Harborplace redevelopment.
Developer P. David Bramble of MCB Real Estate didn’t need this deal — his firm already manages millions of square feet. But he stepped in out of love for the city. He stepped in when others didn’t — and when he did, the backlash came. Much of it laced with bias. Harborplace sat neglected for two decades. Then a Black developer from West Baltimore dared to reimagine it, and suddenly critics got louder.

Mayor Scott didn’t duck the controversy. He called it out. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Bramble, attended public forums, listened to community voices, and helped push through the legislation to move the project forward. He worked behind the scenes to ensure Harborplace would stay in local, Black-led hands, not be lost to outside speculators.

This is a new kind of leadership — strategic, principled, unshaken.

And to be fair, I didn’t start off as a Brandon Scott supporter. I backed Sheila Dixon, proudly. And my dear friend and mentee, Catalina Byrd, often reminded me that Brandon was quietly doing more than people gave him credit for. Over time, I’ve come to see it: she was right. He’s growing in the role — with clarity, courage, and commitment to Baltimore.

But this moment is bigger than one mayor.

A Renaissance Built on Bold Leadership

What we’re seeing is an ecosystem of equity-minded leadership — and Baltimore is better for it.

Shelonda Stokes: Architect of Inclusive Economic Growth

As President of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Shelonda Stokes is redefining what downtown means — and who it’s for. Under her leadership, 12 state agencies have relocated downtown, fueling a $50 million investment boom and paving the way for nearly $7 billion in development.

Through her BOOST program (Black-Owned and Operated Storefront Tenancy), she’s opening doors for Black entrepreneurs — providing grants, mentorship, and prime retail space in a historically exclusive landscape. She’s not just filling vacancies — she’s filling downtown with vitality, dignity, and ownership.

She’s also a policy powerhouse — having co-chaired transition teams for Governor Wes Moore and Mayor Scott. And if you haven’t seen the new billboards she helped usher in downtown, you’re missing out. They bring color, pride, and identity to the city core — putting Baltimore’s brilliance on full display.

Otis Rolley: Champion of Equitable Urban Development

Leading the Baltimore Development Corporation, Otis Rolley brings deep experience in urban planning, community development, and economic justice. He’s not just about building — he’s about who benefits from what gets built.

Rolley prioritizes mixed-use, mixed-income development and supports projects that include job training, opportunities for local contractors, and protections against displacement. As a former City Planning Director, his strategy is rooted in equity, smart design, and community voice. His work ensures that as Baltimore grows, longtime residents grow with it.

Mark Anthony Thomas: Big Vision for Baltimore’s Economy

At the helm of the Greater Baltimore Committee, Mark Anthony Thomas is reshaping how we think about economic development. As the first Black leader of the GBC, he brings over 20 years of experience from New York, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, where he helped land billions in capital investment.

Armed with degrees from MIT and Columbia, Thomas has already positioned Baltimore as a federal tech hub, thanks to a consortium of 38 biotech and AI firms. He’s part economic architect, part creative thinker — even a nationally recognized poet — and fully committed to building a future Baltimoreans can thrive in.

Baltimore in the National Context

Baltimore’s challenges aren’t unique. Across the country:

Office vacancies have soared (averaging 19–20% post-COVID). In Baltimore’s Central Business District (CBD), that number is closer to 30%, similar to San Francisco and Portland.
Retail closures downtown are widespread, while suburban corridors bounce back.
Cities like Pittsburgh and Lower Manhattan are showing us what’s possible with adaptive reuse and mixed-use revitalization — and Baltimore is taking notes.

This is not failure — this is the frontline of the future.

Building the New Baltimore

The path forward is clear — and Mayor Scott, Bramble, Stokes, Rolley, and Thomas are walking it:

Mixed-Use Development that prioritizes housing affordability and economic inclusion.
Public Space Activation through events, festivals, and waterfront access.
Support for Minority-Owned Businesses via grants, space, and visibility.
Transit Connectivity, tech-enabled mobility, and pedestrian-first design.
Historic Preservation that tells our story while embracing sustainability.
Safety and Cleanliness to build trust and welcome families back downtown.
Public-Private Partnerships rooted in transparency and accountability.
Smart City Technology to manage lighting, waste, and real-time data.