BALTIMORE — On Wednesday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced the launch of his “100 Days of Action Tracker,” an online tracking page for all of the priorities the mayor has said he will focus on his his first 100 days in office.
The mayor said it's a way to keep his administration transparent and accountable.
“Over the past few months, my team and I have been working hard to build a new foundation for our local government in Baltimore City. This work will not be easy, particularly as we continue to navigate the devastating public health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, something that layers on Baltimore’s existing inequities and unrelenting violence epidemic,” he says in a message on the tracker.
The tracker takes a priority area and shows, via graphics,
“This administration will need to operate with great urgency, transparency, accountability and commitment to equity more than ever before,” he said during a virtual press conference.
You can view progress on city actions by clicking here.
Scott also has released a report from ten different committees that assisted the Mayor during his transition into office. It highlights short and long-term recommendations on what agenda and policies Scott and his administration should work on throughout their term.
Despite the announcement, some Baltimoreans say the mayor and city leaders need to do better.
"With the city, I don’t think they understand things until it hits their doorstep, until it’s in their backyard and until it’s affecting their families," said David Johnson.
Johnson works for the city's department of public works. He and a number of employees were protesting outside City Hall Wednesday over paycheck issues.
As WMAR-2 News has reported, hundreds of Baltimore employees continue to be underpaid or receive no money in their paychecks. The issue started several weeks after the city rolled out a new payroll system.
"I've worked for DPW for 19 years and we've never experienced anything like this," said Johnson. "Bills need to be paid and some people are racking up late fees."
"I don't think the mayor understands this," said DPW worker Dawn Hutchinson. "Really, he’s trying but it’s not working. That’s the whole thing in a nutshell. We need our money. We need our bills paid and that’s it."
As for vaccination cancellations, the mayor addressed concerns during a secondary press conference Wednesday.
"What we need is more vaccinations," said Scott. "This is why I have reached out to the governor's office."
In a letter to the governor Scott wrote in part:
"I understand that later this week, the State will launch its first mass vaccination site in Baltimore, a month after the City activated its mass vaccination site. Based on challenges we have observed and heard about from residents, and to ensure an equitable vaccination process, I am writing to respectfully request that the Maryland Department of Health reserve slots on a daily basis for:
- The more than 15,000 older adults, age 65+, who have called our MAP call center for assistance scheduling an appointment through the State’s online-only PrepMod portal.
- Teachers at schools in Baltimore City;
- Judges and staff from our courts; and
- Eligible Baltimore residents in Phase 1A, 1B and 1C who faced challenges obtaining first dose appointments.
I am also writing to request visibility on the percentage of City residents that have accessed the regional mass vaccination state sites in Baltimore City, to ensure equitable administration of vaccination and plan more effective outreach and education efforts for Baltimore City residents."
