Tension has intensified in Baltimore following a new legislative proposal from Mayor Brandon Scott, which the city’s Inspector General says is aimed more at “control” than genuine accountability.
The four-part bill, introduced by Mayor Brandon Scott, is designed to reshape how the Inspector General’s Office conducts investigations into city agencies. It also proposes an independent review of the discontinued SideStep youth anti-violence programme.
However, Inspector General Isabel Cumming strongly rejected the intent behind the reforms.
“What he proposes is not accountability, it is control. This is not about politics. It is about ensuring that the people of Baltimore know where their tax dollars are being spent and why. The OIG will continue to fight for the people,” she said.
The mayor’s office, in response, dismissed her claims, saying her interpretation of the proposal was inaccurate and misleading.
It stated: “For months, the mayor’s office has been interested in meeting with the OIG and the OIG Advisory Board to outline a process that delivers transparency while following State law. At every turn, these requests have yet to result in a meeting. We look forward to having an honest conversation with lawmakers on the City Council and in the General Assembly about what these proposals actually do and how to move our city forward.”
According to Mayor Scott, the proposed reforms are intended to improve confidence in the Inspector General’s Office and address concerns about its effectiveness.
The plan includes steps to redefine oversight procedures and revise parts of the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA), including provisions that would significantly limit the Inspector General’s access under certain categories.
It also outlines a push for statewide legislative changes in 2027 to adjust MPIA rules and introduce specific exemptions for inspector general offices, alongside future amendments to the city charter once state approval is secured.
In addition, the administration has called for an independent forensic review of the SideStep programme, saying the process will ensure an unbiased investigation.
The city is working with Baker Tilly, a global audit and consulting firm, to carry out the review. Officials said that if fraud is confirmed, steps will be taken to recover public funds and hold responsible parties accountable.
“If the review confirms the inspector general’s findings of fraudulent invoices, the city will ‘utilize every tool at its disposal to recoup those funds and take action against those who perpetrated fraud against the city,’” the mayor said.
The dispute between both sides escalated earlier in the year after the Inspector General’s Office filed a lawsuit against Baltimore City in February. The office accused the city of blocking access to documents needed for an investigation into the SideStep programme under the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE).
Cumming also alleged that the city failed to comply fully with a subpoena and instead released heavily redacted records.
“It is very clear that I can subpoena any records. [The city has] decided not to respond…they did nothing,” she said in February. “So I am now suing the city for the SideStep records they will not give us so I can do my job.”
The case is still before the court, with proceedings ongoing after a judge ruled in April that the Inspector General could retain her legal representation during the lawsuit.
