Mayor Blames Allegations On Racism
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott has a problem. The Baltimore City Office of the Inspector General, led by Isabel Mercedes Cumming, released a Feb. 25, 2026 report finding extensive spending on food, office parties and flowers during the review period July 1, 2022 − Nov. 17, 2025.
The report highlights questionable spending, lack of oversight, and resistance to transparency particularly within the Baltimore Mayor’s Office. Over $800,000 was spent on food and catering between July 2022 and November 2025 by Mayor’s Office staff.
$52,588.78 was spent on food and beverages in luxury stadium suites at Ravens and Orioles games. $33,551 was spent on flowers for staff birthdays, bereavements, and baby announcements. One retirement party cost $3600, but the subject of the retirement party didn’t actually retired. There was also a baby shower for the Mayor.
Many purchases for food, gifts, etc. were charged to what is called a “336 procurement-card” without required waivers. This totaled $167,455.06. Over 300 of the charges had no approval or proper documentation. Many charges were for food, catering and events that are not allowed under city regulations as well as for questionable professional services contracts with businesses.
The Office of the Inspector General also found fraudulent invoices and data breaches with the city’s MONSE program (Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement). In the data breach, information about juveniles involved in the program was sent to an unsecured personal email address.
In a previous report, the OIG flagged attempts to divert $1.5 million in city funds.
Meanwhile, there are more problems with the Baltimore City Mayor’s staff and their professionalism. The OIG shared official interoffice emails that exposed harassment, threats, foul language, and encouragement to circumvent policies and laws.
One Baltimore City employee, using official email and Microsoft teams, send emails with such messages as “I’m going to f***ing kill him,” “I want to crack her skull,” and “I want to choke the sh*t out of [a coworker].” This violated the City’s technology guidelines and created a hostile workplace. The same employee consistently threatened and insulted co-workers and encouraged them to violate rules and laws in their work. ” This story from the Baltimore Brew highlights massive problems:
What was Mayor Brandon Scott’s response? First, he denied the OIG access to certain records, particularly for MONSE, and directed his office to block the OIG’s access to certain emails and records. While he admits there were “mistakes” he claims the OIG reports lack context and are exaggerated.
But, the Mayor, mirroring Governor Wes Moore, places “racism” at the center of his problem.
In February, Scott was confronted by WBFF Fox 45’s reporter Mickenzie Frost regarding the $163,495 taxpayer-funded cost of his 2025 Jeep Waggoner. Scott’s response? He called questioning “idiotic” and the result of a “right wing” effort to discredit him. Then, when asked the question again, Scott said:
“Just because you didn’t get the answer that you wanted in your racist slant, that’s one thing.”
It seems to be a pattern with Democrats in Maryland. When they do something wrong or are incompetent and don’t want to be accountable, they blame racism. Brandon Scott has been soundly criticized from many in Baltimore City for his lack of oversight and fiscal responsibility. The population of the City is overwhelmingly Black.
Maryland citizens of all races are rejecting that explanation. Thursday’s Baltimore Orioles Opening Day proved that. When Governor Wes Moore and Comptroller Brooke Lierman were introduced before the game, there were resounding boo’s in the crowd. Moore supporters said that was because a majority of the crowd were White Conservatives.
Sorry, but that simply is not the case. Last time we checked many different groups of people go to Camden Yards. Both Moore and Scott need to look in the mirror for the cause of the discontent and displeasure.
-Jan Greenhawk
The post Baltimore City Grift And Unprofessionalism Exposed In Inspector General Report appeared first on The Easton Gazette.
