Commentary

by Joan JacobsonOct 22, 2026

The mayor and Board of Estimates hand out an $80 million property tax break for a downtown student dorm without a care for Baltimore’s long-term financial health. [OP-ED]

Special SeriesOct 6, 2026

What we’ve learned from the battle between the mayor and the inspector general

Stepping back from the procedural wrangling between the two, here’s a look at the bigger picture and the constitutional issues. [OP-ED]

Sep 29, 2026

The Baltimore County Auditor did her job. Now it’s time for the State Prosecutor to do his

Did the budgetary chicanery that resulted in the taxpayer funding of a county golf course clubhouse cross the line into misconduct? [OP-ED]

Sep 22, 2026

Is the Baltimore City Council about to eliminate single-family zoning?

A bill backed by Councilman Ryan Dorsey – scheduled for a committee vote on Thursday – is little known, but would have a big impact on city neighborhoods. [OP-ED]

Special SeriesSep 15, 2026

The tactics employed by Mayor Scott in the Inspector General lawsuit have an air of desperation

How far are the mayor and his legal team willing to go to try to handcuff Baltimore’s corruption watchdog? [OP-ED]

Special SeriesSep 14, 2026

Why the mayor and City Council should assist an MCB exit from Harborplace

At bare minimum, Baltimore officials must forbid demolition of the Harborplace pavilions until the roughly $500 million needed in private funding is secured by MCB Real Estate. [OP-ED]

Sep 8, 2026

Living near the World Trade Center on 9/11, an artist wrote down what she saw, what she felt

Aug 13, 2026

They called for help. The system called their deaths inevitable

Aug 3, 2026

Lawsuit by Olszewski administration, filed against a former top aide, is revealed for what it was: A charade

Special SeriesJul 23, 2026

A hearing next week in the legal battle that Baltimore’s inspector general never should have had to fight

Jul 17, 2026

BGE power outages make July’s hot weather even more miserable in southeast Baltimore

Jun 29, 2026

UPDATE: Previously withheld auditor’s report sheds light on Olszewski administration’s scheme to fund clubhouse renovations

Special SeriesJun 15, 2026

If Maryland residents want independent and effective inspectors general, they are going to have to insist on it

Jun 5, 2026

Klausmeier administration’s ridiculous explanation for funding a pet project of the former county executive

May 1, 2026

The Brandon Scott image Cumming posted was bad, but Ferguson exploiting it to shut her work down is shameful

Apr 13, 2026

How low can you go? Baltimore’s helicopter playground puts city life at risk

Mar 16, 2026

Poised to undo their pension grab, but pretending that’s not what it was

Mar 4, 2026

Expansion of BPD’s license plate reader capability is dangerous – and flying in under the radar

Mar 2, 2026

Remembering Baltimore Mayor McKeldin, an extinct species: the moderate-to-liberal Republican

Feb 23, 2026

A new state mandate requires jurisdictions to permit accessory dwelling units. Baltimore is making a mess of it

Feb 9, 2026

Mayor Scott’s war on Baltimore’s inspector general: Part II

Feb 2, 2026

An alarming and baseless attack on Baltimore’s inspector general

Jan 26, 2026

Getting members of the Baltimore County Council to eliminate their pension windfalls won’t be easy

Jan 20, 2026

Four Baltimore County Council members are now in a position to double their pensions