Founder Dermell Brunson now says those teachers knew there would be delays — a claim their attorney argues is both false and illegal under Maryland labor law.

At issue is accountability over public dollars and labor rights. The taxpayer-funded nonprofit continues to receive contracts with Baltimore City Public Schools even as former instructors allege wage violations that could expose the organization — and potentially the school district — to legal and financial liability.

Brunson told Spotlight on Maryland that the educators signed short-term, project-based contracts and were “freelance, independent” contractors, not employees. “Invoices are subject to processing delays,” he wrote in an email. Educators were “well aware when hired.”

But attorney Howard Hoffman, who represents the eight educators, said that explanation does not absolve the nonprofit of its legal obligation to pay on time.

“These workers were statutory employees under wage and hour laws,” Hoffman said in a statement. “This employer cannot hide behind any contract provision that excuses its failure to pay due to ‘processing delays’ or whatever they allege.”

Maryland law requires employers to pay workers at least twice a month and also points out that any agreement to work for less than minimum wage is void, which is $15 an hour in the state.

A contract obtained by Spotlight on Maryland shows the nonprofit allows up to 10 days to process invoices — far short of the months-long delays teachers describe.

Cedric Benning is one of the educators who claims he has not been paid. He was a media arts instructor at Booker T. Washington Middle School for the 2024-25 school year. He told The Baltimore Sun in October that he stopped getting paid last year.

“I’m in a whole new school year and still haven’t been paid for the work I did last year,” Benning said.

Benning and seven other educators are suing both Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center and Baltimore City Public Schools to recover the wages they say they’re owed.

When asked if the educators can expect to be paid soon, Brunson said, “Not if the eight former contractors continue their lawsuit against LTYC and [Baltimore] city schools.” He added that the lawsuit will have to play out, but it’s a costly expense for the nonprofit. “Waiting patiently and professionally, would have seen those 8 contractors’ invoices paid over a month ago.”

Have a story tip? Email Spotlight on Maryland at spotlightonmaryland@sbgtv.com or call the hotline at 410-467-4670. Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration among The Baltimore Sun, FOX45 News and WJLA in Washington, D.C. Tessa Bentulan can be reached at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.

Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, or LTYC, is a nonprofit with a mission to help children excel through arts education. But public records obtained by Spotlight on Maryland reveal a series of lawsuits and concerns involving the organization and its founder, Dermell Brunson.

Earlier this year, eight educators hired through LTYC to work in performing and creative arts roles at Baltimore City schools claimed they have yet to be paid. Brunson does not take any responsibility for it and instead blames payment delays from business partners and federal funding cuts. He also told Spotlight on Maryland in an email that the educators LTYC hires “are arts instructors, not teachers. [They are offered short term, project-based contracts.” Brunson noted the instructors are not LTYC employees.

Brunson says the eight educators knew payments could be delayed and that it was written in their contract agreements. The attorney representing those educators says that’s against the law.

This is not the first legal dispute tied to LTYC. In 2022, the nonprofit sued Brunson. He was accused by the nonprofit’s board of giving himself and another employee a raise without prior approval. Brunson called it a “retaliation lawsuit filled with lies.” He said any pay increases were made “within the organization’s bylaws and internal finance procedures.”

He declined an in-person interview for this story but answered a majority of questions through email. In emails, Brunson signs his name with the title “Dr.” When asked about his academic background, he said he graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts – a high school. When asked again which college he attended, he replied, “That’s all I have for you at this time. Extremely busy.”

BCPS said it was “not initially aware of the filing” when partnering with LTYC. Brunson said the case was later dismissed.

Despite that, the nonprofit continues to face criticism from educators who say they are still waiting for payment.

When asked why the district chose to work with a nonprofit to hire educators, and whether it should manage hiring internally, Baltimore City Public Schools did not directly answer. Instead, the district said it “partners with nonprofits and local organizations to provide supplemental fine-arts programming that connects schools with local artists.”

Ward Morrow, an attorney specializing in employment law, said some school systems contract with nonprofits to save money, but those savings don’t always materialize.

“Typically, the thought would be you pay the teachers less. It would be less expensive to do it,” he said. “In general, the only way the nonprofit is going to be able to come in at less than what the government pays is by cutting the costs of the teachers. It would be balanced on their backs.”

Morrow is also an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. He added that hiring through nonprofits can sometimes cost taxpayers more.

“You’re going to have to pay them [educators] a salary,” Morrow said. “The person who pays them -— the nonprofit is also going to have to be paid a salary. Now, you’re paying double.”

Have a story tip? Email Spotlight on Maryland at spotlightonmaryland@sbgtv.com or call the hotline at 410-467-4670. Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration among The Baltimore Sun, FOX45 News and WJLA in Washington, D.C. Tessa Bentulan can be reached at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.

Despite City Hall touting public-health strategies and police reporting thousands of foot patrols, residents in multiple neighborhoods describe daily drug dealing in plain view and little visible enforcement to deter it. Three mass overdoses since July sharpened concerns, yet community leaders say conditions on the ground haven’t changed, raising questions about how the city measures progress, deploys officers, and balances harm-reduction with basic public safety.

At Yorkewood Apartments, in what appears to be a peaceful Northeast Baltimore community, there’s a scene of drug dealing, car jackings and trash pileups. Olympia Pakis, who moved to the apartment complex from Arkansas in April, quickly realized safety isn’t guaranteed.

“I told [management] to get us the nicest building they had because I have a 2- and 5-year-old,” Pakis said. “Apparently, there were drug dealers in front of the building that they had assigned to me.” Those drug dealers are on the corner of Chinquapin Parkway and East Belvedere Avenue on a regular basis.

Pakis was reassigned to another unit farther from the drug dealing, but crime followed. Her Hyundai was recently stolen, steps from her home, and later found with exposed wires and a huge scratch that stretches across the entire right side of the car.

“It worries us,” she said. “We don’t go out past a certain time. We can’t do certain things.”

Spotlight on Maryland first reported last week on the issues at Yorkewood. The property manager, Pratum Companies, said it had worked with the Baltimore Police Department to ban 23 people from the property in September for illegal activity, including drug sales. All 23 people were not residents of Yorkewood. Pratum took over as management in July 2024 and has “worked in tandem with the property owner to address ongoing resident concerns and community issues.”

The problems Pakis described are far from isolated.

Across the city, in Penn North, residents and recovery advocates say the same scenes play out daily — drug transactions in plain view and a lack of police presence to deter them.

Nicole Brown, a clinical supervisor at the Penn North Recovery Center, said Baltimore needs stronger and more visible enforcement to make progress.

“In a word: police presence,” Brown said. “There’s just not enough police presence that will deter the situation. … There’s a lot that can be done with police physically being there instead of sitting in their cars. It’s pretty much what they do. You might see one random police car, but you don’t see any more.”

The organization Brown works for helps people battling addiction find treatment and stability. The recovery center also provides shelter, food and clothing. Nobody is turned away. Brown believes if it wasn’t for this group, “I really don’t know what would happen to these people and this neighborhood.”

She said the city’s response has been slow, even after three mass overdose incidents since July. “No,” is what Brown said when asked if much has changed since those events. “It’s just sad. It’s really sad.”

Spotlight on Maryland has previously asked the Baltimore Police Department about the lack of officers, as described by residents. The department said officers regularly engage with residents; officers have done close to 5,000 foot patrols and 9,600 business checks this year in the Penn North area. Overall crime in Penn North is down 29%.

Brown credited Mayor Brandon Scott’s presence after the three mass overdoses and for recently installing Narcan boxes at Metro stations across Baltimore — an effort to prevent overdose deaths. But she said the work can’t stop there.

“The mayor’s doing the best he can. City council [members], I don’t really know exactly what they’re doing,” Brown said. “Government officials need to step in and help.”

Spotlight on Maryland reached out Councilman James Torrence, who represents Penn North, for comment. So far, he has not responded.

Spotlight on Maryland asked Mayor Scott’s office what’s being done: if he plans to increase police presence and what’s being done to stop people from using. His team did not directly answer those questions, instead stating public health strategies have led to the city’s historic progress in reducing overdose deaths. A spokesman pointed to the Mayor’s Overdose Response Strategic Plan that is designed to increase prevention programming “to help youth avoid and reduce substance use disorder.”

The statement also mentioned the Opioid Restitution Fund, aimed at “investing in harm reduction, address the social determinants of health, and build out prevention initiatives.”

Back in Northeast Baltimore, near Yorkewood, many said they want the city to treat drug dealing with the same urgency as overdose prevention. Narcan is a life-saving tool that prevents an overdose, but it doesn’t stop a person from using.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Tessa Bentulan at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.

But this otherwise nice and lively neighborhood has at least one problem that residents are fed up with: drug dealing at the corner of Chinquapin Parkway and East Belvedere Avenue. It happens in plain sight and just a few steps away from people’s homes. A handful of young men are regularly parked outside Yorkewood Apartments.

Despite months of complaints, dozens of citations and repeated pleas for a coordinated city response, the conditions persist — raising questions about who is accountable for fixing a problem unfolding both in broad daylight and under cover of darkness. Neighbors want action from the Yorkewood landlord to keep the property clean and secure, from city agencies to enforce the law and housing codes, and from police and violence-prevention officials to deliver a plan for open-air drug markets. The stakes are immediate: family safety, housing stability and whether Baltimore’s enforcement systems work for the people who live here.

“It’s been a problem for years,” said Lorne Matthews, a homeowner near Yorkewood and president of the Glen Oaks Community Association.

Multiple residents in Northeast Baltimore have complained about open drug dealing, overflowing trash and abandoned cars that persist outside Yorkewood.

Councilman Mark Conway represents the area and calls the drug dealers “the corner boys.” He said the apartment complex suffers the same cycle seen across other parts of the city: visible drug activity driving away investment and discouraging people from living there.

“They make people feel uncomfortable,” Conway said.

He believes the ongoing drug activity is one reason Yorkewood has a current vacancy rate of about 60%.

Conway has repeatedly asked Baltimore Police and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) for a coordinated plan to tackle the city’s open-air drug markets. He has not received one yet. Penn North and Lexington Markert are two well-known open-air drug markets that are roughly 20 minutes southwest of Yorkewood. Drug dealing and overdoses happen routinely in those areas.

Conway joined residents, police and community members for a walkthrough of the property on Oct. 23. He spoke with Yorkewood’s leasing office to share some of the concerns residents have emailed his team about. He summarized the conversation to Spotlight on Maryland: “They have all these maintenance issues they need to address, the trash issues to address, but they don’t have the revenue to keep up with all the issues they’ve got going on.”

Support, partly in the form of federal funding, could help maintain the complex, Conway said.

Citations and notices stack up

The emails Conway’s team received describe “young men conducting business out front,” being “forced to the ground due to gun shots,” and “overflowing trash piling up for several months.”

City records show three notices and 24 citations since May 2024 at Yorkewood. Most were issued for trash accumulation, failure to obtain a rental license and failure to prevent hazards due to overgrown trees and shrubs.

Local residents told Spotlight on Maryland nobody can get a handle on this property.

“We just can’t get any progress on the issues,” Matthews said.

A nearby homeowner, who asked not to be identified, said the problems extend beyond the apartment complex. “This [trash] is what I see … as long as they have trash like this, rodents are going to spread all over,” the homeowner said. “This property needs to be sold to someone who can do something.”

Yorkewood’s ownership group

In September, Conway’s office sent an email to Yorkewood’s property manager, Pratum Companies, outlining concerns and needed repairs. The company responded days later with a list of promised improvements, including a 30-yard bulk dumpster that will be picked up every other Thursday; gates installed outside the dumpster areas to prevent illegal dumping; a private contractor hired to complete a mass cleanup; and a bulk trash policy and notice provided to residents.

The problems persist.

By the end of the month, Conway’s office received a letter from the Woodburne Heights Community Association describing the loitering and drug activity. The letter mentions, “on any [given] day … at least five sales persons [are] performing drug related sales and other activities.”

Conway says the situation underscores why Baltimore needs a comprehensive plan to address open-air drug markets — so residents aren’t left to face them alone.

Spotlight on Maryland reached out to Pratum Companies asking how it’s ensuring residents live in a safe and sanitary environment. The company did respond.

Pratum Companies also manages Penn North Plaza, located in the epicenter of Penn North’s open-air drug market. The Baltimore Sun previously reported it is home to dozens of low-income seniors, some of whom say they feel stuck spending their golden years in the heart of an open-air drug market.

“I’ve been looking to move out for a long time,” said 83-year-old John Carter to The Sun in August. “I went there because there was nowhere else to go.”

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott has filed a lawsuit against the Penn North Plaza property.

Spotlight on Maryland reached out to Scott’s office about Yorkewood. In a statement, a spokesperson said the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development is aware of the concerns and is “tracking citations regarding sanitation issues with the building.” Residents are asked to report code enforcement issues to 311 and to report illegal activity to the Baltimore Police Department.

Police do not have records of any police reports or complaints filed against Yorkewood since the start of 2025, other than one call on Oct. 18 for a dog wandering on the property.

Conway plans to ask Baltimore Police and MONSE again for a plan to tackle open-air drug markets at an upcoming council hearing.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Tessa Bentulan at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.

While Moore blames Washington gridlock and President Donald Trump for threatening to raise health care costs, critics argue his own administration has made Maryland one of the most expensive states to live in. From higher vehicle fees to new taxes on daily expenses, they say Moore’s fiscal decisions are driving residents — and their money — out of state.

Health care has become a flashpoint in the ongoing federal government shutdown. Democrats warn that health insurance premiums could spike under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, if federal tax credits expire at the end of the year. Those credits act as federal discounts to lower monthly insurance costs.

Moore’s office blames the White House for the rising costs on everything in Maryland, from groceries to electric rates.

“Now, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are holding health care hostage to keep the government shut down,” said David Turner, senior adviser and communications director for the Moore administration. “Instead of continuing to raise prices on hardworking families, Trump should come to the negotiating table to prevent this spike on health care costs and re-open the government.”

But Republicans, including state Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready of Carroll County, said Moore’s own policies are making life more expensive at home.

“I think we all would say we don’t want costs to go up for people,” Ready said. “But that’s why we’ve spent the last three years fighting against Governor Moore’s dogged attempts to raise every tax and fee possible known to man in this state. We’ve had over 300 new taxes and fees since he took office.”

To close a $3.3 billion budget deficit, Moore and Democratic lawmakers approved about $1.6 billion in new taxes and fees this year. Those include:

• Vehicle registration fees now at $120.50 for the average car
• Emissions tests are $30, up from $14
• A new $5 tire fee
• Fishing licenses doubling from $25.50 to $52
• Boating and title registration fees have nearly tripled from $24 to $70
• Increased taxes on sports betting, cannabis, vending machines and a new IT tax
• Income taxes also went up for Maryland residents making $500,000 or more

Moore’s office estimates about 190,000 Marylanders could see their health insurance premiums increase an average of 95% next year — roughly $825 more a year, or $70 a month, if federal tax credits expire.

Ready said this all comes back to the bigger picture of how much Marylanders already pay.

“I’m very concerned about health care premiums going up,” he said. “But as you mentioned, a $70 premium increase — there’s been hundreds of dollars, for many people, in cost-of-living increases due directly to actions of Governor Wes Moore.”

U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, the lone Republican in Maryland’s congressional delegation, agreed with Ready that the broader tax burden outweighs any health care savings. “Those COVID-era Obamacare enhanced subsidies affect about 7% of Americans,” Harris said. “The taxes and fees that the Democrats in Maryland imposed affect the vast majority of citizens.”

Spotlight on Maryland requested comment from U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, a Maryland Democrat, but has not received a response.

Policy analyst Dr. Anirban Basu, CEO of the Sage Policy Group, said rising costs are pushing people out of Maryland.

“We want to be a state in which people say, ‘I want to live here, work here, play here, retire here,’” Basu said. “But I hear so many retirees say, ‘No, I’m going to Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale or Naples, Florida.’”

A new report from the Maryland Comptroller’s Office estimates more than 2 million people left the state between 2010 and 2023, citing the high cost of living and the housing market.

“This is a problem across the state,” Harris said. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better because our budget situation is actually getting worse in the state of Maryland. We have to come with new ideas and those new ideas shouldn’t include higher taxes and fees.”

When asked whether state leaders are failing residents, Basu said: “Oh, they have been for years. I don’t think residents necessarily realized it until recently that the state’s economy just isn’t producing enough opportunity.”

As the government shutdown drags on, Marylanders will soon find out whether those federal health care tax credits stay in place or if they’ll be paying even more.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Tessa Bentulan at tbentulan@sbgtv.com

The mismatch between overdose volume and basic enforcement actions is fueling frustration. Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said the city isn’t using citations enough for low-level offenses such as drug use, littering and disorderly conduct.

Bates said citations for drug use can be an important step toward treatment. The treatment does not cost the offender money.

Spotlight on Maryland sent emails to Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s office and City Councilman James Torrence, whose district covers Penn North. We asked both if they agree with Bates that not enough citations are being issued and whether more citations should be issued by BPD and other law enforcement agencies. Scott did not respond.

Torrence disagreed with Bates on citations and said in an email that “addiction is a public health crisis, not a criminal one. While court intervention may help some individuals, a citation alone doesn’t equal treatment, we need a system that connects people to care before they ever encounter law enforcement.”

“I respect the State’s Attorney’s efforts, but true progress requires more than citations, it requires continued investment in prevention, recovery and opportunity,” Torrence added.

The mayor’s office said:

“Mayor Scott’s approach to the opioid epidemic is public health-focused, and looking at just the raw number of citations is not an effective way to quantify action being taken to address overdoses in Baltimore.

“The Mayor’s approach, which recognizes the failures of mass incarceration and the War on Drugs, is exemplified best through the City’s response after the Penn North mass overdoses: City officials mobilized nearly 500 volunteers who distributed approximately 4,500 naloxone kits, 2,600 fentanyl test strips, 760 xylazine test strips, and 600 hygiene kits to residents in Penn North. Additionally, last month BPD seized nearly 1,200 grams of illicit drugs from suspected drug traffickers.

“As we have repeatedly noted, claiming that a certain number of citations is ‘not enough’ indicates that there is some sort of targeted number or quota that the State’s Attorney’s office would like to see. Mayor Scott is opposed to those types of quotas.

“While citations can be a tool that leads people to treatment, forcing people with substance use disorder into treatment has been proven to not always be the most effective strategy to treat people. Mayor Scott will continue investing in the public health infrastructure needed to save lives and support residents when they are ready for treatment.”

‘Verbal warnings’ vs. citations

BPD spokeswoman Lindsey Eldridge said in an emailed statement that “officers are writing citations and they are just one of many tools available to officers … in many cases, these offenses are resolved through verbal warnings.”

Eldridge said, “BPD remains focused on addressing open-air drug markets across the city, which has led to an increase in both felony and misdemeanor drug arrests this year.” So far in 2025, BPD reports 1,016 felony drug arrests, up 12% from last year, and 672 misdemeanor arrests, up 22%.

Still, residents in Penn North told Bates that police presence doesn’t always translate to enforcement. “We were at a community meeting where [residents] were complaining that police were sitting in their car,” Bates said. “They just have to get out, go ahead and engage. If they see the individual in a hand-to-hand drug transaction, they write the citation.”

Eldridge disputed that claim, saying officers are actively engaging with the community. She said police have conducted nearly 5,000 foot patrols and 9,600 business checks in Penn North this year alone.

Data from the State’s Attorney’s Office supports that citations have remained consistently low. From January to mid-July, 33 drug citations were issued citywide — 12 by Baltimore Police. Only one of those came from Penn North. Recent data shows 12 drug citations were written city-wide by Baltimore Police between July and October but only one was for a drug-related citation in Penn North.

Bates said he’s not calling for quotas but believes officers should take action whenever they see open drug use.

“I think daily you can see drugs being used and sold every single day in our city. Any time [police] see someone, they can write a citation because we need to direct that person to drug treatment. That’s super important.”

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Tessa Bentulan at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.

Scott has defended his new 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, saying it serves the same purpose as vehicles for past mayors: “to transport me around.” During an Oct. 1 news conference, Scott told Spotlight on Maryland, “I think the residents of Baltimore will understand the governor of Maryland, the comptroller of Maryland, the county executives — we all have vehicles.”

Spotlight on Maryland’s review of records reveals that other elected leaders in the region drive vehicles costing less than six figures. Officials in Baltimore, Harford, Anne Arundel and Carroll counties — as well as the state comptroller — all use vehicles well under the $163,000 cost of Scott’s Grand Wagoneer.

Baltimore County, for example, is larger by square miles and in population, with 852,425 residents scattered across 682 square miles. Baltimore City covers 92 square miles with a population of 568,271. But County Executive Kathy Klausmeier’s 2025 Chevrolet Suburban cost taxpayers $77,409 — roughly $86,000 less than Scott’s SUV — including $6,199 in safety upgrades.

When asked about the county’s purchasing philosophy, Baltimore County spokeman Dakarai Turner said:

“Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier is deeply committed to being a responsible steward of taxpayer resources. Cost is always a consideration, and decisions about vehicle purchases are guided by several key factors, including safety, reliability, and the operational needs of the County Executive.”

He added that “every purchase is made with an awareness of cost and optics, and with an understanding of how such decisions reflect on the responsible use of public funds.”

Baltimore County replaces executive vehicles about every four years — a schedule similar to Baltimore City’s. Klausmeier’s backup vehicle, a 2021 Suburban, cost $70,206. Scott’s backup vehicle, a 2023 Ford Expedition, totaled $99,242.

Spotlight on Maryland asked Scott’s office why the mayor needs a vehicle that costs tens of thousands more than those used by other local leaders and what factors are considered to ensure large purchases like this responsibly use taxpayer dollars? His team has yet to answer Spotlight on Maryland’s email inquiry.

In Harford County, Executive Bob Cassilly continues to use a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban purchased by the previous administration for $63,959. After a $37,500 trade-in credit, county records show the final cost was $26,459. Cassilly said he rejected an offer for a newer vehicle when he took office in December 2022. “My fleet folks came to me sometime in that first year to trade that car in for an upgraded version. I said, ‘What was that going to cost?’ They told me it was going to get close to $100,000. I said, ‘Yeah we’re going to keep driving this one.’ This one is fine.”

Cassilly, who frequently drives across the county, said the decision came down to necessity. “For a county executive it’s pretty important [to have a vehicle]. I spend most of my day moving around the county. To go from Havre de Grace in the southern to maybe Norrisville in the far north you’re looking at about an hour trip.”

At the state level, Comptroller Brooke Lierman uses a 2023 Ford Explorer that costs $58,035. Lights and sirens were added onto the SUV for an additional $2,551.

A request for details about Gov. Wes Moore’s official vehicle was referred by his press team to the Maryland State Police, which redirected Spotlight on Maryland back to Moore’s office. Another request has been sent to Maryland’s Department of General Services.

In Anne Arundel County, Executive Steuart Pittman is assigned a 2023 Nissan Ariya, an electric vehicle that costs taxpayers $45,698, plus $4,795 for upgrades.

Carroll County takes an even leaner approach: its five commissioners share a 2020 Ford Fusion Hybrid purchased for $23,700. County spokeswoman Christine Cambareri said the car is rarely used since most commissioners rely on their personal vehicles.

Spotlight on Maryland has filed a records request for the purchase agreements related to vehicles assigned to Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, including any costs associated with potential upgrades. That request is still pending.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Tessa Bentulan at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.

Roughly one-third of Maryland’s annual budget comes from Washington, according to Gov. Wes Moore, who has said the state “relies on more than $370 million in federal support each week to run health care and food assistance programs.”

That dependency now poses an accountability test for Moore’s administration: How will the state shield itself from the risks of a prolonged federal disruption while continuing to fund critical programs?

Moore has acknowledged the problem, telling lawmakers earlier this year that Maryland must become less reliant on the federal government.

Anirban Basu, CEO of the Sage Policy Group in Baltimore, warned that the state’s dependence puts Maryland in a vulnerable position.

“I don’t know when policy makers in Annapolis realize that we have to attract much more private investment to offset the losses that we are now facing related to federal government activity in Maryland,” Basu said.

Basu said the state once had a stronger base in private industries such as manufacturing and construction, but over the decades it has shifted toward government jobs and federal contracts.

“We’ve made Maryland decreasingly attractive by increasing our tax burden over the course of time,” he said.

In the 1980s and 1990s, about one-fourth of Maryland’s budget came from federal money. Today, that share is closer to 30 to 35 percent — or roughly one-third.

State Sen. Justin Ready, a Republican representing Carroll County, agreed the state has grown too dependent on federal funding.

“There’s no question we’re too reliant, as a state, on federal funding and for the federal government creating jobs in our economy,” Ready said. “When Washington sneezes, Maryland catches a cold.”

Ready said the state’s private sector is barely growing, blaming high taxes and excessive regulation for making it harder for small businesses to succeed.

“Out of one side of his mouth, Gov. Moore will say we need to grow our way out of our budget problems …and I agree,” Ready said. “But on the other hand, passing policies of over 330 new or increased taxes and fees … It’s the little nickel-and-diming and the red tape and regulation and endless fees that drive a lot of small businesses nuts.”

Moore has said he wants to attract more private investment by growing technology and innovation sectors. That includes a new quantum research center at the University of Maryland in partnership with Microsoft.

“Maryland is making big bets on the future to grow our economy and drive innovation,” Moore said in a recent statement.

Spotlight on Maryland requested an interview with the governor about the state’s dependence on federal funding and efforts to diversify the economy. His office declined. However, Moore appeared on several national programs recently, including “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” on MSNBC, where he discussed the state’s efforts to support residents during the shutdown.

“As soon as a federal government shutdown was announced, I also started announcing what is Maryland going to do to support our people,” Moore said. “Things like Medicaid, SNAP and WIC — the state was going to help cover for those.”

Data show Maryland receives more federal funding than neighboring states — a number that has steadily risen over the past several years. The state took in roughly $150 billion in federal funds in fiscal year 2024, the most in the region per capita.

Basu said every time Washington, D.C., struggles, so will Maryland — if the state’s economy continues to depend heavily on federal dollars.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Tessa Bentulan at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.

“Not the taxpayers’ money! If he wants it for himself, yeah. But not with our money,” said Christian Heath as she was celebrating her birthday with friends in Federal Hill Park. She didn’t know about the mayor’s luxury Jeep Grand Wagoneer until speaking with Spotlight on Maryland.

“Our money should be for the city, the schools, the kids. Just to ride around? We don’t have cars like that,” Heath said, as her friends nodded in agreement.

City Councilman Zac Blanchard, who represents the Federal Hill area, defended the purchase in a statement: “I think buying a nicer SUV with relevant safety and communications enhancements twice a decade is pretty reasonable for a large city’s top elected official.”

But several residents told Spotlight on Maryland they see a double standard — one that feels disconnected from everyday Baltimoreans struggling with taxes, potholes and basic services.

Spotlight on Maryland spent roughly 2.5 hours talking to 15 to 20 Federal Hill residents and those from other parts of Baltimore City who went to the neighborhood for the day. Only six people were OK with being quoted and interviewed for the story on camera. Others were happy to chat with us and share their opinion off camera.

Benjamin Luster, a retired Marine Corps veteran who lives two blocks from the park, said the mayor’s purchase doesn’t match his public message. “Why is it that he says the streets are safe, but he still needs to up armor and get protection for his car? … He’s making himself more important than the common folk.”

All the residents Spotlight on Maryland spoke with agreed the mayor should have a secure vehicle. What most questioned was the cost.

“I don’t think that’s an appropriate price,” said Ricona Coats, who has lived in Baltimore for two years. “The safety features I guess I can understand because he’s a government official, but I just think the accountants over there [City Hall] could be a little more cost effective.”

When asked about the SUV during an Oct. 1 news conference, Scott defended the expense: “The new vehicle is going to serve the same purpose as the old vehicle — to transport me around. I think the residents of Baltimore will understand the governor or Maryland, the comptroller of Maryland, the county executives, we all have vehicles.”

Coats disagreed: “I am the one that does not understand that. It doesn’t make sense,” she said. “I can’t afford that kind of car.”

Two people understood why the “premium” SUV, as it’s described on Jeep’s website, costs a lot of money. Only one agreed to an interview as long as we did not identify them by name: “I have a friend who is a PIO [public information officer] for the D.C. fire service. He drives a very similar vehicle. I could see that as a reasonable amount of money. Considering that a basic Jeep Grand Wagoneer is about $70K.”

A dealership confirmed to Spotlight on Maryland the price of a Jeep Grand Wagoneer starts at about $62,000 for a basic model up to $120,000 with all the bells and whistles included. Scott’s vehicle has TVs and leather seats, which the dealership said is more expensive than a basic model but does not quite reach the $120,000 threshold.

The high price tag has raised questions about city spending priorities. Baltimore recently closed an $85 million budget gap, partly through increased fees and fines, while residents face rising costs of living.

“The city is in shambles,” said another Federal Hill resident who also asked to remain unnamed. “People are going through too much in this city for him to be worried about a vehicle.”

Several residents told us they want to see the money go towards education, infrastructure and safer streets.

David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said there are less expensive options that still meet safety needs. “The mayor should be protected. The mayor should be comfortable,” Williams said. “But you can achieve that for way less than $160,000.”

Luster added, “The people need the money, but the money never gets to the people. It goes to things like this.”

Spotlight on Maryland has filed a public records request seeking the purchase agreements for all city-issued vehicles used by Baltimore city officials. That request is still pending.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Tessa Bentulan at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.

The price tag raises questions about spending priorities in a city that just closed a budget deficit with new fees and fines, while residents endure crumbling infrastructure, persistent crime and rising costs of living. At a time when Baltimore residents are asked to pay more, records show Scott’s office made a purchase that watchdogs say is far from frugal.

Taxpayers shelled out $163,495 for Scott’s new SUV, according to a purchase order obtained by Spotlight on Maryland through a public records request. The vehicle itself cost $98,716, while another $64,779 went toward upgrades, including police lights, sirens and a microphone for security communication. The city redacted the line-item prices of each customization, saying that an auto shop would not typically share information with competitors or the public.

The purchase comes as Baltimore operates under a $4.6 billion budget, the largest in the city’s history, after closing an $85 million deficit earlier this year with significant increases in fees and fines while avoiding tax hikes.

At a press briefing Wednesday, Scott defended the expense. “The new vehicle is going to serve the same purpose as the old vehicle: to transport me around,” he said. “I think the residents of Baltimore will understand the governor of Maryland, the comptroller of Maryland, the county executives, we all have vehicles.”

Scott also pushed back on Spotlight on Maryland questions, saying, “I think that it’s in particular funny that you guys are only asking me. I don’t remember [former Republican Governor] Larry Hogan ever being asked about whether we should upgrade his vehicle fleet.”

To compare costs across all city officials, Spotlight on Maryland requested copies of purchase orders for multiple city-issued vehicles, including those used by State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, Police Commissioner Richard Worley, School Superintendent Dr. Sonja Santelises, and City Council President Zeke Cohen. So far, the city has only released records for the mayor and Cohen, whose 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe and upgrades totaled $78,331. A new records request is pending for all Baltimore city officials’ vehicles.

Only one City Council member responded to emails sent to all 14 members and the council president, asking if the expense was appropriate. District 11 Councilman Zac Blanchard, who represents Federal Hill and surrounding neighborhoods, wrote in a statement: “I think buying a nicer SUV with relevant safety and communications enhancements twice a decade is pretty reasonable for a large city’s top elected official.”

Meanwhile, social media posts showcasing the mayor’s customized Jeep Grand Wagoneer were taken down shortly after Spotlight on Maryland messaged the auto customization company asking about costs.

‘Not common sense’

A government watchdog said Scott’s argument does not hold up.

“Spending more than $160,000 for a vehicle is not common sense,” said David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, a nonprofit that tracks government spending. “The mayor should be protected. The mayor should be comfortable, but you can achieve that for way less than $160,000. … That’s why people get frustrated. People are asked to sacrifice with higher taxes, higher fees, but the mayor? He doesn’t sacrifice. He’s able to buy a vehicle worth more than $160,000.”

It’s common for big-city mayors to have city-issued vehicles with custom security upgrades for protection. The Grand Wagoneer replaces a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban purchased under former Mayor Catherine Pugh in 2016 for about $77,785 with customizations.

Scott first took office as mayor in December 2020. In 2023, the city bought a 2023 Ford Expedition for $99,242 as a backup vehicle. Even accounting for inflation, both the Suburban and Expedition came in several thousand dollars below the Grand Wagoneer’s total price tag.

The mayor’s office noted the Grand Wagoneer “will fulfill the same role as the previous vehicles: safely accommodate the mayor, his family, and his Executive Protection Unit (EPU).” Officials added that the city typically replaces mayoral vehicles every four years, “according to best practices for reliability and safety.”

The Grand Wagoneer purchase also appears to run counter to Scott’s climate goals. In 2023, he signed legislation requiring the city’s administrative fleet to transition to zero emissions by 2030. But the Grand Wagoneer is not electric. A local dealership confirmed the Grand Wagoneer does not meet that standard, describing it instead as a “mild hybrid” that shuts off the engine at idle. The model gets an estimated 14 miles per gallon in city driving and 20 on the highway.

When Spotlight on Maryland asked Mayor Scott how this SUV fits the 2030 plans, he said, “When the day comes that a vehicle, an electric vehicle, can meet the safety standards and the things we have to have for an executive vehicle, we will have one … they don’t exist as of yet.”

Other mayors have gone greener. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, for example, is driven in a police-equipped 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric SUV. That model costs between $50,000 and $55,000 before safety customizations.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Tessa Bentulan at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.