Baltimore Mayor Pugh Says 'Driving Down Crime,' 'Making City Safe' Are Priorities
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh talked big victories, big issues and big goals in her annual State of the City Address Monday afternoon.
One of Pugh's major talking points was the crime in the city.
There have been more than 300 homicides in Baltimore in the last four years.
Pugh also discussed the drug crisis in the city and a declining population.
"There is not a single person in this city, including me, who can say that we are satisfied with the level of crime today," she said. "There is too much violence, too many illegal guns, which have left many in our city, including me, angered and devastated."
While Pugh promised progress on Baltimore's hardships, she also celebrated its 2018 victories.
Pugh said that there are fewer vacant buildings, new affordable housing and an $18 million growth of the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund.
"We announced that we are among the finalists last year to receive a $30 million HUD neighborhood grant," she said. "I'm happy to tell you we were winners of the $30 million."
Although in a city of crime, Pugh said that she's not giving up on fixing Baltimore's image.
"Driving crime down, making this city safe, is my number one priority," she said. "It is the single most important factor in improving the quality of life for us all."
Before concluding her State of the City Address, Pugh also said she was committed to keeping the Preakness at Pimlico in Baltimore.
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