Latest news with #BaltimoreCity
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Costly Baltimore City job vacancies addressed during budget negotiations
Baltimore City leaders are figuring out ways to address hundreds of vacant jobs that are costing the city millions of dollars. Those unfilled positions are a concern as council members work to approve the Fiscal Year 2026. "We have several hundred vacancies in the city of Baltimore," said Faith Leach, the Baltimore City administrator. Leach told WJZ the city is aiming to reduce the number of vacant jobs, and it starts with competitive wages. "We know wages are a big part," Leach said. "It's just one part of what we can do to recruit new people into our fire and police department, as well as the city department." Exceeding overtime budgets WJZ previously reported that Baltimore City has paid millions of dollars in overtime costs, with some agencies outspending their budgets. "That ultimately winds up to about $33 million that is going to go into overtime within these city budgets," Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen recently told WJZ. City leaders said there are more than 2,700 vacant positions, and 530 of those positions have gone unfilled for at least 18 months. The city is still down 20% when it comes to job vacancies compared to 2024. "As long as there's a vacant position in the city, there's an opportunity for someone to be hired," said Baltimore councilmember Jermaine Jones. City Administrator Leach said hundreds of the vacancies are within the police, fire, and EMS departments. And, oftentimes, those departments rely on overtime pay to get by with officers and first responders working extra shifts. "As people work longer hours, the quality of work goes down, so I think this isn't a sustainable approach as we continue to fill those vacant positions with overtime hours," councilmember Jones said. Impact on the police department's shortage City Council President Cohen told WJZ during a recent hearing that one option, dissolving vacant city jobs, could put more pressure on the already short-staffed police department. The police department remains under a consent decree following the in-custody death of Freddie Gray. One of the mandates is to hire more officers. "But there are certainly other agencies, including the fire department, where we're not under a consent decree, where I certainly think there could just be a more honest accounting of what's going on within the agency," Cohen said. City agency needs Cohen said this budget season allows the city council to see what each city agency needs. "Making sure that we have enabled each city agency to fulfill their mission to do what they need to do to provide great services for the residents of this city but that they are being honest about their needs and that they're not coming back six months, a year, two years later and asking the council to approve supplemental budgets that they've already spent," Cohen said.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Baltimore's Old Town Mall revival moves forward with updated concept plans
Plans are moving forward to revive Baltimore's Old Town Mall. The once-thriving shopping hub has changed over the past three decades, with vacancies and blight taking over. Some stores remain open, and most of the mall is deserted, but change is on its way. Since the Old Town Mall's redevelopment efforts were announced, Baltimore City officials have released updated concept plans to address parking and foot traffic. Plans are moving forward to revive Baltimore's Old Town Mall. CBS News Baltimore Baltimore City's Department of Transportation (BDOT) recently released its updated concept plans for its portion of the project. Designs show how the existing right-of-way at Old Town Mall will change to allow room for parking, loading, pedestrian traffic, and more. According to BDOT, there are several issues with the site that they are working to address: Lighting, not pedestrian-friendly. The bollards and pavement are outdated and in poor condition. Random car parking and traffic interrupt the pedestrian flow. Some businesses do not have loading areas. Vacant lots and gated alleyways impede circulation. Plans for the new streetscape will feature updated infrastructure, including better lighting, pedestrian access, and streets that blend historic elements with modern design. What is not included in the scope of the project? The project will focus on the publicly owned street and will not include: Renovations or improvements to private properties next to the mall. Decisions on the types of businesses that will operate in the mall. The scheduling of events that may be held in the mall in the future. Repair or reconstruction of utility services. The city's focus is to improve the mall's publicly owned streets. While outside developers will focus on renovations and improvements to private properties nearby. Old Town Mall's new vision If you talk with anyone with roots from Baltimore, they will tell you about shopping at Old Town Mall. "Most people know of the record store that used to be there. People used to go get their 33s and 45s. So it was the place to go to, especially when the high rises existed in Baltimore," said Dana Henson, the vice president and principal at The Henson Development Company, Inc. Henson added, "So when the high rises left, basically the population that frequented that mall left as well. Contrary to what people believe, Old Town Mall is still thriving. There are businesses there. It's just that people don't go over there often enough to see it." In December, WJZ spoke with Henson, who serves as one of the developers of the project. The Henson Development Company, Inc. is working with Mission First Housing Group, The Tran Group, Michael Graves Architecture and Design, STV, Inc., and MK Engineering on part of the area's redevelopment. Henson explained that although their work is not directly related to DOT's plans, they have a vision in the works. "The kickoff of the redevelopment now is what we call phase 1-A, which is the industry side of the redevelopment of Old Town Mall, and it's the four buildings at the lower portion," Henson said. "So basically the first phase is all of the 400 block, which everyone else will know as those buildings between East Street, Orleans Street, and Gay Street." Henson said that the project is still in its very early stages, but phase 1-A's estimated completion date is in October. "Once we're done with the first phase, phase 1A, you'll have four retail businesses and 11 residential units," said Henson. "I think the idea is to rebuild the historic community and honor the generations that came before us in setting the stage for a vibrant and prosperous tomorrow." You can learn more about The Henson Development Company's plans here. You can learn more about DOT's portion of Old Town Mall's redevelopment here.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
How much are the vacant city jobs costing Baltimore? City leaders discuss the consequences.
Hundreds of vacant Baltimore City jobs are coming at a cost, city leaders said during a hearing on Thursday. The Baltimore City Council addressed the more than 2,700 vacant positions in the city and the related costs and consequences of those jobs being unfilled over a long period of time. Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen said 530 of those positions have gone unfilled for over the past 18 months. "That ultimately winds up to about $33 million that is going to go into overtime within these city budgets," Cohen said. Over-budget on overtime pay Some Baltimore City agencies have outspent their budgets over the last couple of years to pay for overtime. "Using these unfilled positions that the city has allocated for," Cohen said. Cohen said that agencies even asked the city council to pass a supplemental budget. "Which retroactively grants the agency the ability to spend this money after they've already spent the money," he said. Recruiting and retaining employees Cohen said Thursday's hearing hopes to end that practice and bring transparency to taxpayers. "Look, let's just be honest about the amount of overtime spending that these agencies need," Cohen said. It also means having a conversation around recruiting and retaining city employees. Thursday's conversation even led to a discussion about dissolving some vacant positions that haven't been filled in months. Impact on the police department's consent decree Cohen said that dissolving vacant jobs could pose a challenge for the police department under a consent decree mandating the agency hire more officers. "But there are certainly other agencies, including the fire department, where we're not under a consent decree, where I certainly think there could just be a more honest accounting of what's going on within the agency," Cohen said. Finding out what city agencies need Cohen said this sets up the stage for budget season beginning next week. He said it will allow the city council to see what each city agency truly needs. "Making sure that we have enabled each city agency to fulfill their mission to do what they need to do to provide great services for the residents of this city but that they are being honest about their needs and that they're not coming back six months, a year, two years later and asking the council to approve supplemental budgets that they've already spent," Cohen said.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Baltimore ranks among most affordable large cities for homebuyers in 2025, report finds
Baltimore ranked 22 on Wallethub's list of most affordable cities for homebuyers in 2025. The rankings are based on home prices, maintenance costs, tax rates, and vacancy rates. According to the report, Baltimore has a wide variety of homes available and an average cost of living compared to other cities. The report also says that it's more affordable to buy in Baltimore City than to rent. That affordability isn't without some cons, some analysts say. "The bad side is that Baltimore, Maryland in general, it's a high tax state. It's a high regulation state. So before you sign those closing documents, make sure you're aware of everything that comes with it," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. What's the cost of living in Baltimore? A 2024 study by SmartAsset found that living comfortably in Baltimore as a single adult requires a nearly $90,000 salary or an hourly wage of $40.86. That amounts to a $218,733 salary for a family of four with two working adults and two children. Cost of renting in Maryland Analysts have said that renting in Maryland comes at a high price. A report released in 2024 ranked Maryland as one of the most challenging places to secure affordable housing. According to Out of Reach, Marylanders need an hourly wage of approximately $37 to afford a typical two-bedroom apartment without exceeding the recommended 30% of income on housing costs. The Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Maryland is $1,909, and $1608 for a one-bedroom, according to the report. That means a household would have to earn $6,362 monthly, or $76,345 annually to afford rent and utilities without spending more than 30% of income on housing - per the study. The same report ranked Washington, D.C., Arlington, V.A., and Alexandria, V.A., as the most expensive rental areas, and Baltimore, Columbia, and Towson, Maryland as the second most expensive areas to rent.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Baltimore's fire community mourns the deaths of 2 veteran firefighters
The Baltimore City Fire Department is grieving the deaths of two veteran firefighters -- Charles Mudra and Lt. Mark Dranbauer -- who died following medical emergencies on Friday, May 16. Mudra, an emergency vehicle driver for the department, was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital after he suffered a medical issue during a skills training session at the Fire Academy. Mudra had been with the fire department for 17 years. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters," the Baltimore City Fire Department said in a statement. "His service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the safety of our city will never be forgotten," the post went on to say." Lt. Dranbauer, 44, was pronounced dead days after sustaining a medical emergency while battling a fire on West Saratoga Street on Monday, March 12. According to Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace, Lt. Dranbauer was approximately 30 to 40 feet off the ground when he suffered the emergency. He fell backwards down the ladder but remained on the aerial ladder itself, the fire chief said. Lt. Dranbauer, a 23-year veteran with the fire department, was taken to Shock Trauma, where he died. He is expected to save 70 lives after donating his organs, according to medical officials. "The Dranbauer family is a firefighting family, so he comes from that bloodline," Chief Wallace said. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen shared his condolences on social media. "Heartbroken by the loss of two of Maryland's finest heroes," Van Hollen said. "Lt. Mark Dranbauer and Charles Mudra served their community for years, putting themselves on the line to keep Marylanders safe. My prayers are with their loved ones and with the entire Baltimore City Fire Department." Firefighter's funeral arrangements Funeral services have been finalized for Lt. Dranbauer, who will be laid to rest on Saturday, May 24. A viewing will be on Friday, May 23, from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Schimunek Funeral Home, located at 610 W. MacPhail Road, in Bel Air, Maryland. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, at Mountain Christian Church, located at 1824 Mountain Road, in Joppatowne, Maryland. Uniform personnel should line up at 10 a.m. Busy week for Baltimore's fire department The Baltimore City Fire Department has had a busy week. More than 200 firefighters contained a 7-alarm fire at a West Baltimore warehouse fueled by stacks of mattresses on Monday, May 12. Nearby residents were temporarily relocated. The fire also delayed Amtrak train service along the East Coast, from Wilmington, Delaware, to Washington, D.C. There were no injuries from the fire. "I'm going to speak for all the neighbors," neighbor Sharon Jones said. "All of us feel very fortunate that it didn't get to us like that. It could have been worse if all of these houses had burned up along with that building." On May 14, Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood was struck by another devastating fire. More than 60 firefighters battled the three-alarm fire in the 3400 block of Keswick Road. Neighbors said a fire had sparked on the same block days earlier. In October 2024, a set of homes caught fire along the same block, killing a married couple and displacing dozens of other residents.
