How to change the culture of violence in Baltimore City?

BALTIMORE (WBFF) – As violent crime continues to surge in the City of Baltimore, it’s leaving many residents feeling fed up.

"You have a lot of people who are scared to walk down the street," said one woman who shared her frustrations at Thursday’s Fox 45 Town Hall.

But how do we shift the culture of the City in Crisis for the better?

According to Rodger Hartley, the Dean of the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore, it takes time and trust.

"You can fire the mayor and the voters can fire the entire city council,” Dean Hartley said. “But the next person has to come in and work with thousands of employees who have been there for many, many years and are used to doing something a certain way."

With candidates for mayor showcasing their own plans for change during our Fox 45 Town Hall, Hartley said those plans will take more than just one person to succeed.

“It has to be implemented and it has to be funded and it also has to have the trust of support of the citizens as well,” Hartley said. “If it doesn't have all of those things working together in tandem, a really great idea can never materialize."

Hartley believes whatever changes are made within city leadership, creating a network for transparency is key.

“You can't hide crime, but you can't be afraid to not address it,” Hartley said. “You have to recognize the problem, but then also explain the many things that are positive in the city as well."