There are many things indigenous to Baltimore City such as a John Waters’ films, the Flower Mart, Fort McHenry, and the Preakness. These events are “Only in Baltimore” occurrences.

Other political events and issues have also occurred in the city which appear to be of an“Only in Baltimore “variety.

The recent controversy involving the former police commissioner is one such incident. Commissioner Darryl De Sousa was charged with failing to file income taxes for three years. During this time he was a high-ranking officer in the BCPD and then named commissioner. This promotion followed the firing of Commissioner Kevin Davis. There was no national search, just a decision made by the relatively new Mayor Catherine Pugh and approved 14-1 with no debate by a relatively new city council. De Sousa resigned last week and should not return to the BCPD. Only in Baltimore!

This embarrassing matter demonstrated the inability of the current city administration to adequately vet appointments to sensitive senior city positions. Not only have there been problems with the police commissioner, but also with several of the mayor’s spokespersons and other officials including Charles G. Byrd, Jr., the deputy director of the Office of Civil Rights and Wage Enforcement. Seems Byrd was disbarred before he was appointed to his position. He was selected by the mayor and the former director of the Office of Civil Rights, Jill Carter. Carter is now Senator Jill Carter, having been appointed to replace disgraced Senator Nate Oakes, who pleaded guilty to taking bribes while in office. Senator Carter has not made it entirely clear if she plans to occupy both offices if she is elected State Senator in the June Democratic primary. Should she choose to serve in both offices, this may be a violation of the Maryland Constitution. Carter is another example of the arrogance of too many city politicians. Only in Baltimore!

Another recent incident in the ongoing saga of questionable official behavior was that of Marvin McKenstry, Jr. McKenstry was chairman of the Community Oversight Task Force mandated by the consent decree between the U.S. Department of Justice and the City of Baltimore. He is also a pastor.The interaction between McKenstry and a Baltimore police sergeant was recorded on a police body camera. The video of this incident went viral on the Internet. Only in Baltimore!

Signed by former Mayor Rawlings-Blake following the unrest during the Freddie Gray episode in 2015, the consent decree was signed in the waning weeks of the presidency of Barack Obama.Mayor Pugh strongly supports the consent decree. But how will changes at the Department of Justice, the relatively slow pace of the decree implementation, and another change of police commissioner affect this work and its hefty costs? As for McKenstry and the Community Oversight Task Force, he should be removed from continued membership on that sensitive task force. He has already resigned as chairman. Yet another interesting appointment. Only in Baltimore!

The lack of leadership, especially political leadership, is hurting an already diminished Baltimore City. This is a reality. The politically correct, vacuous pronouncements emanating from City Hall are a disservice to Baltimore City and its image and reputation.

Cities such as Baltimore must emphasize their current assets and reduce their negatives. Reducing crime and violence is the most urgent task for city government today. This reality is not new and has not significantly improved under the current administration. It appears the “holistic” approach of the mayor has yet to gain traction. Perhaps this approach is too expansive and expensive. Job one is reducing crime. This objective must be given first consideration in Baltimore City and Annapolis.

According to Simon Sinek, “Leadership is not about the next election, it’s about the next generation.” Never has this been truer than in Baltimore City.

Officials know the statistics, have read numerous volumes of studies and attended conferences upon conferences on the taxpayer’s dime. It is time for new strategies, new ideas, and adequate policing in all communities in the city.Adequate community policing includes adequate numbers of officers, deployed effectively, with the newest technology to help solve the crime problems plaguing the city.The role of the police will never be primarily preventing homicides. Reducing the volume of these acts and solving cases are the primary components of adequate policing. During an exhaustive vetting, applicants should be asked if they understand this basic concept of policing—and have paid their taxes.

Enough is enough. Baltimore City has had too many police commissioners and entirely too much crime.

Hopefully, someday Baltimore City well shed the perception—“Only in Baltimore.”

We can do better.