Today, Shomer Shabbos Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer was appointed Chair of the Public Safety Committee of the Baltimore City Council by Council President Brandon Scott. Schleifer, who represents Baltimore City’s 5th Council District (spanning the city’s northwest corner), has served as a member of the Public Safety Committee since being elected to the Council in 2016.

Councilman Schleifer takes over the Public Safety Committee Chair position from newly-elected Baltimore City Council President Scott.

“I am committed to continuing Council President Scott’s work to ensure fair, just, and responsive public safety policies and agencies in Baltimore City,“ Schleifer said. “I am honored that Council President Scott has entrusted me to chair not only one of the most important committees of the Council, but the Committee he has personally chaired for many years.”

“As a Council member, I have invested time, energy and resources to build bridges, unity, and partnerships within and between communities. Public safety has been one of my top priorities and a prime opportunity to leverage common purpose. All Baltimoreans desire and deserve safety in their homes, neighborhoods and schools. A clear, thoughtful and effective crime reduction plan, that incorporates community policing, is critical to the future of our City.”

Karen Thompson-Braden, President of Grove Park Community Association, congratulated Councilman Schleifer on this new role, stating that “since taking office, Councilman Schleifer has instituted regular community cabinet meetings. Being able to collaborate and share ideas with every neighborhood in the district has been a game changer. It has brought us together, empowered our communities, fostered unity and gotten results.”

Howard Friedman, a community advocate, expressed his strong support for this appointment. “I have had the pleasure of working closely with Councilman Schleifer on multiple projects. His deep concern for Baltimore City can be felt in everything he does. What impresses me most is his desire to serve all of his constituents in a timely, thoughtful and compassionate manner, while taking on serious and difficult issues. When he sets his focus on issues— ranging from education to safety— he gets results. We are lucky to have him in City Hall and I consider him the ideal Chair of the public safety committee.”

Schleifer’s public safety-related work while on the Council has included youth safety-focused legislation, notably City Council Resolution 18-0070R, which calls for crisis preparedness and safety in our schools, and City Council Resolution 17-0018R, which called for an investigative hearing into the reduction in crossing guard personnel and locations. In response to Resolution 17-0018R, the Mayor agreed to increase the number of crossing guards and locations.

Councilman Schleifer’s nuanced approach to governance makes him well-suited to finding new solutions to Baltimore’s public safety challenges. Schleifer will also seek to expand existing innovative programs like BUILD’s Turnaround Tuesday, which focuses on preparing returning citizens and unemployed citizens for workforce re-entry.

Schleifer will continue Councilman Scott’s efforts to restore full city control over the Baltimore City Police Department. Both council members co-sponsored Resolution 17-0012R to do just that.

“A comprehensive effort to address the issues facing Baltimore City today must incorporate many components. Constitutional policing, fair and transparent public safety services, and access to employment opportunities are rights that must be available to all residents of Baltimore City. Getting to the root causes of crime and poverty is tough, long-term work, but I see it as Baltimore’s most significant need and am absolutely committed to applying my time, energy and creativity to creating a better future for Baltimore City“ said Schleifer.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)