In a move described by Mayor Brandon M. Scott as a step toward building "a safer, more equitable, healthier Baltimore for all of our residents," city government welcomed new leadership across several agencies and boards, according to a press release from the Mayor's office. Dr. Michelle Taylor took the oath to become the Health Commissioner, bringing a blend of military and public health service experience to the table. "These members of my team, both old and new, will help us to build on the progress we've already made to improve public safety, invest in equitable health care, support our workers, create more affordable housing, honor our veterans, and so much more," said Mayor Scott in the statement yesterday, as reported by the City of Baltimore press release.
Dr. Taylor's resume is extensive; she has been serving as the Shelby County Division Director for Health Services and also holds the rank of Colonel as a Residency-Trained Flight Surgeon in the Tennessee Air National Guard. Further roping in her academic credentials, Taylor holds degrees from esteemed institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Howard University, and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She's not alone in bringing a rich trove of experience forward. Matthew Garbark, now Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW), has spent close to a decade serving Baltimore in various capacities, including a stint as Acting Director of DPW.
Alongside this change, Kendall Abu-Hakim and Steven Sharkey will also assume crucial roles within DPW, as heads of the Division of Solid Waste and the Division of Water and Wastewater, respectively. According to a press release by the Mayor's office, Abu-Hakim formerly acted as Deputy Director of Operations at the Department of General Services, and Sharkey has nearly two decades of experience across various city departments.
The Mayor also took care to appoint members to the Baltimore City Wage Commission, the Inclusionary Housing Board, and the recently established Veterans Commission. This last group stands uniquely positioned to advise on policies affecting veterans and to connect them with deserved services.
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