During a recent meeting of the Baltimore City Council's Ways and Means Committee, significant discussions centered around the Department of Law's initiatives and accomplishments for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Councilman Eric Costello, chair of the committee, led the session, which included key members from the mayor's office and the law department.

Deputy City Solicitor Stephen Salisbury explained that the city solicitor was absent due to a prior commitment related to the appointment of the new chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Salisbury introduced his team, including Chief of Staff Matthew Bradford and Chief of Operations Annika Barnes, who presented the department's achievements.

The Department of Law, under Solicitor Ebony Thompson, aims to provide high-quality legal services to the city and protect its residents. Notably, the department successfully enacted a local consumer protection bill that empowers the city to address unfair trade practices. This legislation, introduced by Councilman Schleifer, allows the city to seek injunctive relief and impose fines on offending companies.

The department also played a crucial role in various real estate initiatives, including the acquisition of hotels for the homeless and the redevelopment of the Edmondson Village Shopping Center. Additionally, it collaborated on the city's procurement transformation plan.

In terms of litigation, the department filed a lawsuit against Hyundai and Kia for failing to implement necessary anti-theft measures, contributing to a rise in car thefts. It also secured a settlement with Polymer 80 regarding ghost gun kits, which includes strict measures to curb illegal firearms in the city. Furthermore, the department is pursuing legal action against the ATF for gun tracing data, aiming to better understand the sources of crime guns in Baltimore.

The department reported over $8 million in revenue from affirmative litigation, addressing issues such as PCB water contamination and the opioid crisis. It continues to represent the city in matters related to the Baltimore Police consent decree, achieving compliance in several areas while contributing to a notable decrease in violent crime.

The meeting underscored the law department's commitment to leveraging legal tools and technology to support the city's policy objectives and enhance public safety.