Baltimore residents are fuming after learning that Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott treated himself to a taxpayer-funded 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, racking up an eye-watering $164,000 bill—including more than $60,000 in upgrades like sirens, police lights, and a secure communications system.
Scott’s grand indulgence comes at a time when Baltimore continues to face violent crime, underfunded schools, and serious infrastructure woes. Local citizens aren’t buying the mayor’s justification—and they’re not mincing words.
“Not the taxpayers’ money! If he wants it for himself, yeah. But not with our money,” said resident Christian Heath to Fox 5.
“Our money should be for the city, the schools, the kids. Just to ride around? We don’t have cars like that.”
Even veterans are calling foul. Retired Marine Benjamin Luster summed up what many are thinking:
“Why is it that he says the streets are safe, but he still needs to up-armor and get protection for his car? He’s making himself more important than the common folk.”
Scott defended his taxpayer-funded splurge by claiming the SUV replaces an old vehicle and that elected officials in Maryland all have such perks.
“The new vehicle is going to serve the same purpose as the old vehicle: to transport me around,” Scott told Fox 5. “I think the residents of Baltimore will understand… we all have vehicles.”
He then turned defensive, invoking former GOP Governor Larry Hogan in a bit of whataboutism:
“I don’t remember Larry Hogan ever being asked about whether we should upgrade his vehicle fleet.”
But Scott’s comments haven’t calmed the storm—especially with watchdog groups weighing in.
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance, a group that monitors government waste, blasted the mayor’s purchase.
“Spending more than $160,000 for a vehicle is not common sense,” said David Williams, the group’s president. “The mayor should be protected. The mayor should be comfortable, but you can achieve that for way less than $160,000.”
“People are asked to sacrifice with higher taxes, higher fees, but the mayor? He doesn’t sacrifice. He’s able to buy a vehicle worth more than $160,000.”
Meanwhile, Baltimoreans are still struggling with soaring costs, rising crime, and a city budget that always seems to fall short—except when it comes to executive perks.
City Councilman Zac Blanchard tried to defend the spending as “reasonable,” saying:
“Buying a nicer SUV with relevant safety and communications enhancements twice a decade is pretty reasonable for a large city’s top elected official.”
That argument might hold more weight if Baltimoreans weren’t watching their city deteriorate while their mayor rides in style.
