Across the country, several Black mayors are leading historic efforts to reduce crime in their cities—and in some places, they’re producing record-breaking results. Recent viral posts have claimed massive drops in crime under leadership in cities like Chicago, Baltimore, Birmingham,Alabama .
Here’s what we found after digging into the data.
CHICAGO: MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON’S CRIME DROP IS REAL
Yes, it’s true—Chicago saw a 33% drop in homicides during the first half of 2025 compared to the same time last year. Under Mayor Brandon Johnson, the city recorded its lowest April homicide count in over 60 years, a major milestone for a city long plagued by gun violence.
“We are seeing tangible results from our investment in community-based violence prevention,” said Johnson during a spring press conference.
BALTIMORE: MAYOR BRANDON SCOTT DELIVERS LOWEST HOMICIDE NUMBERS IN 50 YEARS
Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott has also made history. In the first half of 2025, the city reported just 68 homicides—the fewest in more than 50 years, according to multiple reports. That’s a 23% drop from the same period in 2024, continuing a downward trend Scott has been championing.
Scott credited the drop to community violence intervention programs and a focused policing strategy.
BIRMINGHAM: MAYOR RANDALL WOODFIN’S CITY SEES 52% DROP IN HOMICIDES
In Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor Randall Woodfin’s leadership has helped the city see a 52% drop in homicides compared to last year. The city also boasts a 79% clearance rate for homicides in 2025, well above the national average.
Woodfin has focused on both community policing and youth outreach programs, crediting strong collaboration between local government and residents.
FINAL THOUGHTS
While social media has amplified many inspiring claims about Black mayors making cities safer—and many of those claims are grounded in real progress—it’s important to separate the facts from the fluff. Chicago, Baltimore, and Birmingham’s mayors are indeed delivering on public safety promises, with measurable results to back it up.
