Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer
City Council District 5
About
Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer is the Councilman for the 5th District of Baltimore City.
Councilman Schleifer is a lifelong resident of the 5th District and currently serving on the City Council since 2016. Councilman Schleifer is the Chair of the Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee and serves on both the Health, Environment, and Technology Committee and the Ways and Means Committee.
This budget grows to over $5 BILLION with nearly $400 million in new spending… yet still NO property tax relief. THE MONEY IS THERE!
Only 36% of the General Fund is fixed costs. That means there’s room to prioritize lowering housing costs and giving residents relief.
The slide below from the City’s own 10-year plan shows just how uncompetitive Baltimore’s property taxes are compared to surrounding jurisdictions.
If we’re not lowering taxes in a year with this much new spending, then when?
Take a look through the budget books and post what stands out to you. I want your questions, concerns, and feedback as we head into budget hearings.
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In my effort to get a clear, itemized breakdown of how $2 million in COVID relief funds were spent on Artscape, both the Deputy CAO and the Executive Producer of Artscape referred me to the Inspector General’s report. Until they suggested it, I had not yet read it.
One part of the report stood out immediately:
The former Chief Recovery Officer reportedly stated they were “not a big fan of Artscape,” and did not “understand many of the associated costs,” and felt “it’s all like, too much money to me.”
Unlike the former Recovery Officer, I am a fan of Artscape. My family attends every year, and I believe it’s an important cultural event for Baltimore. But I also share the same concern: I still do not understand the costs, which is exactly why I’m asking questions and seeking transparency.
After reading the report, here are a few key takeaways:
• The report does not identify a single artist by name, so the public still has no idea who was paid what.
• It refers only to “Artist 1,” “Artist 2,” “Artist 3,” etc., despite there being many more performers including many smaller and some local ones involved in the festival.
• The public still deserves answers to my simple questions:�Where is an itemized list of where two million dollars of COVID relief money went?
The report also details other expenses funded with COVID relief dollars, including:
• $50,000 to the Festival Director�• $25,000 to the Operations Manager�• $15,000 to the Stage Manager�• $25,000 to the Volunteer Coordinator�• $40,000 in booking fees for whoever secured the artists.
Most shocking to me was the revelation that tens of thousands of dollars were spent on VIP events, including a VIP cigar lounge at the War Memorial Building.
My original question was simple:�What was the $2 million in COVID relief money for Artscape actually spent on?
After reading this report, my position is even stronger:�The public deserves a complete, itemized accounting of the full cost of Artscape and where every taxpayer dollar went.
As Chair of the Legislative Investigations Committee the only City Council committee with subpoena power, I believe it is necessary for the Executive Producer of Artscape to provide a full accounting of these expenditures.
I encourage everyone to read the Inspector General report for themselves.
s3.amazonaws.com/baltimorecity.gov.if-us-east-1/s3fs-public/2026-02/public_synopsis_case_25-0047-... ... See MoreSee Less
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
Sir, this is exactly why we need to support Baltimore City Office of Inspector General Cumming.
Hot take. Most, if not all, of these costs are reasonable, at least categorically. Make sure that the money was spent as indicated and, if so, move on. Artscape expenses are a legitimate use of ARPA funds.
Have read the report which emphasizes the absolute necessity of an independent OIG which we voted for and is part of our city charter those who want to change this should have the proverbial curtain opened as in Oz. Once again, thank you for actually representing the needs and concerns of Baltimore and not special interest groups or self aggrandizement
Will your supoena power provide you access to redacted information also?
Taxpayer money falls from the sky like magic pixie dust.
Whoever "they" are believe they are above accountability to not need to produce expenditures as commanded. It just shows "they" are thieves if they are hiding something. Would 'they" hide their finances from a bank financier to obtain a loan ? So why not show these Covid reliefs money transferred to Artscape.
And yet, they thinks it’s okay not to produce expenditures when requested. Wake up people!!!!!!
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Agency budget hearings begin in two weeks, and now is the time to start digging into the details.
The full agency budget books can be viewed at the links below. I encourage everyone to take a look through them. If you come across spending that raises questions, programs you think deserve more scrutiny, or areas you believe need more investment, post them here.
No question is too small. These hearings are one of the few chances we have to publicly question agencies about how your tax dollars are being spent, and community input helps shape those conversations.
Drop your questions, concerns, or observations in the comments and I’ll do my best to bring them up during the hearings.
www.baltimorecity.gov/bbmr/budget-publications
s3.amazonaws.com/baltimorecity.gov.if-us-east-1/s3fs-public/2026-05/2026-05-11-FY2027%20Agency%20...
s3.amazonaws.com/baltimorecity.gov.if-us-east-1/s3fs-public/2026-05/2026-05-11-FY2027%20Agency%20... ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Councilman Isaac Yitzy Schleifer what is the following up from the investigation of mismanagement of funds by The Time Organizations? That operates Two city owned shelters with 100's of grievances from occupants... Bill Henry and Zeke Cohen was speaking on the $$$$$ for shelters...
ICYMI: COVID relief funds are still unaccounted for, and the Baltimore Civic Fund wants taxpayers to just move on.
Absolutely not.
Baltimore taxpayers deserve to know: Christopher Ervin where did the money go? ... See MoreSee Less
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Councilman Isaac Yitzy Schleifer don't let the mayor take the independence away from the oig with his latest proposal!https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2026/05/13/mayor-scott-previews-legislation-that-cripples-the-independence-of-baltimores-inspector-general/?fbclid=IwdGRjcARzV89jbGNrBHNXgGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHjd_oJILJ0FVlvEmqZBSpsZ0uWoMrRSJDs9PpNwn7I82oDPxTbZP6z0RSQa0_aem_tO5PLW6U4jrebD2FV1_FmA
What the hell is going on in Baltimore-Trump
It’s hard to keep up with all the problems in City Hall. It would be helpful if we had a fully functioning OIG.
$2 million dollars in COVID relief funds was funneled through the Baltimore Civic Fund for Artscape performers.
Do the City Council and the taxpayers not deserve to know exactly how much each performer was paid?
Transparency shouldn’t be optional when public money is involved especially federal relief dollars that were supposed to help communities recover.
Baltimore residents are struggling to keep up with rising utility bills, groceries, and property taxes. So it’s more than fair to ask:
Did one performer walk away with a half million dollar paycheck while families here were deciding between keeping the lights on or putting food on the table? ... See MoreSee Less
145 CommentsComment on Facebook
Time to hold people accountable.
Answer the Question. Where is the $$$
Unbelievable just round and round probably went to her.
She is double talking trying not to answer the question. The usual response in Baltimore. Sad that no one will do anything about this.
Wow, the level of shady that this women is displaying. Just give a direct answer!!! Baltimore City keeps it citizens poor with the utilities and taxes and yet they are confused that citizens are leaving on droves.
She's getting mad. She's hiding the truth.
Keep pushing for the truth. It's amazing how taxpayer dollars are being spent. On whatever the mayor wants to spend them on and people are struggling to get their medication to put food on the table to close their kids and he comes up with these little bogus programs to try to get people mine off of what he's doing, which is stealing taxpayer dollars from the people who really need it
How can taxpayer money be spend and she saying it's proprietary? The taxpayers aren't included? They are the ones paying for it.
2 million!!!!
I can appreciate this inquiry. Just curious how much the city or state is sending, directly or indirectly to Israel?
If I was this woman's boss, ( which I believe she reports directly to the mayor,) i would have a serious talk with her about how she addressed these questions. Clearly, if she is a dedicated public servant, she would promise to send this info within 24 to 48 hours of these questions. OK, sure, maybe he lost the information. Not a big deal. If this is not the case, then she is trying to hide some controversial information.
What’s the name of the artist that was paid all this money? What are y’all hiding?
We want to know where every dime of our money goes
Soooo they gonna play the " word chess games"! Those that hide nothing....have nothing to hide!! Let that sink in.
Why did this go to artscape instead of to hungry children, seniors who can’t pay their heating bills, etc?
This is exactly why independent oversight, audits, and transparency matter in government. When taxpayer dollars and federal relief funds are involved, the public deserves clear processes, documentation, accountability, and independent review not confusion, unanswered questions, or disputes over access to records. Oversight systems are not meant to attack government. They exist to strengthen public trust, reduce opportunities for waste or abuse, and ensure that public money is handled responsibly and transparently.
Stay on their asses Yitzy! We need TRANSPARENCY!
What were Covid relief funds used for Artscape? Was this a legit use of those funds?
This gets more interesting by the week. Just the tip Of the iceberg
They always trying to cover up expenses!
Question -- you invited me to join your page and I have a question. How did you vote in the recent Isabel Cumming matter? Did you vote for or against letting the TAXPAYERS decide the right thing?
All the taxpayers do not know what is she talking about I've never heard about how much these artists are getting paid hard-earned money when you got homeless people on the street and you're worried about listening to some rapper
Hell yes
There should be an itemized list to where every payment went. If not, they’re definitely hiding something and should be audited immediately.
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Come one, come all! ... See MoreSee Less
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
Only time you have any contact with the council is at the voting polls. When the majority of people vote it don't matter. These people already have their plan. Voting is not what it use to be in those seats are a bunch of crack pots
Why would they put a notice out the day of that's how they get things passed by cheating cheating cheating
Why bother it's all just a dog and pony show and then they do what they want
Come one, come all, bring your checkbook for all the fees and taxes the Polticians passed upon us.
Notice is too late
Too unsafe. Until the City deals with Bikemore and Dorsey, Black women should watch at home 🇺🇲
DEMAND the council vote AGAINST the mayors proposal and give the OIG the UNREDACTED files!!! Do the right thing!!!
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