Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott was scheduled to join us today but at the last mintute was called away to respond to a violent incident in West Baltimore where five young men had been shot.

Midday host Tom Hall opens the phones to discuss with listeners one of Baltimore's biggest challenges for the new year: curbing the city's relentless rates of homicide and other violent crime.

What do you think of the mayor's efforts to reduce the violence and improve public safety?

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.