Annapolis mayor condemns mass shootings, introduces acting city attorney and community engagement strategist

Mayor Littman opened Thursday’s council meeting by acknowledging recent mass shootings — including the incident at Brown University and an antisemitic attack linked to Bondi Beach — and called for a moment of silence.

"There are values that unite us, respect, safety, and dignity of every person and every faith," the mayor said as part of his remarks expressing condolences to affected communities and urging the city to recommit to safety and respect.

The mayor introduced Carrie Berger as acting city attorney and thanked her for stepping into the role while the city seeks a permanent city attorney. He also introduced Laura Richards as a new community engagement strategist who will serve as a connector between residents and city government.

The mayor reported he had attended leadership training at Harvard’s Bloomberg Center for Cities (tuition and travel covered by Bloomberg Philanthropies) and thanked staff and volunteers for local seasonal events, including Midnight Madness and the upcoming Military Bowl Parade and New Year’s Eve fireworks over Spa Creek.

He told council members he trusts the Office of Law in handling the HACCO lawsuit and said opposing counsel confirmed the city has entered mediation; no additional legal details were provided during the meeting.