Mayor Scott Cancels Spain Trip to Support Democrats on Election Day

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott will no longer travel to Barcelona, Spain, to participate in the Smart City Expo World Congress, according to a statement from his press office. While the Mayor was originally scheduled to appear at the international event from November 3-5, he has opted to remain in Baltimore to support fellow Democrats during the Election Day cycle, Baltimore Brew reported.

The decision shifts the responsibility of representing the city’s interests in Spain to other high-level officials. City Administrator Faith P. Leach and Chief Data Officer Dartanion Swift-Williams are already on-site at the exposition. They are scheduled to return to the United States this Saturday. The Baltimore Board of Estimates is set to review and approve $6,250 to cover their travel, lodging, and meal expenses during the trip.

Despite the Mayor’s absence, Baltimore maintains a presence on the global stage at this year’s expo. The city is one of only three American municipalities displaying exhibits at the event, joining North Miami Beach, Florida, and Peachtree Corners, Georgia. The gathering serves as a massive hub for urban innovation, attracting over 26,000 attendees and leaders from more than 1,000 cities to discuss the future of urban management.

The push for agentic AI in municipal governance

A central theme of this year’s Smart City Expo is the integration of agentic AI—autonomous or semi-autonomous artificial intelligence systems designed to manage government functions like traffic signaling and tax collection with minimal human oversight. Mayor Scott had intended to join Swift-Williams to promote these city-based solutions and foster partnerships aimed at creating more efficient, sustainable urban environments.

The workload for the city’s delegation remains heavy even without the Mayor’s keynote address. Swift-Williams, who leads the Mayor’s Office of Performance and Innovation, is still scheduled to deliver a presentation titled “Baltimore’s Vision for Turning Data into Better Lives.” Meanwhile, Leach is slated to participate in a panel discussion focused on “The Livable City: Inclusion First, Prosperity Follows.”

This pivot toward automation and data-driven governance comes at a time when cities are increasingly looking for ways to scale services without a proportional increase in manual labor. For Baltimore, the stakes involve using technology to bridge the gap between urban ambition and the practical reality of service delivery.

International residencies and health policy planning

While the Mayor focuses on domestic political support, other members of the city’s leadership are pursuing international expertise in public health. Deputy Mayor of Equity, Health and Human Services Letitia Dzirasa has a scheduled two-week residency at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mayor Scott Cancels Spain Trip to Support Democrats on Election Day

Dzirasa, a pediatrician and former Baltimore health commissioner, will participate in the WHO Healthy Cities Residency program from November 7-21. The program is designed to help urban leaders review best practices for preventing injuries and noncommunicable diseases. According to city records, the $8,120 cost associated with this stay will be borne by the organization rather than the city.

The timing of these movements highlights a dual-track approach for Baltimore’s administration: navigating the immediate political pressures of an election cycle at home while simultaneously attempting to integrate global standards in technology and public health into local policy.

Official	Destination	Purpose	Estimated Cost
Faith P. Leach	Barcelona, Spain	Smart City Expo	Part of $6,250 total
Dartanion Swift-Williams	Barcelona, Spain	Smart City Expo	Part of $6,250 total
Letitia Dzirasa	Geneva, Switzerland	WHO Residency	$8,120 (covered by WHO)