THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH A CONVERSATION WITH MARYLAND COMPTROLLER BROOKE LIERMAN, MADAM COMPTROLLER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE, GREAT TO BE HERE, JEFF.

>> Jeff: LOTS OF CONCERN IN STATE POLITICAL CIRCLES ABOUT THE CUTS COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, LAYOFFS AFFECTING MARYLANDERS, PROGRAMS BEING CUT.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST FOCUSED ON NOW?

>> SURE.

IT IS A GREAT QUESTION, AND I THINK THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IS WHERE EVERY QUESTION STARTS THESE DAYS.

FOR FROM MY VIEW WHAT I SEE IS MANY OF US SEE WHAT IS SORT OF A CRISIS FOR OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT HERE IN MARYLAND, IT'S EVEN WORSE BECAUSE IT'S DEEPLY PERSONAL.

RIGHT?

WE HAVE ABOUT 230,000 MARYLANDERS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BASED ON A RECENT REPORT THAT WE DID AND DATA WE'VE LOOKED AT.

WE HAVE 160,000 JOBS BASED IN MARYLAND.

ANYTIME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL LAYOFFS OR SPENDING REDUCTIONS, WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO HIT MARYLAND.

SO WE HAVE TAKEN A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS.

YOU PUBLISHED A REPORT ON THE FEDERAL IMPACT ON MARYLAND'S ECONOMY EARLIER THIS SUMMER.

AND THE TAKEAWAY NUMBER FROM THAT IS 150 BILLION DOLLARS.

THERE IS 150 BILLION DOLLARS THAT COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTO MARYLAND.

ON A REGULAR BASIS EVERY YEAR.

WAGE AND RETIREMENT INCOME, GRANTS, DIRECT PAYMENTS, CONTRACTING.

THAT IS OUR STARTING POINT AS WEIGH THINK ABOUT WHAT THESE CHANGES MEAN FOR OUR ECONOMY.

>> Jeff: MEDICAID IS A HUGE PART OF THE STATE BUDGET.

THERE ARE BIG CHANGES COMING TO THAT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE STARTING IMMEDIATELY.

>> THEY'RE NOT.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE STARTING AFTER THE MIDTERMS.

BUT EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, I KNOW LIKE SHE DOES THAT THIS IS TERRIBLE NEWS FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MARYLANDERS.

AND THEIR FAMILIES AND IT'S ALSO REALLY TOUGH NEWS, HARD NEWS FOR OUR MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS FOR OUR HOSPITALS AND THAT MEANS TO FOR OUR ECONOMY.

HOSPITALS REALLY BUOY HUGE SEG THES OF OUR STATE LOCAL ECONOMIES WHETHER IT'S TITLE HEALTH ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

OR DIFFERENT CORNERS AROUND THE STATES.

AND CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN WASHINGTON D.C., YOU KNOW THE MAJORITY OF THEIR PATIENTS I BELIEVE ARE FROM MARYLAND NOW.

AND THEY RELY ON MEDICAID.

SO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THESE MEDICAID CUTS MEAN FOR THE HEALTH OF MARYLANDERS AND ALSO FOR THE INSTITUTIONS AND OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES.

>> Jeff: COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE SORT OF AUTOMATICALLY HAS ITS FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THE STATE ECONOMY JUST AS YOU SEE REVENUE COMING IN FROM ESTIMATED TAX PAYMENTS, WITHHOLDING ON PAYCHECKS DO YOU SEE SIGNS OF TROUBLE AT THIS POINT?

>> IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

AS YOU SAID, THE BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES IT MEETS THREE TIMES A YEAR, SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER AND MARCH BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY TIME WE'RE SEEING THE REVENUE NUMBERS COME IN AND WE ARE FOLLOWING THEM CLOSELY.

IT'S WITHHOLDING, CORPORATE INCOME TAX AND SALES TAX AND ALSO FOLLOWING JOBS REPORTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PUTS OUT AS WELL.

I THINK OUR BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES WAS APPROPRIATELY CONSERVATIVE.

IN OUR ESTIMATE FROM MARCH.

WE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT WHAT WE FORESAW HAPPENING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BASED ON EARLY WARNING SIGNS.

AND, I THINK, WE ARE SEEING THAT THAT WAS THE RIGHT TASK TO TAKE.

WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING STEADY.

ALSO, BUT THERE'S MORE TO COME.

BECAUSE WE KNOW FOR INSTANCE SOME FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO TOOK THAT FORK IN THE OPTION WHERE THEY COULD RESIGN MANY WILL GETTING PAID UNTIL SEPTEMBER WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE DROP COME THROUGH YET.

SO EVERY MONTH WE SORT OF WAIT WITH BAITED PREGHT TO SEE THE NUMBERS COME IN AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO THAT.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE LAUNCHED A NEW CAMPAIGN AIMED AT EXPANDING THE REACH, THE RECOGNITION OF THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM YOU ARE HOPING TO FIX?

>> SURE.

ONE OF MY GOALS AS COMPTROLLER IS TO ENSURE WE ARE BUILDING A MORE PROSPEROUS STATE, A MORE AFFORDABLE STATE AND MORE PROSPEROUS STATE THAT WE ARE BUILDING THE MIDDLE CLASS AND A HUGE PIECE HAS TO BE OUR NUMBER ONE ECONOMIC MOBILITY TOOL IN STATE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS.

THIS IS A TAX CREDIT THAT IS LOUDED ACROSS THE AISLE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY BECAUSE IT REWARDS WORK.

AND WE HAVE A VERY STRONG AND GENEROUS STATE EITC IN MARYLAND.

AND YET WE KNOW ALMOST 100,000 MARYLANDERS EVERY YEAR DON'T CLAIM IT EVEN THOUGH THEY QUALIFY FOR IT.

THEY ARE LEAVING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THE TABLE THAT COULD BE USED TO HELP THEM TAKE A CERTIFICATION CLASS, TO RAISE THEIR WAGES OR SEND THEIR KIDS TO CAMP SO THEY CAN KEEP WORKING OR BUY A USED CAR TO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO BETTER JOBS.

WE HAVE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN WORKING WITH THE MILLER TEAM INCLUDING DHS AND DOL, THE HEALTH EXCHANGE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT SO THEY REMEMBER TO CHECK IF THEY ARE QUALIFIED FOR IF.

WE CALLED IT THE EARNED CAMPAIGN, WE HAVE PHASE ONE THIS LAST TAX SEASON.

BUT WE ARE BUILDING ON THAT NOW.

I'M GOING TO DO EVEN MORE WORK IN THE LEAD UP TO THE NEXT TAX SEASON AND DURING NEXT TAX SEASON.

WE ARE REALLY PROUD WE INCREASED THE UPTAKE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LAST YEAR FROM PREVIOUS YEARS BUT THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO.

EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Jeff: HOW DO PEOPLE GET MISSED ON THIS?

EVEN IF YOU ARE GOING TO A PROFESSIONAL THEY ARE USING A COMPUTER, PEOPLE ARE USING A COMPUTER TO DO THEIR TAXES OR A WEBSITE TO DO THEIR TAXES SHOULDN'T IN THE PROCESS, IT BE CAUGHT OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED TO FILE A TAX RETURN?

>> IT'S BOTH.

WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, TWO GAPS OF PEOPLE.

THE FIRST THAT WE KNOW WHO ARE NOT CLAIMING IT ARE THE ONES WHO ARE FILING TAX RETURNS.

BUT THEY ARE NOT CLAIMING THAT STATE EIDC.

SOME ARE CLAIMING THE FEDERAL EITC BUT NOT THE STATE ONE.

USUALLY FOLKS NOT GETTING HELP WITH THEIR RETURNS THEY ARE DOING IT ON THEIR OWN.

WE HAVE FUNDING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO DO DIRECT OUTREACH TO SOME OF THESE FOLKS.

AND THEN THERE'S THE OTHER GROUP THAT ARE FOLKS NOT FILING THEIR TAX RETURN.

BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE TO PAY OR DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THE IS AND NO, NO, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MONEY BACK IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO FILE THIS TAX RETURN.

SO I JUST REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT REPRESENTS MORE THAN POLICY AND EMBODIES OUR FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF THAT HARD WORK SHOULD BE REWARDED.

AND THAT EVERY MARYLANDER DESERVES A PATHWAY TO ECONOMIC STABILITY AND THE TAX CREDITS SITTING UNUSED IS A PROMISE UNFULFILLED.

WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE EVERY TAX CREDIT IS CLAIMED.

>> Jeff: I GUESS IT CHANGES AT SOME POINT.

YOU KNOW THE PROCESS OF FILING TAXES IS DRIVEN BY THE I.R.S.

OUT OF WASHINGTON.

BUT AS A TAXPAYER, WHEN I GO TO DO IT ON THE COMPUTER I'M TYPING IN ALL THIS DATA THAT THE I.R.S.

ALREADY HAS SO LIKE WHY CAN'T THEY PROCESS THAT, SEND ME A PIECE OF PAPER OR TO SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT QUALIFY FOR THIS, SEND OUT A LETTER SAYING YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR SOME FREE MONEY, DO X, Y, Z?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU ARE RIGHT A LOT RESTS WITH THE I.R.S.

THAT IS WHAT DIRECT FILE WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX.

BECAUSE DIRECT FILE ACTUALLY WHICH WAS THE FREE TAX SOFTWARE TAX RETURN SOFTWARE THAT THE I.R.S.

LAUNCHED LAST YEAR.

THAT PULLED IN DATA.

SO THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO POPULATE ALL THE DATA.

WE WERE PROUD TO BE PARTNERS WITH THE I.R.S.

ON DIRECT FILE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS CANCELED DIRECT FILE SO THAT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ANYMORE.

AND WE ARE -- WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE FILING A TAX RETURN EASIER.

ON YOUR QUESTION WHY CAN'T YOU REACH OUT TO PEOPLE?

THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

IF WE KNOW YOU CLAIMED THE FEDERAL BUT DID NOT CLAIM THE STATE WE WANT TO DO DIRECT OUTREACH BUT WE HAVE NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO DO THAT AND NOW WE DO.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A STRATEGY, A PLAN.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE URBAN INSTITUTE IN DC TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT IS A VALUE ADD.

BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS WORK.

>> Jeff: FOR SOMEBODY WATCHING US RIGHT NOW WHO IS THINKING I WONDER IF I MISSED OUT ON SOMETHING, WHERE DO YOU START?

CAN YOU REACH OUT TO ONE OF YOUR OFFICES AROUND THE STATE?

>> SURE.

REACH OUT TO US OR THE CASH CAMPAIGN OF MARYLAND OR ANOTHER VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE SITE.

THIS IS A BETTER TIME TO REACH OUT TO CASH CAMPAIGN THAN DURING JANUARY TO APRIL WHEN IT'S BUSY.

YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, MARYLAND COMPTROLLER.GOV/EARNED IT.

TO SEE IF THERE'S MORE INFORMATION TO LOOK UP FOR MORE INFORMATION AROUND THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AS WELL.

>> Jeff: THERE IS A NEW STATE SALES TAX AFFECTING TECH COMPANIES IN MARYLAND.

YOUR OFFICE IS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE IMPLEMENTATION, THE REGULATIONS AND ALL THAT.

HOW IS THAT GOING AT THIS POINT?

>> SURE.

GREAT QUESTION.

YES, THE TECH TAX.

WE STARTING FROM THE DAY AFTER SINE DIE GOT TO WORK TO MAKE SURE WE COULD ADOPT AN EMERGENCY REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THAT TAX TO MAKE SURE WE WERE REACHING OUT TO BUSINESSES THAT WERE GOING TO BE AFFECTED AND WE REACHED OUT TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OTHERS.

I LIKE TO THINK WE DID UNPRECEDENTED OUTREACH AROUND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW TAX.

WE NOT ONLY DID WE STAND UP A DEDICATED WEBSITE SO PEOPLE COULD SEE INFORMATION AS IT WAS AVAILABLE, WE ALSO HELD MULTIPLE WEBINARS WHERE FOLKS COULD GET ON ANYBODY COULD JOIN AND WE ANSWERED QUESTIONS, TOOK THEIR FEEDBACK, TOOK THEIR IDEAS, AS WE WERE IMPLEMENTING IT.

ALL THOSE MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE AT MARYLAND COMPTROLLER.GOV.

AND THERE'S QUESTIONS AND WORK TO DO.

THE FULL REGULATIONS WILL PROMULGATE THOSE THIS FALL.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TIME FOR A FULL COMMENT PERIOD.

SO THAT BUSINESSES, CPA'S ACCOUNTANTS ET CETERA CAN SEND US THEIR COMMENTS BEFORE THE REGULATIONS ARE FINAL.

AND OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE FINAL REGULATIONS BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION SO THAT WE CAN PINPOINT ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE OR LOOPHOLES THAT NEED TO BE CLOSED FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO TAKE ACTION ON THEM NEXT YEAR.

>> Jeff: CUSTOMERS OF THE TECH BUSINESSES OR THE TECH BUSINESSES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COLLECTING THIS TAX NOW FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS EVEN THOUGH THE REGULATIONS AREN'T FINAL, SO THERE MAYBE A LOOK BACK ADJUSTMENT?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WILL NEED TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT.

WE HOPE THE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS WE PROMULGATED DO THE TRICK.

BUT IF THEY DON'T.

IF THERE'S ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED WE WILL BE WORKING WITH EVERY COMPANY, CLIENTS ET CETERA ON FIXING THING AS NEEDED.

>> Jeff: BROOKE LIERMAN IS THE COMPTROLLER OF MARYLAND.

MADAM COMPTROLLER WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: NOW WITH OUR SALUTE TO VETERANS HERE IS NANCY AMATA.

>> YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW EXCITED I AM.

I'M SO EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S ALL I'VE HEARD GROWING UP.

FROM A LITTLE GIRL.

>> FROM THE KITCHEN OF HER HOME, KAREN TAYLOR RECALLS ALL THE STORIES THAT HER MOTHER AND AUNT SHARED ABOUT THEIR TIME IN THE SIXTH TRIPLE 8 BATTALION THE POSTAL UNIT NOW THE SUBJECT OF AA NETFLIX MOVIE.

THE FAMILY HISTORIAN HAS BEEN COLLECTING MEMORABILIA AND SHARING THEIR EFFORTS IN HOPES THEY WOULD GET THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE.

>> I WANT THEM TO KNOW WE WERE THERE.

THE LADIES WERE THERE.

THEY WERE HARD-WORKING WOMEN AND UNAPPRECIATED.

>> SOLDIERS, I AM CAPTAIN CHARITY ADAMS.

>> THE MOVIE STARS KERRY WASHINGTON AS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO BECOME A COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS.

THE BATTALION OF 850 WOMEN WHICH INCLUDED HER MOTHER VIVIAN AND AUNT DEPLOYED TO EUROPE FOR ABOUT AYER DURING WORLD WAR II TO PROCESS MAIL, A HUGE AND DAUNTING TASK.

>> ALL MAIL WAS IN A CANVAS BAGS AND STACKED UP IN AIRPLANE HANGARS.

>> WHO JOHNNY IS IN THE ARMY BECAUSE BACK THEN, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE -- WEREN'T EDUCATED THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SEND THE MAIL.

AND THEY HAD TO SORT THROUGH ALL THAT.

>> AND TELL ME ABOUT HAVING TO HIDE WHEN THEY WERE HEAR BOMBS DROPPING THOUGH YOU ARE WORKING DOING THE MAIL BUT YOU HAD TO HIDE BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE KILLED.

>> THIS BATTALION OF BRACK WOMEN FACED OBSTACLES.

>> WE WANTED ME TO KNOW WHAT SHE WENT THROUGH.

AND YOU KNOW, THE DISCRIMINATION BY THE MILITARY, THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND THE DIFFERENCE WHEN SHE WENT TO EUROPE, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WELCOMED THEM.

>> SHE DIDN'T FEEL THAT THE UNITED STATES APPRECIATED IT AFTER SHE CAME HOME.

>> DISCRIMINATION WAS STILL THE SAME.

WE COUDN'T GO INTO RESTAURANTS TO SIT DOWN AND EAT.

>> DESPITE THOSE EXPERIENCES, TAYLOR SAID HER MOM WAS PROUD OF HER SERVICE.

>> SHE WANTED ME TO KNOW WHAT THE U.S. HAD PREPARED FOR ME.

>> AND PREPARED FOR THE NEXT GENERATION HER FAMILY WALL OF MEMORIES TELL THE STORY OF SACRIFICE, COMMITMENT AND HONOR.

>> I WANT HER GRANDCHILDREN TO KNOW THAT SHE WAS FIGHTING FOR THEM IN MANY WAYS.

THEY CALLED IT A DOUBLE VICTORY FOR THE BLACK RACE AS WELL AS FOR THE UNITED STATES IN THE WAR AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN EUROPE THAT THEY WERE FIGHTING FOR.

>> I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: THE RETURN OF THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IS JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY.

THERE IS A NEW COURSE RUNNING THROUGH BALTIMORE AND THE ADDITION OF FEMALE RIDERS.

WE SPOKE WITH TERRY HASSELTINE THE PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

[♪♪] >> MARYLAND, SECOND CLASS RETURNING HERE IN 2025 AFTER A HIATUS IN 24 DUE TO THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE AND THE OLYMPIC SCHEDULE.

REAL EXCITED BECAUSE THE RETURN OF THE CYCLING EVENT NOT ONLY INCORPORATES THE MEN'S RACE RETURNING, BUT ALSO THE ADDITION OF A WOMEN'S RACE AND HAVING A WORLD CLASS WOMEN'S RACE TO SHOWCASE, WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR GOALS.

WHEN WE CREATED THIS EVENT IN 2019 AND GOT IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

BUT HAVING A WOMEN'S RACE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A KEY MILESTONE FOR US AND IT MAKES 25 DIFFERENT YOU SEE MEN AND WOMEN RACING ON THE SAME COURSE, THE SAME DAY WHAT IS UNIQUE.

>> Jeff: THE COURSE ITSELF IS DIFFERENT?

>> YES.

THIS YEAR WE WENT TO AND A18-MILE CIRCUIT ALL WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

WHAT IT DOES IT CREATES A MORE FAN FRIENDLY VIEW OF THE RACE.

ALLOWS THE FANS TO REALLY ENGAGE WITH THE CYCLISTS IN A REALLY HIGHER PROFILE OPPORTUNITY.

IT ALSO CREATES A BIG SPECTACLE OVERSIZED CRYTER YUM MORE IMPACTFUL CORNERS, MORE STRAIGHTAWAYS, MORE TIME TO SEE THE MANEUVERABILITY OF THE RACE CLOSE AND IN-PERSON.

>> Jeff: I WISH I KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT THE SPORT.

I APOLOGIZE I DON'T.

BUT THE RIDERS ARE PART OF TEAMS.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> EACH TEAM IS MADE UP OF SEVEN RIDERS.

AND IT'S SIMILAR TO CROSS-COUNTRY AS THE TOP FIVE RIDERS SCORE POINTS FOR THE TEAM.

AND THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY NAVIGATING TO PUT THEIR TOP, TWO, THREE RIDERS ON THE FRONT OF THE HEAP.

YOU WILL SEE GUYS DRAFTING OFF OF OTHER GUYS AND MANEUVERS YOU PUT 15 TEAMS ON THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME, YOU ARE WATCHING THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN ONE RACE TEAM AND ANOTHER RACE TEAM.

AND THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT COMES OUT.

YOU'VE THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS WHICH ARE THE ELEVATION PORT WHERE TEAMS WHO ARE STRONG IN ELEVATION, AND THEN YOU SEE THE SPEED GUYS COME OUT WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FLAT TERRAIN.

AND WHAT BALTIMORE WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE ABOUT BALTIMORE WE ARE A HILLY ENVIRONMENT.

BUT THEY ARE SUBTLE AND GRADUAL.

THE WEAR-AND-TEAR ON THAT OVER 8 TO 10 CIRCUITS THE MEN WILL DO, AND FIVE TO SIX FOR THE WOMEN WILL DO, YOU WILL SEE SOME SEPARATION TOWARDS THE END.

BECAUSE THE BURNING OF THE LEGS WILL KICK IN BECAUSE OF THE COURSE AND THE FLAT SPACES ARE SO INTERSPERSED.

>> Jeff: I MEAN IT'S NOT THE ALPS HERE BUT WHAT ARE THE BIG HILLS?

>> YOU ARE GOING OUT BY THE MONUMENT AND NORTH FROM THE MONUMENT TOWARDS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CITY, THE CLIMB IS SIGNIFICANT.

BUT IT'S GRADUAL.

IT'S NOT YOUR HIGH PEAKING CLIMB THAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN A TOUR DE FRANCE BUT IT'S ENOUGH AS YOU COME OFF A ROTATING OF UPS AND DOWNS AND COME BACK AROUND AND IN THE DOWNWARD TREND ON PRATT STREET YOU HAVE A GREAT STRAIGHTAWAY AND COBBLESTONES BUILT IN THERE, TOO.

WHICH IS TRICKY FOR RIDERS TO NAVIGATE.

WITH THE NARROWING OF A TIRE IN A GAP FILL ENVIRONMENT THEY HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO HIT THE COBBLES THE RIGHT WAY AND WE HAVE THOSE IN A COUPLE SPOTS.

BETWEEN HILLS, FLAT TERRAIN AND COBBLES INTO THE RACE THIS IS GOING TO BE JUST EPIC.

AND TO BE DOING IT RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND JUST SHOWCASES THAT OUR PORTFOLIO KEEPS GETTING MORE AND MORE DYNAMIC AND THE CYCLING CLASS IS ONE OF THE EPIC EVENTS WITHIN OUR PORTFOLIO.

>> Jeff: WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT IS A TEAM SPORT.

HOW ABOUT THE TEAM THAT CAN PUT TOGETHER AN EPIC EVENT LIKE THIS?

THIS TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF AGENCIES, RIGHT?

>> IT DOES.

EVERYTHING FROM THE SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, AND OUR PARTNERS THROUGH JENNY BURRELL, STEVE BASERUNNER, JEFF NEWMAN, BILL, MARISSA, BOB, YOU KNOW OUR SIDE THEN YOU GET WITH THE CITY AND LINDSEY AND THE MAYOR.

JUST REALLY DEDICATING AND PUTTING THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES THAT HAVE TO BRING IT TOGETHER AND THE STATE COMES OVER THE TOP AND ADDS ADDITIONAL INVENTORY OF POLICE FORCE, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CREATE AGO AND AN OPEN FREE TO THE PUBLIC EVENT WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY FIRST FOR THE RIDERS BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE STREET.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT U.S. CYCLING AND THEN THE UCI, THE SANCTIONED EVENT GIVING US TOOLS TO MAKE SURE THE MEDIUMS DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN EVENT THAT WILL TOUCH BETWEEN 70 TO 80 COUNTRIES JUST BIKE THE STREAMING OF THIS EVENT LIVE.

YOU ARE TALKING MEN AND WOMEN'S RACE EIGHT PLUS HOURS OF STREAMING SERVICES SHOWCASING THIS EVENT.

AND YOUR MPT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A CRITICAL PARTNER FOR US.

AND YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

AND YOU CAN'T DO IT BY YOURSELF I'M SURE I LEFT SOMEBODY OUT IN THAT DESCRIPTION OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED BUT IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND VOLUNTEERS AND CORPORATE PARTNERS.

KAISER PERMANENTEN INTY AND JOHN KELLYE.

AND YOU ADD THOSE THINGS AND YOU GOT REALLY GREAT SOUP TO DELIVER TO THE PATRONS OF THE CYCLING COMMUNITY.

>> Jeff: THIS PROBABLY WON'T BE A GOOD DAY TO TAKE A LEADERLY DRIVE THROUGH TOWN WHAT.

DO YOU DO ABOUT TRAFFIC?

>> THE NICE PART OF AN EVENT HENCE WE WENT TO THE 18-MILE CIRCUIT YOU CAN LEAD TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE PELOTON IS SO TIGHT AND THE SECURITY ON THE FRONT END AND THE BACK END OF THE PELOTON ARE THERE WHY YOU NEED THE RESOURCES LIKE FLAGGERS AND THE POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY TO LEAD TRAFFIC THROUGH AN EVENT OF THIS NATURE.

THE WAY THE COURSE IS DESIGNED IS DESIGNED SO TRAFFIC CAN GO UP AND AROUND IT.

AND AREAS RIGHT THROUGH IT.

AND WE TELL PEOPLE BE MINDFUL THERE IS A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT HAPPENING ON THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE SHOWCASING THIS STATE AND THIS CITY TO THE WORLD.

THIS IS A PORT CARD TO THE WORLD LIKE NO OTHER EVENT CAN PROVIDE.

REMEMBER, WE'RE TRYING TO BRING AWARENESS AND GREATNESS THAT THE CITY IS AND THE STATE IS.

>> Jeff: HOW MAJOR AN EVENT IS IT?

EVERYBODY HEARD THE TOUR DE FRANCE THIS IS LIKE THE TOUR DE B MORE?

>> YOU CAN GO DOWN THAT LANE.

YOU ARE TALKING WE HAVE SEVEN TOUR DE FRANCE TEAMS COMING IN FROM EUROPE AND THE U.S. TO RACE IN THIS EVENT.

SO UNLIKE HAVING FIVE, SEVEN, EIGHT DAYS OF DIFFERENT TERRAIN TO RIDE OVER THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD OF TIME, THIS IS A ONE-DAY CLASSIC.

MEANS WE'RE PUTTING ALL THE ELEMENTS INTO ONE RACE.

THE MEN ARE RACING 120 MILES AND THE WOMEN 85-90 MILES THROUGH THE EFFORT.

WE'RE PUTTING HILLS AND COBBLES, AND FLAT TERRAIN, WE'RE PUTTING SHARP TURNS VERSUS GRADUAL TURNS.

YOU PUT ALL THAT STUFF IN AND GO TO A TOUR DE FRANCE YOU ARE GETTING THOSE ELEMENTS OVER THE COURSE IN ALMOST A MONTH HERE IT'S ALL IN ONE DAY.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO SPECTATORS NEED TO KNOW?

>> BRING YOUR VOICE.

BRING THINGS YOU CAN CLAP TOGETHER.

KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL KEY WATCH ZONES THROUGHOUT THE RACE UP BY THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

PRATT STREET.

AND THEN HARBOR EAST AND FELLS POINT.

I WOULD TELL YOU FIND THE THING THAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO CREATE THE MOST INTEREST WHEN YOU ARE IN FELLS POINT AND THE COBBLES OR IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW THE MEN AND WOMEN ATTACK A HILL YOU WANT TO BE ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COURSE.

YOU FIND THE THING THAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS YOUR NEED AND ADD-ON WE ARE HOSTING A PARTY ON PRATT STREET WHERE THE RACE WILL FINISH AND ALSO HARBOR EAST WHERE THE RACE WILL START.

TWO MAJOR MILESTONES IN THE START AND THE FINISH AND YOU ARE ALSO TWO TO THREE WATCH ZONES AROUND THE COURSE.

YOU GOT TO FIND YOUR SPOT LIKE YOU WOULD ON A GOLF COURSE YOU FIND THAT HOLE THAT IS GOING TO WATCH THE PEOPLE COME IN AND YOU JUST WATCH AND YOU GET I'M TELLING YOU YOU GET GIDDY WHAT THEY CAN DO ON A BIKE AND THE MANEUVERS THAT WE HAVE A HARD TIME WALKING.

>> >> Jeff: THESE PEOPLE ARE MAJOR ATHLETES?

IT IS NOT SUNDAY STROLL KIND OF RIDE?

>> NO, THIS IS NOT YOUR BRING OUT THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GET ON A BIKE AND MOSEY THROUGH FIVE OR SIX-MILE COURSE.

NO, THIS IS THE BEST OF THE BEST.

YOU GOT WORLD CHAMPIONS.

TOUR DE FRANCE RIDERS, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE RIDING BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING AT THE END OF IT WHICH IS POINTS TOWARDS QUALIFYING FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

SO THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS FOR THESE RIDERS.

SO OUR JOB IS PUT ON THE BEST, SAFEST AND MORE CHALLENGING COURSE WE CAN THAT SHOWCASES THE GREAT CITY OF BALTIMORE AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND IN THE BEST LIGHT THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF TELEVISION AND ON-LINE CONTENT.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THE CHALLENGE.

AND OUR TEAM IS READY TO GET TO SEPTEMBER 6TH AND WATCH THIS UNFOLD IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.

>> Jeff: MPT'S ALL DAY RACING COVERAGE BEGINS AT 8:00 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 6TH WITH THE SPORTS DESK.

GO TO MPT.ORG/DONATE/MARYLAND CYCLE CLASSIC FOR ALL THE INFORMATION.

AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

JOIN US EVERY WEEK FOR THE LATEST ON MARYLAND'S POLITICAL STAGE.

REMEMBER YOU CAN SEE OUR RECENT PROGRAMS THE VIDEO.MPT.TV AND THE FREE PBS APP WE CAN BE FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

WE'RE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND YOUR CHANCE TO ASK THE EXPERTS.

THAT'S MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. NOW, FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

[♪♪]