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.

"ELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE."

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH PLANS FOR A SPECIALTY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE TOPIC IS CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING.

BUT THIS YEAR'S MAP WILL NOT BE CHANGED.

STATE LEADERS ARE DRAFTING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO ELIMINATE THE STATE'S ONLY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

[♪♪] JOINING US FOR THE POLITICAL ROUNDS TABLE ARE SARAH PETROWICH OF WYPR AND WILL FORD OF MARYLAND MATTERS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE HAVE A DATE FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST WE HAVE A TOPIC THAT IS REDISTRICTING OR GERRYMANDERING DEPENDING WHICH SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU ARE ON.

AND LET'S START WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

THIS WAS SORT OF COVERED DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.

SARAH WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT?

>> THIS STARTED LAST SUMMER WHENEVER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP CALLED ON REPUBLICAN STATES TO REDRAW THE MAPS AHEAD OF THIS ELECTION TO FAVOR THE G.O.P.

SO DEMOCRATIC STATES HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A RESPONSE AND MARYLAND WAS A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION.

THIS SESSION HOUSE DEMOCRATS DECIDED TO CRAFT A MAP THAT WOULD OUT OF THE SOLE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ANDY HARRIS THIS WOULD CREATE A DEMOCRATIC MAP.

AND THEN ALSO CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES TO ALLOW THAT MAP TO WITHSTAND LEGAL CHALLENGES.

BUT SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON AND DEMOCRATS NEVER TOOK A VOTE ON THAT MAP OR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THEY RAISED LEGAL CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

NOW WE ARE BACK IN THE SAME SITUATION EXCEPT THAT WITH THE DISMANTLING OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT BILL FERGUSON FEELS LIKE THE TIDES HAVE CHANGED AND IS NOW CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION FOR EARLY AUGUST TO LOOK AT THAT CONSTITUTION AT AMENDMENT HAD PART NOT THE MAP BUT THE HAD AMENDMENT THAT CAN SETUP FOR THE MAP IN THE 2028 ELECTION.

>> Jeff: THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S TOO LATE TO DEAL WITH THIS YEAR'S MAP BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THE PRIMARY.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

SARAH TOUCHED UPON SOMETHING INTERESTING IN TERMS WITH THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

HINTS THAT'S WHY THE STATE WENT AND VOTED FOR ITS OWN MARYLAND VOTERRING RIGHTS ACT TO COMBAT AND THEY SAW THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE SAW THAT THEY KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE SUPREME COURT AND THAT LEGISLATION SPONSORED ACTUALLY COMES THROUGH A LOSS OF THAT HE WAS A PART OF IN 2002 IN BALTIMORE COUNTY AND THE VOTING WRITINGS ADVOCATES AT THAT TIME SOMETHING BETTER BE DONE OR ELSE WE WILL BE IN TROUBLE.

>> Jeff: LET'S SPEND A SECOND ON THE REASON WE HAVE TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION FOR THIS.

TWO CYCLES AGO, THE STATE'S HIGH COURT TOSSED OUT A CONGRESSIONAL MAP THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD APPROVED WITH A SPECIALLY APPOINTED JUDGE FINDING THAT A LINE IN THE CONSTITUTION ABOUT LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE COMPACT AND FOLLOW NATURAL BOUNDARIES ALSO APPLIED TO THAT OTHER BILLINGER LEGISLATURE IN WASHINGTON.

SO IT'S BASICALLY THAT LINE THAT THEY WANT TO STRIKE OR THEY WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IT ONLY REFERS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THAT IS WHAT SENATE PRESIDENT FERGUSON'S ARGUMENT IS.

THAT LINE IN THE CONSTITUTION IT SAYS EACH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT SHALL CONSIST OF CONJOINING TERRITORY AND OTHER PROVISIONS AND THIS DEBATE IS OVERDOSE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT MEAN STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT ONLY OR DOES IT ALSO APPLY TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS?

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE LANGUAGE OF THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED THIS SPECIAL SESSION BUT IT'S LIKELY THE ALTERATION IS GOING TO BE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROVISIONS LIKE MAKING SURE THE POLITICAL BOUNDARIES ARE RESPECTED THAT ONLY APPLIES TO STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND THAT OPENS UP THE DOOR FOR POLITICAL GERRYMANDERING IF YOU WILL AND THAT CAN SETUP FOR THE MAP TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T SEE A REPEAT OF THE COURT CASE THAT HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> Jeff: SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE A MATTER OF A COUPLE WORDS.

WILL, I'M INTERESTED IN THE PART OF THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN SPECIFY BUT I THINK THE STATE'S HIGH COURT CAN REVIEW.

SO IF YOU WANTED TO PASS YOU CAN'T HAVE THE BALLOT LANGUAGE TO SAYING THAT THIS MAKES IT EASIER TO GERRYMANDER DISTRICTS.

SO YOU GOT TO MAKE IT SOUND GOOD AND HONORABLE SOMEHOW.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THEY DRAW THAT UP.

>> AND YOU KNOW, TAKE A LISTEN TO WHEN THE FEW REPUBLICANS WHO STAND UP DURING THIS SPECIAL SESSION.

THEY ARE GOING TO SAY WE TOLD YOU YOU ARE TAKING AWAY VOICES FROM VOTERS WHO LIVE IN THE STATE.

YES.

WE ARE ABOUT THIS BIG IN MARYLAND.

BUT WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY TWO THAT IS TAKING AWAY TOO MANY THAT ARGUMENT IS GOING TO BE MADE HEAVY AND OFTEN.

>> AND TO ADD-ON QUICK, THERE'S A NEW LAW THIS SESSION THAT REQUIRES PLAIN BALLOT LANGUAGE SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT TIES IN BECAUSE THERE IS A REQUIR.

THAT IT HAS TO BE CLEAR FOR VOTERS.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NEED TO PASS IN BOTH CHAMBERS WITH A THREE FIFTHS VOTE, ALTHOUGH DEMOCRATS DO HAVE THE SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS IT WILL GO TO MARYLAND VOTERS THIS ELECTION IN NOVEMBER FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

THERE ARE STAGES THAT IT NEEDS TO GET THROUGH BEFORE IT BECOMES FINAL AND WE HAVE TO SEE THE MAP AND GET THAT PASSED AS WELL.

>> Jeff: WILL, IN TERMS OF LEGISLATORS SHOWING UP IT WILL BE AUGUST VACATION SEASON AND WE JUST HAD THIS ELECTION IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS SIX WEEKS AGO NOW BUT MORE RECENT YOU HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THE WINNERS AND LOSERS AND SOME MAJOR FIGURES IN THE LEGISLATURE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER THE HOUSE PARLIAMENTARIAN LOST THEIR PRIMARY RACES THEY ARE STILL IN OFFICE THEY WON'T BE IN OFFICE NEXT JANUARY.

SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT THE WINNERS AND LOSSERS AND -- LOSERS AND THE IDEA YOU WILL NEED BASED ON THE MARGINS SOME GOOD ATTENDANCE?

>> WELL, THAT IS THE THING IT'S ABOUT FIVE INCUMBENTS THAT DID NOT WIN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

AND PROBABLY THE MOST SURPRISING RACE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S DISTRICT 39 NANCY KING AND SHE LOST BY 1400 VOTES.

AND SHE HAD STRONG SUPPORT.

AND PROGRESSIVE MARYLAND TO UNSEAT KING.

SENATOR KING HAS.IN THE SENATE SINCE 2007 WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CLOSE TO 19 YEARS OF LEGISLATIVE KNOWLEDGE THAT IS GOING TO BE GONE BUT VOTERS SAID YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE WANT CHANGE.

AND TRAVEL UP NORTH TO IN BALTIMORE, WHERE DELEGATE STEPHANIE SMITH LOST BY JUST A COUPLE HUNDRED VOTES.

AND THAT ONE ALSO IS SURPRISING BECAUSE SHE IS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND SHE ALSO CHAIRS A SUBCOMMITTEE AND SHE IS VERY ALMOST SHE IS AN EDUCATION ADVOCATE THAT IS HER BIG THING.

BUT WHEN THE VOTERS SPEAK IT HAPPENS.

BUT THEY WILL BE COMING BACK.

YOU GOT DELEGATE KEVIN HORNBERGER, REPUBLICAN.

FRANK CONWAY FROM BALTIMORE HE LOST.

AND VERY DISTRICT 41 IN BALTIMORE BETWEEN SENATOR AND DELEGATE ROUGH THEY HAD RACIAL OVERTONES WITH THAT ONE.

BUT MALCOLM WHO HAD THE BACKING OF WES MOORE HE WON MORE THAN 3900 VOTES.

AND YOU HAVE THAT PARTICULAR JURISDICTION WITH BLACK AND JEWISH RESIDENTS IT GOT CONTENTIOUS.

BUT ROUGH EASILY WON.

LOOK UP BILL WHETHER I MURPHY.

YOU LOOK UP BILLY MURPHY YOU WILL SEE MALCOLM ROUGH.

STRONG CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEYS.

>> Jeff: AND THEN THE DOG THAT DIDN'T BARK THE CLOSELY WATCHED RACE IN THE I THINK THE 46TH SENATORIAL DISTRICT THAT IS SENATE PRESIDENT FERGUSON'S DISTRICT HE HAD A STRONG CHALLENGE AND A VERY VOCAL NON-ENDORSEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MORE.

>> THAT WAS I GIVE MY PROPERS TO MY COLLEAGUE WHO WAS FOLLOWING THAT ONE OF THE GENTLEMAN WHO IS KNOWN AS CAPTAIN BOBBY A BIG SOCIAL MEDIA GUY.

WELL, DIDN'T WORK.

BECAUSE PRESIDENT FERGUSON EASILY WON THAT RACE.

AND HE FOUGHT FOR THAT.

I MEAN THAT WAS A FIGHT HE HAD.

BUT HE PREVAILED AND THE VOTERS SAID WE WANT TO KEEP THAT REPRESENTATION IN.

BECAUSE SENATE PRESIDENT FERGUSON LOSES YOU'D HAVE TO CHOOSE ANOTHER SENATE PRESIDENT.

BUT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CURRENT SENATE PRESIDENT PRO-TEM REPRESENTING PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND HE IS ONE OF THE SENATORS WHO HAD NO PRIMARY CHALLENGE.

>> AND PARTICULARLY INTERESTING RACE BECAUSE CAPTAIN BOBBY DOES ALIGN HIMSELF HE IS NOT A SOCIALIST BUT IS DSA ALIGNED AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST CANDIDATES WINNING AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN MARYLAND.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE DEMOCRATIC THE DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE PARTY AT THIS POINT.

>> MAY I JUMP IN.

SARAH THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.

FOLKS LOOK AT MARYLAND HIGHLY PROGRESSIVE STATE.

MARYLAND IS A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD STATE IT IS.

LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HOW THEY VOTE.

LISTENING HOW THEY ACT AND HOW THEY DEBATE ISSUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

A PRIME EXAMPL, I FORGET TO MENTION 27A THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE CLOSEST RACES AMONG ALL IN THE STATE THAT REPRESENTS CHARLES AND PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY THAT HAS ON THE TOMORROW JUNIOR WHO IS A FRESHMAN HE WOULD BE BY 277 VOTES.

AGAINST LeANN ATTORNEY ON FORMER SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT.

IT WILL TAKE TOO LONG BUT THAT WAS A UNIQUE RACE.

NOTHING DEROGATORY NO NAMES WERE CALLED BUT IT WAS A UNIQUE RACE LOOKING AT TWO DIVVIEDS DARRYL IS ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS AND HE IS 71, 72 YEARS OLD.

AND LEE IS IN THE 40s.

SMART WOMAN.

WHEN YOU TALK TO HER SHE IS BRIGHT AND ARTICULATE.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE GOVERNOR WES MOORE PUT HIS NAME ON HELPING TO ENDORSE SOMEONE WHICH DARRYL ODOM GOT AND MORE VOTERS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S VERSUS CHARLES COUNTY.

>> Jeff: 30 SECONDS, LET'S TALK ABOUT ONE OF YOUR STORIES THE NEW VOTING SYSTEM.

I DIDN'T KNOW WE NEEDED ONE BUT IT WAS HELD UP.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT IN HALF A MINUTE.

>> THIS HAS BEEN FALLING UNDER THE RADAR MARYLAND IS GOING THROUGH A VOTING SYSTEM OVERHAUL REPLACING THE REGISTRATION, THE POLL BOOK AND THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT WOULD BE FOR THE VOTING MACHINES.

AND ADVOCATES WERE CONCERNED BECAUSE HOW THE CONTRACT IS STRUCTURED IT APPROVES A SYSTEM THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OUTDATED AND THEN IT CONTRACTLY REQUIRES THE VENDOR TO COME UP WITH A NEW SYSTEM 2.0 COMPLIANT WITH NEW FEDERAL STANDARDS AND ADVOCATES ARE WORRIED ABOUT APPROVING THIS CONTRACT BEFORE THAT SYSTEM IS IN PLACE SO THEY ARE ABLE TO TEST IT AND SEE IT.

THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS MAINTAINS THIS IS A CONTRACT RALE OBLIGATION AND IS LEGAL AND THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS IS CONCERNED AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT CONTRACT GOES BEFORE THE BOARD IN JULY.

>> Jeff: YOU CAN READ WILL'S REPORT AND LISTEN TO SARAH'S REPORTING AT WYPR.ORG ALSO AT 88.1FM.

THANK YOU BOTH AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW AN 18TH CENTURY HOME IS HELPING WITH A VERY 21ST CENTURY PROBLEM PROVIDING RESPITE FOR CARE DWIFERS.

NANCY YAMADA HAS THE STORY.

>> WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN HERE, MY GOAL IS FOR THEM TO HAVE THE BIG AWE.

>> THERE IS A REASON WHY THIS INN IS BOOKED UP THROUGH THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

IT'S THE HOT DESTINATION FOR CAREGIVERS WHO NEED TO REST, RECHARGE AND CONNECT WITH THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR DAILY STRUGGLES.

>> I HAVE THREE CHILDREN.

THE OLDEST TWO ARE 22 AND 24 THEY ARE MY MEDICAL KIDS THEY HAVE ARTHRITIS MY YOUNGEST IS TOTAL CARE SHE HAS A GENETIC MUTATION THAT AFFECTS HER BRAIN.

>> AMY WAS ONCE A GUEST NOW RUNNING THE INN OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE NONPROFIT A MOTHER'S REST CHARITABLE RESPITE FOUNDATION THE HOME BUILT IN 1798 HAS SEVEN BEDROOMS AND SLEEPS UP TO 10 PEOPLE.

SOMETIMES GUESTS COME IN GROUPS.

OTHERS COMMISO LOW BUT EVERYONE IS A CARETAKER TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR SICK SPOUSES OR AGING PARENTS.

>> A LOT OF TIMES WOMEN OR MEN COMES ON RETREAT AND THEY DON'T KNOW ANYBODY.

AND THEY GET TO KNOW THEM OR NOT.

WE'VE HAD MOMS COME AND THEY DON'T LEAVE THEIR ROOM EXCEPT TO MEET THE DoorDash DRIVER.

THEY NEED NO ONE TO TALK TO THEM OR ANYTHING.

THEY NEED TO SLEEP FOR HOURS AND HOURS.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

>> IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO TAKE SOMETIME TO REST AND RELAX AND KIND OF RESET.

>> LINDSEY OF MEYERSVILLE FIRST CAME TO THE INN AS A MOTHER OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD WITH A RARE CHROMOSOMAL DISORDER.

>> IT WAS CHALLENGING.

I HAD TWO OTHER CHILDREN WHO ARE NEUROTYPICAL.

BUT IT WAS REALLY, REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND JUST TAKE A BREAK FROM JUST THE HECTICNESS THAT HAVING A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD CAN BRING.

>> 10 YEARS LATER HER KIDS ARE OLDER BUT SHE STILL COMES WHEN THEE NEEDS TO GET AWAY.

CAREGIVERS CAN STAY FOR THREE NIGHTS FOR $140.

>> IT IS A HUGE BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO PAY A VERY LOW RATE AND COME AND ENJOY ALL THE AMENITIES THAT THIS HOUSE OFFERS.

>> THE MOTHERS REST IN NEW MARKET HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THE ORGANIZATION IS OPENED A SISTER INN IN GEORGIA AND IS NOW WORKING WITH OVER 50 AIRBNB'S AROUND THE COUNTRY TO HOST CAREGIVER WEEKENDS.

THEY BELIEVE THE NEED WILL ONLY GROW AS THE POPULATION AGES.

>> OUR MOTTO IS YOU CANNOT POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP AND THAT IS TRULY WHAT IT IS.

YOU CAN'T GIVE YOU ALL 100% OF YOURSELF TO YOUR LOVED ONE IN THE WAY THEY NEED IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT TO GIVE.

SO BY COMING HERE, YOU REFILL THAT CUP SO THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE ON THE JOURNEY THAT YOU ARE ON.

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

>> Jeff: NOW OUR NEWSMAKER WE RECENTLY SPOKE WITH MARK ANTHONY THOMAS C.E.O.

OF THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.

THE GBC HAS BEEN REPRESENTING THE REGION FOR SUB0 YEARS.

70 YEARS.

>> WE HAVE THE SAME MISSION HOW DO WE MAKE A BETTER CITY, A STRONGER REGION HOW DO WE TAKE THE LEAD ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES THAT COULD STRENGTHEN US LONG-TERM.

AND OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS POSTS ARE EMERGING WITH THE ECONOMIC ALLIANCE OF GREATER BALTIMORE WE HAVE HAD CHANGE TO ALIGN US WITH WHAT WE SEE THE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES ARE.

>> Jeff: YOU HAD A STATE OF THE REGION EVENT TAKING THE PULSE OF THE REGION.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

>> SO WHAT WE LAUNCHED TWO YEARS AGO, WAS AN ECONOMIC SCORECARD.

WE LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE INVESTMENT TRENDS, AND VENTURE AND INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICE, HOUSING THAT WE CAN QUANTIFY OUR REGIONAL SUCCESS.

AND WHERE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

WHAT WE RELEASE SECOND THE REGION'S SAW A $3 BILLION ANNOUNCEMENTS LAST YEAR AND THAT IS FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WE ANALYZE THAT AGAINST TRENDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Jeff: THOSE ARE GOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS WE'RE NOT LAYING OFF PEOPLE.

WE'RE BUILDING SOMETHING WE'RE HIRING PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND WE DO AN ANALYSIS HOW MANY JOBS THAT WOULD CREATE AND WHAT START-UPS ARING WITH FUNDED WHAT ARE THE INDUSTRIES THAT THEY ARE TARGETING SO WE CAN GET A SENSE WHERE FUTURE GROWTH IS.

>> Jeff: WHERE IS IT?

AND YOU ARE LOOKING METRO BALTIMORE.

>> THAT IS CORRECT WE HAVE THE ENTIRE MSA.

ON THE INVESTMENT SIDE YOU SEE ARE MEGA DEALS BIG PROJECTS THAT ARE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR DIFFERENT AREAS ACROSS THE REGION.

WE DO WELL BUT WE COULD DO BETTER.

THE REGIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT SEE THE MOST BIG DEALS ARE THE ONES DRIVING GROWTH.

VENTURE, LIFE SCIENCES IS OUR LARGEST AREA THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE INVESTMENT BUT WITH SO MUCH HAPPENING IN A.I.

AND OTHER AREAS, QUANTUM IT GIVES US AN AREA TO SEE WHERE VENTURE CAN FOCUS IN OUR MARKET.

>> Jeff: LIFE SCIENCES, NIH, HOPKINS, MARYLAND ALL THE RESEARCH AND THIS IS MEDICAL RESEARCH STUFF?

>> IT IS BUT NOW THAT IS TRANSLATING TO BECOME NEW COMPANIES AND COMPANIES THAT RECEIVE FUNDING WHETHER FROM LOCAL INVESTORS OR INVESTORS ALL OVER THE GLOBE WHO ARE INVESTING IN TALENT HERE.

BUT COMPANIES ARE BEING BUILT IN OUR MARKET.

>> Jeff: THERE'S NEGATIVE TRENDS GOING ON IN HIGHER EDUCATION WE'RE SEEING LAYOFFS.

WE'VE SEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CUT FEDERAL WORKERS A LOT OF WHOM LIVE IN MARYLAND.

MAYBE CLOSER TO DC.

BUT PEOPLE UP INTO BALTIMORE AS WELL.

AND THEN THE OTHER PART OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMY THAT MAYBE WAS A BIGGER PERCENTAGE OF IT BACK WHEN THE GBC WAS FOUNDED WHICH IS THE PORT WHICH HAS BEEN PUTTING UP GOOD NUMBERS.

>> IT IS.

AND WHAT THE POINT EXPANSION YOU WILL SEE EVEN MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES TIED TO THE PORT.

THE INVESTMENTS OBVIOUSLY THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT SUPPORTED EITHER AGENCIES OR HIGHER-ED, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENT FUTURE.

IT DOES FORCE MARYLAND TO BE CREATIVE HOW WE DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY.

>> Jeff: YOU WROTE AN OP-ED FOR THE BUSINESS JOURNAL ABOUT WHY BALTIMORE SHOULD BE THE NEXT A.I.

HUB.

EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD WANTS TO BE THE NEXT A.I.

HUB.

WHY SHOULD IT BE HERE?

WHAT ASSETS DO WE HAVE?

>> HERE IS THE CASE I WAS MAKING.

WHERE A.I.

IT IS IT'S NOT JUST A.I.

FOR A.I.

'S SAKE IT'S A.I.

THAT IS SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE BE MORE INNOVATIVE OR SAVE LIVES OR BE MORE EFFECTIVE IS HELPING MANUFACTURING BE MORE EFFICIENT AND ISSUES FROM SAFETY TO RESILIENCY.

AND SO WE ARE A MARKET THAT HAS DIVERSE INDUSTRIES AND SUCH WILLINGNESS TO ADAPT A.I., THAT ANY COMPANY THAT IS SERVING THOSE ANCHOR COMPANIES SHOULD BE LOOKING AT OUR MARKET TO EXPAND.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THEY ARE ALL TARGETING WASHINGTON D.C.

BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE CLOSE TO POLICYMAKERS.

>> Jeff: AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE ALL THE DATA FARMS ARE.

>> DATA FARMS IN VIRGINIA AND A HUGE CYBERHUB.

THEY HAVE MORE START UP AND TECH GROWTH THAN WE DO AS A METROPOLITAN AREA.

THAT SAID, IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE PROPOSITIONS HAPPENING WITHIN THE BALTIMORE METRO AREA SO WE START TO SEE AS MUCH GROWTH AS YOU SEE IN THE DC REGION.

>> Jeff: MAYBE A YEAR, YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO THE STATE COMMERCE PEOPLE WERE JUST GUNG WHO ON DATA CENTERS WE WANT MORE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY HATES DATA CENTERS THEY USE POWER AND WATER AND THEY DON'T CREATE THAT MANY JOBS.

AND EVERYBODY IS ELECTRIC BILLS ARE GOING UP.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT BALANCE?

HOW DO THE MEMBERS OF THE GBC SEE IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE CORPORATE LEADERS WHO PAY BIG POWER BILLS TOO.

>> SO THERE IS A PIECE OF REALLY BREAKING DOWN WHAT OUR NEEDS FOR DATA CENTERS AND DATE IT INFRASTRUCTURE MORE BROADLY AS A STATE AS A REGION AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF CONCERN ON THE SPEED IN WHICH THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS EXPANDING.

THAT SAID, THEY ARE A CRITICAL PART OF OUR GROWTH.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE THE DATA CENTER EXPANSION CAN STILL HAPPEN.

LIKE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF MORATORIUMS AND BANS AND PEOPLE ARE JUST ANTI-DATA CENTER AND THAT IS NOT THE LONG-TERM APPROACH THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ANY OF US.

AND SO WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS WORK IN CONCERT TO TRY TO FIND A PATH FORWARD TO ALLOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE BUILT.

BUT ALSO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES AT THE SAME TIME.

AND I THINK THERE IS A BALANCE THAT CAN BE MET.

>> Jeff: YOU HAD ANOTHER OP-ED BALTIMORE SUN TRYING TO BOOST THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL ON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.

I DON'T THINK IT PASSED BUT WHY WAS IT A GOOD IDEA?

>> OUR CURRENT TAX FINANCING LAWS ARE PRETTY LIMITED TO WHAT CAN BE COUNTED AS POTENTIAL TAX REVENUE TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND CONSISTENT WITH OUR SCORECARD WHICH IS SHOWING MARKETS THAT ARE BUILDING THE MEGA PROJECTS AND CREATING REALLY THESE LARGER SCALE DEVELOPMENTS, WE NEED POLICY TO ENABLE US TO CREATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO WHAT WAS PROPOSED IT DIDN'T MAKE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS YEAR WAS TO EXPAND WHAT CAN BE CONSIDERED FOR TIF REVENUE TO BUILD AND RENOVATE PROJECTS LIKE THE BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER LIKE THE SPHERE WHICH IS GOING TO NATIONAL HARBOR.

WE HAVE STADIUMS AND SIX FLAGS YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AT EACH STATION THAT REQUIRE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND SO THE HOPE IS IN THE NEXT SESSION, WE WORK WITH THE POLICYMAKERS TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE BILLS THAT WE'RE PROPOSED MAKE SENSE FOR MARYLAND LONG-TERM.

>> Jeff: HOW BIG A HELP TO YOUR MISSION IS THE REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME IN BALTIMORE CITY?

THE NUMBERS COMPARE ODD TO A FEW YEARS AGO AN INCREDIBLE CHANGE.

>> I MEAN IT'S HUGE.

FOR ONE, WE'RE SAVING MORE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES ARE NOT REALLY TERRORIZED WITH THE PAPER THAT IS CAUSED BY SUCH VIOLENCE.

IT'S ALSO OPENED JUST A PATH FOR US TO CENTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY MORE PROMINENTLY.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN BALTIMORE, WE ARE MAKING SUCH TREMENDOUS IMPACT, THAT IT'S CREATED JUST A LOT OF HOPE FOR WHAT WE CAN BUILD AS FAR AS POPULATION GROWTH, REDEVELOPING COMMUNITIES, TACKLING VACANTS.

SO IT SETS THE STAGE FOR A BRIGHT DECADE.

>> Jeff: YOU GREW UP IN A DIFFERENT CITY BUT IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAD A LOT OF CRIME.

SO THIS ISN'T AN ACADEMIC DISCUSSION FOR YOU AND ONE OF YOUR NEPHEWS WAS A VICTIM, RIGHT YEARS AGO AND IS DOING WELL?

>> YES.

SOME WAY POLICY AND THESE ISSUES ARE PERSONAL.

ALL OF US WHO HAVE LARGER FAMILIES ESPECIALLY IF YOU COME FROM A FAMILY THAT HAD HUMBLE BEGINNINGS YOU'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO SUCCUMBED TO LIFE IN CRIME, DRUGS, ALL TYPES OF THINGS CAN BE DISTRACTIONS.

SO FOR ME, PART OF MY OWN PATH WAS HOW DO I GET OUT OF THIS COMMUNITY?

SO HOW CAN I CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AND SECOND WITH MY NEPHEW AND MY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE FALLEN VICTIM HOW DO YOU SHOW THEM BETTER WAYS.

A LOT OF THE TACTICS WHICH ARE AROUND THE COMMUNITY INTERVENTION FAMILIES MAKE THOSE DECISIONS HAVE THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS REALTIME.

WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS LOOKED AT A POLICY LEVEL AND INVESTMENT LEVEL FROM THE CITY TO SAY HOW DO YOU CREATE THOSE SIMILAR INTERVENTIONS SO YOU CAN CREATE THE SAME TYPE OF PROGRESS.

>> Jeff: IS THERE AN OBVIOUS NEXT STEP IN YOUR MIND KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING OR PIVOT?

>> I THINK WE CAN DO MORE EVEN WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL CUTS THEY DID REDUCE SOME OF THE FUNDING FOR SOME OF THE TACTICS WE THINK WERE EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING CRIME.

THERE'S MORE THAT PRIVATE SUPPORTS CAN DO TO HELP UNDERWRITE THOSE INVESTMENTS.

WE CAN SEE MORE LOCAL PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN TACTICS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE.

AND CONCURRENTLY WE NEED TO CELEBRATE THOSE MODELS AND THINGS THAT ARE REDUCING CRIME IN KEY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN BE SCALED ACROSS THE REGION.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO Mr.

THOMAS AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

[♪♪]