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".

JUST AHEAD ON OUR PROGRAM THIS WEEK, CASH ASSISTANCE IS ROLLING OUT FOR WORKERS IMPACTED BY THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE.

>>> AND THE TRACK AND FIELD STARS OF THE FUTURE SPRINTING TOWARDS THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS.

>>> BUT FIRST EARLY VOTING WRAPS UP AND ELECTION DAY IS COMING UP TUESDAY.

NANCY AMATA TALKED WITH VOTERS AND VOTING OFFICIALS.

>> REALLY I WANTED TO GET HERE AND BEAT THE LINES.

>> WHAT LINES?

ON THIS DAY AROUND LUNCHTIME THERE WAS NO WAITING FOR EARLY VOTERS WHO WENT TO THIS POLLING PLACE AT THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN GLEN BERNIE.

>> IT WAS SIMPLE, QUICK AND EASY.

>> VOTERS HAD REASONS WHY THEY NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.

>> BECAUSE OF HISTORY.

ANCESTORS FOUGHT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE VOTING RIGHTS.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS VOTING IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND AS A BLACK WOMAN BEING ABLE TO ELECT PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME AND VALUE THE SAME THINGS THAT I DO.

BECAUSE REPRESENTATION IS A REALLY BIG THING.

>> EVERY VOTE COUNTS.

>> DESPITE THIS BEING A PRIMARY TO DETERMINE WHICH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WILL FACE OFF IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> THE STORY FOR THIS ELECTION HAS BEEN TURNOUT HAS BEEN SLOW.

IT'S BEEN LIGHT.

>> DAVID IS THE DIRECTOR AT THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

DURING THE FIVE 5 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING 2.5% OF VOTERS CAST BALLOTS.

IT COULD BE BECAUSE MORE VOTERS ARE CHOOSING TO MAIL-IN OR DROP-OFF THEIR BALLOTS AT DROP BOXES LIKE THIS ONE.

IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY ALONE 60,000 MAIL-IN BALLOTS WERE REQUESTED FOR THE PRIMARY.

>> PRECOVID WE USED TO GET 20,000 MAIL-IN BALLOTS A YEAR.

POST COVID OR 2020 MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXPLODED IN TERMS OF GROWTH AND POPULARITY.

>> IT IS MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE VOTERS THEY DON'T HAVE TO STAND IN LINE AND GO TO A POLLING PLACE ON A TUESDAY.

>> BEHIND THE SCENES AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY, MAIL-IN BALLOTS ARE ALREADY BEING COUNTED AFTER A CHANGE IN LAW.

>> MARYLAND HAS AUTHORIZED PREELECTION CANVASING.

SO FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE DOING THAT.

WE'VE ALREADY COUNTED ABOUT 22,000 BALLOTS.

SO THAT'S GREAT FOR US.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW, POST ELECTION WE HAVE 10 DAYS TO GET EVERYTHING COUNTED.

>> IN ANOTHER CHANGE VOTERS WILL RECEIVE AN E-MAIL CONFIRMING THEIR BALLOT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

>> SO AFTER WE OPEN YOUR BALLOT AND SEND IT THROUGH THE VOTING MACHINE WE ARE SENDING ANOTHER E-MAIL LETTING YOU KNOW YOUR BALLOT HAS BEEN COUNTED THAT IS ANOTHER BIG CHANGE THAT WE'RE MAKING AND WE'RE THINKING IT'S GOING TO DO A LOT TO MAKE PEOPLE CONFIDENT AND MORE POSITIVE ABOUT THE SYSTEM.

>> WILL THE LIGHT EARLY VOTER TURNOUT REFLECT A LIGHT TURNOUT ON PRIMARY TUESDAY OR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

HE DOESN'T THINK SO.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS GET 50% OF THE VOTERS HEAD TO THE POLLS.

THIS VOTER SAID PEOPLE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND.

>> IF YOU DON'T VOTE YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN.

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

>> Charles: JOINING US NOW FOR THE >> Jeff: JOINING US IS POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR IS TODD EBERLY OF ST.MARY'S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: EVEN WITHOUT A CALENDAR I CAN TELL THERE'S AN ELECTION COMING UP BECAUSE WHEN I WATCH BASEBALL GAMES THIS WEEK, ALL THE USUAL PHARMACEUTICAL ADS WERE SUPPLANTED BY POLITICAL SPOTS IT'S BEEN NONSTOP POLITICAL ADVERTISING MOST ON THE U.S. SENATE RACE.

>> YEAH.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ADS.

I WATCH A LOT OF STREAMING AS OPPOSED TO BROADCAST TV AND I AM AMAZED HOW MANY ADS THERE ARE ON THE STREAMING SERVICES FOR MARYLAND RACES.

THIS HAS HEATED UP AND YOU CAN TELL WE ARE A MATTER OF DAYS AWAY.

>> Jeff: A COUPLE OF NOTABLE THINGS HAPPENING AROUND OUR TAPING TIME THERE IS A NEW POLL FROM EMERSON COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TIME SHOWS ANGELA ALSOBROOKS AHEAD IN THE RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR U.S. SENATE AHEAD BY A POINT AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS OVER DAVID TRONE.

ALSO LEARNING THAT REPORTEDLY Mr. TRONE HAS PUT ANOTHER $4.5 MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY INTO THE RACE.

MAKING HIM AS I THINK YOU HAVE LABELED HIM ON TWITTER, THE $60 MILLION MAN?

>> THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO PUT INTO A SENATE RACE FOR A JOB THAT WILL PAY YOU $150,000 A YEAR.

BUT THE FACT THAT HE HAS HAD TO INVEST THIS MUCH INTO THAT RACE, REALLY DOES SUGGEST THAT IT'S PERHAPS BEEN A TOUGHER RACE THAN HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE.

AND IT WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE HIS INTERNAL POLLING WAS SHOWING WHAT THE NEW EMERSON POLL HAS SHOWN THE RACE HAS GONE FROM A CLEAR ADVANTAGE FOR HIM TO A NECK-AND-NECK RACE.

THAT EMERSON POLL SHOWS ALSOBROOKS GAINED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 20 POINTS JUST IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

WHICH WOULD SUGGEST THAT ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER NAME OR WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, WHEN THEY STARTED PAYING ATTENTION THEY WENT HER WAY AND NOT HIS.

>> Jeff: WELL, IF THAT PROVES TO BE THE CASE, AND THIS TURNS OUT TO BE CLOSE ON ELECTION DAY, WHICH IS NOT WHAT THE PREVIOUS POLLING WAS SHOWING, IT HAD GENERALLY SHOWN SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, MAYBE 10-POINT LEAD FOR TRONE.

WHAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR A BIG MOVE LIKE THAT FROM MS. ALSOBROOKS.

>> HER ADVERTISING HAS FINALLY SORT OF COME UP TO SPEED.

IT KEPT HER OFF OF THE AIR SHE WAS RUNNING OFF OF ENDORSEMENTS FREE MEDIA.

BUT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO START RUNNING ADS AND INTRODUCE HERSELF TO THE STATE.

GETTING KNOWN OUTSIDE OF P G COUNTY.

AND I THINK THAT HAS WORKED TO HER ADVANTAGE.

I THINK SHE HAS A COMPELLING STORY AND IT'S A STORY THAT RESONATED WITH A LOT OF VOTERS.

>> Jeff: I AM SEEING SOME SHARPLY NEGATIVE INDEPENDENT ADS DONE ON HER BEHALF BY A GROUP THAT ADVOCATES FOR WOMEN CANDIDATES.

THE SHARPEST ATTACK ON TRONE SEEMS HE HAS GIVEN MONEY TO A LOT OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WHICH HE SAYS WAS DONE IN HIS BUSINESS CAREER AS THE OWNER OF A LIQUOR STORE CHAIN AND IT WAS DONE FOR ACCESS PURPOSES FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES.

>> WHICH IS PROBABLY TRUE.

YOU CONSIDER HIS FAMILY BUSINESS THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.

GIVEN THERE'S SO LITTLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES ON ISSUES THEY HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING TO DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES.

AND THEY FOCUSED ON THAT AND FOCUSED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT TRONE IS SPENDING ACCUSING HIM OF TRYING TO BUY THE SEAT.

THAT ACCUSATION HAS BEEN LEVELED AGAINST HIM BEFORE AND NEVER BEEN EFFECTIVE.

I THINK THEY ARE MOVING ON TO A DIFFERENT TACTIC.

>> Jeff: ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, I'M SEEING A LARGE NUMBER OF ADS FOR ROBIN FIXER WHO HAS BEEN A CANDIDATE HE DID SERVE IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF MONEY GOING INTO THAT HE IS WAVING THE TRUMP FLAG WHICH IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.

AND THEN THERE ARE HOAG EN ADS THAT SEEM TO BE RESPONDING TO THAT.

YOU SEE FORMER GOVERNOR WEARING POLICE GEAR TALKING ABOUT BORDER SECURITY.

THE EMERSON POLL INDICATES IT IS A VERY SMALL SAMPLE SIZE A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE RESPONDING TO THE POLL BUT INDICATES THAT THE IS NOT CLOSE BUT THE AMOUNT OF ADS COMING FROM HOGAN AND WHAT IS IN THOSE MAKES YOU WONDER A LITTLE BIT?

>> I THINK WHAT FIKER WANTS TO DO IS REPEAT THE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY WHERE HE DEFEATED KELLYE SCHULTZ THE HAND PICKED SUCCESSOR.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAINST HOGAN.

YEAH, THAT NEW POLL HAS HOGAN UP 40 POINTS.

AND HOGAN IS NOT ACTING AS IF HE HAS IT LOCKED UP.

HE IS SPENDING ON ADS TO MAKE SURE HE WINS THIS PRIMARY.

OBVIOUSLY IF YOU ARE LARRY HOGAN, THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS FOR THIS T BE CLOSE.

HE'S COUNTING ON WINNING THAT REPUBLICAN NOMINATION COMFORTABLE IN ORDER TO MOVE HIM FORWARD.

I THINK HE IS WORKING VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT CLOSE.

>> Jeff: NOW, IF WE ASSUME IT'S GOING TO BE HOGAN VERSUS ONE OF THE LEADING DEMOCRATS, THE NEW EMERSON POLL IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE POLLING WE HAVE SEEN PREVIOUSLY ABOUT A GENERAL ELECTION MATCHUP.

>> YEAH.

WHERE THE OTHER POLLS WERE SHOWING THAT LARRY HOGAN WAS AHEAD OR TIED.

THIS HAS HOGAN BEHIND.

IN FACT HE HAS THE SUPPORT IN THE 30s UPPER 30s WHICH WOULD BE UNKNOWN TERRITORY FOR HOGAN STATE-WIDE IN MARYLAND.

IT IS A CAVEAT THAT WE HAVE TO ADD TO THIS POLL.

THIS POLL IS THE ONLY ONE THAT SHOWS ALSOBROOKS AHEAD.

THE ONLY ONE THAT SHOWS THEM LEADING LARRY HOGAN.

IT'S ALWAYS POSSIBLE IT IS AN OUTLIER.

AT THE SAME TIME EVERYONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE RACE BECAUSE EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN.

IT COULD BE CAPTURING WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.

AND THAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT POLLING WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL NEXT WEEK WHEN WE START COUNTING VOTES.

>> Jeff: DID DEMOCRATS HAVE ANY ISSUE UNIFYING AFTER A HARD-FOUGHT, SPEBSSIVE PRIMARY?

>> ABSOLUTELY COULD.

THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE PARTY UNIFYING AFTER BEN WON THE GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION.

THERE WAS DIFFICULTY AFTER ANTHONY BROWN WON IT IN 2014.

ANYTIME YOU ARE RUNNING AGAINST A CANDIDATE WHO HAS A CHANCE OF WINNING, YOU NEED YOUR PARTY TO BE ONBOARD TOGETHER AND WALKING SIDE-BY-SIDE.

SO THEY'VE GOT TO BE WORRIED THAT THESE NEGATIVE ADS ESPECIALLY IN THE SENATE RACE COULD RESULT IN SOME SORT OF LINGERING BAD FEELINGS ON THE SIDE OF WHOEVER DOES OR DOESN'T GET THE NOMINATION.

>> Jeff: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ENDORSEMENTS IN THE SENATE RACE.

THERE IS A NEW KIND OF LIKE ALMOST ENDORSEMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR MOORE MADE AN APPEARANCE WITH BALTIMORE MAYOR BRANDON SCOTT IN A TIGHT RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR MAYOR OF BALTIMORE.

IT WAS CLEARLY A POLITICAL APPEARANCE.

IT WAS MEANT TO SHOW SUPPORT BUT EVERYBODY WAS CAREFUL TO SAY IT WASN'T AN ENDORSEMENT.

AND SIMILARLY, SENATOR CARD EN APPEARED WITH ONE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR WHAT USED TO BE HIS CONGRESSIONAL SEAT THE THIRD DISTRICT, SARAH.

ALSO NOT AN ENDORSEMENT BUT SHOWING SUPPORT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> TO VOTERS IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHEN THEY SEE SOMEBODY SUPPORTING A CANDIDATE THEY VIEW IT AS AN ENDORSEMENT.

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT INTERPARTY POLITICS AND TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER AFTER THE ELECTION, WHETHER OR NOT YOU DID OR DID NOT OFFICIALLY ENDORSE SOMEBODY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENT IN TRYING TO SMOOTH THINGS OVER AFTER THE ELECTION.

I THINK IT'S STRATEGIC THINKING.

BUT NOT ONE THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE VOTERS.

VOTERS SEE THIS AND VIEW IT AS AN ENDORSEMENT.

>> Jeff: WHAT OTHER RACES ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO?

>> SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO COMES OUT ON TOP IN THE THIRD DISTRICT BETWEEN SARAH AND DUNN WHO IS A CAPITAL SECURITY OFFICER.

THE SIXTH DISTRICT HAS TWO DOZEN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO TRUMP CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

THAT IS THE ONLY OTHER DISTRICT IN MARYLAND OTHER THAN THE FIRST THAT IS SOMEWHAT COMPETITIVE.

SO IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO SEE WHO GETS NOMINATED THERE AND SEE IF IT CAN BE A MORE COMPETITIVE DISTRICT.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO YOU HAVE TO DUST OFF YOUR ACADEMIC ROBES, I THINK, FOR THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY THE GRADUATION AT ST.MARY'S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND AND THE SPEAKER IS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO HAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THIS YEAR YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN DOWN THERE IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND.

>> YES.

HOYER I LOST TRACK OF HOW LONG HE HAS REPRESENTED THE FIFTH DISTRICT.

HE IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] IT MAKES SENSE HE WOULD BE INVITED TO SPEAK AT COMMENCEMENT.

>> Jeff: I HOPE IT IS A GREAT DAY THE WEATHER LOOKS GOOD.

PROFESSOR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: NOW THE STATE'S ELECTIONS CHIEF HAS THESE REMINDERS FOR VOTERS.

>> ON MAY 14TH POLLS OPEN AT 7:00 A.M. AND CLOSE AT 8:00 P.M.

IF YOU HAVE A MAIL-IN BALLOT YOU CAN PUT IT IN THE DROP BOX BEFORE 8:00 P.M. OR YOU CAN PUT IT IN ANY OF THE POST OFFICE BOXES AS LONG AS IT'S POSTMARKED ON ELECTION DAY.

MAKE SURE WHEN YOU LOOK PUT IT IN THE MAILBOX, TO SEE WHEN PICK UP IS.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THE POSTMARK TO BE THE 15TH.

BECAUSE THEN IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNTIMELY.

ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A MAIL-IN BALLOT, PLEASE VOTE THAT RATHER THAN TO VOTE IN-PERSON.

BECAUSE IF YOU GO INTO THE POLLS INTO YOUR PRECINCT ON THAT DAY, YOU WILL BE VOTING A PROVISIONAL BALLOT WHICH WILL COUNT LATER ON, BUT IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY.

BUT IF YOU ARE AN UNREGISTERED INDIVIDUAL IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, YOU CAN GO AND SHOW UP AT YOUR PRECINCT WHICH YOU CAN LOOK UP ON-LINE AND REGISTER AND VOTE ON THE SAME DAY.

MARYLAND HAS SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION FOR UNREGISTERED INDIVIDUALS.

SO THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY CAN GO THERE AND AT THE SAME TIME SELECT A PARTY AND VOTE IN THAT PARTY PRIMARY.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY AN UNAFFILIATED VOTER, THAT IS REGISTERED YOU CANNOT SWITCH YOUR PARTY ON THAT DAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A NEWPORTAL FOR INDIVIDUALS TO HELP REPORT DISOR MISINFORMATION THEY HEAR IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND IT'S CROWD SOURCING THE IDEA OF DISINFORMATION.

WE CAN I CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH MONITORING AND TRY TO CORRECT THE RECORD.

BUT I DON'T KNOW ALL THE SOURCES.

SO IT IS INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS.

AND ALLOW THE TRUSTED SOURCES LIKE MYSELF TO CORRECT THE RECORD AND PUT OUT PRESS RELEASES OR JUST STATEMENTS ENSURING THAT INDIVIDUALS GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION.

>> Jeff: OUR NEWSMAKER THIS WEEK IS ROBIN MCKINNEY THE C.E.O.

AND COFOUNDER OF THE CASH CAMPAIGN OF MARYLAND.

AND ROBIN THAT STANDS FOR CREATING ASSETS, SAVINGS AND HOPE.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I'M ROBIN MCKINNEY I AM THE COFOUNDER AND C.E.O.

AND AS YOU SAID STANDS FOR CREATING SAVINGS AND HOPE AND ABOUT BUILDING STRONG FINANCIAL FUTURES FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE.

NORMALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR WE ARE SITTING BACK AND RELAXING BECAUSE TAX SEASON IS OVER AND THE LEGISLATION THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OVER BUT NOT SO MUCH THIS YEAR.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THE EFFORT TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE COLLAPSE OF THE KEY BRIDGE.

WHAT IS NEW ON THAT?

>> CASH IS HONORED TO BE PART OF A NEW CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT'S GOING OUT TO PORT WORKERS.

SO THIS IS CREATED OUT OF THE MARYLAND TOUGH BALTIMORE STRONG FUND THAT IS AT THE BALTIMORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER ALL SORTS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PRIVATE DONORS AND CORPORATIONS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE.

WE ARE HONORED TO BE HELPING TO PROVIDE A ONE-TIME $1,000 PAYMENT TO PORT WORKERS.

AND THAT IS AVAILABLE THE LINK IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE WHICH IS CASH MD.ORG OR IF FOLKS NEED HELP THEY CAN GET IN-PERSON ASSISTANCE AT SEVERAL OF THE LOCATIONS THAT ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND CASH IS PHYSICALLY AT THE PORT WHERE I'M TALKING TO YOU RIGHT NW ON-SITE HELPING PEOPLE.

>> Jeff: WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS ASSISTANCE?

>> TO BE ELIGIBLE THESE ARE FOLKS WORKING AT THE PORT.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH TWO SIGNIFICANT TRAGEDIES HERE.

WE HAVE BOTH THE PORT BEING CLOSED AND THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE AND WHAT COMES FROM THAT.

FOR THIS WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED AT THE PORT PROPER.

SO THESE ARE FOLKS WHO WORK AT THE PORT.

MAYBE TRUCK DRIVERS WHO ARE COMING IN AND OUT.

YOU KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF UNIONS THROUGH THE LONGSHOREMEN THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY THIS GROUP THAT ARE WE'RE WORKING THE THE PORT ON MARCH 26 WHEN THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSED.

>> Jeff: THERE ARE OTHER TYPES OF ASSISTANCE OUT THERE.

THERE ARE SB A LOANS AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

HOW CAN SOMEBODY MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN LINE TO RECEIVE ALL THE BENEFITS THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR?

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHAT BENEFITS THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IS PUTTING ON TWO HATS.

ONE AS A WORKER AND ONE AS A HUMAN.

ON THE WORKER SIDE, THERE'S ALSO A GREAT WORKER SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE SHOULD MAKE SURE IF THEY ARE GOING TO CHECK OUT THE PROGRAM THEY SHOULD CHECK THAT OUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.

BUT YOU COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE, FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

THERE ARE SPECIFIC PREVENTION RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS OUT RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE TRYING TO COLLATE THAT FOR PEOPLE.

THAT IS THE WORKER HAT.

ON THE HUMAN SIDE THIS HAS BEEN HARD.

PORT WORK IS CRITICAL TO THE ENTIRE REGION AND SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND IT'S BEEN STRESSFUL FOR PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE.

IT WAS A STRESSFUL JOB BEFORE AND IT IS A STRESSFUL JOB NOW AND IT'S IMPORTANT PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO REACH OUT FOR THAT.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IF THEY WANT TO TALK TO SOMEONE THERE ARE GREAT RESOURCES THAT ARE FREE FOR PEOPLE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAYING I'M FEELING STRESSED OUT.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AS HUMANS, TOO.

>> Jeff: WE KNOW THE WORKERS WHO WERE UP ON THE BRIDGE WHEN IT CAME DOWN WERE ALL IMMIGRANTS WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF OUTREACH TO THE SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY.

HOW IS THAT BEING DONE?

>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

AND FIRST I WANT TO SEND OBVIOUSLY OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES AND SUPPORT TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO LOST SOMEONE THAT DAY.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE RIPPLE FOR THOSE FAMILIES WILL CONTINUE AND PROUD THROUGH BALTIMORE CITY AND OTHER FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN SETUP FOR THOSE FAMILIES SPECIFICALLY.

SO IMPORTANT FOR US IS THAT EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE DID FROM THE SECOND WE STARTED DESIGNING THIS PROJECT IS IT'S IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING ONLY ONE PATHWAY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE PROCESS, YOU WANT MULTIPLE PEOPLE KNOWN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF A PLACE THEY CAN GO.

TAT IS WHY WE'RE EXCITED TO ASSISTANCE PARTNER AT CITY OF REFUGE, COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE NETWORK BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEEP TIES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HEAR TO GO DIRECTLY FROM PEOPLE THEY ALREADY KNOWN AND NOT JUST FROM US.

THEY ARE FROM BALTIMORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

>> Jeff: THE FUNDS THAT ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED IS THIS MOSTLY GOVERNMENT MONEY?

AND I KNOW THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT TO HELP OUT TO CONTRIBUTE IF NOT TO THIS EFFORT, TO OTHER EFFORTS THAT ARE ONGOING.

>> SO ALL OF THESE FUNDS ARE PRIVATE DOLLARS THEY ARE NOT GOVERNMENT DOLLARS.

SO I THINK THAT BECOMES REALLY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS WHO MAYBE IN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND ARE NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING GOVERNMENT BENEFITS.

THESE ARE ALL PRIVATE DOLLARS.

AND AS I KNOW YOU ALL LIKE TO SAY AT MPT THE PHONE LINES ARE OPEN FOR A DONATION.

SO IF AN INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO GET INVOLVED TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THESE FUNDS THAT ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO IMPACTED PORT WORKERS THEY SHOULD DO THAT.

AND THAT LINK IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

>> Jeff: I'M CURIOUS, ROBIN, FOR THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE YOU MENTIONED TAX ASSISTANCE WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IF TERMS OF THE NEED FOR THOSE SERVICES OVERALL?

WE KNOW THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES REALLY LOW.

BUT THAT INFLATION HAS BEEN REALLY HIGH AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGGLING?

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN TERMS ON THE TAX PREPARATION SIDE WE ARE NOT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WERE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO DID NOT FILE THEIR TAXES EITHER ON TIME OR DIDN'T KNOW THEY MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT OR THE ADDITIONAL EXPANSION OF THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

ON TOP OF THIS WE ARE ACTUALLY LAUNCHED OUR BACK TAX PROGRAM YESTERDAY IN OUR OFFICE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE DOING TAXES ALL THE WAY THROUGH OCTOBER TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IN DURING TAX SEASON OR DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE ARE CREDITS THEY LEFT ON THE TABLE ARE STILL ABLE TO ACCESS THEM.

>> Jeff: AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING INTO CONTACT THROUGH THIS NEW EFFORT ARE POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR SOME OF THOSE SERVICES?

>> THEY ARE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE ALTHOUGH SAY NO WRONG DOOR ANYWHERE PEOPLE COME WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THE OTHER BENEFITS AND TAX CREDITS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE BEING COMPLIANT WITH THEIR TAXES.

SOME OF THE FOLKS ARE CONTRACTORS AND THEY ARE 1099 WORKERS AND WE HAVE A CURRICULUM CALLED YES YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS BECAUSE DON'T ALWAYS SEE THEMSELVES THAT WAY.

WE WORK ON RECORD KEEPING AND ESTIMATED TAXES.

IT'S IMPORTANT WE SHARE THAT INFORMATION PARTICULARLY WITH THE 1099 WORKERS HERE.

>> Jeff: ROBIN MCKINNEY OF CASH CAMPAIGN OF MARYLAND THANK YOU SO MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: NOW HUNDREDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE CONVERGED ON A BALTIMORE HIGH SCHOOL TO TAKE PART IN THE McKIMM CENTER GAMES.

CHARLES ROBINSON TAKES US THERE.

>> I'M COACH GARFIELD THOMPSON THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE McKIMM CENTER.

I'M THE COORDINATOR FOR THIS McKIMM COMMUNITY GAMES HERE.

>> ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON, HUNDREDS OF KIDS AND THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES REFERRED TO HIGH SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE THE TESTS THE LIMITS OF THEIR TRAINING IN TRACK AND FIELD.

ONE OF THE COACHES IS CRAIG CURTIS OF THE WHITE KNIGHTS.

>> IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS WORD OF MOUTH PARENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS MEETING AND DECIDING WHERE THEY WANTED TO SEND THEIR KIDS.

NOW, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE TRACK COMMUNITY HERE IN BALTIMORE WHICH IS VERY FAST SO LONG, AGAIN, MORE WORD OF MOUTH BUT PARENTS AND KIDS SEE US RUN AND DECIDE THEY WANT TO COME.

I LOVE TO COACH THE KIDS WHO DON'T THINK THEY CAN.

AND THEY SHOW THAT THEY CAN.

AND THEY SHOW THEMSELVES THAT THEY CAN.

AND THAT'S REALLY THE ESSENCE OF THIS ONE-ON-ONE COMPETITION.

OF COURSE RELAYS ARE A TEAM EVENT.

BUT IT IS A ONE-ON-ONE COMPETITION.

AND THEN YOU DECIDE YOU MAKE A DECISION WHETHER IT'S MINOR OR MAJOR THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVEN'T TRIED BEFORE.

>> SO AT A TRACK MEET LIKE THIS YOU WILL GET KIDS FROM ALL KINDS OF AGES.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

THERE ARE SOME FUTURE STARS HERE.

>> I WATCHED SOME OF OUR YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS MEET A FEW YEARS AGO.

AT THE PARARELAYS COMPETING FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND YOUTH WHO COMPETED FOR THE McKIMM PROGRAM YEARS NOW NOW COMPETING FOR COLLEGES.

WE ARE WATCHING THE STARS IN THE MAKING.

THE YOUTH HERE AND THE COACHES I HAVE TO GIVE OUT A SHOUT-OUT TO THE COACHES THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB EDUCATING THEM ABOUT THE SPORT OF TRACK AND FIELD YOU WATCH THE WAY THEY ARE RUNNING AND APPROACHING THEIR EVENTS, THE WAY THEY ARE THROWING AND JUMPING YOU KNOW QUALITY COACHING IS HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> THOMPSON SHOULD KNOW HE WAS PART OF TRACK STARS IN BALTIMORE IN THE 70s, 80s AND 90s.

SOME OF WHOM WHO ACTUALLY MADE IT TO THE OLYMPICS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST TRACK FOR US IT IS A TRACK LIFE.

THERE IS A LIFE THAT GOES ON WITH THIS.

A LOT OF US AS COACHES WE KNOW EACH OTHER.

WE'VE COMPETED AGAINST EACH OTHER AND NOW WE ARE THE COACHES.

WE ALL GREW UP TOGETHER AND WE'RE WATCHING EACH OTHER'S ATHLETES GROW UP AND MATURE AND WE'RE CHEERING THEM ON.

>> MOST ARE TRAINING FOR THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS THIS SUMMER.

IN TWO YEARS SOME 3,000 ATHLETES WILL CONVERGE ON BALTIMORE AS THEY HOST THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS.

IN BALTIMORE, I'M CHARLES ROBINSON FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: REMEMBER, YOU CAN SEE OUR RECENT PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

AND THROUGH THE FREE PB A APP.

YOU CAN BE FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

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

THAT'S MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

[♪♪]