>> 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."

COMING UP THIS WEEK, WHY THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP IS LOOKING TO MAKE CONNECTIONS.

AND SHOWING GRATITUDE THROUGH QUILTING.

THAT'S OOD AHEAD.

FIRST TONIGHT, THE CANDIDATES IN THE STATE'S TWO HOTTEST CONGRESSIONAL RACES FACED OFF THIS WEEK IN SEPARATE EVENTS.

WE BEGIN WITH CHARLES ROBINSON'S REPORT FROM CECIL COUNTY.

>> AM I HEARING YOU CORRECTLY?

THAT YOU THINK WOMEN WOULD CARRY A BABY TO TERM AND DECIDE AT THE END TO ABORT IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T THE GENDER THAT THEY WANT?

WHAT KIND OF NUTS IS THAT?

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHO WOMEN ARE, WHAT OUR EXPERIENCE IN LIFE IS, TO SAY THAT ANY WOMAN WOULD JUST ABORT A FETUS LATE TERM FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN HER PREGNANCY HAS GONE TRAGICALLY WRONG IS AN ABSOLUTE OFFENSIVE OUTRAGE TO EVERY WOMAN IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> THE LINDSEY GRAHAM BILL, THAT'S THE ONE I'M CO-SPONSORING.

IT'S NOT AN ABSOLUTELY BAN ON ABORTION.

THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

IT'S JUST NOT TRUE, WHAT SHE SAYS, AND IN MARYLAND, REMEMBER, THE ROE DECISION MADE NO DIFFERENCE IN MARYLAND BECAUSE MARYLAND HAS AMONG THE MOST LIBERAL LAWS IN THE COUNTRY WHERE LITERALLY YOU CAN HAVE AN ABORTION WITHOUT PENALTY UP UNTIL THE MOMENT OF BIRTH INCLUDING FOR SEX SELECTION.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

THESE THE POSITION OF THE DEMOCRAT BILL IN CONGRESS.

THAT'S THE ONE TO THAT STANDS IN CONTRADISTINCTION TO THE GRAHAM BILL AND CROSS-FILED IN THE HOUSE WHICH ACTUALLY SETS A 15 WEEK LIMIT.

THE DEMOCRAT BILL IS PUBLICALLY FUNDED ABORTION FOR ANY REASON UP UNTIL THE MOMENT OF BIRTH, INCLUDING SEX SELECTION ABORTIONS.

I'M SORRY, THAT'S THE EXTREME POSITION.

>> Charles: HERE IN THE FIRST CONGRESSEUXAL DISTRICT THERE WAS ONLY ONE DEBATE BETWEEN THE TOP TWO CONTENDERS, AND IT WAS HERE AT THE MILBURN STONE THEATER.

THE SHOWDOWN WAS TO INCLUDE THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT, THE DEMOCRAT AND LIBERTARIAN CHALLENGERS, BUT THE LATTER WAS A NO-SHOW.

ON TAP WERE A SERIES OF SIX QUESTIONS RANGING FROM INPOLICE STATION INFLATION TO VOTING.

>> IF I'M ELECTED, I'M ELECTED AS A DEMOCRAT BUT I REPRESENT EVERY EVER EVERYBODY.

>> ANDY IS A SOLID CONSERVATIVE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WONDER WHAT -- HOW HE'S GOING TO VOTE ON CERTAIN ISSUES.

YOU CAN KIND OF DEPEND ON ANDY VOTING THE RIGHT WAY.

IF YOU'RE A CONSERVATIVE.

>> SO MY CLOSING ARGUMENT IS LOOK AT MY RECORD.

TAKE ALL THOSE FOUR ISSUES.

I'VE BEEN A FIGHTER IN CONGRESS.

THE BIDEN-PELOSI ADMINISTRATION IS NOT DOING WHAT NEEDS TOBE DONE ON THESE ISSUES.

I'LL GO TO WASHINGTON AND FIGHT THEM.

>> I'M JUST TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WHOLE RACE IS SHOWING THERE'S A CLEAR CHOICE BETWEEN A CONGRESSMAN WHO DOESN'T SHOW UP, DOESN'T LISTEN, DOESN'T REPRESENT OUR VALUES, AND WHAT IT IS THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING THESE TWO YEARS TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, FOCUS ON OUR ECONOMIC NEEDS.

>> Charles: EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY.

GO TO ELECTIONS.MARYLAND.GOV FOR ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.

IN CECIL COUNTY, I'M CHARLES ROBINSON FOR STATE CIRCLE.

>> Jeff: NOW FOR THE APPLICABLE ROUNDTABLE, WE SPOKE WITH REPORTERS BRUCE DID YOU PAHUTA OF MARYLANDMATTERS.ORG AND DWIGHT DWIGHT WEINGARTEN MARYLAND INVESTIGATE ROVIT FOR GAZ ETD NEWSPAPERS.

WE'LL START WITH BRUCE HOO WAS IN CECIL COUNTY FOR THE FIRST DISTRICT DEBATE.

HOW WAS YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF THAT?

IT SEEMS LIKE NOBODY WAS PULLING ANY PUNCHES.

>> Bruce DePuyt: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT UP.

IS ON THEY DEBATE FEATURED INCUMBENT CONGRESSMAN ANDY HARRIS, A REPUBLICAN WHO IS GOING TO DO FOR HIS SEVENTH TERM REPRESENTING THE EASTERN SHORE ON CAPITOL HILL AND FORMER MARYLAND STATE DELEGATE HEATHER MIZEUR, A DEMOCRAT.

THESE TWO CANDIDATES HAVE VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND WORLD VIEWS, AND IT WAS A FAIRLY BASH BARBED AND INTENSE DEBATED.

FORMER DELEGATE MIZEUR SOUGHT TO MAKE THE CASE THAT ANDY HARRIS HAS BEEN OUT OF TOUCH WITH HIS DISTRICT, THAT HE'S NOT A REGULAR PRESENCE, HE'S NOT SOMEBODY WHO ATTENDS TO THE DAY-TO-DAY NEEDS OF HIS CONSTITUENTS, AND THAT HE'S A DANGER TO DEMOCRACY BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT HE HAS SORT OF BEEN A TRUMP-ALIGNED ELECTION DENIER AND TOOK PART IN A MEETING IN LATE DECEMBER OF DWOO IN THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE WHERE THERE'S BEEN SOME ARE THE RING THAT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF HOW TO BUILD PUBLIC SUPPORT AGAINST CERTIFICATION OF JOE BIDEN'S WIN OVER DONALD TRUMP.

ANDY HARRIS CLAIMED THAT IF HEATHER MIZEUR WAS ELECTED SHE'D GO TO WASHTD AND BE AN ALLY NANCY PELOSI AND JOE BIDEN, THAT DEMOCRATS, IF THEY RETAIN POWER, WILL MAKE INFLATION WORSE THAN HE BELIEVES THEY'VE ALREADY MADE IT.

HE SAID SHE SUPPORTED TONS OF TAX INCREASES DURING HER YEARS THE IN HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

SO HE HAD LETTER VERY LITTLE TO SAY ABOUT HER THAT WAS GOOD, AND THE FEELING WAS MUTUAL.

>> Jeff: THE STATE'S WHOLE CONGRESSIONAL MAP IS NEW.

WHAT IS CALCULATED THAT IF THIS DISTRICT, THE NEW 1st, WHICH IS THE EASTERN SHORE PLUS HARD OF, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, IF IT HAD BEEN THERE TWO YEARS AGO, TRUMP WOULD HAVE CARRIED IT BY 14, WHICH IS A BIG MARGIN.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HEATHER MIZEUR HAS BEEN RAISING A LOT OF MONEY.

>> Bruce DePuyt: SHE HAS.

SHE HAS RAISED -- YOU KNOW, IT'S TO HER CREDIT IN A SENSE THAT GIVEN THE VOTER REGISTRATION ADVANTAGE THAT HARRIS ENJOYS AND THE FACT THAT THIS CYCLE IS THOUGHT TO BE GENERALLY GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS, THERE'S A CASE TO BE MADE THAT IT'S TO HER CREDIT THAT ANYONE HAS ANY INTEREST IN THIS CONTEST AT ALL, IT COULD BE A WIPE-OUT, BUT MIZEUR BELIEVES THERE IS SOMETHING HAPPENING ON THE GROUND THAT SUGGESTS A DIFFERENT RESULT.

SHE'S PITCHED HERSELF AS A BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS BUILDER, AND SHE HAS RAISED A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY.

CONGRESSMAN HARRIS SERVES ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY FROM POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES AND SOME OUT-OF-STATE DONORS, SO HE ENTERS THE HOMESTRETCH WITH MORE ACTUAL CASH ON HAND THAN SHE HAS.

>> Jeff: NOW, DWIGHT, YOU WERE REPORTING FROM THE OTHER END OF THE STATE IN FROSTBURG.

THERE WAS PAY CANDIDATE'S FORUM FACE-TO-FACE, THE 6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

HOIDZ THAT MATCH SHAPE UP?

WHAT ABOUT THE BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS FORUM OR DEBATE?

>> Dwight Weingarten: WE HAD A FROSTBURG INSTITUTE FORUM ON MONDAY NIGHT AND HEARD SOME SIMILAR THEMES TO WHAT BRUCE WAS DISCUSSING.

WE HAVE AN INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN, DAVID PA TORINO, HE'S BEING TANGLED BEAN STATE GEL GAT NEILL L. NEIL PARROT, A REPUBLICAN, AND THIS IS A REMATCH OF THE 2020 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION IN THE 6th DISTRICT, BUT WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT MAP THIS GO-AROUND, A MAYBE THAT PARROT HOPES IS MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE AND COULD LEAD TIE DIFFERENT RESULT.

AT THE FORUM ON MONDAY NIGHT THE MAINTAINI CONGRESSMAN TORINO HAS TRONE WAS HIS TOUTING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS THAT HE'S VOTED FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS IN WASHINGTON AND THE EFFECTS BOTH FOR ROADS AND INTERNET THAT THAT WILL HAVE ON THAT WESTERN MARYLAND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

DELEGATE PARROT WOULD ARGUE THAT THOSE IMPROVEMENT, THOSE INVESTMENTS, RATHER, HAVE LED TO OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING AND THE INFLATION THAT THE ECONOMY IS DEALING WITH TODAY, AND SO BOTH CANDIDATES HAD VERY DIFFERENT RUSE VIEWS, ESPECIALLY ON THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS THAT HAVE COME OUT WASHINGTON.

>> Jeff: FROM READING YOUR SNOIRT HERALD MAIL, IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF FOCUS ON YOIPTD.

>> Dwight Weingarten: YES.

AND A QUESTION THAT DID NOT COME UP BUT CANDIDATES DEFINITELY SPOKE ABOUT IT WAS THE BORDER.

CONGRESSMAN TRONE SERVES ON THE U.S. COMMISSION FOR COMBATING SYNTHETIC OPIOID TRAFFICKING, AND HE SAID THAT THE OPIOID ISSUE THAT WESTERN MARYLAND IS DEALING WITH IS NOT A CASE OF STOPPING THE SUPPLY BUT RATHER TRYING TO LIMIT THAT SUPPLY BUT REALLY DEAL ON THE DEMAND SIDE.

DELEGATE PARROTT TALKED ABOUT, QUOTE, TURNING OFF THE FAUCET, AND THAT FAUCET BEING THE U.S. SOUTHERN BORDER, IN HIS OPINION, WHERE THE DRUGS ARE COMING FROM, IN HIS VIEW.

AND SO THAT WAS A TOPIC THAT WASN'T ASKED ABOUT AS A QUESTION.

THE BORDER WAS NOT ASKED ABOUT AS A QUESTION, BUT BOTH CANDIDATES FOUND THEIR WAY BACK TO THAT TOPIC ON SEVERAL CASES,.

>> Jeff: I'LL ASK YOU TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE DISTRICT.

AND, BRUCE, YOU KNOW THIS AREA TOO.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN WESTERN MARYLAND.

AND THEE WHAT HAPPENS ON EASTERN END OF THE DISTRICT AS IT DIPS INTO FREDERICK COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THAT'S CHANGED A LOT.

I SAW A QUOTE FROM MR.-PRONE THAT TRONE THAT HE HAD POLLING THAT HE WAS AHEAD BUT WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

SO KIND OF PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THAT DISTRICT.

>> Bruce DePuyt: A LOT OF THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY VOTERS WHO GAVE THE PRIOR 6th DISTRICT ITS DEMOCRATIC MEAN ARE OUT OF THE 6th, AND IT'S A MUCH MORE POTENTIALLY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

MR. TRONE, BY VIRTUE OF HIS PERSONAL FORTUNE, IS ABLE TO OUTSPEND DELEGATE PARROTT TEN TO ONE OR 20 TO ONE AND THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT.

I MEAN, PARROTT CAN'T BEGIN TO MATCH HIM FINANCIALLY IN TERMS OF LITERATURE AND RADIO AND TELEVISION.

HE ALSO HAS FOUR YEARS UNDER HIS BELT WHERE HE HAS CLEARLY TRIED TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS SORT OF A WORK HORSE, SOMEONE WHO DELIVERS FOR THE DISTRICT AND DOESN'T ENGAGE IN A LOT OF POLITICAL OR PARTISAN STUFF.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE TEST HERE, IS WHAT'S ON THE -- AND LASTLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS FASCINATING THAT DELEGATE PARROTT HAD TED CRUZ COME IN TO CAMPAIGN FOR HIM.

I'M NOT AWARE OF LARRY HOGAN DOING ANY CAMPAIGNING FOR PARROTT OR ENDORSING, FOR THAT MATTER.

SO STYLE STICKILY, POLITICALLY, IF YOU WILL, A VERY INTERESTING DYNAMIC HERE IN THE CLOSING DAYS.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO REPORTERS DWIGHT WINE GEARNT AND BRUCE DID YOU PAHUTA.

-- DUIT PAHUTA.

OUR "NEWSMAKER" IS DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP OF BALTIMORE CEO SHELONDA STOKES.

SHELONDA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

>> Shelonda Stokes: THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

>> Jeff: HONOR TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN.

THE SPEECH YOU GAVE RECENTLY AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE DWROWN PARTNERSHIP GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

WHAT WAS YOUR MESSAGE IN THAT TALK?

>> Shelonda Stokes: THE ESSENCE OF THE MESSAGE FROM OUR ANNUAL MEETING WAS WE HAVE SOME AMAZING, AMAZING ASSETS HERE.

WE BEST EDS, BEST MEDS, SPORTS TEAM, PEOPLE, ARCHITECTURE, YOU NAME IT, WE HAVE IT.

BUT WE NEED TO CONNECT THE DOTS.

AND WE NEED EVERYBODY LOCKING ONTO DO THAT.

>> Jeff: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE RAVENS ON SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL RECENTLY, BUT NBC DID JUST A GREAT JOB WITH THE BEAUTY SHOTS OF THE CITY.

YOU KNOW, ITS AERIALS, THEY'RE FLYING AROUND, AND IT'S GOWN BECAUSE IT'S WHERE THE -- DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT'S WHERE THE LIGHTS ARE, AND THAT MAYBE HELPS YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT THE CITY CAN BE.

>> Shelonda Stokes: IT DOES.

IT'S ELECTRIC.

AND IF I'M NOT ABLE TO BE IN THE AMAZING STADIUM, I AM RIGHT AT HOME WATCHING THE SCREEN -- AND GUESS WHAT?

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING OUR CITY SHINE LIKE THAT.

>> Jeff: YOU SAID IN YOUR TALK THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE AMAZING ASSETS THAT YOU ENUMERATED BUT IT'S TIME TO CONNECT THEM.

WHAT DID YOU MEAN?

>> Shelonda Stokes: SO WHAT'S REALLY GREAT ABOUT IT, AND YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LNGDZ MARKET, RIGHT LEXINGTON MARKET, IT'S OPEN AGAIN, IT'S COME ONLINE.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE HARBOR PLACE THAT'S COMING ONLINE.

OH, MY GOD.

I MEAN, WE HAD HAMILTON AT THE HIPPODROME AND PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL CONNECTED AT THESE WALKABLE SPACES SO YOU GET THERE AND FEEL SAFE WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT SO YOU CAN STOP OFF AND WE START TO ACTIVATE THESE PUBLIC SPACES AND PARKS, SO YOU CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE A BITE ON EAT ON YOUR WAY.

WE NEED OUR DOWNTOWN TO BE A 24/7 DOWNTON FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GET TO WHEREVER THEY WANT TO GO, WHENEVER THEY WANT TO GO THERE.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE EARLY SIGNS THAT THAT MAY BE STARTING TO TAKE ROOT?

I MEAN, IN THE LAST BIG FINANCIAL CRISIS, THE TERM "GREEN SHOOTS" BECAME A CLICHE AS PEOPLE STARTED TO SEE HILL HINTS TO THAT THINGS WERE TURNING AROUND, WERE IMPROVING, AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE.

>> Shelonda Stokes: I CAN STELL YOU I'M SORT OF LIVING THE EXPERIENCE.

SO I CAME INTO THIS ROLE, JEFF, YOU KNOW -- >> Jeff: TWO YEARS, RIGHT?

>> Shelonda Stokes: DURING COVID, RIGHT P W., DURING WHAT WE CALLED AT THAT POINT A DOUBLE PANDEMIC.

YOU HAD NOT ONLY COVID BUT YOU ALSO HAD THE SOCIAL INJUSTICE MOVEMENT THAT WAS REALLY TAKING A BROADER STAGE, AND SO WHERE YOU CAN SEE THOSE SIGNS OF CHANGE, WHEN I CAME IN WE WERE AT 23% RETAIL VACANCY, AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER GETTING DOWN TO SOMETHING LIKE 18%.

SO PART OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS HOW DO WE SEE THE TRENDS GOING.

WYE KNEW WE KNEW THAT POST-COVID PEOPLE WOULDN'T LOOK AT OFFICE BUILDINGS THE SAME.

YOU DO NOT NECESSARILY NEED AS MUCH SPACE.

SOME PEOPLE STILL DON'T WANT TO PUT ON REAL PANTS AND COME BACK INTO THE OFFICE, AND SO SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE ARE RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS THAT ARE NEEDED.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE COULD SUSTAIN HERE TO REALLY HELP GROW THE DOWNTOWN, AND SO YOU SEE AN UPTICK IN THOSE RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS AND PEOPLE REALLY TAKING SHAPE.

WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE CENSUS, OUR CENSUS TRACT IN THEY'RE CONTINUED TO GROW, AND SO WE CAN SEE WHERE THE NODES ARE NEEDS ARE, AND THOSE ARE THOSE SIGNS THAT YOU START TO SEE.

WE SEE MORE BUSINESSES WHO ARE LOOKING TO COME INTO THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE YES, YES, YES.

NOW LET'S HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> Jeff: IS THERE A LITTLE BIT OF A CHICKEN AND EGG SITUATION?

>> Shelonda Stokes: IT IS.

>> Jeff: EVERYBODY POINTS TO PROBLEMS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, PROBLEMS WITH THE SCHOOLS.

6 AND WITH THE IDEA THAT THOSE THINGS NEED TO TURN AROUND BEFORE THE CITY CAN REALLY HIT ITS STRIE STRIDE.

BUT DOES THE CITY REALLY NEED TO HIT ITS STRIDE BEFORE YOU CAN -- YOU CAN BRING UP EMPLOYMENT, BRING DOWN CRIME, AND IMPROVE THE SCHOOLS?

>> Shelonda Stokes: IT IS -- YOU'RE SPOT ON.

IT'S AN ECO ECOSYSTEM AND A LITTLE BIT OF COMIJ AND EGG, AND I THINK WHAT'S -- CHICKEN AND EGG, AND I THINK WHAT'S EXCITING FROM OUR END AND I THINK OUR PURPOSE IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR SOME OF THOSE CHASING, SOME OF THAT CHANGE IN THE AREAS WHERE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO YOU TALK ABOUT THIS WHOLE WHEEL.

YOU HAVE RESIDENTIAL.

YOU HAVE BUSINESS.

YOU HAVE EDUCATION.

YOU HAVE CRIME AND SAFETY.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE A PART OF WHAT MAKES US FEEL HOME AND IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP KNEW THAT WE COULD STAND ON.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM BECOMES CRIME FOR PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I WANT TO INVEST, I WANT TO LIVE, I WANT TO PLAY, BUT I HAVE A NEED TO FEEL SAFE.

SO HOW DO YOU HELP ME DO THAT?

SO WE HAVE DONE THINGS IN WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BOTH LOCAL AND THE MARYLAND STATE TROOPERS AND BALTIMORE CITY SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS, SO THAT WE REALLY START TO BUILD OUTLET AN INFRASTRUCTURE AND USE OUR GUIDES TO REALLY WORK ON THE DATA SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE DOWNWARD DRENDZ IN CRIME.

AND, YEAH, YOU START TO SEE THAT BUT IS IT ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE COMING BACK?

SO HOW DO YOU START TO LAYER THOSE THINGS?

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHEN YOU HAVE VIBRANT AREAS, IT DECREASES THE CRIME BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREET.

YOU'RE FILLING THOSE VACANT SPACES, SO YOU START TO TOUCH ON ALL OF THOSE AREAS ALL TOGETHER SO THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST WAITING ON ONE OF THOSE AREAS TO COME BACK.

THAT'S ONE THING.

THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO SHARE, AD THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY'LL USE THE TERM SORT OF BUY THE BUSINESS.

PART OF WHAT WE KNOW IS PEOPLE, WHEN YOU COME BACK INTO DOWNTOWN, YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO EAT.

YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO SHOP.

AND IT'S VERY HARD FOR THOSE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS TO SUSTAIN WITHOUT BUSINESS BACK OR WITHOUT FULL RESIDENTIAL ENGAGEMENT, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO GET GRANTS FROM BOTH THE CITY AND STATE TO HELP SUSTAIN AND PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO THOSE TYPES OF BUSINESSES TO KEEP THEM OPEN SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME DOWN, THEY HAVE SOMETHING, SO THAT THEN THEY WANT TO BE HERE AND THE ECOSYSTEM CONTINUES ON.

>> Jeff: YOU'RE NOT THE MAYOR.

YOU'RE NOT THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT IS THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP?

YOU BRING A LOT OF ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM AND SERVICES WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

BUT WHAT IS THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP NEED FROM OUR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?

>> Shelonda Stokes: IT IS IN OUR NAME WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED PARTNERSHIPS, AND WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IS WE'VE HAD JUST AMAZING CITY AND STATE PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP US GET THE WORK DONE.

WHEN WE WENT TO BOTH THE CITY AND STATE AND SAID, LOOK, OUR -- OUR RETAIL GROUND LEVEL VACANCY IS HURTING.

HOW CAN YOU HELP US?

WE WERE ABLE TO GET AN ARPA GRANT TO HELP EXPAND A PROGRAM THAT WE STARTED CALLED BOOST WHICH STANDS FOR BLACK OWNED AND OPERATED STOREFRONT TENANCY.

THAT'S WORKING TO GET BLACK AND BROWN BUSINESSES INTO THOSE GROUND LEVEL RETAIL.

THEY HELP.

WHEN WE WENT TO THE STATE AND SAID, MAN, WE HAVE THESE AMAZING ASSETS, WE NEED TO CONNECT THE DOTS, THEY CAME BACK AND WE WERE AWARDED A $10 MILLION GRANT TO HELP US CATALYZE THOSE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS.

SO THEY'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO REALLY HELP US, YOU KNOW, CONNECT THOSE DOTS.

NOW WE NEED EVERYBODY ELSE FOR US TO KIND OF LEAN IN ON THE SAME DIRECTION, FOR US TO RALLY AROUND, OKAY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE LEXINGTON MARKET IS ONE NOSE GREATEST MARKET AND THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THOSE INVESTMENTS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN HARBOR PLACE COMES ONLINE, THAT WE ARE PATRONIZING, THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THAT, WE'RE ADDING OUR IDEAS 1 OUR RESOURCES INTO THESE THINGS SO WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER, AND AS IT RELATES TO OUR MAYOR, OUR GOVERNOR AND BOTH OF THOSE ADMINISTRATIONS, WHAT'S GOOD IS WE STILL HAVE TO ALL PRIORITIZE DEVELOPMENT, INVESTMENT, AND EQUITY ALONG THE WAY.

>> Jeff: I UNDERSTAND THE ANNUAL MEETING WAS FULL OF EXCITEMENT, FULL OF OPTIMISM.

>> Shelonda Stokes: IT WAS AMAZING!

>> Jeff: AND THEN AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEECH YOU BROUGHT IN A VERY PAINFUL, PERSONAL NOTE OF REALISM IN TALKING ABOUT YOUR BROTHER AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BROTHER.

>> Shelonda Stokes: YOU HAVE ME CRYING IN THIS INTERVIEW.

YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH, RIGHT?

IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT MY BROTHER WAS MURDERED, AND IT'S HARD TO EVEN SAY THAT, JEFF, RIGHT?

AND THE DAY BEFORE OUR ANNUAL MEETING WE DID A STREET RENAMING IN HIS HONOR WHICH IT CREATES THE BALANCE BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ASK WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED, I WAS LIKE, MAN, CAN YOU CONTINUE TO DO THIS JOB?

HOW CAN YOU CONTINUE TO BE A CHEERLEADER FOR THIS CITY, TO SELL THE CITY WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED PERSONALLY?

AND I CAN'T -- IT'S HARD.

RIGHT, IT IS HARD TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND NOT HAVE HIM.

BUT WHAT I KNOW HE STOOD FOR AND WHAT I KNOW OUR CITY IS AND CAN BE, I FEEL IT.

I FEEL IT EVEN MORE.

AND WHAT IT'S GIVEN ME IS A LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF OUR OTHER CITIZENS EXPERIENCED, AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE, IT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S NEEDED, AND IT'S GIVEN ME EVEN MORE FIRE AND FERVOR TO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYBODY OR AS FEW PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> Jeff: DOES IT FEEL LIKE -- AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

DOES IT FEEL LIKE IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL, YOU CAN DRAW A LINE FROM WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING AT THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY AND THEN FROM THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF FUTURE GENERATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT HOPEFULLY OTHER FAMILIES DON'T GO THROUGH WHAT YOU'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH.

>> Shelonda Stokes: NO, IT'S -- IT'S ABSOLUTELY A CONNECTOR.

AND PART OF WHAT I BELIEVE, JEFF, AND I -- YOU KNOW, MY GROWING UP, IT WASN'TY EASY.

I GREW UP EXTREMELY POOR.

AND SO MY FIRST JOB WAS CLEANING AT THE INNER HARBOR, AND SO NOW TO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOWNTOWN IS SOMEWHAT SERENDIPITOUS BUT IT'S A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT'S ONE THAT I LOVE AND WAKE UP WANTING TO DO EVERY DAY BECAUSE I HOPE THAT THE MAJOR OF THE BALTIMORE GETS THE EXPERIENCE, THE BALTIMORE THAT I'M ABLE TO ENJOY.

AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF US WHO CAN'T.

THEY CAN'T BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE JOBS OR POOR EDUCATION OR ALL OF THOSE THINGS, SO IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US WHO HAVE AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO MORE AND, YOU KNOW, WIDEN THE TENT AND EXPAND THE TABLE AND PULL SEATS UP SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING THERE BUT EVERYBODY IS AT THE TABLE AND ABLE TO EAT, THAT'S WHAT I LIVE FOR.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE START TO SEE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY GREAT, AND IT CAME OUT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING, WAS THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER GONE INTO THE CENTER CLUB.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THOSE TYPES OF VIEWS OR DOING THAT WHO WERE IN THE ROOM TOGETHER, WHO WERE MAKING CONNECTIONS.

I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THIS SQUEEGEE BEING ONE OF THOSE BIG THINGS.

YOU HAVE YOU HAD THE PRESIDENT OF ONE OF OUR BANKS AND A YOUNG MAN AT SQUEEGEE WHO WERE TRADING CELL PHONE NUMBERS SO THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH THIS THING TOGETHER.

THIS IS OUR TIME, JEFF.

>> Jeff: SHELONDA STOKES, DOWNTOWN APARTMENT OF BALTIMORE.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> Shelonda Stokes: THANK YOU.

LIKE I SAID, EXCITED TO BE HERE AND JUST THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU AND MPT ARE DOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SHARING THE MESSAGES.

IT STARTS WITH THE MEDIA, AND I THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING A TRUE CHAMPION IN THAT SPACE.

>> Jeff: NOW WITH OUR SALUTE TO VETERANS, HERE'S NANCY YAMADA.

>> RIGHT HERE I HAVE 4-INCH BLOCKS THAT ARE GOING ON THE SNOWBALL BLOCKS.

>> Nancy: THE ASSEMBLY LINE IS IN FULL SWING IN PASADENA.

>> I'M ZOO FOUR PARCHES.

>> Nancy: FOR THE DOWNS PARK QUILTERS ARE HARD AT WORK.

>> I'M SEWING THE BLOCKS TOGETHER.

>> Nancy: DOING WHAT THEY LOVE AND DOING THEIR PART TO CONTRIBUTE TO A MISSION THAT'S CLOSE TO HERR HEART.

>> I'M IRONING THESE SQUARES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT THEM TELLING THE IF THEIR SEAMS ARE CROOKED.

>> Nancy: THEY'RE CREATING QUILTS OF VALOR FOR SCRERNTS WHO ARE IN HOSPICE FACING THE LAST DAYS OF THEIR LIVES.

>> THE IDEA IS WE WANTED TO TELL THEM HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> Nancy: DIE HARD QUILTER MILLIE GENTILE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF HONOR SALUTE PROGRAM.

>> WE CAN'T REALLY REPAY THEM BUT IT'S A SMALL THING, AND I HOPE THEY FEEL SOME COMFORT AND MAYBE PEACE IN KNOWING THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THEM WHEN THEY WRAP IN THE QUILT.

>> Nancy: FORT QUILTERS, MANY OF WHOM REGULARLY DETAIN DONATE THEIR TIME TO VARIOUS CAUSES, EACH QUILT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE.

>> WHEN YOU SEE THE EMOTION THAT THESE VETERANS GET WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN SOMETHING SO SPECIAL, THAT'S WHAT I GET OUT OF IT, TO SEE THEIR FACES AND THEIR APPRECIATION.

>> Nancy: ABOUT 230 QUILTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND DONATED SINCE 2014.

ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS ARE RECEIVING END-OF-LIFE CARE FROM WHO IS.

I OF THE CHESAPEAKE.

>> WE DO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF PRESENTING NOT ONLY THE QUILTS BUT A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION WITH THEIR NAME, RANK AND BRANCH OF SERVICE.

>> Nancy: VOLUNTEER AND FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER BILL LOVELACE EXPLAINS THE VERTS ALSO RECEIVE A PIN, CARDS FROM SCHOOLCHILDREN, AND ONE LAST PHYSICAL ACT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE VETERANS' SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

>> AFTER THE SALUTE AND THE PRESENTATION AND THE HONOR SALUTE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY WHEN WE COME TO ATTENTION AND ACTUALLY SALUTE THE VETERAN, WHEN WE DO THAT, OFTENTIMES THE VETERAN WILL SALUTE BACK, AND OFTENTIMES WHEN WE DO THAT, THE VETERAN WILL COME TO TEARS.

AND THE FAMILY ESPECIALLY, TO SEE HIM SALUTING, HIM OR HER SALUTING BACK.

>> IT'S SO UNBELIEVABLE AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS FOR THE VETERANS, FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Nancy: VOLUNTEERS SERVICES COORDINATOR RENATA LITTLE SAYS FOR MANY THESE IMIRLTS' HANDIY WORK PROVIDE MORE THAN WARNLTS AND COMFORT.

>> THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT MAYBE THEIR SERVICE AT VIETNAM, SO THE MILITARY VETERANS OR WHO IS HOSPICE VOLUN DEERS THAT COME IN SORT OF OPENS THE DOOR FOR CONVERSATION.

THEY CAN JUST TALK ABOUT IT AND HEAL BEFORE THEY PASS.

>> Nancy: AN UNEXPECTED GIFT CREATED BY THE LOVING AND DETERMINED HANDS OF GRATEFUL QUILTERS.

>> NI ABOUT THEM WHEN I MAKE IT.

I TRY TO SAY LITTLE PRAYERS FOR THEM.

>> Nancy: I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR STATE CIRCLE.

>> Jeff: NANCY, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "STATE CIRCLE."

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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