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Permits serve an important purpose, but when approvals take too long, project costs rise, financing gets complicated, and development can grind to a halt.

In Episode 16 of The Briefing Room, Dom and Terry sit down with Rebecca Flora, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning, to unpack the permitting process and its impact on housing and development. Drawing on her experience in both the public and private sectors, Secretary Flora helps explore why permits exist, where unnecessary delays and costs emerge, and how governments can improve efficiency without sacrificing important public protections.

The conversation also examines the responsibilities of developers, the role of technology and coordination, and practical steps state and local governments can take to make permitting more predictable, transparent, and effective.

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Election Day is approaching, and the political temperature is rising. But which of today's biggest headlines will shape Maryland's policy landscape long after the ballots are counted?

On this week's Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Dominic Butchko return for another round of News or Noise? as they examine the issues driving voter sentiment and what they could mean for Maryland's counties heading into the 2027 legislative session.

With data centers emerging as a political flashpoint and early voting numbers drawing attention, the trio considers what's really motivating voters and whether these trends signal lasting change. They also take a closer look at the growing backlash against property taxes, the challenges of funding essential local services, and whether complicated ballot questions are the best way to settle major policy debates.

Plus, a few unexpected detours and the usual spirited disagreements as the hosts separate the stories worth watching from those that might be forgotten by next month.

Tune in for a look at what's making headlines, what's likely to stick, and what it could mean for Maryland's counties.

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Social impact investing starts with a simple idea: capital can generate a financial return while also advancing a broader public goal. 

In Episode 15, Dom and Terry sit down with Jacob Clark, head of JP Morgan Chase impact investing, to explore how that theory applies to housing, where impact investing fits within the financing landscape, and why investors may see value in projects that produce both economic and community outcomes. 

The conversation then moves from theory to practice, examining how major financial institutions approach impact-oriented investment, what makes a project attractive, and where the limits and tradeoffs emerge. At its core, the episode asks what social impact investing can realistically accomplish and what role it may play in expanding housing investment.

This episode of The Briefing Room is brought to you with support from Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT). Learn more about LGIT at Local Government Insurance Trust, MD | Official Website

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Maryland's Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program is nearing implementation, and counties face key decisions about how they'll participate.

On this week's Conduit Street Podcast, MACo's Dominic Butchko and Karrington Anderson break down the latest FAMLI developments, including changes in the private insurance market, new coverage options for counties, and the financial and administrative considerations shaping local government preparations.

The conversation also explores MACo's work with local government partners to navigate the program, the implications of different coverage options, and the upcoming November 15 deadline for employers seeking to preserve the option of private coverage.

With implementation timelines approaching, Dom and Karrington discuss what counties should be doing now to prepare for the next phase of Maryland's paid leave program.

Tune in for an update on FAMLI and the key decisions facing Maryland's counties.

A County FAQ for Maryland’s Upcoming FAMLI Paid Leave Deadlines

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What if vacant and abandoned properties could become opportunities for new housing and neighborhood revitalization?

In Episode 14 of The Briefing Room, MACo's Dominic Butchko and co-host Terry Hickey, Director of Baltimore County's Department of Housing and Community Development, welcome Baltimore City Council Member Odette Ramos to break down land banking and its potential to address housing challenges across Maryland.

The conversation explores how land banks work, the tools local governments can use to acquire and repurpose vacant properties, and the funding, staffing, and accountability considerations involved in establishing one. Drawing on Baltimore City's experience, the trio also discusses the importance of transparency, community involvement, and putting properties back into productive use.

Tune in to learn how land banking can help Maryland's local governments turn vacant properties into opportunities for housing and community revitalization.

This episode of The Briefing Room is brought to you with support from Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT). Learn more about LGIT at Local Government Insurance Trust, MD | Official Website

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From betting on election outcomes to AI agents acting on their own, emerging technologies are raising new questions about regulation, accountability, and the role of government.

On this week's Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson welcome back Ben Yelin of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and the University of Maryland Carey School of Law for a "tech talk" about the rapidly changing technology landscape.

The discussion explores the growing popularity of prediction markets, the legal battles over state and federal regulatory authority, and concerns about their potential influence on elections. The trio also examines the rise of autonomous AI agents, the risks of systems operating beyond their intended boundaries, and what these developments could mean for government oversight and public safety.

Tune in for a closer look at the opportunities, risks, and policy challenges emerging as technology continues to outpace regulation.

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Private equity has become an increasingly prominent part of the housing conversation, but its role is often more complicated than the headlines suggest. In Episode 13, Dom and Terry welcome Dave Bramble, Managing Partner of MCB Real Estate, to break down how private equity fits into housing finance, why investors are drawn to the market, and where that capital can help support housing production and preservation. The conversation also examines the concerns driving the public debate, from affordability and ownership to the long-term implications of greater institutional investment in housing. Rather than starting with a conclusion, the episode focuses on the facts behind a complicated and often contentious question: what does private equity mean for housing, and where do the opportunities and tradeoffs lie?

This episode of The Briefing Room is brought to you with support from Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT). Learn more about LGIT at Local Government Insurance Trust, MD | Official Website

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Five years into the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, how are local school boards navigating the challenges of turning statewide education reforms into reality?

In the latest installment of the Conduit Street Podcast’s education reform series, MACo’s Sarah Sample sits down with Joseph Goetz, Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), to examine the Blueprint from the perspective of Maryland’s 24 local school boards.

From expanded early childhood education and workforce development to administrative demands, funding sustainability, and the need for local flexibility, the conversation explores what's working, where school systems are facing challenges, and what adjustments could help support implementation.

With the Blueprint’s five-year evaluation approaching and the 2027 legislative session on the horizon, Sarah and Joseph discuss how state and local partners can balance ambitious education goals with the practical and financial realities facing Maryland’s school systems.

Tune in to hear what local school boards want lawmakers to consider as Maryland prepares for the Blueprint’s next chapter.

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For much of this series, the housing conversation has centered on what states, counties, developers, and lenders can do to make projects work. But this summer, the federal government reentered the debate in a significant way. 

In Episode 12, Dom and Terry sit down with Congressman Johnny “Johnny O” Olszewski, Jr. to unpack the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and what a renewed federal focus on housing could mean for counties. Drawing on Johnny O’s experience at the local, state, and now federal levels, the conversation looks at the legislation through a distinctly county lens: what tools it could provide, what it means for local authority, and how Washington fits into a housing challenge that ultimately plays out community by community.

Listen in to learn what’s in the bill, what it could mean for Maryland’s counties, and where the federal government fits into the housing solutions ahead. 

This episode of The Briefing Room is brought to you with support from Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT). Learn more about LGIT at Local Government Insurance Trust, MD | Official Website

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The Conduit Street monthly roundup of “News or Noise?” is back, as we dig into the headlines from recent weeks, looking for the real takeaways.

The Governor takes action on AI and data centers. The State adjusts its revenue forecast. The Family Leave program prepares for its launch. Voters will get a tricky new ballot question. And the MACo team tackles all that and more, in a jam-packed look at September’s top stories.

Learn More: This Week: Local Revenue Task Force Reconvenes

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