A campaign can win votes or it can build a blueprint for governing. Jared Littman, Annapolis mayor-elect, joins us to share how two years on the trail reshaped his plan: take the budget to every ward through annual town halls, walk blocks with residents to see issues first-hand, and rebuild trust by making engagement the start of policy, not the afterthought.

We dig into City Dock and resilience with clear-eyed realism—what it takes to protect a waterfront that the entire county treats like a shared park, why multi-level funding matters, and how climate adaptation must also include cooling heat islands, planting trees, and expanding public water access beyond tourist districts. Jared explains how the Resilience Authority and county partnerships can speed stormwater projects and align transportation without chasing a complicated city-county merger that might not improve service or cost.

Housing takes center stage as we discuss public housing conditions, voucher funding risks, and major redevelopment efforts like Robinwood and the Choice Neighborhood Initiative. We talk nuts and bolts—inspections, licensing, revenue restoration—and the legal landscape around lawsuits that could strain a $200 million budget. Jared makes the case for addressing root causes whether or not the city prevails in court, with homelessness prevention and wraparound services on deck through stronger county and state coordination.

We also go inside City Hall strategy: pairing new and returning council members for mentorship, holding a retreat to set norms, and starting budget priorities in the fall to avoid the annual ambush. The ultimate goal is simple and measurable: every resident should feel that their government cares, responds, and works without insider access. If that culture holds, trust grows—and with it, the capacity to deliver on resilience, equitable housing, and access to the water that defines Annapolis. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us your top priority for the first round of budget town halls.

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