Budgets can feel like distant paperwork until you realize they decide how much support children get in the classroom, whether families can keep food on the table, and whether first responders have the staffing and tools to do their jobs safely. On the latest episode of the Pittman and Friends Podcast, County Executive Pittman hands the mic to Vincent Moulden, the Director of the Office of Community Engagement and Constituent Services, and we go straight into an Office Hours conversation about what a county budget actually says about values, strategy, and trust in local government. 

We talk about why we push the idea of return on investment, why conservative revenue projections matter, and what it means to “leave a house in good order” for the next administration. Vincent brings questions shaped by what residents raised at budget town halls and online, including the tension that comes with real public feedback: it can be demanding, emotional, and sometimes accusatory, but it’s also how the government earns credibility. 

From public safety to the food bank to education funding, we walk through the tradeoffs behind the headlines. We cover hiring realities for police and firefighters, investments like a real-time information center, and why funding hunger relief can stabilize families when costs rise faster than paychecks. We also dig into the strain in schools, especially special education needs, and why we made major education investments even under tax cap constraints. 

If you want an inside look at county budgeting, community engagement, and how to advocate effectively with the next county executive, subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

The FY27 Approved Budget was passed unanimously by the County Council on June 11, 2026. Visit www.aacounty.org/budget/fy27-approved-budget to learn more.

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

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The news makes it feel like the government can’t be decent anymore, but Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk says civility is a decision you make every day. In the latest episode of the Pittman and Friends Podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Speaker Peña-Melnyk to discuss what it takes to lead a chamber of 141 delegates, travel the state nonstop, and still keep your focus on people who need government to work, not perform.

Speaker Peña-Melnyk walks us through the end-of-session scramble around the Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2026 and why she refused to let delay tactics sink protections for Black and Brown communities. From there, we dig into democracy pressures, the realities of redistricting, and how trust gets built or broken when institutions stop listening.

Affordability is a major thread, including Maryland’s utility relief package, energy rate reform, and why data centers should pay for the power they consume. We also get specific on immigration policy, the harms of 287(g) agreements that pull local law enforcement into federal immigration enforcement, and how the Trust Act aims to protect public safety by strengthening community trust. Finally, Speaker Peña-Melnyk explains how Maryland balances a tough budget early, avoids new taxes, and still tries to fund health care, eviction prevention, SNAP support, and education.

If you care about Maryland politics, voting rights, immigration, utility bills, or how a state budget really gets made, this conversation is for you.

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

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The next emergency might not look like a hurricane at all. It could be a cyber incident, a long heat wave that knocks out air conditioning in a high rise, or a slow-moving flood problem that turns into an evacuation decision. On the latest episode of the Pittman and Friends Podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Preeti Emrick, the Director of Anne Arundel County’s Office of Emergency Management. They talk about what emergency management actually is and why the work is really about coordination, clear roles, and timely public information.

We walk through what happens when the Emergency Operations Center activates, how situational awareness gets built from weather forecasts, state and federal briefings, nonprofit partners, and even patterns in 911 calls. Preeti explains why training and tabletop exercises on blue sky days make the response feel like a symphony when it matters, and why modern preparedness has to include cyber incident planning alongside storms and public health emergencies.

COVID is a major turning point in the conversation. We dig into misinformation, mistrust, and the reality that disasters create trauma, not just damage. Preeti shares why psychological first aid and “meeting people where they are” can be as important as logistics, especially for vulnerable communities that lose the daily safety nets they rely on.

We also look ahead: what local and state leaders can do when FEMA funding is uncertain, why investing in resilience saves time and money later, and how residents can get involved through CERT and community outreach.

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

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County Executive Steuart Pittman presented his Fiscal Year 2027 proposed budget on May 1 to the Anne Arundel County Council. As his final budget as County Executive, this budget demonstrates his commitment to remain fiscally disciplined, continue seeking the wisdom of residents, and prioritize opportunities for those who have too often been left behind. 

The FY27 proposed budget leaves the next successor and residents a house in good order, a foundation that can truly make Anne Arundel County The Best Place - For All. Listen to the full address, and explore the FY27 Budget Investments at AACounty.Org/FY27Budget.

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

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A historic house disappears and a neighborhood loses more than a structure, it loses an anchor. That’s where the conversation starts on the latest episode of Pittman and Friends podcast when County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area, Jane Cox. They discuss how “sense of place” is built and how quickly it can be erased when we stop paying attention to the stories under our feet. 

Jane walks us through her path from doing archeological digs at London Town to leading cultural resources work in Anne Arundel County, then stepping into her new role at the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area. We talk about what preservation looks like inside planning and zoning, why public outreach matters as much as policy, and how heritage tourism can drive economic development while protecting authentic places across Anne Arundel county.

From there, we dive into a hidden powerhouse story: the Steward Shipyard on the West River near Galesville, founded in 1751 and burned by the British in 1781. It’s a gateway into the Revolutionary era and the upcoming Annapolis 250, including the push to frame 250 not as a single weekend, but as a longer “Season of Freedom” starting around Juneteenth. We also wrestle with the question that always surfaces at anniversaries: whose history gets celebrated, and how do we tell the truth about slavery, loyalty, and legacy?

We close by discussing ideas for practical next steps: the need for a preservation master plan shaped by community input, do we create an advisory group that helps leaders make smarter calls, and keeping momentum on Crownsville with National Register designation and a museum vision that can handle difficult history with care. Subscribe, share, and leave a review, and then tell us: what place in Anne Arundel County holds your strongest sense of place?

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

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Most of what you count on each day doesn’t come from Washington. It comes from your county: the roads you drive, the schools your kids attend, the health services that protect communities, the recycling system you expect to work, and the local decisions that shape what your neighborhood becomes. On the latest episode of the Pittman and Friends Podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Michael Sanderson, Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), and they get straight to the pressure points of Maryland politics and public policy and how they impact local government. 

We walk through how MACo represents county leaders in Annapolis, why an open public hearing process can prevent bad legislation, and how a truly bipartisan organization still finds common ground when the rest of American politics feels stuck. Then we tackle two issues that define daily life for residents: transportation funding and housing. Michael explains why Maryland’s local road funding never fully recovered after the Great Recession, why that gap squeezes county budgets, and why so many people misunderstand what gas taxes actually pay for. 

From there, we get into the housing shortage, zoning, smart growth, environmental limits, and the “Smith Island cake” problem: layer after layer of approvals that can make building painfully slow. We also debate the toughest question underneath it all, when state preemption is a necessary tool for progress and when local control is the wiser path for land use, infrastructure, and community trust. We wrap with grounded advice for leaders making hard budget calls and a rare note of optimism rooted in local accountability. 

Subscribe for more practical conversations about how government really works, share this with a friend who cares about roads or housing, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. 

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

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Aging services can sound like paperwork and waiting rooms, but in Anne Arundel County we strive to be the opposite: real people, real answers, and a department built to be the easiest part of your day. On the latest episode of the Pittman and Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Karrisa Kelly, the Director of the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities. We unpack what the department actually does for older adults, people with disabilities, family caregivers, and veterans, and why planning early helps you stay independent longer.

We talk through the county’s senior activity centers and what “free membership” really gets you across all locations: fitness rooms, classes, lifelong learning, social connection, and warm spaces that fight loneliness. Then we move into the services many residents don’t realize exist, including evidence-based health promotion programs like diabetes prevention and fall prevention, plus nutrition sites that provide hot meals across the county.

Caregiving gets a full spotlight. We cover support groups, training, veteran caregiver resources, and a caregiver grant that’s intentionally low hassle. We also dig into transportation support, including door-to-door rides for residents with higher mobility needs and help getting to medical appointments. 

If you care about healthy aging, caregiver support, senior resources in Anne Arundel County, or simply want to know where to start, this conversation points the way. Subscribe, share this with someone who could use it, and leave a review with the one service you wish more people knew about.

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

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Like all jurisdictions, Anne Arundel County has communities facing complicated social and economic issues. But we also have something rarer: people who keep showing up. On this episode of the Pittman and Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Dr. Shawn Ashworth - a retired educator and licensed therapist who decided that retirement wasn’t the end of service, it was a rewire toward the community work she couldn’t ignore. We talk about what she’s learned from 31 years inside schools and what changes when you step outside the system to meet families where they are. 

We get specific about Brooklyn Park, why poverty and high arrest rates still shape daily life, and why “consistency” can matter more than one-time charity. Dr. Ashworth breaks down Food 4 Thought Community Outreach Services and its core pillars: housing, health and nutrition, counseling, and jobs. We also dig into community schools and why making the school a true neighborhood hub can lift attendance and outcomes, especially when families can access tutors, mentors, wellness supports, and county resources in one place. Wellness Wednesdays at Park Elementary becomes our case study, from cooking and dance to workshops on ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and practical health services. 

Then we zoom out to larger solutions: ENOUGH, Governor Wes Moore’s initiative to confront poverty through aligned institutions and resident-led work, plus the Two-Gen Brooklyn Park pilot roadmap designed to move families from crisis to stability with accountability, childcare support, and a path toward economic mobility. We close with the Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission (CRRC), where cannabis tax revenue is funding boots-on-the-ground nonprofits in zip codes most impacted by historic drug arrests, and why impact and partnerships matter when dollars are limited. 

Subscribe, share this with a friend who cares about community change, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one investment you think your community needs most right now?

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

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Housing is where everything else starts and when it gets too expensive, communities can start to break. In the latest episode of the Pittman and Friends podcast County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Erin Karpewicz, Executive Director of Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS), to get specific about how affordable housing and community development actually happen: who pays, how deals get structured, and why the market alone won’t build homes for every income level.

We talk through the full housing continuum, from homelessness prevention and Continuum of Care partners to the financing tools that make new affordable rental housing pencil out. We dig into the Housing Trust Fund, created with a dedicated revenue source, and why predictable local funding unlocks more projects. Erin explains how low-interest loans reduce private debt, how deed restrictions keep units affordable long term, what affordability targets like 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) mean for real working households, and how many units of affordable housing are currently in the pipeline.

The story is not just numbers. We revisit community-centered projects like the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center and the Severn Center, where years of advocacy turned into a thriving building because residents helped design it and saw themselves reflected in it. Then we look ahead to Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park and the Meyer Building, and discuss the plan to include affordable rentals and permanent supportive housing in the project design. 

If you care about housing affordability, first-time homebuyer support, permanent supportive housing, or building economically diverse communities, listen and share this conversation with someone who still thinks the problem is simple. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what creative solution to the affordable housing crisis you want to see next.

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

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Congress isn’t just “too partisan” right now. It’s drifting away from the basic job the Constitution assigns it, and that has real consequences for Maryland families. In the latest episode of the Pittman and Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth to talk candidly about what it’s like to serve in a triple minority, why it’s disheartening to watch the legislative branch stand down, and how she keeps her focus on delivering for the district anyway.

We get specific about what “wins” look like when the headlines are loud, but people’s needs are local. Congresswoman Elfreth walks us through her work on the House Armed Services Committee and why the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is still one of the last reliable vehicles for legislating. We cover district priorities tied to the Naval Academy, disaster mitigation planning, protections for Greenbury Point, and a bipartisan push to expand veteran access at military medical facilities that have unused capacity.

Then we head to the Chesapeake Bay, where policy meets dinner plates. Blue catfish are an invasive species hammering oysters and rockfish, and Congresswoman Elfreth explains a bipartisan approach that treats invasive aquatic species as a national problem, not just a regional headache. We also dig into the affordability issues people raise at town halls: childcare access, workforce shortages in hospitals, and the ripple effects of Medicaid cuts and rising Affordable Care Act premiums that can flood already strained emergency rooms.

Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What issue should Congress tackle first to make life more affordable?

If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

Weekly Letter: https://www.aacounty.org/county-executive/steuart-pittman/pittmans-pen/weekly-letter

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