​​What if local government felt like a neighbor who shows up with the right help at the right time? In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Alison Flores, Director of Anne Arundel County’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, to unpack how a “small but mighty” team turns the value of belonging into practical action. From festivals and murals to legal lifelines and business roundtables, they trace the systems that let immigrant families connect, grow, and navigate services without getting lost in the maze.

Alison explains why the office was built to connect rather than duplicate—linking residents to Economic Development, Central Services, and trusted nonprofits. They talk about the Community Building Mini Grant, the Certified Welcoming audit with Welcoming America, and a monthly network of immigrant service providers that keeps information current and useful. The thread through it all is trust: engaging directly with communities, honoring language and cultural nuance, and using faith partners to reach people who might be wary of public buildings or paperwork.

They also reflect on cultural visibility: from a joy-filled Super Bowl halftime performance, to neighborhood businesses that anchor community life, and on pandemic lessons that revealed both the essential role and the fragile safety net around immigrant workers. If you care about immigrant inclusion and building a welcoming county, this conversation offers a grounded, hopeful roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend, and join us next week for another great episode.

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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In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with State Senator Dawn Gile for a candid discussion of how a military spouse and attorney found her lane in Maryland’s Senate, learned to lead on hard votes, and kept family life intact while pushing forward consumer protections and healthcare reforms. From Broadneck to Crofton to Davidsonville, her district spans traffic chokepoints, has rural character, and shoreline concerns—so listening isn’t a slogan, it’s the job.

They dig into the moment she defended Maryland’s constitutional amendment protecting reproductive freedom after the Supreme Court issued the Dobbs decision. Consumer protection takes center stage as they unpack the ticketing mess: bots snapping up seats, speculative listings that sell shows before real tickets exist, and families paying triple for community events like the Renaissance Festival or the local Nutcracker. They also explore Maryland’s push on prescription drug affordability and how the state’s board can bring real savings to public plans and set a path for wider relief. Throughout, Senator Gile talks about balancing law, parenting, and public service; building durable relationships across the aisle; and translating values into bills that hold up in the real world. 

Tune in to this heartfelt conversation between two public servants and learn more about those that represent Anne Arundel County every day. Subscribe, share with a friend, and join us next week for another great episode. 

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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Each year, I reflect on the state of our county and speak directly to residents. This year's address focuses on offering a path for residents to restore their faith in government and showcase our progress driven by fiscal responsibility and efficiency.

I am committed to 'finishing what we started' in my final year—solidifying progress on housing, land preservation, and infrastructure to ensure Anne Arundel County is set up for success for years to come.

Local government exists to protect our people and ensure opportunity is available to all. Tune in this week to hear my full address and learn more about the vision to make Anne Arundel County The Best Place - For All.

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 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.

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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What does it take to run a county people are proud to call home? We sit down with Councilmember Lisa Rodvien to pull back the curtain on the choices behind stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, and a fairer tax system—choices that rarely make headlines, but change lives every day.

Lisa traces her journey from desegregated classrooms in Missouri to teaching during the Great Recession, where she watched talented educators leave as pay fell behind. That experience fueled a clear mission: stabilize the teacher workforce and invest in students, even if it means having an adult conversation about revenue. We share how early budget town halls led to a modest, progressive income tax structure—asking more of high earners while easing the burden for those with the least—and why that shift helped close vacancies, fund core services, and rebuild trust.

Housing and environment take center stage as we tackle a persistent false choice: protect the Bay or build homes. Lisa lays out a smarter path—preserving the county’s green heart while adding attainable housing near jobs and transit, and locking in affordability through inclusionary tools we wish had started sooner. We also dive into public safety reforms born after the murder of George Floyd: body-worn cameras, a stronger accountability framework, and a culture of constitutional policing. Alongside that, violence interruption teams in Eastport show how credible messengers and relentless, data-driven outreach can prevent shootings before they happen.

We close with practical climate moves, from electrifying county tools to expanding clean energy access, and the rising voice of youth calling for transit, bike routes, and safer sidewalks. If you care about how local government balances values with results—education funding, fair taxes, housing that fits, clean water, and safer streets—this conversation offers a candid roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: what’s the one local change 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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Want a commute you don’t dread? We sit down with BikeAAA’s Jon Korin to unpack how a car-first county evolves into a people-first place—by focusing on safe short trips, connected trails, and policies that put human life over vehicle throughput. Jon shares the backstory of Anne Arundel’s grassroots advocacy, the creation of a countywide trail inventory, and the map that’s guiding agencies and developers to close gaps with smart, high-impact links.

We explore the real benefits of mode shift: fewer cars in school drop-off lines, healthier daily routines, and a serious dent in the second-biggest household expense—transportation. You’ll hear how a short sidewalk near a school can flip stressful drives into joyful rides, and how regional connections like the WB&A Trail set the stage for riding from Odenton toward D.C. almost entirely on protected paths. Big ideas, like a bike-ped facility on a future Bay Bridge, paired with practical fixes that make immediate sense for families, seniors, and new riders. 

We also dig into why projects take so long—and what to do about it. From federal compliance to staffing and human error, delays are real, but not inevitable. Jon lays out how better capacity, clearer standards, and partnerships with developers can compress timelines and lower costs. A reimagined Adequate Public Facilities approach—multimodal and safety-led—can move us past lane-addition reflexes and toward streets that work for walking, biking, transit, and drivers alike. 

If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the biggest gap you want to see fixed next. Your feedback helps us push for safer, faster, and more connected ways to move.

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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What if the most impactful work shaping your daily life never makes the news? We sit down with Mike Kelly, executive director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC), to reveal how a small regional team coordinates transportation, housing, workforce, and climate resilience across Central Maryland—and why that matters for every commute, job search, and neighborhood.

Mike breaks down the inner workings of the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization and how it helps local governments program their share of federal transportation dollars. We trace the ripple effects from bike infrastructure to bus service, highways, and freight, then zoom out to the council’s broader portfolio: fair housing plans and regional vouchers, a 30-year building permits database used to track development, and a collaborative purchasing program that has saved jurisdictions more than $340 million on electricity while opening doors to renewable energy. We also get into climate resilience, air quality, and reservoir health—areas where regional coordination turns siloed efforts into measurable progress.

The conversation shifts to Chesapeake Connect, the council’s immersive learning trip that brings together county executives, agency heads, CEOs, foundations, and community leaders to study another city’s wins and missteps. From Nashville’s growth pains to Philadelphia’s neighborhood rebuilding, Mike shares candid lessons that help our region avoid familiar pitfalls. We also spotlight the Chesapeake Leadership Academy, a new cohort for rising local government professionals who learn directly from CAOs, police chiefs, planners, and communicators about leading through complexity.

Threading it all together is BMC’s quiet superpower: nonpartisan convening. In a region where large counties often have the scale to go it alone, the council creates the space to align on issues that cross borders—public transportation, affordable housing, workforce pipelines, clean energy, and climate resilience. It’s practical, data-driven, and built on relationships that continue long after the bus rides end.

Subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: what regional challenge should we tackle 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.

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

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Land use isn’t abstract policy—it’s the shape of your morning, your rent, and your kid’s walk to school. We sit down with Deputy CAO Janssen Evelyn to go inside the decisions that turn a 200‑page plan into the street under your feet: who builds, what gets built, and how we protect nature while making room for the people who keep our county running.

We unpack the real work behind Plan 2040 and why equity isn’t a slogan here—it’s baked into housing and transportation choices. Janssen shares how “eat the frog” conversations move projects forward across planning, zoning, inspections, and community groups. We talk about the hard pivot from car‑only standards to a multimodal, safety‑first update of Adequate Public Facilities (APF): sidewalks, wider shared‑use paths, safer crossings, and transit connections where they matter most. From Riva Road signal fixes to future‑proofing growth areas, we look at how smarter design can reduce congestion and give residents real options beyond another solo drive.

Housing affordability takes center stage: how the county went from stalled efforts to required on‑site units for rentals and ownership, why some developers rushed to file before the deadline, and how ADUs deliver gentle, incremental supply without changing the feel of neighborhoods. We revisit sprawl’s costly lessons in places like Two Rivers and talk about what placemaking looks like when commercial and residential actually connect. Throughout, Janssen explains the balance of leverage and listening—meeting with MBIA, NAIOP, environmental advocates, and neighborhood coalitions—to surface pain points without losing the core goals: fix outdated traffic rules and build communities that are livable, fair, and green.

If you care about safer streets, lower housing costs, and a county that grows without losing what makes it special, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with the one change you want to see in your neighborhood. Your ideas shape what gets built 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.

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACoExec

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What would you do if your day in immigration court came without a lawyer?

County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Annapolis Immigration Justice Network (AIJN) Executive Director, Jessa Coulter, to explore how a lean, local model of legal aid helps immigrant families secure due process, stability, and a real shot at a future.

Jessa traces AIJN’s roots from a 2017 volunteer effort to a focused countywide network that funds low-bono attorneys. You’ll learn why immigration courts lack public defenders, how a $3,000 legal retainer can change a case's trajectory, and how AIJN achieves a 96% favorable outcome rate by staying laser-focused on legal representation.

Together, they unpack powerful stories—from stabilizing a 16-year-old trafficking survivor to reuniting a mother released from out-of-state detention—showing how legal help and local compassion intersect when the stakes are highest.

This conversation offers valuable insight into how local action can solve national challenges, emphasizing due process, family unity, and practical solutions that benefit our entire community.

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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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArundelTV

Ever wanted to ask a question to the County Executive about your local government? For this episode, County Executive Pittman held live “office hours,” pulled from call-ins, emails, and street interviews at River Days, and tackled big topics: how we fund public safety, where affordable homes will come from, why some projects move and others stall, and how you can steer decisions that touch your street.

We start with the nuts and bolts of safety. From contract funding for officers to technology that matters on the ground, we break down how the Real Time Information Center links body cams, drones, and the police helicopter to officers in the field. We share what’s working in violence prevention through Cure Violence Global, how reentry reduces repeat harm, and where capital dollars improve stations, training, and response. 

Then we get honest about housing affordability. Hear how inclusionary requirements now guarantee affordable units in new subdivisions, why accessory dwelling units can add discreet supply without subsidy, and how Crownsville’s redevelopment could blend transitional housing, affordable rental, and on-site health services.

Infrastructure and growth take center stage as we map out major capital projects: new schools, parks, trails, bridges, firehouses, libraries, and resilience work across the county. We explain how Plan 2040 and nine regional plans aim to put development where infrastructure already exists, why the Land Use Navigator and public campaign finance raise the bar on transparency, and what “smart growth” means in practice. We also unpack hot topics like red light and speed cameras—how to request them, how sites are chosen by data—and the long-running Chesapeake Terrace rubble landfill fight, with the latest legal status and what could come next.

Climate goals anchor the forward look: 100 percent renewable energy for county operations by 2030, an electric fleet on a clear timeline, and a Resilience Authority building for rising risks. For seniors and caregivers, we highlight the housing resource portal that consolidates programs and options near Annapolis. And if you want a say, we point you to Engage Arundel, budget town halls, and simple steps to mobilize with your HOA or local nonprofit so your voice moves policy, not just comments.

Subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor who cares about roads, housing, or safety, and send us your toughest question for the next office hours. 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACoExec

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AACoExec

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArundelTV