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Send us Fan Mail 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 Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail 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. Follow Ben Yelin! Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail 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 Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail 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. Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail 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 Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail 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 Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail Tax Increment Financing (TIF) can be a powerful tool for supporting development, but it can also be one of the more misunderstood pieces of local economic and housing policy.  In Episode 11, Dom and Terry break down how TIF works, why jurisdictions use it, and how future tax revenue can help finance infrastructure and other improvements needed to enable development. The conversation also examines the concerns that often surround TIF, including questions about risk, public benefit, and whether these deals deliver enough value for communities.  The episode covers both the mechanics and the debate, giving listeners a clearer picture of where TIF can be effective, where the tradeoffs emerge, and why the tool continues to spark strong opinions. 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 Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail Five years into implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, how is Maryland’s sweeping education reform plan affecting the people responsible for bringing it to life in classrooms and schools across the state? Sarah Sample continues her Conduit Street Podcast series examining the Blueprint from different perspectives across Maryland’s education community. This week, she is joined by Sean Johnson, Executive Director of the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA), which represents 77,000 educators statewide. The conversation explores what the Blueprint has meant for Maryland’s education workforce, from the new $60,000 starting salary and efforts to recruit and retain educators to alternative pathways into the profession and expanded support for school employees. Sean also weighs in on where the Blueprint is showing progress, why meaningful education reform takes time, and the challenge of maintaining the state’s commitments as Maryland faces a difficult budget environment. With the Blueprint’s five-year evaluation approaching and lawmakers preparing for the 2027 legislative session, Sarah and Sean discuss where measured changes may make sense, how funding and policy decisions should work together, and what it will take to keep Maryland’s education reforms moving forward. Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail For decades, vacant and abandoned properties have been one of Baltimore City’s most persistent challenges. Now, the numbers are moving in a different direction.  Vacant homes have fallen from more than 16,000 to fewer than 12,000 during Mayor Brandon Scott’s time in office, while census estimates show Baltimore gaining residents for the first time in a decade. In episode 10, Dom and Terry sit down with Mayor Scott to discuss what is driving that progress, what it takes to return long-vacant properties to productive use, and how the effort fits into Baltimore’s broader strategy to strengthen neighborhoods and attract and retain residents.  The conversation explores the momentum behind a challenge, generations in the making, and what comes next.  Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail Five years into implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, Maryland’s sweeping education reform plan is approaching a pivotal moment. On this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Sarah Sample kicks off a new series examining how the Blueprint is playing out on the ground and what could come next as lawmakers prepare for the 2027 legislative session. Her first guest is Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director of the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland (PSSAM), who brings the perspective of the school system leaders charged with putting the ambitious reform plan into practice. The conversation looks at where the Blueprint is delivering results, including expanded pre-K, dual enrollment, career-focused opportunities, community schools, and greater access to programs in historically under-resourced districts. But five years of implementation have also brought significant challenges, from rising special education costs and competing education priorities to inflation, school construction needs, and mounting pressure on state and local budgets. With the Blueprint’s interim evaluation due later this year and major budget decisions awaiting lawmakers in Annapolis, Sarah and Mary Pat discuss what superintendents want policymakers to understand about implementation, where adjustments may be needed, and why Mary Pat says the biggest takeaway for the years ahead is to “stay the course.” Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail Housing’s biggest challenges rarely have a single solution. What happens when you stop talking about the housing problem and start kicking the tires on possible solutions?  In Episode 9, Dom and Terry are joined by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day for a rapid-fire look at some of the ideas gaining attention in the housing conversation. From new approaches to financing and building design to questions about public input, downsizing, and making development easier for smaller builders, the group digs into where there may be real opportunity and where the details get complicated.  It is a wide-ranging conversation about which ideas might actually help Maryland build more housing, which still need some work, and which may be destined for a few more workgroups before they are ready for prime time. Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down the latest from Maryland’s Local Revenue Task Force and the options on the table as it considers how to modernize county and municipal revenue structures. They dig into property tax flexibility, commercial property rates, land value taxation, data centers, municipal tax setoffs, and what greater local flexibility could actually look like. The conversation also takes a closer look at the State’s fiscal outlook and what counts as “aid” to local governments, even as nearly all of the recent growth goes to education and retirement costs. Plus, Kevin and Michael preview the Task Force’s September 14 public hearing, where counties can weigh in before recommendations take shape ahead of the 2027 legislative session. Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Local Revenue Task Force Sets Public Hearing: Here’s How To Testify Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Revenue Task Force Weighs Options for Modernizing Local Revenues Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Revenue Task Force Convenes: Counties Shoulder 96% of Local Spending, But Revenue Tools Haven’t Kept Pace

Send us Fan Mail For the final episode of The Briefing Room's housing finance series, the conversation heads west to Garrett County, where local leaders are putting many of the tools explored throughout the series into practice. Dom Butchko and Baltimore County Housing and Community Development Director Terry Hickey are joined by Garrett County Commissioner Paul Edwards and Liz Georg of the Garrett County Housing Commission to explore Hemlock Grove, an innovative housing development designed to address a challenge familiar to communities across Maryland: local wages struggling to keep pace with the cost of housing. The conversation examines the unique pressures shaping Garrett County's housing market, including the influence of Deep Creek Lake, limited infrastructure, and the challenge of retaining young professionals and families. Paul and Liz walk through how local government, nonprofits, community partners, and a newly created land trust came together to reduce development costs and create homes priced significantly below the surrounding market.  Along the way, they unpack how the land trust model can preserve affordability across generations, lessons learned from more than a decade of planning, and opportunities to strengthen Maryland's land trust framework for other jurisdictions looking to replicate the approach. It's a fitting conclusion to the housing finance series: a look at what happens when the financing, policy, partnerships, and local decision-making explored over seven episodes come together on the ground. Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail Summer Conference is in the rearview mirror, but many of the conversations shaping Maryland policy are just getting started. In the latest round of News or Noise, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson are joined by Sarah Sample for a look at the headlines, policy debates, and emerging issues that could follow county leaders from #MACoCon into the 2027 legislative session. The conversation starts with a look back at MACo’s Summer Conference before turning to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and whether an upcoming evaluation could lead lawmakers to reconsider pieces of the sweeping education reform plan amid mounting fiscal pressure. The group also digs into Maryland’s growing school construction needs, the funding gap facing counties, and the increasingly difficult prospect of local governments forward-funding major projects while waiting for the State to catch up. Then, the conversation turns to technology and privacy, where Sarah breaks down Maryland’s existing approach to automatic license plate readers as AI-powered surveillance tools draw growing scrutiny. Are Maryland’s existing safeguards enough, or will rapidly evolving technology force policymakers to revisit the rules? Finally, in true News or Noise fashion, the episode closes outside the policy arena with college football, NIL, revenue sharing, and a bigger question: are college sports still amateur sports at all? From education funding and government surveillance to the changing economics of college athletics, the team sorts through what’s news, what’s noise, and what Maryland’s counties should keep watching.  Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

Send us Fan Mail Building new housing is only part of the affordability challenge. Counties also need tools to preserve the affordable homes already in their communities. In Episode 7 of The Briefing Room's housing finance series, Dom Butchko and Terry Hickey are joined by Jonathan R. Butler, Director of the Prince George’s County Department of Housing & Community Development, to explore preservation as a housing strategy. The conversation looks at where affordable properties are most at risk, how Right of First Refusal (ROFR) can help counties preserve existing units, and how Prince George’s County puts that tool into practice. The episode also explores the partnerships and financing needed to make preservation deals work and what other counties can learn from the Prince George’s approach. As Maryland works to expand its housing supply, preservation remains an important part of keeping existing homes affordable and preventing communities from losing ground. Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook