THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

JUST AHEAD ON OUR PROGRAM THIS WEEK, REACTIONED TO SUPREME COURT'S VOTING RIGHTS ACT DECISION AND ON KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND WE WILL FIND OUT IF THE PIMLICO REBUILD IS ON TRACK.

MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE DIGITAL AGE.

[♪♪] OUR NEWSMAKERS THIS WEEK ARE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND, ARUNA MILLER AND VINCENT HARRINGTON DIRECTOR OF YOUNG MEN AND BOYS PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MARYLAND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

GOVERNOR THIS WEEK YOU LAUNCHED THE MARYLAND YOUTH DIGITAL WELLNESS PLAYBOOK.

LET'S START WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT THAT PLAYBOOK IS MEANT TO ADDRESS.

>> ABSOLUTELY, JEFF.

WE KNOW THAT YOUNG PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ARE SUFFERING A LOT FROM THE DIGITAL ACCESS THAT THEY HAVE.

AND RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH GUARDRAILS AROUND IT.

AND SO REALLY WHAT THIS BOOK IS TRYING TO DO IS TO GIVE THEM THE PRACTICAL TOOLS THAT ARE SCIENCE ROOTED THAT CAN HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY'VE BEEN DOING TOO MUCH SCREEN TIME.

WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE?

AND HOW DO THEY ASK FOR HELP?

WHETHER IT'S ASKING THEIR PARENTS, TEACHERS, COACHES, WHOMEVER IT MAYBE.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS THE STUDENT TO BETTER COPE WITH DIGITAL INTERACTIONS AND ALL THEY FACE AS YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> Jeff: VIN SEPTEMBERS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, IT WAS NOT LIKE THIS WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP?

>> NO, IT WASN'T.

I AGREE WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FROM MY TIME 10 YEARS AGO, JUST THE NATURE WHERE SNEED AND THE CELLPHONINGS ARE NOW.

WE ARE EXCITED WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHILD MIND INSTITUTE AND IT'S BASED IN SCIENCE AS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ELUDED TO, A TOOL TO ASSIST OUR YOUTH, CAREGIVERS AND EDUCATORS.

WE UNDERSTAND IT'S 2026 AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD TECHNOLOGY CHANGES SO RAPIDLY.

WE KNOW THE ADDICTIVE QUALITIES THAT SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE PHONES ALLOW FOR OUR CHILDREN, IT'S CREATED TO DO JUST THAT.

WE WANTED TO HAVE A PLAYBOOK TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EVERY YOUNG PERSPECTIVE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND CAREGIVER, BE ABLE TO HAVE A TOOL NECESSARY FOR ENGAGEMENT TO ASSIST WITH THE DIGITAL LITERACY.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT THE TOOLS WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES THE TACTICS THAT YOU SUGGEST?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE AREAS WHEN WE WERE AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, JEFF, WE WALKED INTO A ROOM WHERE THERE WERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THEY EACH HAD A LAPTOP THERE.

AND THE STRUCKER WAS TEACHING THEM LOOK FOR THE SIGNS OF THINGS THAT APPEAR LIKE THEY ARE NOT APPROPRIATE WHEN YOU ARE ON-LINE.

FOR EXAMPLE, NO ONE SHOULD BE ASKING YOU WHAT YOUR ADDRESS IS OR ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION REGARDING YOURSELF.

SO YOU SHOULDN'T BE REVEALING THAT.

YOU SHOULD HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME PERIOD AND I KNOW THERE'S APPS RIGHT NOW THAT TELL YOU THIS IS HOW MUCH SCREEN TIME YOU HAVE BEEN ON.

MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GET OFF AND DO SOMETHING MORE INTERACTIVE IN REALTIME.

IT'S GIVING THE TOOLS FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW I'M FEELING REALLY OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW.

WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS?

DO I KEEP IT TO MYSELF OR SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE TOOLS IT PROVIDES FOR YOU.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, IS THAT IT TELLS YOU NOT TO FEEL GUILTY THAT YOU ARE ADDICTED TO THESE DIGITAL PLATFORMS BECAUSE THEY ARE ENGINEERED AND DESIGNED TO CREATE THIS ADDICTION.

SO THAT'S KIND OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED AND VINCENT MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE MORE?

>> PIGGY BACK ON THE LAST POINT AT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID IN TERMS OF ADDICTIVE QUALITIES ADD LESS ENDS AND THE PREDIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION RATES IN THE UNITED STATES AS A WHOLE AS DOUBLED SINCE 2005 OUR RESEARCH SHOWS YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SPEND MORE THAN THREE HOURS A DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA FACE DOUBLE THE RISK OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

GRATEFUL THE ADMINISTRATION HAS FOCUSED ON THIS AND UNDERSTAND FOR OUR YOUNG MEN AND BOYS THE SUICIDE RATE IS FOUR TIMES GREATER THAN GIRLS.

WE ARE NOT REPORTING IT.

TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO MEET OUR YOUTH AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO CREATE THIS ENGAGEMENT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

>> Jeff: GOVERNOR FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A PARENT, WHAT SHOULD PARENTS KNOW ABOUT THIS AND HOW CAN THEY HELP?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AND THEY SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT HOW PARENTS CAN HELP THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

ANOTHER THING THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT BOYS AND GIRLS RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND THE PRESSURES OF IT.

FOR EXAMPLE, GIRLS WILL GET A LOT OF CYBERBULLYING ON-LINE.

BOYS, ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S MUCH MORE ISOLATED THEY ARE INTO GAMING, GAMBLING, OTHER THINGS THAT ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT WHICH GIRLS EXPERIENCE.

SO THE PARENTS WILL SEE THESE DIFFERENCES THAT IT'S NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.

IF MY SON IS IS FACING IT CERTAINLY MY DAUGHTER IS.

NO, DIFFERENT WAYS THEY FACE IT AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT.

>> Jeff: IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT JUST LIKE THE SNACK FOOD COMPANIES LOAD UP SNACKS CAN SUGAR AND SALT AND FAT AND THINGS THAT MAKE YOU WANT ANOTHER ONE.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES AND YOU'VE BOTH REFERENCED THIS THERE WAS A RECENT COURT DECISION THE ALGORITHMS ARE DESIGNED TO HOOK YOU IN AND KEEP YOU COMING BACK.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT IS WHAT THIS PLAYBOOK SAYS THE ALGORITHMS ARE THERE TO INTENTIONALLY MAKE YOU ADDICTED.

THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THAT.

IN FACT I WAS REALLY SURPRISED HOW THOUGHTFUL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AND WHAT THEY SHARED.

THEY GET IT.

THEY KNOW THEY ARE A TARGET FOR CONSUMERISM THAT WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY LOOKED AT LAST IT STARTS APPEARING IN THEIR ALGORITHM.

RIGHT?

THEY POINTED THAT OUT TO US.

BUT HERE IS THE THING.

ONE ADDITIONAL THING WE KNOW IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IS AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED A BILL THE MARYLAND PHONE FREE SCHOOLS ACT AND THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO RESTRICTED USE OF CELLPHONES IN SCHOOLS.

SO I ASKED EVERYONE OF THE STUDENTS THAT QUESTION, I SAID HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?

YOU KNOW WHAT?

EVERYONE SAID IT IS A GOOD IDEA AND THEY ARE BEHIND IT.

>> Jeff: VINCENT WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND THE PLAYBOOK?

>> WE ARE HOUSE TO GO IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE GOC.MARYLAND.GOV.

AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ACCESS IF AND ENCOURAGING FAMILIES GO OVER THE PROMISES WITH THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE THIS IS A BOOK MADE FOR THEM, MADE FOR MARYLANDERS.

WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH THIS.

>> Jeff: VINCENT HARRINGTON AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ARUNA MILLER THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> Jeff: WITH THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TWO MONTHS AWAY, FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE LAW SCHOOL DISSECTED THE DOCUMENT IN AN EVENT THIS WEEK WE SPOKE WITH PROFESSOR MICHAEL HIGGINBOTHAM.

PROFESSOR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

BEFORE WE GET TO THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY, LET'S TALK ABOUT RECENT HISTORY.

THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT?

>> WELL, THE IMPACT IS THAT FEWER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE THEIR VOTE COUNTED AND IT WAS A VERY SAD DAY FOR ME AND I THINK FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

THE COURT CONTINUES ITS LIMITATION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION WE HAD IN THIS COUNTRY.

IN 1965 IT WAS PASSED 6%.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN MISSISSIPPI WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN 1964.

1968, 66%.

SO IT REALLY HAS HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN HOUR DEMOCRACY.

SO WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID YESTERDAY, IS THEY'VE CONTINUED TO LIMIT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

SHELBY COUNTY DECISION IN 2013 LIMITED SECTION 4 OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

AND YESTERDAY, THEY LIMITED SECTION 2 OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THEY MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR DISTRICTS TO BE CREATED THAT ARE MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICTS.

GIVING MINORITIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR VOTE FULLY COUNTED.

>> Jeff: LET'S DIG INTO THAT FOR A SECOND.

HOW DOES IT STOP -- I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA THAT NO LONGER IS THERE A MANDATE THAT WHERE POSSIBLE, STATES CONSTRUCT DISTRICTS SO THEY CAN BE MAJORITY, MINORITY.

BUT HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ANYONE'S VOTE BEING AFFECTED?

IT AFFECTS WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE?

>> IT'S ABOUT HAVING AN INPUT WHO IS VICTORIOUS IN THE ELECTION.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR HISTORY AND THIS IS WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS DEALING WITH VOTING.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR HISTORY, WE HAVE HAD RACIAL ASPECTS IN OUR VOTING.

I MEAN, THE HISTORY OF GRANDFATHER CLAUSES AND LITERACY AND POLL TAXES THESE WERE NEUTRAL DEVICES THAT WERE DESIGNED TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE PARTICIPATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS OR OTHER MINORITIES.

OTHER RACIAL MINORITIES.

AND SO WITH THAT BEING OUR HISTORY, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THAT ASPECT.

AND SO THE FACT THAT WE SAY THAT YOU KNOW, RACE WE HAVE TO IGNORE RACE IT HAS TO BE A COLOR BLIND APPROACH, IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE OUR HISTORY IS THAT WE HAVE NOT IGNORED RACE.

WE'VE PREVENTED INDIVIDUALS FROM VOTING BECAUSE OF RACE.

AND WHAT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT TRIES TO DO IS TO ALLOW THESE INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELECTION OF INDIVIDUALS, BASED UPON THEIR RACE, CERTAINLY INDIVIDUALS CAN BE ELECTED IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR RACE.

AND MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS REPRESENT MAJORITY WHITE DISTRICTS.

MANY WHITES REPRESENT MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS.

SO THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

BUT IF ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS ARE MAJORITY WHITE DISTRICTS, AND THAT'S DONE BY DESIGN, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.

WHY DON'T YOU HAVE SOME MAJOR MINORITY DISTRICTS AS WELL.

IT SEEMS TO BE FAIR TO ME AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S BEEN ALLOWED TO DO TO ALLOW SOME MAJORITY AND MINORITY DISTRICTS.

>> Jeff: DO YOU AGREE IN BLUE STATES IN MARYLAND THERE WON'T BE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT WE WILL HAVE A MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT IN BALTIMORE AND PRINCE GEORGE'S IN THE RED STATES THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO USE THE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS OF GERRYMANDERING TO SPLIT UP THOSE POCKETS OF MINORITY VOTERS?

>> THERE WILL BE THOSE ATTEMPTS AND IT'S BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF BLACK VOTERS TODAY, 90% OR HIGH 80s, TEND TO VOTE DEMOCRAT.

AND SO WHAT THAT DOES IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOW HAS AN INTEREST IN WHAT WE CALL PANGING OR CRACKING.

PACKING OR CRACKING AND IT'S LET'S DIVIDE BLACK VOTES UP SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO BE THE DECISIVE VOTE.

AND YOU DO THAT BY BREAKING UP AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS, BREAKING THEM UP INTO DISTRICTS THAT ARE MAJORITY WHITE DISTRICTS OR MAJORITY REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS.

>> Jeff: AND THE REASON WE SCHEDULED THIS INTERVIEW.

THE EVENT YOU DID AT UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE SCHOOL OF LAW AND THE SUBJECT OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AS LAWYERS AND LOOK AT THAT DOCUMENT WHAT STANDS OUT?

>> WELL CERTAINLY IT IS A POWERFUL DOCUMENT IN OUR WORLD HISTORY.

I THINK PRESIDENT REAGAN WHO SAID THAT THE DECLARATION AND THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION PUT WIND IN THE SAILS OF FREEDOM.

AND HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

BUT IT ALSO HAS HOLES IN THOSE SAILS.

AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ENSLAVED PERSONS, WOMEN, NATIVE-AMERICANS NOT BEING SORT OF INCLUDED IN THE DECLARATION.

BUT IT CERTAINLY HAD A POWERFUL PRINCIPLE.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS EQUALITY.

PUTTING THE NOTION OF EQUALITY THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AN UNAIL LEN ABLE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

I WILL TELL MY LAW STUDENTS YOU DON'T HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HAPPINESS BUT IT IS IN THE DECLARATION.

IT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT IN HISTORY.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S BEEN INTERPRETED OVER THE YEARS.

AND WHILE IT HAS HOLES IN THE SAILS IN TERMS OF A NUMBER OF GROUPS NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THAT NOTION OF EQUALITY, IT'S CHANGED TODAY.

I MEAN WE'VE HAD SUPREME COURT DECISIONS LIKE THE MARK DECISION THAT TALK ABOUT BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

WE'VE HAD AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT DEALT WITH THE DREAD SCOTT DECISION AND BLACKS NOT HAVING RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

AND WE'VE HAD POWERFUL VOTING RIGHTS DECISIONS.

LIKE BAKER VERSUS CAR AND REYNOLDS VERSUS SIMS THAT TALK ABOUT ONE PERSON ONE VOTE.

WE'VE HAD CHANGES IN OUR NOTION OF EQUALITY AND PARTICIPATION IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

WHICH ARE IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TODAY.

>> Jeff: I JUST HAVE A MINUTE.

WHEN THE FOURTH OF JULY GETS HERE AND EVERYBODY IS LASER FOCUSED ON THE PERIOD IN OUR HISTORY, THIS DOCUMENT, WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KEEP IN MIND?

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO KIND IN MIND THERE'S IMPORTANT NOTIONS IN THAT DECLARATION.

AND ALSO KEEP IN MIND WHAT KING CHARLES OF GREAT BRITAIN HAD TO SAY YESTERDAY TO CONGRESS.

I MEAN HE HAD TO REMIND US THAT SEPARATION OF POWERS THE CHECKS AND BALANCES ARE STILL IMPORTANT.

IT'S IRONIC THAT THE KING WHOSE GREAT DPRAND FATHER FIVE TIMES WAS WHO IS THE DECLARATION WAS INDICTING, BUT HE REMINDED US THAT WE HAVE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES START THE DECLARATION CONTINUED IN OUR CONSTITUTION THAT WE NEED TO RESPECT, RECOGNIZE AND REAFFIRM.

AND THAT IS WHAT 2 FIVE 0 IS ALL ABOUT.

>> PROFESSOR MICHAEL HIGGINBOTHAM ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Jeff: WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW IT'S KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND KICKING OFF THE TRIPLE CROWN AND LEADING TO THE RUNNING OF THE PREAKNESS STAKES IN TWO WEEKS.

THAT WON'T BE HAPPENING AT PIMLICO AS FACILITIES HAVE BEEN LEVELED TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CLUBHOUSE.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE STADIUM AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE.

>> ALL THE DEMOLITION HAS BEEN COMPLETED AT PIMLICO.

AND RIGHT NOW, THE BIGGEST ACTIVITY WE HAVE IS BUILDING A BIG TUNNEL TO ACCESS THE INFIELD AND THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TUNNEL THAT WILL BE CAPABLE OF TRACTOR-TRAILERS FILLING IN AND ALSO PEDESTRIANS, CROSSING DURING RACES.

SO THE DAYS OF PUTTING DOWN A MATT OVER THE TRACK AND TRYING TO RUSH INTO THE INFIELD DURING THE PREAKNESS WILL BE GONE.

BESIDES THAT SOME OF THE STRUCTURES COMING OUT OF THE GROUND AND STEEL GOING UP.

A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE SITE SO THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY.

>> Jeff: BIG QUESTION FOR RACING FANS: ARE WE ON TRACK SO TO SPEAK, TO OPEN A YEAR FROM NOW?

>> YES, SIR.

WE PLAN TO HAVE ALL THE EQUINE COMPONENTS NECESSARY TO THE PREAKNESS TO RETURN TO PIMLICO IN 2027.

WHAT WILL NOT BE COMPLETED IS THE CLUBHOUSE.

SO THE 2027 PREAKNESS IS WHAT WE CALL A TOTAL OVERLAY EVENT WITH 10 FREE STRUCTURES.

AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE USED TO THAT.

ITPREAKNESS HAS A PAST THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF OVERLAY AND TENTS AND SUITES BUILT FOR THE EVENT AND THESE OVERLAY STRUCTURES THAT THEY DO TODAY, ARE REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WILL NOTICE AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.

>> Jeff: WELL, YOU SEE THAT AT GOLF TOURNAMENTS AND ALL SORTS OF EVENTS AND IF THE NEW CLUBHOUSE AT PIMLICO IS GOING TO BE SMALLER WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO YOU WILL HAVE TEMPORARY STRUCTURES GOING FORWARD?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

EVEN AFTER THE CLUBHOUSE IS COMPLETE, THERE WILL BE MANY TEMPORARY STRUCTURES FOR THE BIG EVENT.

BUT I WILL SAY, YOU SAY THE CLUBHOUSE IS SMALLER THAN IT WAS IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A BIG BUILDING THAT WE EXPECT TO GET A LOT OF USE OUTSIDE OF RACING AND PREAKNESS ALL DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR EVENTS.

WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE BEAUTIFUL CLUBHOUSE THAT WILL BE THERE.

>> Jeff: WELL, TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

IF YOU WOULD, I KNOW, BUILDING SOMETHING THAT IS A BIT OF AN AMENITY FOR THE NORTHWEST BALTIMORE COMMUNITY WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROJECT.

>> IT IS.

AND ONE THING THAT WE DO WE HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

EVERY MONTH WE HAD ONE LAST NIGHT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE FULLY INTEGRATED WITH THE DECISION MAKING AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND THE CLUBHOUSE WILL BE A NICE AMENITY FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A DESTINATION FOR EVENTS OUTSIDE OF RACING.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT LAUREL PARK AND THE READINESS OF THAT FACILITY WHICH THE STATE IS BUYING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S THAT DEAL HAS CLOSED YET BUT THE READINESS THERE TO HOST THE PREAKNESS IN TWO WEEKS?

>> SO THE GROUP AND THE MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB ARE TOTALLY IN CHARGE OF PREAKNESS THIS YEAR IN A COUPLE WEEKS TIME.

THAT IS NOT A STATE AUTHORITY EVENT.

BUT OUR BOARD VOTED LAST WEEK TO APPROVE THE ACQUISITION OF LAUREL.

AND THERE IS A CERTAIN STATE PROCESS IT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH, INCLUDING APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THAT IS EXPECTED JUNE 18TH AND WE EXPECT TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY BY THE END OF JUNE.

>> Jeff: THE STATE HAD PURCHASED A FARM IN CARROLL COUNTY THAT WAS TO BE THE NEW TRAINING CENTER FOR THOROUGHBREDS IN MARYLAND AND THAT DID NOT WORKOUT AND THE DECISION WAS TO LAUREL WAS BASICALLY GOING TO CLOSE AND IT'S VALUABLE REAL ESTATE.

BUT THE DECISION WAS TO MAKE THAT THE NEW TRAINING CENTER?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THE STATE DID PURCHASE SHAMROCK FARMS IN CARROLL COUNTY LAST YEAR.

A DIFFERENT STATE AGENCY WE'RE SUNSETTED BY THE LEGISLATURE JULY FIRST LAST YEAR.

ONCE WE GOT ON-SITE AND DID THE DUE DILIGENCE IT BECAME APPARENT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TRAINS FORM THAT INTO A TRAINING CENTER AND WE REACHED OUT TO SEE IF LAUREL WAS UP FOR GRABS AND TO BE THE FUTURE OF TRAINING, THE MAIN TRAINING CENTER FOR THE STATE AND AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF NEGOTIATION WE CAME TO TERMS.

>> Jeff: TELL US WHAT YOU ARE UP TO, YOU'VE BEEN AT THE STADIUM AUTHORITY FOR DECADES WHICH DOES NOT JUST BUILD STADIUMS IT'S BEEN SCHOOLS AND PROJECTS.

WHAT ELSE IS ON YOUR PLATE RIGHT NOW?

>> WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON.

OUR MISSION HAS CHANGED SO MUCH OVER THE ALMOST 40 YEARS THE STATE AUTHORITY HAS BEEN AROUND.

I'VE BEEN THERE 31 OF THOSE 40.

WE'RE BUILDING FINISHING A SCHOOLS PROGRAM, 29 NEW SCHOOLS IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE TWO MORE TO GO.

AND WE'RE SPENDING $1.8 BILLION ON SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE ALSO HAVE $400 MILLION TO BE INVESTED IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AROUND AN ENTERTAINMENT CORRIDOR.

AND WE'RE UPGRADING ALL THE MINOR LEAGUE STADIUMS UP TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S NEW REQUIREMENTS.

SO WE HAVE A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO.

WE DO STUDIES WHICH TEST OUT OUR IDEAS THAT MAY COME TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR FUNDING IN THE FUTURE.

SO WE'RE BUSY.

>> Jeff: HOW CHALLENGING IS THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT FOR BRINGING PROJECTS IN ON BUDGET?

I'M THINKING ABOUT INFLATION WHICH HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT PERSISTENT AND ALSO FUEL COSTS THAT GO INTO PROJECTS?

>> OH, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING FROM SUPPLY CHAIN, WE GOT NOTICE THAT STEEL IS ALMOST 12 MONTHS OUT AT THIS POINT WHICH IS DOUBLE WHAT IT USED TO BE.

GETTING TRANSFORMERS IS ABOUT THE SAME.

SO SUPPLY CHAIN IS BIG.

INFLATION, IS ANOTHER BIG ONE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO DO BUDGETS.

BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPACTS AND IMPACTED RACING ON PIMLICO WE GOT HIT ON BOTH SIDES BECAUSE WE HAVE BONDING AUTHORITY, WE ISSUE BONDS AND THE COST OF ISSUING BONDS IN THE LAST SIX YEARS, HAS BECOME EXTREMELY HIGH.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO GARY MCGUIGAN OF THE STADIUM AUTHORITY AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

JOIN US EVERY WEEK AT THIS TIME FOR THE LATEST ON MARYLAND'S POLITICAL STAGE.

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