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

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT ARE HIGHER GAS PRICES AFFECTING VACATION TRAVEL?

WE WILL CHECK IN WITH OCEAN CITY MAYOR, RICK MEEHAN.

MPT BROADCAST A SMECH GUY GOVERNOR WES MOORE RUNNING FOR REELECTION AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR.

TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR FORMER DELEGATE DAN COX.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAMPAIGN.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF IT IS AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT AND WE ARE RUNNING HARD AND RUNNING TO WIN AND SAVE MARYLAND FROM THE COST OF LIVING THAT HAVE INCREASED AS EVERYONE KNOWS AND OUR PLAN IS COMMON SENSE AND SIMPLE.

TO RESTORE AFFORDABILITY TO MARYLAND.

AND IT IS AN HONOR TO BE DOING THAT AND EVERYONE CAN GO TO MY WEBSITE, DAN COX FOR GOVERNOR.COM AND HELP.

>> Jeff: HOW DOES YOUR PLATFORM DIFFER FROM FOUR YEARS AGO?

>> DIFFERS IN EVERY WAY IN THE SENSE EVERYBODY IN MARYLAND UNDERSTANDS THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY.

I HAVE HAD TWO CHILDREN MARRY AND MOVE OUT OF STATE.

WE HAVE THE HIGHEST ENERGY PRICES IN THE NATION.

TRACKING THAT ALL THE TIME IS VERY EASY, BECAUSE WE REALLY TRULY HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION BECAUSE WES MOORE NOT BRINGING PLANTS ON-LINE AND AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE POWER PLANTS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF LINE.

WE ARE NOT SUSTAINING THE GRID WE'RE BUYING 40% OF OUR POWER FROM OUT OF STATE.

WE'RE PAYING HIGHER PRICES.

AND AS YOU KNOW IT'S IMPACTING EVERYONE'S KITCHEN TABLE ECONOMICS.

AND THEN YOU ADD TO THAT ISSUE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

WE HAVE THE YOUNG PEOPLE SUCH AS MY MARRIED CHILDREN OLDER KIDS THAT HAD TO MOVE OUT OF STATE AND SENIORS.

RIGHT NOW PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS BUT 30,000 TAX LIEN SALES ARE PENDING IN MARYLAND AND 45% ARE SENIORS WHO PAID FOR THEIR HOUSE AND YET SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WHEN YOU SEE THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE ACROSS THE BOARD RAISING UP TO 20%.

PEOPLE THIS WEEK ARE RECEIVING THOSE PROPERTY TAX BILLS AND THEY ARE OUTRAGEOUS IN MANY RESPECTS AND SHOCKING AND THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE WHEN WE SEE THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW, WES MOORE'S BUDGET THAT HE HAS US NEARLY $4 BILLION IN STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.

ALL WHILE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND CANNOT EVEN YOU KNOW, GET ACROSS A KEY BRIDGE THAT IS UNBUILT AND HAS NO PLAN TO BE BUILT.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES.

IT IS A DIFFERENT CAMPAIGN THIS TIME.

>> Jeff: ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT VOTERS MIGHT TUNE THIS OUT AS A REPLAY OF THE CAMPAIGN FOUR YEARS AGO WHICH WAS WES MOORE AND DAN COX AND WES MOORE WON BY MORE THAN 30 POINTS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST MARGINS IN DECADES?

>> INITIALLY THAT IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WE LOOKED AT AND THE REASON WE GOT INTO THE RACE IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK HOWEVER ONE IS HURTING AND THE FACT THAT WES MOORE HAS A RECORD.

REMEMBER, LAST TIME NO ONE KNEW WHO WES MOORE WAS.

I HAD MORE OF A TRACK RECORD AND WHETHER YOU LIKE ME OR NOT PEOPLE KNEW WHERE I STOOD I SPOKE AND SAID WHAT I BELIEVE.

AND PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT AND SUPPORTED THOSE POLICIES OR NOT.

BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT WES MOORE NOW WE DO.

WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR DIRECT UNDERSTANDING OF HIS APPROACH.

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR MARYLAND AND NOT GOOD FOR THE AVERAGE MARYLANDER HE IS NOT FROM HERE OBVIOUSLY AND HE IS NOT STAYING HERE HIS FEET ARE IN THE GROUND IN EVERY OTHER STATE BUT MARYLAND WHILE EVERYDAY MARYLANDERS ARE FACING THESE HIGH COSTS AND BILLS.

OUR CAMPAIGN IS SIMPLE.

I AM A LIFELONG MARYLANDER, A LIFELONG LOVER OF THIS STATE.

AND MY WIFE AND KIDS AND OUR WIFE WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE AND A LOT OF MARYLANDERS WOULD LIKE TO STAY HERE.

MY GRANDPARENTS ARE FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY I GREW UP IN THE RIVER IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

I HAVE A BUSINESS FOR 21 YEARS, PROVIDED FOR MY FAMILY WITH OUR SEVERAL SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND SO MANY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE HAVING TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE RISING INCREASE IN COSTS.

THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE IN A COX ADMINISTRATION.

WE WILL BRING BACK COMMON SENSE AND FOCUS ON THE ECONOMIC ISSUES.

>> Jeff: IN THE PRIMARY, THIS YEAR, ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORS WAS NAMED WES MOORE.

HE SPENT HIS CAMPAIGN MONEY URGING REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR YOU TO BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

WHEN YOU SAW THAT I'M CURIOUS, WERE YOU INSULTED?

WERE YOU ANGRY?

WERE YOU HAPPY THAT HE WAS WASTING HIS MONEY ON THAT?

OR ONE OF THOSE THINGS IT WAS AS LONG AS THEY SPELL THE NAME RIGHT?

>> THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY.

YOU KNOW, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE GOVERNOR AND TO THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, THAT POSTCARD THAT HE SENT WHICH I OBJECTED TO ALSO FEATURED ED HALE THE OTHER CANDIDATE IN THE RACE AS YOU KNOW.

AND THERE IS A VERY CLEAR EXPLANATION ON THAT POSTCARD OF THE DIFFERENCES IN HOW WES MOORE INTENDED TO PAINT EITHER ONE OF US THAT WON.

HE WAS GETTING A HEADSTART ON US BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE I WAS GOING TO BE THE WINNER AND I WON HANDDYLY.

AND HE WAS ATTACKS US BOTH.

THAT'S THE WAY I THINK THERE'S SOME DIRTY POLITICS IN THERE AND THAT IS THE WAY POLITICS ARE PLAYED NOWADAYS.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WES MOORE'S INTEREST IN ME HE WOULD HAVE HAD A GREATER INTEREST IN SOMEBODY LIKE A ONE OF THE OTHER TICKET HOLDERS BECAUSE ONE THING WES MOORE KNOWS, I AM A FIGHTER AND I WILL BRING THIS FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND.

I WILL NOT BACK DOWN.

AND I'M READY TO WIN BECAUSE MARYLAND IS IN THE BALANCE.

AND THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND ARE READY TO MOVE ON BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN EXACTLY THE POLICIES THAT WES MOORE PROVIDED FOR US IT'S UNAFFORDABILITY HE IS TOO EXPENSIVE AND TOO DANGEROUS.

HE IS CAUSING CRIME TO INCREASE BY SIGNING THESE MEASURES PREVENTING LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM WORKING TO END VIOLENT, THE VIOLENT CRIMINAL SCOURGE ON THE STREETS FROM PRINCETON'S 17-YEAR-OLDS AND IIAN BATES THE PROSECUTOR IN BALTIMORE CITY CAME OUT AND SAID THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR MARYLAND THAT IS A WES MOORE RECORD.

HE PUT THAT ON THE BOOKS.

AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RISING COSTS OH, MY!

JEFF, I WAS REACHED OUT TO BY DEER FOLKS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND THE AVERAGE GRANDPARENT HOME THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO EAT DINNER IN AND THEY'VE PAID THEIR MORTGAGE OFF FOR YEARS AND OWNED THEIR HOUSE AND NOW THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE THEIR OUTRAGEOUS INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX BILL WHICH MANY HAVE SEEN COME UP OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS THIS WEEK.

NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER EXPENSES SUCH AS YOUR OTHER COSTS THAT GET ADDED INTO THOSE COLLECTION NOTICES.

THIS IS AN URGENT ISSUE THIS IS MARYLAND IN THE BALANCE AND WE ARE RUNNING TO WIN.

>> Jeff: DO YOU STILL CONSIDER YOURSELF A TRUMP REPUBLICAN?

>> WELL, I NEVER CONSIDERED MYSELF A TRUMP REPUBLICAN.

I OBVIOUSLY THIS TIME AROUND I'M FOCUSED ON MARYLAND AND MARYLAND ISSUES.

MY PEOPLE MAKE LIGHT OF OUR A LOT OF THE PRESIDENT ENDORSING ME LAST TIME AROUND AND I WOULD HUMBLY REMIND PEOPLE HE ENDORSES ALMOST EVERY REPUBLICAN IN AMERICA.

THAT DOES NOT DEFINE ME.

WHO I AM I'M DAN COX A MARYLANDER LIFELONG MARYLANDER WHO BELIEVES IN OUR FAMILIES HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY HERE TO RETIRE HERE AND HAVE A GREAT LIFE AND HAVE BUSINESSES FLOURISH AND HAVE A REASONABLE AND COMMON SENSE TAX RATE.

WE ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST TAXED STATES IN THE NATION.

A REPORT CAME OUT AND WE ARE 42nd FOR WOFORT TAXES IN AMERICA THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND AS THE GOVERNOR TRIES TO PLACE BLAME ON OTHERS, YOU LOOK AROUND, JEFF AND OTHER DEMOCRATICALLY LED STATES ARE NOT THIS BAD OFF THEY ARE NOT HURTING AS MUCH PARTICULARLY PLACES ACROSS THE BORDER.

YOU SEE A BUDGET NOT UNDERWATER.

$50 BILLION IN PENNSYLVANIA AND WE HAVE $71 BILLION BUDGET IN MARYLAND WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

WHEN PENNSYLVANIA HAS TWICE THE RESIDENTS OF MARYLAND.

AND YOU LOOK IN AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS WE ARE GOING TO BRING ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN ELECTED, THE CPA'S IN AND LOOK THE THE WASTE.

YOU SEE IT'S YOUR TAXPAYER IT'S MARYLAND TAXPAYER MONEY GOING WHERE?

300 MILLION WENT TO GHOST STUDENTS THAT WEREN'T THERE.

DHS, IT LOOKS LIKE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS MISPLACED OR LOST.

THAT DIDN'T GO TO HELP THE POOR AND THE NEEDY THAT DIDN'T HELP THOSE WHO ARE ON THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, WHICH, BY THE WAY, WAS A DISASTER WITH WHAT HAPPENED AS YOU MAY RECALL WITH THE SCANDALS OUT OF THE WES MOORE FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE FIXED AND THINGS THAT ARE COMMON SENSE TO FIX AND WE'RE GOING TO FIX THEM.

>> Jeff: LEGISLATURE WHERE YOU USED TO SERVE IS COMING BACK NEXT MONTH FOR A SPECIAL SESSION RELATED TO REDISTRICTING.

WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF THAT?

>> I'M ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO THIS IN THE SENSE THAT WE SEE ONCE AGAIN, WES MOORE TRYING TO SILENCE THE VOICES OF MARYLAND.

I MEAN, REALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT DEMOCRACY YOU NEED TO HAVE ALTERNATIVE OPINIONS AND YOU NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE REPRESENTED TO FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICES ARE ABLE TO ENGAGE.

AND WE HAVE ALMOST 40% OF MARYLAND AS REPUBLICANS AND LOTS OF SWING INDEPENDENTS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE AT LEAST ONE SEAT SPEAK FOR THEM.

AND HERE WE HAVE SEVEN DEMOCRATIC SEATS IN MARYLAND FOR CONGRESS AND NOW WES MOORE BECAUSE OF HIS NATIONAL AMBITIONS.

REMEMBER HAD THIS IS NOT FOR MARYLAND.

THESE ARE HIS NATIONAL AMBITIONS LOOKING AGAIN OUTSIDE OF MARYLAND TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK GOOD TO TAKE THE LAST REPUBLICAN SEAT WHICH IS TRULY A DIVERSE OPINION TO HAVE IN THIS STATE.

AND THAT IS JUST TOTALLY UNDEMOCRATIC I'M SAD TO SEE HIM TAKE THAT STEP AND I THINK IT WILL HAVE A BACKLASH.

THE EASTERN SHORE IS FED UP AND HE IS TAKING AWAY THEIR VOICE THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE DAN COX.

>> Jeff: I HAVE A MINUTE.

YOUR TWITTER SAYS VOTE DAN COX TO STOP THE DATA CENTERS.

WHY?

AND WITHIN A MINUTE OUT WOULD YOU DO THAT?

>> WES MOORE TOOK $12,000 FROM THE OWNER OF TERRA WOLF THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED AFTER AT THAT TIME THE MORGANTOWN POWER PLANT WAS THEN FAST TRACKED INTO TERRA WOLF'S CUSTODY.

REMEMBER WE ARE IN AN ENERGY SHORTAGE.

WE ARE AT A POINT IN TIME WITH MORE ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS COMING BACK ON-LINE THAT LESS.

AND INSTEAD WE HAVE WES MOORE GIVING OVER THE MORGANTOWN PLANT FAST TRACKING THAT OVER TO A DATA CENTER A MEGA DATA CENTER AND WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

FIRST OF ALL WE DON'T HAVE THE ELECTRIC GRID TO KEEP UP WITH IT.

SECONDLY IT'S DANGEROUS TO THE COMMUNITY IT'S EVIDENCE WITHIN A SIX MILE RADIUS THAT IS CAN RAISE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AREA OF THAT RADIUS BY UP TO 16°.

THIS IS SCIENCE TALKING NOT DAN COX.

I ACTUALLY LOVE TECHNOLOGY.

I THINK THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OPTIONS ON THE HORIZON FOR EXPANDING THAT WE CAN DO BETTER BECAUSE THE CURRENT DATA CENTER APPROACH OF SEIZING OUR FARMLANDS AND TAKING OVER MARYLAND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE LOOKING AT ENERGY PLANTS.

>> Jeff: DAN COX IS THE -- DAN COX IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR.

SIR, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.

>> Jeff: TONIGHT'S INTERVIEW WITH Mr.

COX AND GOVERNOR MOORE'S SPEECH CAN BE FOUND ON-LINE AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW OUR VISIT DOWN TO THE OCEAN WE'RE JOINED BY OCEAN CITY MAYOR RICK MEEHAN.

IT IS ALWAYS IN YOUR VIEW SUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL IN OCEAN CITY BUT TODAY IT'S SUNNY AND 80°.

IT LOOKS PERFECT.

>> YOU KNOW, JEFF, HEY IT'S NICE TALKING TO YOU AGAIN YES IT IS A PERFECT DAY HERE ON THE BEACH.

THE BEACH LOOKS GREAT IT'S LATE AFTERNOON BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE BEACH.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL PERFECT DAYS IN OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: LET'S START WITH THE BUSINESS OF OCEAN CITY WHICH IS TOURISM MAKES YOU THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE OVER THE SUMMER SEASON.

ARE YOU SEEING ANY IMPACT FROM THE INCREASE IN GAS PRICES?

>> NO.

THAT WOULD BE NEIGES LINGABLE.

WE ARE A DRIVE TO DESTINATION WITHIN 150 MILES OF THE MAJORITY OF THOSE THAT VISIT OCEAN CITY.

IT'S STILL REASONABLY INEXPENSIVE TRIP AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT US VERY MUCH.

WE CERTAINLY HOPE THE GAS PRICES GO DOWN THAT IS BETTER FOR EVERYBODY BUT IT HASN'T HAD ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR TOURIST SEASON.

>> Jeff: IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT THE BIG CROWDS OF TOURISTS TO KNOW BEFORE THEY SHOW UP READY TO HAVE SOME FUN?

I'M THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

AND JEFF, OUR GOAL IS THAT EVERYBODY ARRIVES IN OCEAN CITY SAFELY THEY ARE SAFE WHILE THEY ARE HERE AND THEY RETURN HOME SAFELY.

AND WE ASK EVERYBODY WHEN THEY COME ON THE BEACH THE LIFEGUARDS ARE IN THE STANDS EVERYDAY FROM 10:00 A.M.-5:30.

DON'T GO INTO THE WATER UNTIL THE LIFEGUARDS SIT THE STANDS.

THAT IS WHAT SAFETY IS ABOUT.

YOU CAN TALK TO THE LIFEGUARDS FAMILIES WITH MEET THE LIFEGUARDS AND THEY WILL TALK TO THEM ABOUT SAFETY OUT IN THE WATER.

WE WANT EVERYBODY TO OBEY THE RULES AT THE ROADWAY.

CROSS AT THE CROSSWALKS.

AND OBEY THE RULES OF THE ROADWAY LIKE YOU WOULD AT HOME ON VACATION IN OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: I KNOW THE TOWN IS MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA JUST KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR ANY OF THESE GATHERINGS THESE TAKEOVER EVENTS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

IS THAT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN OCEAN CITY?

OR YOU'VE SEEN IT HAPPENING OTHER PLACES?

>> IT HAS HAPPENED IN OCEAN CITY.

AND WE'RE SEEING IT HAPPEN ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE'RE VERY VIGILANT IN MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA AND FOLLOWING THE DIFFERENT SITES TO SO WE CAN BE AWARE OF THOSE ARE PLANNED.

WE DID HAVE A TAKEOVER EVENT LAST JULY 4TH WEEKEND THAT DID NOT OCCUR THIS YEAR.

WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE.

BUT OUR POLICE HAVE A GOOD PLAN IN PLACE.

WE ARE A DISTANCE AWAY FROM MOST OF THOSE THAT COME TO VISIT SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LEAD TIME IS AN EVENT IS PLANNED AND IN ANTICIPATION THIS PAST FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND WE HAD NOT ONLY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT MARYLAND STATE POLICE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HERE IN OCEAN CITY.

AS YOU MENTIONED WE'VE BECOME THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE STATE POPULATION WISE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS SAFE.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT THIS PAST WEEKEND THOUGH WE HAD IN EXCESS OF 300,000 PEOPLE HERE IN OCEAN CITY AND THAT IS ALWAYS OUR GOAL AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR GOAL.

>> Jeff: AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU ARE TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE FUN.

AND YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE AND THE OFFICERS NOW LIKE, I THINK, MOST IF NOT ALL PLACES IN THE STATE HAVE BODY WORN CAMERAS AND I'M GUESSING IN THE 20 YEARS OR SO YOU HAVE BEEN THE MAYOR, THE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT HAS CHANGED A LOT?

>> YES.

WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME OFFICERS DRAMATICALLY.

WE HAVE BODY-CAMERAS ON ALL OF OUR OFFICERS.

WE HAVE A CITY WATCH CAMERA SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY THAT CAPTURES ALMOST EVERY SPOT IN TOWN.

SO WE CAN KEEP THE EYES IN THE SKY AND WORK WITH OUR OFFICERS THAT ARE ON PATROL.

IT'S VERY WELL PLANNED.

WE'RE VIGILANT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS SAFE.

IT IS A CHALLENGE.

AND WE NEED EVERYBODY TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

SO WE JUST ASK EVERYBODY TO OBEY THE LAW WHILE YOU ARE HERE.

YOU CAN HAVE A LOT OF FUN IN OCEAN CITY AND OBEY THE LAW.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE FLASHPOINTS HAS BEEN PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIGHT UP AND SMOKE A CIGARETTE MAYBE SMOKE SOMETHING ELSE ON THE BOARDWALK AND THE BEACH IS THAT LEGAL ANYWHERE?

>> NOT IN A PUBLIC AREAS OF OCEAN CITY.

YOU KNOW IT'S NOT THE LEGAL ON THE BOARDWALK NO SMOKING OF ANY TYPE IS ALLOWED ON THE BOARDWALK AND THAT INCLUDES VAPING OR ANYTHING ELSE.

YOU CAN WALK OFF IN THE PUBLIC AREAS ON THE BEACH THERE ARE DESIGNATED AREAS WHERE YOU CAN SMOKE AND THE WESTERN SECTION OF THE BEACH.

IT'S DISCOURAGED.

BUT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE ON THE BEACH PROPER SMOKING.

THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY.

IT MAKES IT JUST A BETTER ATMOSPHERE FOR EVERYBODY WE ASK EVERYBODY TO WORK WITH US AND ABIDE BY THOSE LAWS AS WELL.

>> Jeff: DID I READ SOMETHING ABOUT A NEW KIND OF BEACH TENT OR UMBRELLA THAT PEOPLE SETUP?

>> TENTS AND UMBRELLAS.

WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS PUT REASONABLE REGULATIONS IN PLACE AS GUIDELINES FOR PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE TO BRING CANOPIES OUT TO THE BEACH.

UMBRELLAS ARE FINE.

THEY ARE RENTED ALONG THE BEACH ON EVERY BEACH BY OUR BEACH COMPANIES.

CANOPIES ARE ALLOWED.

THEY ARE RESTRICTED TO BEING MORE THAN 12 BY 12 INCLUDING THE EXTENSIONS.

THEY HAVE TO BE OPEN ON ALL SIDES SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THROUGH THEM AND EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY THE BEACH AND THEY CANNOT BE SETUP AND LEFT UNATTENDED BEFORE 10:00 A.M.

IN THE MORNING.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ALLOW FLEXIBILITY FOR PEOPLE TO UTILIZE THE SUN SHADES AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, MAKE IT SO THE BEACH IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY AND THERE'S SPACE FOR THE CROWDS THAT VISIT OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE BIG EVENTS COMING UP.

WE HAD THE FOURTH OF JULY AND LABOR DAY HOPE THAT DOESN'T GET HERE FOR A WHILE BUT THERE WILL BE FISHING AND MUSIC.

>> YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS PLANNED FOR OCEAN CITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE SUMMERTIME.

DURING THE WEEK, WE HAVE FREE ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR OUR VACATIONERS.

THERE'S FREE CONCERTS AT SUNSET PARK ON THURSDAY NIGHT.

SUNDAYS IN THE PARK WITH FIREWORKS UP IN NORTH SIDE PARK AND 125TH STREET AND WE HAVE FIREWORKS ALONG THE BOARDWALK ON THURSDAY NIGHTS THOSE THINGS WILL KEEP HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

AND THEN WE BUILDUP AS WE GET INTO THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, 3-8, THAT IS THE WEEK WHERE WE HAVE THE WHITE MARLIN OPEN AND THAT IS THE LARGEST FISH TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD AND THAT IS THE BUSIEST WEEK OF THE SUMMER SEASON IN OCEAN CITY AS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME HERE NOT JUST TO FISH OR PARTICIPATE IN THE TOURNAMENT TO TO WATCH THE EXCITEMENT OF THE WEIGH-INS AS THEY WEIGH-IN THE FISH.

IT IS AN EXCITING WEEK.

WE HAVE MARLIN FEST ON THE BEACH WHERE YOU CAN CAN WATCH THE BOATS COME IN AND ENJOY WATCHING THEM WEIGH-IN THE FISH AS WELL.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT THAT IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE GREAT WEEKS HERE AND WE DON'T EXPECT THAT TO BE ANY DIFFERENT IN 2026.

>> Jeff: AND THEN THE CONCERT, MULTIDAY CONCERT IN SEPTEMBER.

YOU'VE DONE THIS FOR A UM COUPLE OF SEASONS WHERE IS THAT SETUP?

THESE ARE BIG NAME GROUPS COMING IN?

>> THIS IS WE'RE PROUD TO OFFER THE CONCERT SERIES THE LAST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER AND THE FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER.

THE LAST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER IS A THREE-DAY CONCERTO SCHENN'S CALLING.

AND WE HAVE HAD SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MUSIC HERE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THIS YEAR THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, GWEN STEFANI, HOOTY AND THE BLOWFISH IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT WEEKEND.

ON THE BEACH IT ALL TAKES PLACE DOWNTOWN ON THE INLET PARKING LOT ALL THE WAY UP TO FIRST STREET.

AND WE ENCLOSE THE ENTIRE BOARDWALK IS PART OF THE CONCERT VENUE.

SO IT IS A TICKETED EVENT AND IT'S FABULOUS.

WE ARE THE ONLY PLACE THAT IS ABLE TO INCORPORATE THEIR BOARDWALK INTO AN EVENT LIKE THIS AND IT MAKES IT VERY SPECIAL.

THEN THE NEXT WEEKEND, THE FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER, WE HAVE COUNTRIES CALLING AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN COUNTRY MUSIC.

LANE ANY WILSON, MIRANDA LAMBERT.

CHRIS STAPLETON.

IT IS ABOUT EIGHT DAYS THERE IN THAT TIME PERIOD OF MUSIC IN DOWNTOWN OCEAN CITY AND IT'S 55,000 PEOPLE WILL BE HERE AND IT IS A WONDERFUL EVENT AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A CONCERT ON THE BEACH ON THE BIG STAGES WATCHING ALL THOSE ENTERTAINERS.

>> Jeff: I KNOW IT'S ALL ABOUT SUN AND SAND AND MUSIC.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS OF OCEAN CITY IS BUSINESS TO SOME DEGREE.

HOW ARE YOUR BUSINESS PEOPLE DOING IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO HIRE WORKERS FOR THE SEASON?

THAT HAS BEEN A CHOKEPOINT IN THE PAST.

WHERE SEASONAL WORKERS CAN GET HOUSING FOR A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES TODAY?

>> REALLY THEY HAVE BEEN MINIMIZED.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.

WE DO HAVE OUR J1 EXCHANGE STUDENTS HERE.

THE HOUSING PROBLEM HAS SEEMED TO SOLVE ITSELF A LOT OF UNITS THAT WERE REAPPROPRIATED ARE UTILIZED AS RENTAL UNITS DURING COVID, I'VE NOW MIGRATED BACK TO BEING SEASONAL HOUSING WHICH HAS HELPED THE INVENTORY AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.

MOST BUSINESSES HAVE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF HELP.

THIS SUMMER SEASON.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CONTINUE.

BUT SUMMER SEASON STARTED OFF SLOW AS YOU MAY KNOW THE WEATHER WASN'T REAL CONDUCIVE.

WE HAD THE RAINIEST MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ON RECORD, I THINK.

SINCE THEN, THE LAST FEW WEEKS THE SUN HAS COME OUT AND THE TEMPERATURES, ARE RIGHT WHERE WE WANT THEM HERE AND REALLY BUSINESS HAS PICKED UP DRAMATICALLY AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT SEASONS HERE IN OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: LAST YEAR I CAME TO SEE YOU IT WAS 100° ON THE MAINLAND BUT THAT SEA BREEZE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO IT ONLY FELT LIKE MAYBE 97 IT WAS GREAT.

BUT REALLY THAT IS THE WHOLE BUSINESS OF OCEAN CITY IS THAT SEA BREEZE.

>> YOU KNOW WE HAVE OUR OWN AIR-CONDITIONER HERE ON THE OCEAN FRONT WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE IS IN THE 100° TEMPERATURES.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT COOLER HERE AT THE BEACH BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT WATER THAT BREEZE COMING OFF THE OCEAN.

AND IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT REALLY COOLS EVERYTHING DOWN.

>> Jeff: MAYOR RICK MEEHAN JOINING US FROM OCEAN CITY.

SIR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> JEFF, AS ALWAYS THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN IN OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" THIS WEEK WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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