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 WHY LOCAL RESCUES AND ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE FILLING UP.

AND A BALLOT ACCESS PETITION DRIVE DOWN TO ITS FINAL DAYS.

FIRST THIS WEEK, A HIGHWAY HAZARD.

THE COLLAPSE OF THE KEY BRIDGE HAS TAKEN AWAY THE PRIMARY ROUTE FOR TRUCKS CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.

THE SHORTEDDEST DETOUR IS THROUGH BALTIMORE'S TWO TUNNELSES THAT BAN HAZMATS DUE TO A RISK OF A CRASH IN THE CONFINED SPACE.

MANY TRUCKS ARE IGNORING THE RULES.

WE SPOKE WITH BANNER REPORTER BRENNA SMITH.

BRENNA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHEN YOU DID THE RESEARCH FOR THIS, IT INVOLVED BASICALLY STAKING OUT THE TUNNELS.

WHAT DID YOU SEE?

>> YES, SO MY COLLEAGUES BEN, MARK AND I STOOD AT THIS PARKING LOT BETWEEN THE TWO TUNNELS TO SEE WHAT IF ANY HAZMAT TRUCKS WERE GOING THROUGH THE TUNNELS.

AND WE SAW HAZMAT TRUCKS WERE GOING THROUGH THE TUNNELS AND SOME ARE ALLOWED AND SOME OF THAT IS LEGAL.

WHAT WE DID, WE TOOK A PICTURE OF EVERY HAZMAT TRUCK WE SAW GOING THROUGH THE TUNNEL AND CROSS REFERENCED THE BANNERS ON THE SIDES OF THE TRUCK TO SEE IF IT'S ALLOWED AND BASED ON STATE LAW SOME OF THE SIGNAGE WE SAW IS PROHIBITED FROM GOING THROUGH THE TUNNELS.

>> Jeff: IS IT POSSIBLE TO EXTRAPOLATE FROM HOWEVER HOW MANY HOURS YOU SPENT DOING THIS TO HOW MANY HAZMAT TRUCKS WE THINK MIGHT BE ILLEGALLY CROSSING THE TUNNELS IN A GIVEN DAY OR GIVEN WEEK?

>> I DON'T WANT TO GO THAT FAR FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, HAZMAT TRUCKS ARE NOT LIKE BUSES.

THERE IS NOT LOOK A TYPE OF SCHEDULE THAT YOU CAN KNOW THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OR THE TIME THEY WILL BE GOING THROUGH AND ALSO BECAUSE HAZMAT TRUCKS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY COULD BE USING THE TUNNEL AND PERFECTLY LEGALLY.

THE THING THAT WAS CONCERNING TO US THAT REALLY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR REPORTING WE BECAME DEEPLY SOURCED WITH THE TRUCKING COMMUNITY AND WE TALKED WITH ABOUT HALF A DOZEN TRUCKERS WHO WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW SINCE THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TRAFFIC AND BECAUSE THE LEGAL WORK AROUND FOR HAZMAT TRUCKS THAT AREN'T ALLOWED IN THE TUNNEL IS A 40-MINUTE DETOUR AROUND 695, WHAT TRUCKERS WHO HAVE HAZMATS THAT SHOULDN'T BE GOING THROUGH THE TUNNELS ARE DOING THEY ARE JUST GOING THROUGH OR TAKING THE PLACARDS OFF AND GOING THROUGH AND WHY THAT IS DANGEROUS IS BECAUSE THE PLACARDS ARE OFF AND AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS THAT LIMITS FIRST-RESPONDERS FROM BEING ABLE TO KNOW WHAT SUBSTANCE HAS BEEN RELEASED AND HOW TO COUNTERACT AND DEAL WITH THE DISASTER.

>> Jeff: DID STATE AUTHORITIES ANTICIPATE THIS MIGHT BE A CONSEQUENCE OF THE KEY BRIDGE BEING OUT OF SERVICE, AND WERE THEY STEPPING UP ENFORCEMENT?

>> SO THE MPTA DID STEP UP ENFORCEMENT IN THE WAKE OF THE KEY BRIDGE █COLLAPSE.

HOWEVER, THE NUMBERS FOR THAT THEY DO A LOT OF COMMISSIONER SAL VEHICLE INSPECTIONS IN GENERAL AND THEY DID STEP UP COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTIONS AFTER THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HAZMAT NUMBERS, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, FOR WE WERE LOOKING AT INSPECTION DATA FROM THE STATE POLICE FROM THE MONTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE BASED ON SEPARATE █HIGHWAY CORRIDORS FOR EACH TUNNEL.

AND FROM THERE WE DIDN'T SEE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN INSPECTIONS.

I THINK THE MONTH BEFORE THERE WAS ALMOST NO HAZMAT INSPECTIONS THAT WERE CLOCKED AND THE MONTH AFTER THERE WAS LIKE 311 THAT IS AN INCREASE FOR SURE AND CONSIDERING THEY WERE DOING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTIONS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THAT'S GREAT.

BUT CONSIDERING THE MAIN PASSAGE FOR HAZMATS WAS WIPED OUT WITH THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSING THAT IS DIRECTING LEGALLY AND ILLEGALLY DOZENS OF HUNDREDS MORE HAZMATS THROUGH THE TUNNELS FOR A GIVEN WEEK OR MONTH.

SO YOU THOUGH THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT REALLY GOING TO BE REFLECTING THE WHOLE INCREASE IN HAZMATS GOING THROUGH THE TUNNELS.

>> Jeff: I DRIVE THROUGH THOSE TUNNELS A FAIR AMOUNT, AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY A WORRY.

THERE HAVE BEEN A SMALL NUMBER OF REALLY BAD CRASHES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, SO IT'S SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT AND NOW READING YOUR STORY IF I SEE A VEHICLE THAT APPEARS LIKE IT COULD BE A TANKER AND IT COULD CARRY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, I WILL WORRY ABOUT IT.

YOU INDICATED THAT SOMETIMES IT WILL LOOK HAZARDOUS BUT IT'S NOT.

THAT WOULD MEAN IT WAS EMPTY OR IT HAD A SUBSTANCE THAT WAS BOARD ARE LINE IN IT?

>> I THINK WITH HAZMATS IF IT'S LABELED A PLACARD MEANS IT IS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SOME HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ARE ALLOWED IN THE TUNNEL.

EXAMPLE, THERE IS A PLACARD IN THE BALTIMORE HARBOR TUNNEL IT IS A DIRECT LINE TO THE CURTIS BAY FIELD DEPOST.

BECAUSE OF THAT THERE'S HAZARDOUS MATERIAL DIESEL FUEL THAT TYPICALLY IS ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

IF YOU ARE IN THE HARBOR TUNNEL AND YOU SEE A 1993 PLACARD THAT'S OKAY AND IT'S LEGAL AND PART OF THE REASON IS BECAUSE THE FLASHPOINT OF THE MATERIAL MAKES IT MUCH LESS LIKELY IF THERE WAS A SPILL OR ACCIDENT THAT SOMETHING WOULD BE FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS A VAST WORLD WITH HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SUBSTANCES.

A SINGLE PLACARD CAN BE TALKING ABOUT DOZENS OF THINGS.

SO THE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT IS JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS HAZARDOUS DOESN'T MEAN IT'S COMBUSTIBLE OR FLAMMABLE AND SOMETIMELESS LEGAL IN THE TUNNEL.

WHAT WAS CONCERNING WE WERE SEEING SIGNAGE THAT BASED ON MARYLAND STATED LAW BAR FEW EXCEPTIONS IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE TUNNEL AND COMBINED FROM WHAT WE KNOW FROM TRUCKERS TRUCKERS ARE TAKING PLACARDS OFF SO WE DON'T KNOW TO BE ABLE TO SAVE THE TIME AND MONEY TO GO THROUGH IT THAT IS WHAT IS THE MORE DANGEROUS PHENOMENON HERE.

>> Jeff: I WONDER IF THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A PARALLEL TO THE KEY BRIDGE ACCIDENT ITSELF YOU HAVE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF COMPLACENCY YOU HAVE A SMALL RISK WITH EACH PASSAGE, BUT WITH THE RISK IS ENORMOUS BECAUSE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG YOU POTENTIALLY HAVE A CATASTROPHE.

>> ESPECIALLY IN A TUNNEL, RIGHT?

PART OF THE REASON THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IS WHO THOUGHT THAT A SHIP WAS GOING TO HIT A BRIDGE?

WHO THOUGHT THAT A HUGE ACCIDENT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE TUNNEL IT'S UNLIKELY OVERALL.

BUT IN A TUNNEL IF THAT DID HAPPEN THERE COULD BE IT -- OWE IT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS THAT AFFECT A LOT OF CARS.

IT COULD TRAP PEOPLE INSIDE.

IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT BECAUSE FIRST-RESPONDERS MIGHT NOT KNOW THE SUBSTANCE IN THERE THEY CAN'T FIGHT IT PROPERLY.

SO IT'S MORE ABOUT THE HIGH CONSEQUENCES AND THE FACT THAT THIS RELATIVELY UNLIKELY THING IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING SINCE THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE BECAUSE MORE HAZMATS ARE TAKING THE TUNNEL.

>> Jeff: YOU CAN READ THE REPORTING BY BRENNA SMITH AT THE BALTIMORE BANNER.COM.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY FROM THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE CONTINUES.

JOINING US NOW FROM THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IS TIMOTHY WATSON.

Mr. WATSON THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS SINCE THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSED.

WHAT HAS THE SBA BEEN DOING?

>> SO WE'VE BEEN DOING A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS FROM HAVING MULTIPLE MEETINGS AROUND ABOUT 84 MEETINGS WITH MEDIA OUTLETS AROUND 26.

WORKING WITH OUR RESOURCE PARTNERS WHICH CONSISTS OF SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BALTIMORE DISTRICT OFFICE IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE WHICH HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL IN COOPERATING TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE AS THEY OFFER DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE NON-DISASTER WHILE WE OFFER DISASTER PROGRAMS.

WORKING IN COHESION WITH A VARIETY OF EVENTS, WEBINARS WORKING WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS WHICH BUSINESSES CAN GET ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE FROM AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SCORE, WHICH ARE RETIRED BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS NAACP'S, LOCAL MAYORS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND GETTING SOME OF THIS INFORMATION OUT.

AND THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER TO LET YOU KNOW IS FOR THE BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS WHO WERE AFFECTED BECAUSE OF THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE FOR ANY FORM OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

IT COVERS ALL COUNTIES THROUGHOUT MARYLAND.

SOME COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA, PENNSYLVANIA, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

>> Jeff: PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE ASSUMED THAT THE WINDOW TO GET A DISASTER ASSISTANCE LOAN WOULD HAVE CLOSED ALREADY.

BUT THE DEADLINE, YOU STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

SO THE CURRENT DATE IS OBVIOUSLY MARCH 26 FROM WHEN THE EVENT OCCURRED.

BUT ALSO, IT IS CONTINUING.

MEANING YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD DIRECT AFFECTS MEETLY BUT IF YOU ARE HAVING AFFECTS NOW OR HAVING AFFECTS UP UNTIL THE DEADLINE DATE, YOU CAN APPLY FOR THIS FUNDING.

AS LONG AS THE APPLICANT OR THE BORE WOER HAS THE APPLICATION THEY WILL BE GOOD TO GO.

>> Jeff: HOW DIRECTLY DOES SOMEBODY'S ORGANIZATION HAVE TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE?

OBVIOUSLY SOME BUSINESSES MAYBE THEY HAD A CONTAINER ON A SHIP THAT GOT STUCK IN PORT OR COULDN'T GET INTO THE PORT AND THAT WAS DIRECT.

BUT THEN THERE ARE FOLLOW AROUND EFFECTS HOW CLOSE DOES IT HAVE TO BE TO QUALIFY FOR ONE OF THESE LOANS?

>> AS FAR AS THE CLOSE AND PROXIMITY, IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE HAPPENED DIRECTLY WITHIN THE PORT.

IT COULD BE THE BRIDGE ITSELF THAT IS AFFECTING IT.

BECAUSE I HAVE TALKED TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE VEHICULAR ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH ARE TRUCKING ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN DC THAT HAS A DIRECT EFFECT THAT IS MORE DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES IN THE PORT ITSELF.

TRANSPORTATION BACK AND FORTH THROUGH THE PORT.

GAS PRICES GOING UP.

OR USING -- UTILIZING MORE GAS MORE EXPENSES AND OTHER THINGS TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR SERVICES BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE BRIDGE OBVIOUSLY IS CREATING A HINDERANCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE LOOP AROUND.

MANY DIFFERENT SIDE EFFECTS IS HAPPENING FOR MULTIPLE BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF THE LOANS THAT THESE ENTITIES CAN GET?

THEY ARE DESCRIBED AS LOW INTEREST LOANS THE INTEREST RATE IS A BIG SELLING POINT THERE?

>> YES.

SO FOR THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, THE INTEREST RATE IS 3.250.

THE BUSINESSES AND SMALL AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES IS 4%.

THE INTEREST RATES ARE FIXED AND CAN NEVER GO UP.

AND THERE'S DETERMINED BY FORMULAS SET BY THE LAW AND IS FIXED FOR THE LIFE OF THE LOAN.

THE PAYMENT AND INTEREST RATE DOES NOT INCUR FOR THE BORROWER UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN FUNDED.

SO THEY HAVE 12 MONTHS WITH NO INTEREST.

12 MONTHS WITH NO PAYMENT.

WE LOOK AT THE CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPLICANT TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A LOAN.

THE APPLICANT MUST HAVE TO HAVE A SATISFACTORY OR ACCEPTABLE CREDIT HISTORY AND THE ABILITY TO REPAY THE LOAN.

THE LOAN TERMS CAN BE EXTENDED FOR A MAXIMUM TIME UP TO 30 YEARS TO PAY ON THIS LOAN IF THEY CHOOSE TO EXTEND IT TO THAT TIME.

ANYWHERE IN THAT 30 YEARS THEY CAN REQUEST THE TIME-FRAME TO PAYBACK THE LOAN AND THE BORROWER CAN HAVE THE ABILITY TO BOROUGH UP TO $2 MILLION.

IT WILL BE BASED ON THE ASSENTION.

OF THEIR LOSSES.

>> Jeff: I MEAN THESE LOANS COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY HELPFUL TO CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY NUMBERS FOR HOW MANY HAVE APPLIED AND BEEN FUNDED AT THIS POINT?

>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE AROUND 4625 APPLICANTS FOR THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN.

1827 ARE IN PROGRESS.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE AN OFFER COUNT TO THOSE NUMBERS OF 1280 BORROWERS, THE OFFER COUNT IS CURRENTLY 81,914,100.

DISBURSEMENT TO 885 BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS.

AND THE DISBURSEMENT AMOUNT CURRENTLY IS $21,319,300.

>> Jeff: WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEBODY APPLIES AND IS TURNED DOWN?

IS THERE AN APPEALS PROCESS.

>> I'M GRAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

THE APPLICANT OR BORROWER HAS UP TO SIX MONTHS TO APPLY FOR A RECONSIDERATION.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE REAPPLY PROCESS BECAUSE THE APPLICATION IS ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM.

AND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE TRYING TO OVERTURN THE REASON FOR DECLINE.

SAY, YEF, IT IS CREDIT HISTORY AND THERE'S SOMETHING ON THEIR CREDIT THEY NEED TO FIX.

WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE LOAN SPECIALIST STAFF THAT WILL WORK WITH THEM TO TRY TO GET THEM INFORMATION ON WHAT THEY SHOULD DO TO TRY TO GET THEIR CREDIT SCORE UP TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN FUNDING OR WHATEVER THE CASE OR SCENARIO IS.

IT MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.

AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THE APPLICANT WOULD NEED TO BE IN BUSINESS FOR ONE FULL YEAR PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE OCCURRENCE.

>> Jeff: DO YOU THINK THERE ARE ANY ENTITIES OUT THERE THAT POTENTIALLY COULD QUALIFY, BUT MAYBE THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO THEY THINK THEY MAY NOT QUALIFY AND WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW?

>> ESPECIALLY ON THE SIDE OF THE NONPROFIT, I WANT THEM TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY FORM OF ECONOMIC LOSS OR SOME FORM OF CLLAPSE OR YOU FORESEE THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, AND YOU HAVE NOT APPLIED, DON'T ASSUME THAT YOU CANNOT APPLY BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON MARCH 26.

BECAUSE IT IS ONGOING AND YOU CAN STILL APPLY TO THIS FUNDING.

AGAIN, THESE APPLICATIONS THERE IS NO COST TO APPLY.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FULL AMOUNT OF FUNDING IF OFFERED LET'S SAY $80,000.

BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A COLLATERAL REQUIREMENT FOR LOANS OVER $25,000 PLUS BUT IT YOU DO NOT HAVE COLLATERAL TO PUT UP OBVIOUSLY WE CANNOT OBTAIN WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE.

SO JUST WANT TO PUT SOME OF THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE, THE PROCESS HAS BEEN MADE EASIER AS FAR AS GOING ON-LINE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE INFORMATION FOR THE LOAN PROGRAM AND BEING ABLE TO APPLY.

HOW YOU APPLY IS GOING ON TO SBA.GOV/DISASTER OR CALLING 1-800-659-2955.

TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH AN AGENT OR JUST GO DIRECTLY TO THE WEBSITE.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO TIMOTHY WATSON OF THE SBA.

>>> NOW ECONOMIC PRESSURES MAY BE TRICKLING DOWN TO LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS.

NANCY AMATA REPORTS THERE ARE PLENTY OF DOGS AND CATS AVAILABLE.

>> THERE THIS BALTIMORE FAMILY GO HOME WITH A CAT OR DOG TO JOIN THEIR FAMILY?

THERE'S A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM BARKS THE BALTIMORE ANIMAL RESCUE AND CARE SHELTER IS FULL OF DOGS AND CATS IN NEED OF A PERMANENT HOME.

>> IT SEEMS EVERY TIME WE CLEAR OUT SPACE WE ARE FULL AGAIN.

>> DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS SAYS ANIMALS ARRIVE AS STRAYS OR PICKED UP BY ANIMAL CONTROL BECAUSE OF HOARDING OR ABUSE SITUATIONS BUT THE REALITY IS MANY ARE SURRENDERED BY OWNERS.

>> A LOT VARY BECAUSE THEY ARE MOVING AND CANNOT TAKE THEIR PET T COULD BE BECAUSE THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD IT.

COULD BE AN ALLERGY OR THE PET DOESN'T GET ALONG.

>> SOME SAY IT'S NO COINCIDENCE THAT SHELTERS WERE INUNDATED AS RENT COSTS WENT UP AND FEWER OPTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> SOMETIMES THE PET FEE CAN BE $500 PER PET OR ANNAL NATIONAL COST PER MONTH AND HOUSING OPTIONS HAVE RESTRICTIONS, NUMBER OF PET RESTRICTIONS.

>> INFLATION IS ALSO MAKING IT HARD TO CARE FOR PETS.

>> PET CARE PRODUCTS AND VETERINARY CARE HAS SKYROCKETED THAT ALONE IS A BIG EXPENSE FOR PEOPLE AND WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO DECIDE CARING FOR THEIR FAMILY OR PET AND FINDING A PLACE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD WHEN HOUSING IS LIMITED IN BALTIMORE AND IN MARYLAND AS A WHOLE, THAT'S A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE.

>> BECAUSE BARKS IS AN OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER IT IS ACCEPTS AND CARES FOR ALL ANIMALS IN NEED REGARDLESS OF HEALTH, AGE OR TEMPERAMENT.

THEY COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FOSTER FAMILIES WHO AGREE TO CARE FOR PETS UNTIL THEY CAN BE PLACED IN A PERMANENT HOME.

AND THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP BARKS WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY CARE OF HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS.

>> I SIGNED UP BECAUSE MY DOG PASSED AWAY AND I WANTED TO BE AROUND DOGS BUT I WASN'T READY TO HAVE MY OWN YET.

>> FOR THE LAST TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS JESSICA HAS BEEN FOSTERING AND WALKING DOGS.

>> WE HAVE DOGS THAT ARE HARD TO LEASH, SHAKING, SCARED AND WITHIN TWO WEEKS THEY ARE OPENING UP AND FRIENDLY AND THEY TRUST PEOPLE MORE IT'S SUPER REWARDING TO SEE THAT PROGRESS IN A DOG.

>> A WIN-WIN FOR THE DOG, THE VOLUNTEER AND HIS FUTURE OWNER.

I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: THE MARYLAND GREEN PARTY IS FACING A DEADLINE FOR A BALLOT ACCESS PETITION DRIVE.

THE GROUP HAS BEEN COLLECTING SIGNATURES AROUND THE STATE.

WE SPOKE WITH ANDY ELLIS MEMBER OF THE GREEN PARTY'S BALLOT ACCESS COMMITTEE.

Mr. ELLIS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US ABOUT THE SIGNATURE PROCESS, WHAT IS THE DEADLINE AND WHERE DO YOU STAND?

>> THE PROCESS IS WE HAVE TO COLLECT 10,000 VALID SIGNATURES TO GET A PARTY ON THE BALLOT IN MARYLAND.

THE DEADLINE IS MONDAY AUGUST 5.

AND WE ALREADY HAVE MORE THAN 10,000.

TYPICALLY, ABOUT ONE IN THREE SIGNATURES WILL GET THROWN OUT OR INVALIDATED FOR VARIOUS REASONS FROM THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SO OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO 15,000 AND I THINK WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY TO THAT.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE CONVERSATION LIKE WHEN YOU APPROACH A VOTER OR ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH A VOTER ABOUT GETTING THEIR SIGNATURE ON THE PETITION.

WHAT DO YOU SAY AND WHAT DO THEY SAY?

>> WE WILL OFTEN BEGIN THE CONVERSATION WITH DO YOU WANT CHOICES BEYOND THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM?

AND FOR MOST MARYLANDERS FOR MOST AMERICANS THE ANSWER IS YES THESE DAYS.

AND THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO START THE CONVERSATION.

MANY PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE GREEN PARTY AND WILL SIGN AT THAT POINT.

OTHERS WILL ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ABOUT AND WHAT OUR VALUES ARE AND THAT WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT AREN'T REPRESENTED WITHIN THE TWO PARTIES RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO THE GREEN PARTY?

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T?

>> WE GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPEN.

THE GREEN PARTY BECOMES AN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED PARTY IN MARYLAND AND THAT MEANS THE VOTERS CAN REGISTER WITH THE GREEN PARTY WHEN THEY GO TO GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR WHEN THEY LOOK ON THE WEBSITE OR FILL OUT A VOTER REGISTRATION CARD AND IT ALSO MEANS OUR CANDIDATES CAN FILE TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN ANY PARTISAN RACE ACROSS THE STATE IN 2024 AND 2026.

SO FOR VOTERS IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO AFFILIATE WITH THE PARTY.

IT ALSO GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE THAT MAY BE OUTSIDE OF THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM AND SPEAK TO ISSUES THAT THEY DON'T FEEL ARE BEING RAISED BY THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES?

WHAT ARE ARE THE BIG ISSUES FOR THE GREEN PARTY?

>> THE GREEN PARTY IS FIRST OF ALL WE DO NOT TAKE ANY CORPORATE DONATIONS.

WE DON'T TAKE DONATIONS FROM ANYBODY OTHER THAN PEOPLE AND WE THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT DISTINGUISHER FOR US IN THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE WHERE BOTH PARTIES ARE OFTENTIMES MORE LISTEN MORE TO THEIR DONORS THAN THE VOTERS.

WE BELIEVE THERE IS A CRISIS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND WITH THE CLIMATE AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT WITH SPEED AND A SERIOUSNESS THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED RIGHT NOW.

WE THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS WE HAVE NEED TO ENCOURAGE MORE AND HEALTHIER PARTIES TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE SO THAT MORE MARYLANDERS CAN BE REPRESENTED.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND AT THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RACES ABOUT 35-40% OF THEM DON'T HAVE A CHALLENGER IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

AND WE DON'T THINK THAT IS SERVING MARYLAND VOTERS WELL.

WE THINK THAT CLIMATE IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US, COMOK CITY IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US.

PEACE IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US.

AND WE THINK WE CAN LOOK AT BOTH PARTIES' SUPPORT FOR THE ONGOING WAR CRIMES IN ISRAEL.

AND WE THINK THAT THE GREEN PARTY HAS A STANCE AGAINST THAT.

WHICH SAYS THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE SUPPORTING WAR CRIMES ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD.

AND FINALLY FOR JUSTICE.

WE THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE JUSTICE SYSTEMS THAT MAKE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THE STOP OF LAST RESORT INSTEAD OF A STOP OF FIRST RESORT.

>> Jeff: THIRD PARTIES HAVE OFTEN BEEN BLAMED BY THE MAJOR PARTIES AS BEING SPOILERS.

I THINK IT WAS JILL STEIN RUNNING EIGHT YEARS AGO GOT ENOUGH VOTES THAT IF THOSE PROGRESSIVE VOTES HAD GONE TO THE DEMOCRATS, HILLARY CLINTON WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PRESIDENT.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> FIRST OF ALL IN MARYLAND FOR GOOD OR BAD THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE RENDERS THAT NOT A PROBLEM HERE.

BIDEN BEAT TRUMP BY 33 PERCENTAGE POINTS IN 2020 AND BEAT HIM BY A MILLION VOTES.

HOWIE HAWKINS THE GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE WAS CLOSER TO TRUMP IN THAT WAS THAN TRUMP WAS TO BIDEN.

THE SPOILER EFFECT IS NOT AN ISSUE IN MARYLAND.

BEYOND THAT, I THINK THERE IS A GOOD QUESTION ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL RACES WHICH HAVE ALMOST ALWAYS BEEN MULTIPARTY RACES.

IF WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY BACK IN 1840 ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HAS HAD MULTIPLE PARTIES.

I THINK THAT VOTERS ARE OFTENTIMES LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFERENT AND NOT REPRESENTED BY THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM.

WE CAN DO A WHOLE SHOW ABOUT THE SPOILER EFFECT.

BUT I THINK THAT THE BOTTOM LINE IS NOT A PROBLEM IN MARYLAND AND THE SECOND THING IS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PRESIDENTIAL RACES ARE MULTIPARTY RACES HAVE BEEN MULTIPARTY RACES FOR 200 YEARS AND VOTERS ARE ACTING THAT WAY AND RESPONDING THAT WAY AND THE MAJOR PARTIES NEED TO ADAPT TO THAT.

>> Jeff: I DON'T BELIEVE A GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE HAS EVER WON A FEDERAL OFFICE ANYWHERE.

BUT WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND OR MAYBE NEIGHBORING STATES ANY SUCCESS STORIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF SUCCESS STORIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN PENNSYLVANIA.

THERE IS ELECTED GREENS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND SMALL TOWNS THERE.

THERE'S ELECTED GREENS IN VIRGINIA IN SMALL TOWNS.

MARYLAND WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT KIND OF -- WE HAVEN'T HAD ELECTED GREENS IN PARTISAN RACES.

THINK ABOUT IS THE ROLE OF THIRD PARTIES IS OFTEN NOT JUST TO WIN, BUT TO SHAPE THE DIRECTION OF THE TWO PARTIES.

>> Jeff: THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

AS WE LEAVE YOU THIS EVENING, GOVERNOR MOORE WAS AGAIN ON A FOOTBALL PRACTICE FIELD THIS WEEK.

AFTER VISITS TO THE RAVENS AND COMMANDERS, THIS TIME THE GOVERNOR SUITED UP FOR A TERPS PRACTICE.

>> DEFENSE.

HEY, OFFENSE!