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" MARYLAND MAYBE JOINING THE GERRYMANDERING WARS.

AND DEMOCRATS ON TOUR.

[♪♪] JOINING US FOR THE POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE ARE MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES MAJORITY LATER AND JASON BUCKLE.

GENTLEMEN LET'S START IN TEXAS WHERE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS ARE TRYING TO REDRAWED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THERE.

YOU ARE PREPARING A BILL IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

WHAT WOULD YOUR BILL DO?

>> JEFF I'M PREPARING TWO BILLS IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

SO THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ONCE AGAIN ASKED STATE LEADERS TO FIND HIM VOTES.

BUT UNLIKE LAST TIME MANY ARE OBLIGING BY BEGINNING TO REOPEN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS THOUGH MARYLAND, TEXAS AND THE OTHER STATES REDISTRICTED FOR THIS DECADE.

SO I HAVE TWO RESPONSE BILLS ONE IS A TREATY AMONGST STATES NOT TO DO THIS T WOULD BE A TREATY AMONGST 50 STATES THAT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO REDISTRICT ONCE PER DECADE ABSENT A COURT ORDER AND I HOPE MARYLAND WILL BE THE FIRST STATE TO ADOPT THIS TREATY AND SEND IT OFF TO THE OTHER STATES FOR RATIFICATION.

IN THE MEANTIME I'M PROPOSING A BILL THAT IF ANOTHER STATE BREAKS OUR RULE TO REDISTRICT ONCE A DECADE THAT MARYLAND IS GOING TO AUTOMATIC REOPEN ITS PROCESS.

THIS IS A ROAD, I HOPE, WE DO NOT ACTUALLY PURSUE.

AND I HOPE THAT THE STATES STAND BACK, STANDS DOWN, STEP BACK FROM THE BRINK AND CANCEL THIS CRAZY PROGRAM AT THAT TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP IS UNLEASHING ON US.

>> Jeff: DETAILING BUCKLE YOUR HOTS ON THE BILLS AND THE IDEA I GUESS WE CAN CALL IT RHEA FEIKEN DISTRIGGING.

>> SURE.

I DON'T HAVE OBJECTION TO SAYING THAT SORT OF A MID-CYCLE REDISTRICTING IS NOT THE BEST IDEA.

I THINK THAT THE THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN FOLLOWED FOR A LONGTIME.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHY THIS 10-YEAR CENSUS REDISTRICTING PROCESS IS A PRODUCT OF 17 HUNDRED'S AND 18 HUNDRED'S WHEN YOU GOT SIGNATURES AND SAYS YOU LIVE IN MARYLAND WE COUNT YOU.

DATA AND OUR TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES HAVE CHANGED THIS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE ARE SEEING IS SOMETIMES WITHIN 10 YEARS YOU HAVE THE MASSIVE POPULATION SHIFTS THAT NEVER GET REFLECTED UNTIL THE END OF A DECADE.

TEXAS IN PARTICULAR, FLORIDA IN PARTICULAR, THEY, I THINK EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THEY'VE GAINED SO MUCH POPULATION SINCE, 2021, THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY IN LINE TO GAIN NEW GREGHTSAL SEATS PLACES LIKE CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS POSSIBLY NEW YORK THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT.

I AGREE WITH MY FRIEND DELEGATE MOON WE SHOULD TRY TO PLAY BY A RULE THAT SAYS WE ARE THAT GOING TO O THIS BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT DOES THE TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES INDICATE THAT WE SHOULDN'T SIT BACK FOR 10 YEARS.

AND LET'S BE HONEST MARYLAND IS ONE OF THE MOST GERRYMANDERED STATES IN AMERICA TODAY.

THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN ANNAPOLIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO SUBMITTED A PLAN A MAP THAT WAS SO GERRYMANDERED THAT THE JUDGE WHO IS A LIFETIME HARDCORE DEMOCRATIC APPOINTEE, GOVERNOR O'MALLEY, PRESIDENT CLINTON APPOINTED HER TO POSITIONS SHE HEARD THE CASE AS A SPECIAL% JUDGE AND SAID THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF EXTREME PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING.

MY FRIENDS ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE LOOK WHAT TEXAS IS DOING THEY ARE DOING WHAT MARYLAND DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 10, 20 YEARS.

>> DELEGATE BUCKLE IS A FRIEND OF MINE AND I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE BEFORE I COMMENT ON HIS REMARKS.

BUT, JASON COME ON.

LOOK, THERE'S SOMETHING CONFUSING GOING ON HERE IN THE WAY THE REPUBLICANS ARE RESPONDING TO THIS.

THE DISTRICTS ARE OFF BY A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE POPULATION CHANGED.

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SHRINKING AND GROWING IN ALL 50 STATES UP OR DOWN.

AGAIN IF THE SUGGESTION IS THAT THE NUMBERS HAVE MOVED THAT IS HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.

I THINK THE ROAD THAT BUCKLE AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO TAKE US DOWN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF REDISTRICTING EVERY SINGLE CYCLE.

WE HAVE AGREED TO REFLECT THOSE CHANGES ONCE PER DECADE.

WE CAN TALK ALL DAY ABOUT WHETHER THIS STATE'S MAP OR THAT STATE'S MAP IS UNFAIR BUT AGAIN FOR EONS THE 50 STATES HAVE AGREED WE DO THIS POLITICAL WARFARE ONCE PER DECADE TO SUBJECT CONGRESS TO THE INSTABILITY OF THE MEMBERS NOT KNOWING WHO THEIR CONSTITUENTS WILL BE IN THE COMING ELECTION IS PREPOST RUSS IT IS A BAD SUGGESTION.

>> YOU THINK IT'S PREPOSTOR RUSS, EVERYONE HAS TO PLAY BY THE SAME RULES WE ALL REDISTRICT OR NONE OF US DO.

THE OBVIOUS PREFERENCE IS THAT NONE OF US DO THIS.

IF TEXAS AND TRUMP BREAK THE SYSTEM IT'S NOT JUST DEMOCRATS ALL THE OTHER STATES HAVE TO REDISTRICT EVERY CYCLE TO BALANCE THE POPULATION.

MY HOPE IS -- >> WE HAVE POPULATION GROWTH WE WOULDN'T BE REDISTRICTING TO ACCOUNT FOR POPULATION GROWTH WE WOULD BE REDISTRICTING TO TAKE AWAY.

>> OR POPULATION SHRINK.

>> Jeff: LET ME JUMP IN FOR A SECOND.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IF MARYLAND REDREW THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEVEN DEMOCRATS, ONE REPUBLICAN, ANDY HARRIS, WE CAN'T REALLY GET IT TO EIGHT DEMOCRATS NO REPUBLICANS, CAN YOU?

I MEAN IS ANYBODY IN TEXAS GOING TO LOOK AT THE THREAT OF MARYLAND REDISTRIGGING AND WE BETTER SCRAP OUR PLANS.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHY THE REPUBLICANS ARE ALARMED BY THIS PROPOSAL IN MARYLAND.

THEY OUGHT NOT BE.

AND BESIDES AT THAT TIME POINT, I CONTINUE TO PRESS HERE.

IT'S NOT IMPORTANT WHAT THE PARTISAN OUTCOME OF A NEW MAP IS.

BUT ALL 49 STATES MUST CONDUCT A NEW REDISTRICTING AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBILITY THE MINI OF THE OTHER STATES DECIDES TO DO THIS.

TEXAS CHEATED THE SYSTEM ONCE BEFORE IN 2003.

THE OTHER STATES DID NOT RESPOND.

SO HERE 20 YEARS LATER THEY REPEAT HISTORY AND THEY WILL RIG THE DECK IN TWO OUT OF THE LAST THREE DECADES IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

IF WE DON'T RESPOND WE ARE INVITING TEXAS AND THE OTHER STATES TO REDISTRICT WHENEVER THE HECK THEY WANT.

>> Jeff: LET ME JUMP IN WITH OTHER TOPICS.

MARYLAND HAS TAKEN HITS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON THE IDEA OF MOVING THE F.B.I.

TO GREENBELT CLOSING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN BELTSVILLE AND DELEGATE BUCKLE IN YOUR STATE REJECTING A CLAIM FOR DISASTER AID AFTER THE FLOODING IN WESTERN PORT.

I'M CURIOUS HOW THAT IS PLAYING AMONG YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN WESTERN MARYLAND WHO LARGELY VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> NO, I THINK PEOPLE WERE DISAPPOINTED I'M DISAPPOINTED.

EVERYONE IN OUR STATE DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM ALLEGHENY AND GARRET COUNTIES AFFECTED BY THIS ONCE A GENERATION FLOODING EVENT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE APPEAL TO FEMA.

AND WE'RE NOT GIVING UP HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE SUCCESS IN GETTING FEMA TO COME IN AND PUT SOME MONEY AND RESOURCES TO FLOOD RESTORATION.

PEOPLE WERE DISAPPOINTED IN THE DECISION.

I DON'T THINK THAT EVERYONE ASSUMES THAT PRUM WAS SITTING PRUM AND POLICE SAID DON'T GIVE THE FEMA MONEY TO WESTERN MARYLAND I DON'T THINK IT ROSE TO THAT LEVEL.

I DON'T THINK MANY OF THE DECISIONS RISE TO THAT LEVEL.

WE ARE 100% DEDICATED GETTING TO THE BOTTOM WHY THE FEMA DECISION WAS MADE.

APPEALING IT BOTH LEGALLY, ADMINISTRATIVELY AND POLITICALLY REACHING OUT TO WHOEVER WE CAN.

WHEN YOU ARE IN A DISASTER IF THIS HAPPENED IN TACOMA PARK I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF FEMA AND RESOURCES GOING TO HELP HIS CITIZENS.

WHEN YOU'VE LOST YOUR HOME, LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU VOTED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YOU ARE JUST A CITIZEN OF MARYLAND AND A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES THAT DESERVES TO GET THAT RELIEF.

>> Jeff: AND DAVID FOR YOUR PART OF THIS TOPIC, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNOUNCED STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY A TALKBACK TOUR IN COUNTIES ALL OVER THE STATE STARTING IN WESTERN MARYLAND AND FLAGGING THIS ISSUE OF FEMA TURNING DOWN DISASTER AID THERE.

DO YOU SEE THIS AREA AS BEING FERTILE GROUND FOR SIGNING UP NEW DEMOCRATS?

>> I DON'T LOOK AT THIS AS A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN ISSUE WHATSOEVER AND I CERTAINLY DON'T SEE POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY IN DISASTERS.

BUT I WANT TO BE A LITTLE MORE BLUNT THAN PERHAPS MY FRIEND FROM ACROSS THE AISLE IS CAPABLE OF BEING, BUT IT IS A DISGRACE WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

AND LOOK, THIS IS JUST LIKE THE REDISTRICTING ISSUE.

THE PRESIDENT IS TAKING THIS COUNTRY AND POLICY MAKING IN PLACES WHERE IT SHOULD NOT GO.

HE IS TRIGGERING A REDISTRICTING WAR AND CANCELING DISASTER FUNDING FOR PLACES THAT VOTED FOR HIM.

IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON AND NOT SEE THIS IS POLITICIZED.

WEST VIRGNIA HAD WITH FANFARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RELEASED FROM FEMA FOR DISASTER RELIEF FOR MUCH OF THE SAME APPALACHIAN FLOODING AND MUDSLIDES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN WESTERN MARYLAND.

AGAIN, MET ALL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING AND IT'S HARD TO READ THIS AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN TRUMP IS NOT ALLOWING DISASTER FUNDS RELEASED FOR PLACES THAT DID NOT SUPPORT HIM.

AND UNLESS YOU BE THINKING THIS IS JUST A MYSTERY, CHRIS FIELD MARYLAND, HOOPERS ISLAND PLACES THAT VOED HEAVILY FOR TRUMP NOT IN WESTERN MARYLAND ON THE SHORE.

THEY HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ALREADY APPROVED FUNDS FOR FLOOD PROTECTION YANKED FROM THEM.

THEY SEEMINGLY ALSO ARE WONDERING WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.

AGAIN IT'S BEEN DISASTER POLITICIZED.

MARYLAND LEFT IN A BAD PLACE AS THE DECISIONS ROLL OUT.% UNTIL WE GET SOME COURAGE IN THE MAJORITY PARTY IN THE NATION TO COUNTER WHAT TRUMP IS DOING.

I HOPE BOTH ON REDISTRICTING AND DISASTER RELIEF WE WILL LOCK ARMS AND FIGHT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON THIS.

>> Jeff: I HAVE TIME FOR A SENTENCE OR TWO.

YOU ARE NOT REFERRED TO AS THE MAJORITY PARTY AROUND HERE.

>> NOT IN MARYLAND.

AND I THINK IN HONESTY THAT IS ONE OF THE FLAWS OF MARYLAND'S POLITICS.

OUR POLITICAL LEADERS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY COME FROM THAT BALTIMORE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR EXCLUSIVELY AND THEY BELIEVE THE WORLD AND THE COUNTRY LOOKS THE WAY THEIR COUNTIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS LOOK.

WHEN YOU LIVE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE AND CLOSE TO PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, VIRGINIA THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS NOT GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS MARYLAND.

AND WE NEED TO CONFRONT THAT ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES.

WE ARE A DRIVING OFF TO THE LEFT AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS STAYING IN THE MIDDLE.

THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR US.

>> Jeff: WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NOW, THE MOORE ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHED LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND WE SPOKE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGING.

[♪♪] >> THIS IS OUR SIGNATURE INITIATIVE RIGHT NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING.

EN R AND WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO PUBLIC SERVICE AND TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD SORT OF A SHARED VALUE AND APPROACH, WAS TAKING A ALL OF LIFE COURSE ALL OF GOVERNMENT, MULTISECTOR APPROACH.

TO TACKLING VERY COMPLEX AND IMPORTANT ISSUES.

AND FOR MARYLAND, AS A STATE THAT IS AGING RAPIDLY, THIS IS NOT A CATASTROPHE WHERE IT'S PRESENTED THAT WAY.

FOR MARYLAND, THAT HAS QUARTER OF ITS POPULATION IN A FEW SHORT YEARS WILL BE OVER THE AGE OF 60 AND WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT IN THE POPULATION WHERE WE HAVE OVER 60 AND UNDER 18 SAME LEVEL IN TERMS OF POPULATION, THE GOVERNOR RECOGNIZED THIS WAS REALLY A TIME FOR US TO BE VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT HOW WE APPROACH PREPARING FOR THIS DEMOGRAPHIC PHENOMENON AND ALSO BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING FOR OLDER PEOPLE LIVING IN MARYLAND NOW.

AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND HOW CAN WE BEST GO ABOUT MEETING THAT.

>> Jeff: TELL US MORE ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS.

OBVIOUSLY INDIVIDUALLY WE ARE GETTING OLDER BUT SOMEHOW AS A SOCIETY WE ARE GETTING OLDER, TOO.

>> IT'S ACTUALLY IT IS A WORLDWIDE POPULATION DISRUPTION IS THE WAY THEY TALK ABOUT IT.

AND THE OVERALL PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER.

THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING.

BUT THERE ARE COUPLE PARTS TO IT AS WELL WHICH IS PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER, BUT WE'RE SEEING LOWER BIRTH RATES.

FEWER CHILDREN ARE BEING BORN.

AND IN MARYLAND AS TYPICAL OF A LOT OF OTHER STATES ACTUALLY IN THE COUNTRY, OUR POPULATION IN MARYLAND WOULD BE SHRINKING EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN MIGRATING AND MANY ARE IMMIGRANTS.

PART OF WHAT IS KEEPING OUR POPULATION MORE ROBUST AS WE HAVE OLDER PEOPLE AND YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THIS DYNAMIC OCCURRING, IS REALLY THE WAY WE HANDLE IMMIGRATION.

IT IS A COMPLEX ISSUE RIGHT NOW AND IT IS WORLDWIDE.

IT'S NOT JUST MARYLAND OR JUST THE UNITED STATES.

SO WE HAVE 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN MARYLAND OVER THE AGE OF 60.

AND THE FASTEST GROWING PART OF THAT POPULATION ARE FOLKS OVER THE AGE OF 85.

AND WE REALLY WE ARE NOT SETUP FOR THAT.

I THINK IT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO SAY IT.

>> Jeff: I READ THAT YOU WANT TO REFRAME WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SENIOR CITIZEN.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?

>> WELL, I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST WHAT WE NEED TO BE BETTER AT DOING IS LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PICTURE.

AND WE HAVE A NARRATIVE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT SAYS THAT GROWING OLD IS NOT A GREAT OUTCOME AND THAT OLDER PEOPLE ARE FRAIL, ENVIRONMENTABLE, VULNERABLE, SUCK UP A LOT OF RESOURCES AND GENERALLY DON'T CONTRIBUTE AND THAT IS NOT THE STORY ACTUALLY.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS SORT OF SHIFT THAT NARRATIVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT OLDER PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE MASSIVELY TO THE ECONOMY, A THIRD OF THE WORKFORCE IS OVER THE AGE OF 50.

THE 65 PLUS GROUP IS THE FASTEST GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE.

CONTRIBUTE IN THE WAY THAT THEY START BUSINESSES AND THE WAY THAT THEY CONSUME PRODUCTS.

THE WAY THEY SUPPORT FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

THE WAY THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE VOLUNTEER POPULATION AND SO WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT BEING OLDER IS NOT THE SAME THING AS BEING SICK OR BEING IMPOVERISHED OR BEING ISOLATED OR HAVING A PURPOSELESS LIFE.

AND THAT GROWING OLDER DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND WE CAN DESIGN FOR OUR SOCIETY IN A WAY THAT OLDER PEOPLE HAVE HEALTH SPANS THAT LIFESPANS WHICH IS NOT TRUE NOW THAT HAVE WEALTH SPANS THAT MATCH THEIR LIFESPANS AND REALLY IMPORTANTLY, ARE FULLY INTEGREATED INTO SOCIETY.

WE LIVE IN A VERY AGE SEGREGATED SOCIETY.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WITH THIS 10-YEAR PLAN.

>> Jeff: WELL, WITHIN THE 10-YEAR PLAN GIVE ME SPECIFICS WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INITIAL IDEAS THAT YOU WILL BE ROLLING OUT?

>> WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT PROTECTING MARYLANDERS AGAINST THE FEDERAL ACTIONS THAT ARE CUTTING SAFETY NET BENEFITS.

S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS NUTRITION AND MEDICAID.

WHICH IS HEALTHCARE.

AND SOME OTHER RESOURCES AND WE KNOW THAT OLDER MARYLANDERS PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN THOSE PROGRAMS.

109,000 OLDER MARYLANDERS DEPEND ON MEDICAID.

OVER 30% OF MARYLAND -- OLDER MARYLANDERS RECEIVE NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS THROUGH THE S.N.A.P.

PROGRAM.

WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HAVE AN IMPACT AROUND THAT.

BUT ALSO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'VE ALREADY STARTED WORKING WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES BECAUSE THAT'S THE POINT OF OUR APPROACH.

WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT ON AGING BY ITSELF CANNOT SOLVE THIS.

OR CHANGE THE COURSE OF SOME OF THIS.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING OF LABOR, OF HEALTH, SO WE'RE WORKING ON THE MARYLAND ACCESS POINT CALLED MAP, THE SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE GO TO FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE.% AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT TO STREAMLINE THAT AND MAKE THAT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY AGENCY BUT ALSO WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE A WHOLE CONTINUUM OF BENEFITS THAT PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR.

AND WHAT WE WANT IS WHEN COME ONE COMES TO THE ACCESS POINT TO THEM TO KNOW QUICKLY I'M ELIGIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING THINGS AND A UNIVERSAL APPLICATION.

THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF USING SOMETHING ALREADY IN PLACE, IMPROVING ON IT AND WORKING WITH A SISTER AGENCY.

AND WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING BECAUSE HOUSING IS A HUGE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IT'S IMPACTING ALL FAMILIES AND ALL GENERATIONS RIGHT NOW.

WEWORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WE ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE BECOMING UNHOUSED BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THEY ARE ON FIXED INCOMES AND HOUSING COSTS ARE GOING UP.

HOW CAN WE CREATE THAT CONTINUUM OF CARE AND THAT SAFETY NET FOR THOSE FOLKS SO THEY DON'T BECOME PERMANENTLY UNHOUSED.

AND THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LOCATE HOUSING FOR THEM AND GET THEM REESTABLISHED.

IT'S THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT YOU WISH WERE BETTER UTILIZED BY THE PUBLIC?

ARE THERE PROGRAMS WELL UTILIZED THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE RESOURCES FOR?

>> I THINK JUST, YOU KNOW IN ALL HONESTY, OUR SOCIAL CARE NETWORK, YOU KNOW, THAT FOCUSES ON THE CORE CENTERS, HOUSING, FOOD, MEDICINE, ALL OF THEM COULD USE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

AND, I THINK, IN THESE TIMES OF COST CONSTRAINTS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS APPROACH OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE OVERALL, HOW CAN WE BLEND THAT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW CAN WE BE SURE PEOPLE FOR WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND CAN READILY ACCESS IT.

AND THAT'S WHERE, I THINK, THE FACT THAT THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT AND SOME OF OUR STATES HELPS TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL AREA AGENCIES ON AGING.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE RIGHT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL A PERSON CAN WALK IN THE DOOR OF A SENIOR CENTER OR A COUNTY AGENCY ON AGING AND TALK TO A HUMAN BEING ABOUT THEIR SITUATION.

AND SO LEVERAGING WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN THAT WAY AND HELPING PEOPLE KNOW THAT, IT IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

AND WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT WAYS THAT THE PLAN ITSELF CAN HAVE PIECES THAT WE CHUNK OUT AND SHARE WITH PEOPLE LIKE HERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR INSTANCE.

YOU KNOW, HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMS.

DID YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD HAVE A WILL?

THIS IS HOW YOU APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.

SO IT'S THOSE KINDS OF VERY PRACTICAL THINGS WE HOPE TO ALSO REALLY MAGNIFY THROUGH THE INITIATIVES IN THE PLAN.

>> Jeff: IS THAT THE BEST ENTRY POINT FOR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING US WHO IS HAVING ONE OF THOSE ISSUES AS AN OLDER PERSON MAYBE A RELATIVE OR FRIEND OF SOMEBODY WHO IS IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION TO CONTACT THE COUNTY LEVEL OR THE BALTIMORE CITY DEPARTMENT OF AGING BY PHONE OR JUST WALK INTO A SENIOR CENTER AND START THE PROCESS THAT WAY?

>> I THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

AND IF IT IS A PERSON WHO IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE DIGITAL WORLD, THEY SHOULD GO TO LRM.MARYLAND.GOV AND THAT WILL GET THEM INTO THE WEBSITE THAT HAS ALL THE RESOURCES THAT AREN'T ALL NECESSARILY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.

>> Jeff: OUR CHANGE TO THE SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT OF AGING.

NOW, THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC RETURNS TO BALTIMORE THIS FALL WITH A NEW COURSE AND THE ADDITION OF FEMALE RIDERS.

CHARLES ROBINSON LAYS OUT THE CHANGES TO ONE OF THE PREMIER CYCLING RACES IN THE U.S. [CHEERING].

>> IT TOOK A VILLAGE TO GET US HERE AND IT'S NOT JUST A SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION BUT IT TAKES THE STATE, THE CITY AND PARTNERS IN THE COUNTY TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEEDED TO SHIFT COMING BACK AND ADDINGS THE WOMEN'S RACE TO THE EVENTS.

>> THE ONE YEAR HIATUS FOR THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC ALLOWED ORGANIZERS TO REIMAGINE THE 18-MILE TREK.

THE ENTIRE RACE WILL TAKE PLACE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE WILL BE A WOMEN'S RACE WHICH WILL PRECEDE THE MEN'S RACE.

OFFICIALS SET SPECIAL VIEWING SECTIONS INCLUDING ONE IN PATTERSON PARK ALONG THE RACE PATH.

THE CYCLING CLASSIC TAKES PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 6TH AND WILL BE CELEBRATED AS PART OF A BIG SPORTS WEEKEND IN BALTIMORE.

THE ORIOLES WILL HONOR CAL RIPKEN'S IRON MAN'S STREAK AND KAITLAN CLARK AND THE INDIANA FEVER WILL BE IN TOWN TO PLAY THE WASHINGTON MYSTICS AT THE CFG BANK ARENA.

IT'S ESTIMATED THE BALTIMORE WILL GARNER $12 MILLION IN REVENUE LAST TIME THE RACE WAS HELD IN CHARM CITY.

>> THE CLASSIC IS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO SEE WORLD CLASS CYCLING RACING FOR THE PRICE OF FREE 99.

AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING 100,000 SPECTATORS CITYWIDE.

>> ONE OF THOSE WHO WILL BE RETURNING IS SCOTT McGILL A PROFESSIONAL CYCLIST FOR PROJECT EXCELON RACING.

>> WHEN I WAS 13 OR 14 YEARS OLD, KIND OF DREAMING OF BECOMING A PRO CYCLIST AND BEING ABLE TO RACE ON ROADS AT THAT TIME I'VE BEEN CLOSE TO ME, I WOULD SAY FOR SO LONG IT'S AWESOME.

>> SO MUCH OF THIS RACE HAPPENS ON BLACKTOP.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GET TO COBBLESTONE?

>> YOU CAN MAKE A PLAN BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ADAPTABLE DURING THE RACE.

NOBODY KNOWS HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

YOU CAN RECONALL YOU WANT BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE WILL THINK ABOUT THE RACE AND THE COURSE AND HOW THAT IS GOING TO DICTATE THE TACTICS.

>> McGILL HOPES TO USE HIS LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO HIS ADVANTAGE BUT HE WILL BE CHALLENGED BY FELLOW CYCLISTS WHO BELIEVE THEY CAN CLAIM VICTORY IN BALTIMORE.

I'M CHARLES ROBINSON.

>> Jeff: MPT'S ALL DAY RACING COVERAGE BEGINS 8:00 A.M. SEPTEMBER THE 6TH WITH THE MPT SPORTS DESK.

GO TO MPT.ORG/MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC FOR ALL THE INFORMATION.

AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

[♪