>> "STATE CIRCLE" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: BILLIONS IN NEW STIMULUS MONEY.

>> THE AID OF BALTIMORE CITY IS UNPRECEDENTED.

>>> DENTED.

>> Jeff: REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S MOOF TO REOPEN THE STATE.

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE.

>> I THINK AS LONG AS EVERYBODY DOES IT SAFELY.

>> NO.

>> Jeff: AND POLICE REFORM CLEARS THE HOUSE.

>> THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE HERE IS TRYING TO ENSURE THAT OUR OFFICERS GET A FAIR SHOT.

>> NOBODY WANTS TO GET INTO A FIGHT.

WITH OFFICERS WITH BALLISTIC VESTS.

>> CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

THE BIG STORY AROUND "STATE CIRCLE" THIS WEEK IS $1.9 TRILLION.

THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE NEW FEDERAL STIMULUS LAW SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HOW MUCH OF THAT CEREMONY COMING TO MARYLAND?

OUR SUE KOPEN TAKES A LOOK.

>> Sue: MARYLAND'S SHARE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN?

OVER $6 BILLION.

THAT INCLUDES $3.87 BILLION IN DIRECT FUNDING TO THE STATE, $1.1 BILLION IN DIRECT FUNDING TO COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, AND $1.1 BILLION IN DIRECT AID TO CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE STATE.

>> CITIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS AMERICA ACTUALLY HAVE A LINE ITEM IN THIS FEDERAL ACTION.

THAT'S UNUSUAL, BUT IT MAKES IT CLEARER AND MORE DIRECT.

>> Sue: ONE OF THE BIGGEST WINNERS BALTIMORE CITY, GETTING OVER $600 MILLION.

>> THE AID TO BALTIMORE CITY IS UNPRECEDENTED.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A BILL THAT PROVIDES SUCH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HELP TO OUR URBAN CENTER, AND THE FUNDS CAN BE USED IN A MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE WAY THAN IN THE CARES ACT, AND IT'S A MUCH LARGER SUM OF MONEY.

>> Sue: MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION STATE ENTS RESIDENTS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE LATEST ROUND OF STIMULUS CHECKS, AND THERE'S ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL.

>> WE DOUBLED THE AMOUNT THAT HAD BEEN IN THERE DR. FROM DECEMBER, IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S $25 BILLION.

WE DID THAT AGAIN TO HELP PEOPLE PAY THEIR RENT AND PREVENT A TSUNAMI OF EVICTIONS AND IMPORTANTLY ADDED $9 BILLION TO HELP PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE THEIR% HOMES FORECLOSED UPON.

>> Sue: THERE'S ALSO A NEW $28 BILLION RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND THAT HARD-HIT MARYLAND RESTAURANTS WILL BE ABLE TO TAP INTO.

>> CONTRADICTY IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR RESTAURANTS AFLOAT.

CONTRADICTCLY IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE UNDER THE NEW PROGRAM IN THIS LEGISLATION.

>> Sue: IS LATEST ROUND OF FEDERAL RELIEVE COMES AS THE STATE'S BOARD OF REVENUE LEARNS THIS WEEK THAT DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, MARYLAND'SY ECONOMY IS HOLDING ITS OWN.

>> I WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT THESE GOOD NUMBERS AND GOOD NEWS ARE -- ARE APPRECIATED FOR WHAT THEY ARE.

THEY ARE A REFLECTION OF A STRONG STATE AND THE REFLECTION OF AN EXTRAORDINARY FEDERAL ACTION.

>> Sue: GOOD NEWS THAT ALSO CAME WITH A WARNING.

>> THAT THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF UNKNOWNS THAT COULD ALTER OUR FISCAL PATH.

THIS RECOVERY COULD STILL TURN INTO MORE OF A SUGAR RUSH THAT CRASHES WHEN THESE FEDERAL FUND SOURCES DRY UP.

>> Sue: I'M SOW SUE KOPEN FOR "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Jeff: MARYLAND CONTINUES TO SEE IMPROVING DATA IN THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19.

FOR IT TIME IN FOUR MONTHS, NUMBER OF COVID PATIENTS IN EXTENSIVE INTENSIVE CARE HAS FALLEN BELOW WITH 200, AND DID OVERALL HOSPITAL COUNT IS DOWN BY MORE THAN 60% FROM ITS PEAK IN JANUARY.

THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE WITH A DAILY AVERAGE 42,000 JABS OVER THE PAST WEEK.

TODAY MARKS THE BUN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MARYLAND -- ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY MARYLAND SCHOOLS CLOSING DUTY PANDEMIC.

STUDENTS ARE BEGINNING TO RETURN TO CLASS NOW, AND AS OF 5:00 P.M. TODAY GOVERNOR HOGAN HAS LIFTED CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS FOR MOST BUSINESSES IN MOST PLACES.

AS NANCY YAMADA REPORTS, THE BIG CHANGE IS GETTING MIXED REVIEWS.

>> IT'S ECONOMY.

IT'S MONEY.

WE HAVE TO OPEN BACK UP.

>> Nancy: NEWS THAT CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS ARE BEING ELEVATED RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, GYMS AND BARS IS BEING MET WITH EXCITEMENT.

>> I THINK AS LONG AS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY DOES IT SAFELY, I THINK THERE'S NO NEED TO HAVE -- TO BE SO RESTRICTIVE.

>> Nancy: AND SCEPTICISM.

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE.

>> JUST BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN, THEY'RE SENILITY EVENING OUT.

NO.

I DON'T AGREE WITH HIM.

>> Nancy: GOVERNOR STRESSES BUSINESSES MUST CONTINUE SANITATION PRACTICES AND MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS ARE MASKED AND DISTANCED.

THAT COULD BE WHY SOME RESTAURANTS AREN'T ANTICIPATING ANY BIG CHANGES.

>> MOST OF THE RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN FREDERICK ARE VERY SMALL, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY STILL -- THE SA WANT DO 100% CAPACITY WITHOUT VIOLENT SIX FOOT RULE.

>> Nancy: THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS TOOK COUNTY LEADERS BY SURPRISE.

THEY SAY IT CAME WITH NO WARNING OR CONSULTATION, AND NECESSITY EYE IT'S AMBIGUOUS AS TO HOW MUCH LOCAL CONTROL LEADERS WILL STILL HAVE.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CONFUSION ABOUT SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND EVENTS, AND THESE ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO WE ARE DOING OUR HOMEWORK ON THAT.

>> Nancy: LARGE VENUES, INCLUDING STADIUMS, CONCERT HALLS AND WEDDING VENUES WILL STILL BE LIMITED TO 50% CAPACITY, AS COUNTY LEADERS SCRAMBLE TO READ THE FINE PRINT AND CONSULT WITH LAWYERS.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY LAWYER MINCED NO WORDS TELLING THE WEBSITE MARYLAND MATTERS, IT'S A SERIOUS MISTAKE.

THEY'RE GOING TO TRIGGER ANOTHER SPIKE IN INFECTIONS BEFORE THE VACCINES GET WILD DISSEMINATED.

>> THE WORRY WITH ALL THE VARIANTS THAT ARE COMING UP, ARE WE REALLY SAFE?

AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT VERY ANXIOUS.

>> Nancy: DESPITE INCHING CLOSER TO LIFE AS WE USED TO KNOW IT, COUNTY LEADERS STRESS THE PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER.

I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: CHRYS POLICE REFORM HAS NOW PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE BUT WITH IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES.

CHARLES ROBINSON BRINGS US UP TO DATE.

>> MY OLDEST SON IS NINE YEARS OLD AND HE'S HUGE I DON'T KNOW WHERE.

I'M NOT HUGE BUT HE'S HUGE.

HE'S ABOUT TO BE HURRICANE MARIA ME.

HE'S ONLY NINE BUT YOU WORRY EVERY DAY, LITERALLY I WORRY ABOUT HOW HE'S GOING TO BE TREATED WHEN HE GOES OUT INTO SOCIETY.

>> YOU WANT TO CRAFT THIS STATUTE THE WAY IT IS?

IT'S INCAPACITATES POORLY WORDED.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE FOR THE CRIMES.

AND YOU WANT TO SWEEP UP IN THAT UNKNOWING ACTORS.

I CAN'T BE WITH YOU.

>> Charles: THE TENSION WAS HIGH THIS WEEK AS THE DEBATE BEGAN ON THE SPEAKER'S BILL, THE POLICE REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.

PRIOR TO THE DEBATE, MEMBERS OF THE GOP NOBLIZED POLICE FORCES FROM AROUND THE STATE IN A SHOW OF FORCE AND SUPPORT.

>> AND I'M HERE TO COMMIT TO YOU TODAY THAT WE WILL BE A LOUD VOICE FOR THEM.

TODAY AS THIS BILL IS ENABLED HOUSE OF DELEGATES, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT COMMON SENSE WILL PREVAIL.

>> Charles: WHAT POLICE OFFICERS KNEW IS COMING TO AN END, BUT WHAT THEY SAY THEY WANT IN THIS LEGISLATION IS DUE PROCESS.

>> THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE HERE IS TRYING TO ENSURE THAT OUR OFFICERS GET A FAIR SHOT.

THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING.

SOME OF THE PROPOSED LEDGES GOES TOO LEGISLATION GOES TOO FAR.

>> Charles: INSIDE THE CHAMBER THE DEBATE INCLUDED 17 AMENDMENT FORECAST REPUBLICANS AND DREE FROM DELEGATE AB GEHL OS INNER OH, A GM LIKE DOMINOES, EACH FAILED TO GAIN TRACTION.

>> BY IMPLEMENTING A TIME FRAME, IT'S ALMOST AS IF WE'RE SUGGESTING THERE'S NO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AFTER THE HOURS OF 7:00 P.M. OR, FOURTH MERRY EVERMORE, BEFORE THE HOURS OF 7:00 A.M. >> NOBODY WANTS TO GET INTO A FIGHT WITH OFFICERS WITH BALLISTIC VESTS, SHIELDS, MP5s, MP45s AND P90s THAT WOULD EVISCERATE YOU.

NO MATTER HOW TOUGH YOU MAY BE ON THE STREET, WHEN THOSE SHOTS YOU START RINGING OUT BECAUSE BELIEVE THEY'RE BEING ROBBED, ATTACKED AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE KILLED.

THIS SIMPLY TRIES TO AVOID THAT INTERVIEWING EVIDENCE IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE'LL SECURE THAT ANOTHER WAY.

>> THE POLICE OFFICERS ANNOUNCE THEIR PRESENCE, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO EXECUTE THE LAWFULLY BEGOTTEN SEARCH WARRANT, AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD ASK THE HOUSE TO OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT.

>> THE AMENDMENT FAILS.

>> Charles: BOTH CHAMBERS HAVE PASSED A FORM OF POLICE REFORMS.

NOW THE SENATE CAN EITHER ACCEPT THE HOUSE BILL OR CRAFT A COMPROMISE IN A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

IN ANNAPOLIS, I'M CHARLES ROBINSON FOR "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Jeff: OUR "NEWSMAKER" THIS WEEK IS MILEAH KROMER DIRECTOR OF SARAH T. HUGHES FIELD POLITICS CENTER AT GOUCHER COLLEGE.

MILEAH, THANK YOU-FOR-JOINING US US.

>> Mileah Kromer: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Justin Ready: JUST COMPLETED A STATEWIDE POLL OF MARYLANDERS AND ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS POLLSTERS ALWAYS ASK, OPEN ENDED, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP ISSUES, TOP, AND I GUESS PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON THE PANDEMIC STILL.

>> Mileah Kromer: YEAH, THIS IS A REALLY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION IDENTIFY COVID-19 AS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FACING THE STATE.

OTHERS SAY ECONOMIC ISSUES AND A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THAT SAY EDUCATION ISSUES.

>> Jeff: NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE VACCINE AND PEOPLE'S RECEPTIVENESS -- IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD -- THE VACCINE HESITANCY ISSUE, WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> Mileah Kromer: THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT FINDING ON THE POLL.

SO BACK IN OCTOBER WE ASKED MARYLANDERS WHETHER THEY WOULD TAKE AN FDA-APPROVED VACCINE IF OFFERED TO THEM, AND A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN HALF SAID THEY WOULD.

VACCINE HESITANCY HAS PLUMMETED IN THE STATE.

NOW 64% OF MARYLANDERS SAY THAT'S WOULD EITHER TAKE THE VACCINE OR THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT.

WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHITE AND BLACK MARYLANDERS BECAUSE THAT GAP HAS COMPLETELY DIMINISHED, SO YOU DO NOT SEE THOSE HIGH RATES OF VACCINE HESITANCY AMONG TRENCHES.

AS YOU HISTORICALLY HAVE.

>> Jeff: HOW SURE ARE WE OF THAT?

WHAT WAS THE MARGIN OF ERROR OVERALL?

AND THEN WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO A SUBSET OF THE POPULATION, DOES IT CHANGE?

>> Mileah Kromer: YOU ARE OH, SURE ONCE DRIVE DOWN ON TOWS POPULATIONS, THE MARGIN OF ERROR GETS BIGGER BUT WHITE IMMEDIATERS A 68%.

BLACK MARYLANDERS ARE WERE AT 63% IN TERMS OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

ONCE START TO FACTORY IN THE MARGIN OF ERROR THERE'S NOT A BIG DINERS AT ALL.

>> >> Jeff: YOU ASKED ABOUT THE PACE OF SCHOOL REOPENINGS WHICH HAS BEEN A HOT ISSUE AROUND THE STATE AND IT'S LOOKS PRETTY CLOSE TO ME, A THIRD, A THIRD, A THIRD, THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO THINK WE'VE OPENED TOO SHOW IS ABOUT THE SAME AS PEOPLE WHO THINK IT'S TOO FAST.

>> Mileah Kromer: NOT SURPRISING THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES UNDERNEATH THESE NUMBERS.

REPUBLICANS ARE FAR MORE LIKELY SHIITE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN OPENING TOO SLOW.

THE DEMOCRATIC COUNTERPARTS AND DEMOCRATS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SAY THEY'RE OPENING TOO QUICKLY.

>> Jeff: WHAT WAS THE PARTISAN DIFFERENCE, IF THERE WAS ANY, ON THE VACCINE HESITANCY QUESTION?

>> Mileah Kromer: THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

THAT'S ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF UNDERHEIM NUMBERS.

IT'S NOT REALLY AFRICAN AMERICANS VERSUS WHITE MARYLANDERS.

IT'S BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

KEEPING IN MIND THAT A MANCHET REPUBLICANS STILL DOWANT TO GET VACCINATED OR HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE VACCINE, THE DIFFERENCE IS THEIR HESITANCY RAUTS ARE HIGHER THAN YOU FIND AMONG DEMOCRATS SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF ELEVATION AMONG REPUBLICANS.

SO JUST LIKE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF IMPORTANT AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS IN OUR STATE REALLY PUSH TO DECREASE VACCINE HESITANCY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS NOT JUST GOVERNOR HOGAN AND BOYD RUTHERFORD BUT OTHER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS REALLY SORT OF PUSH AND ENCOURAGE THEIR FELLOW REPUBLICANS TO GET VACCINATED.

>> Jeff: YOU FOUND A 65%, I THINK, APPROVAL NUMBER FOR THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT'S UNDER THE SURFACE OF THAT IN TERMS OF PARTISAN DIVIDE, HOW PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON THE GOVERNOR'S SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE PANDEMIC?

>> Mileah Kromer: SO THE GOLF'S APPROVAL RATING IS EFFECTIVELY THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN THE LAST SIX YEARS.

HE BOUNCES AROUND BETWEEN THE LOW 60s TO THE LOW 70s.

UNDERNEATH THOSE NUMBERS IS A PRETTY EQUAL PARTISAN SPLIT.

HE'S ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY MORE POPULAR AMONG DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS THAN HE IS AMONG THE REPUBLICANS.

IN TERMS OF COVID-19, THE GOVERNOR, AROUND THREE-QUARTERS OF MARYLANDERS SUPPORT THE JOB LARRY HOGAN IS DOING IN ADDRESS ADDRESSING THE COORDINATOR PANDEMIC.

THAT'S DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM WHERE WAS AT IN OCTOBER 2020.

>> Jeff: OTHER LIG HEADLINE GENERATOR IN IN YOUR POLL WAS THE QUESTION ABOUT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA, AND SUPPORT FOR THAT HAS BEEN GROWING.

THIS IS A QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE ASKED OVER TIME.

>> Mileah Kromer: YEAH, WE'VE ACTUALLY ASKED ABOUT THIS SINCE 2013, SO THIS IS ONE OF OUR LONGEST STANDING QUESTIONS ON THE COUCH GOUCHER COLLEGE POLL.

IN 2013 THERE WAS A NARROW MAJORITY OF MARYLANDERS THAT SUPPORTED LEGALIZATION.

NOW WE HAVE TWO-THIRDS OF MARYLANDERS SUPPORT LEGAL SPACE STATION THERE'S AN INTERESTING PARTISAN DINE MUCKS HERE.

DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, USUALLY SUPPORTIVE, NOT CONSISTENTLY OVER TIME.

IT'S REPUBLICANS FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HIT THE 50% MARK, SO 50% OF REPUBLICANS AND A MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVES SUPPORT NOW THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS HERE IN THE STATE.

>> Jeff: ASKED ABOUT VOTERS' APPROVAL OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

CAME UP WITH A STRONGLY FAVORABLE NUMBER, CERTAINLY IN COMPARISON TO THE PAST PRESIDENT IN YOUR POLLS OF MARYLANDERS.

IT'S NOT QUITE INTO HOGAN TERRITORY YET.

>> Mileah Kromer: HE'S IN THE SAME BALLPARK RIGHT AT 62%.

I THINK THE INTERESTING COMPARISON IS IF YOU LOOK AT PRESIDENT TRUMP DURING THIS TIME IN HIS PRESIDENCY COMPARED TO BIDEN DURING THIS TIME IN HIS PRESIDENCY, THERE EVER THEY ARE EFFECTIVELY.

INVERSE OF EACH OTHER.

>> Jeff: I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT THE POLLING BUSINESS.

OVERALL THE POLLING INDUSTRY IN THE JUST PAST NATIONAL ELECTION HAD A COUPLE OF WHOPPERS, LARGELY U.S. SENATE RACES.

HOW TOUGH IS IT TO GET PEOPLE ON THE PHONE THESE DAYS?

AND HOW TOUGH IS IT DURING A PANDEMIC?

>> Mileah Kromer: WELL, THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY IMPROVED RESPONSE RATES A LITTLE BIT.

IT WAS EASIER TO GET PEOPLE ON THE PHONE BECAUSE THEY WERE ACTUALLY HOME MORE AND MORE WILLING TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.

BUT, YES, THERE WAS A FEW MISSES THIS LAST ELECTION CYCLE, BUT ALL THOSE NEGATIVE STORIES THAT CAME OUT IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH, THE DAY AFTER WORKERS HAVE OH, POLLS MISSED AGAIN.

ONCE THE VOTES TRICKLED IN THE POLLS STARTED TO LOOK THE BETTER BUT THERE WERE MISSES AND POLLSTERS NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR WHERE THE MISTAKES WERE MADE.

WE WERE PRETTY SPOT ON HERE IN MARYLAND.

WE GOT GAP BETWEEN BIDEN AND TRUMP WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

>> Jeff: ALL RIGHT.

IF PEOPLE GET A PHONE CALL, THE CALLER I.D.

SAYS GOUCHER COLLEGE, YOU SHOULD PICK UP THE PHONE.

THE NEXT POLL IS IN THE FALL, CORRECT?

>> Mileah Kromer: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Jeff: MILEAH CHROME FROM HER GOUCHER COLLEGE.

DR. KROMER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Mileah Kromer: THANKS.

>> Jeff: JOINING US NOW FOR THE "POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE" IS DOMINIQUE MARIA BONESSI OF ALONG WITH MPT'S CHARLES ROBINSON.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

DOMINIQUE, YOU HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON VACCINE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT THE LATINO/HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THERE?

>> Dominique Bonessi: SO IF YOU LOOK AT CASA DEMARYLAND WITH HEADQUARTERS IN LAUREN LAUREL COUNTY, I INTERVIEWED VERY MICHELLE LARUE LAST WEEK, LATE LAST WEEK AFTER THE GOVERNOR HAD ANNOUNCED THIS EQUITY INITIATIVE, AND SHE SAYS, YOU KNOW, FOR MONTHS HER ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ASKING FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE AT THE GOVERNOR'S EBB E. EQUITY TASK FORCE, AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY ACTUALLY GOT IT, AND SHE SAYS, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN TO US, WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO GET MORE VACCINES TO THE HARDEST HIT AREAS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY INCLUDING LARGE AREAS WHERE THERE IS A LARGE LATINO POPULATION.

>> Jeff: ARE THE ISSUES SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SEE IN OTHER MINORITY GROUPS, SPECIFICALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WHERE THE COMBINATION OF ACCESS ISSUES BUT ALSO REPORTEDLY SOME HESITANCY ABOUT THE VACCINE?

>> Dominique Bonessi: SO I THINK IT'S ACCESS ISSUES.

MILEAH KROMER'S GOUCHER POLL THIS WEEK REVEALED THAT IN FACT IT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAT ARE HAVING MORE VACCINE HESITANCY, AND THAT 64% OF MARYLANDERS SAY THEY WILL GET THE VACCINE, AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN ADDITION TO ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, WE'RE SEEING LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

THEY SAY THEY NEED PEOPLE TON TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK SPANISH, TO CALL THEM UP ABOUT THE VACCINE, TELL THEM WHEN THEY GET THERE ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS OR POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF GETTING THE VACCINE, SOMEONE WHO IS ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK SPANISH.

IT'S ALL VERY MUCH NEEDED AND NECESSARY AND CASA de MARYLAND SAID THEY HAVE TO LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL CAPACITY IN ORDER TO DO THAT TYPE OF WORK.

>> Jeff: CHARLES, YOU WERE ON SENATE PRESIDENT FERG'S MEDIA CALL THIS AFTERNOON TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE IN POLICE REFORM THAT YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> Charles: YEAH, WE NOW HAVE TWO BILLS, ONE FROM THE HOUSE, ONE FROM THE SENATE, AND THEY'VE GOT TO BE RECONCILED SOME WIND WAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT THE WAS INTERESTING THAT SENATOR FERGUSON SAID THIS AFTERNOON WAS DONE, BY -- THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO VETO THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN.

A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BY CROSSOVER DAY, WHICH IS MARCH THE 22nd, BECAUSE THAT GIVES THEM ENOUGH A WINDOW IF THEY GET A VETO, THEY CAN COME BACK AND OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR.

>> Jeff: THE SENATE PRESIDENT WAS ALSO ASKED ABOUT ANOTHER TOPIC WE COVERED THIS WEEK, THE PORTION OF THE BIG NEW FEDERAL STIMULUS BILL THAT IS GOING TO COME TO MARYLAND, BOTH STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CITIZENS OF MARYLAND, THE COMPTROLLER HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT PORTION OF THAT, THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT.

HOW DID PRESIDENT FERGUSON REACT?

>> Charles: HE WAS NOT MRS.

NECESSARILY THRILLED WITH CREATING ANOTHER COMMITTEE/GOVERNMENT ENTITY TO LOOK OVER THIS.

DOMINIQUE, DID YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN FROM FRANCHOT IS SO HOT TO TROT ABOUT THIS IDEA?

>> Dominique Bonessi: YEAH, HE SAYS WHILE HE DOES BELIEVE IN OVERSIGHT OF THIS MONEY THAT'S COMING IN IT'S STATE AND FEDERAL DOLARS, BILLIONS IN STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS, BUT HE SAID I THINK WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY BUILT INTO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT OVERSIGHT AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION WASN'T NECESSARY.

>> Jeff: DOMINIQUE, I JUST HAVE HALF A MINUTE BUT I DID WANT TO ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN IN A FEW SENTENCES IF YOU CAN THE BILL REGARDING FOOD DESERTS AND BEER AND WINE.

>> Dominique Bonessi: SO TWO MEASURES.

A PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY SPECIFIC BILL AND A STATEWIDE BILL WOULD ATTRACT GROCERY STORES TO NEED DESERTS BY ALLOWING THEM TO SELL BEER AND WINE.

THIS IS THERE CONTROVERSIAL AS MARYLAND IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF STATES WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE STALE OF CAPITOL IN ANY GROCERY STORES.

>> Jeff: SO TO ATTRACT MORE GROCERIES STORES, YOU WOULD ALLOW THEM SPECIFICALLY TO SELL WE ARE AND WINE.

>> Dominique Bonessi: YES.

AND LIQUOR STORE OWNERS ARE SAYING THIS WOULD PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS AND.

IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY THEY'RE FRYING TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET MOVE OUT OF ALCOHOL DENSE AREAS INTO AREAS THAT ARE LESS DENSE.

>> Jeff: YOU CAN HEAR DOMINIQUE'S REPORT 88.5 FM, WAMU.ORG.

DOMINIQUE AND CHARLES, THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> Charles: THANKS A LOT.

>> Dominique Bonessi: THANK YOU.

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

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

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN