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, WILL VOTERS APPROVE THE NEW HARBORPLACE?

AND RAMPING UP FOR MARYLAND'S 400TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

FIRST, EARLY VOTING GETS UNDERWAY.

ELECTIONS OFFICIALS SAY 154,000 BALLOTS WERE CAST JUST ON THE FIRST DAY.

AND OVER 45% OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED SO FAR.

EARLY VOTING CONTINUES THROUGH 8:00 P.M. ON HALLOWEEN.

AND FOR THOSE NOT YET REGISTERED TO VOTE THEY CAN REGISTER AT THE SAME TIME.

IN THE HOTLY CONTESTED RACE TO SUCCEED BEN CARD EN, TWO NEW STATE-WIDE POLLS FIND A SOLID LEAD FOR PRINCE GEORGE'S EXECUTIVE ANGELA ALSOBROOKS.

THE WASHINGTON POST FINDS ALSOBROOKS AHEAD OF LARRY HOGAN BY 12 POINTS.

AND EMERSON COLLEGE POLL GIVES MS. AS ALSOBROOKS A 14-POINT LEAD.

BOTH FIND KAMALA HARRIS LEADING DONALD TRUMP IN MARYLAND BY 30 POINTS.

WE SPOKE WITH WASHINGTON POST STATE HOUSE REPORTERRER REN COX.

>> THE -- ERIN COX.

>> THIS IS ANGELA ALSOBROOKS' RACE TO LOSE AND SHE IS FAR AHEAD AND LARRY HOGAN WOULD HAVE TO PULL AN INCREDIBLE UPSET BIGGER THAN HE HAD EVER DONE TO PULL THIS OUT.

>> Jeff: YOU'VE DONE A SERIES ASKING SIMILAR QUESTIONS.

WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE?

>> YOU CONSISTENTLY SEE ALSOBROOKS HOLDING THE LEAD GROWING THE LEAD AND YOU SEE LARRY HOGAN'S SUPPORT SHRINKING AMONG THE DEMOCRATS AND THE INDEPENDENTS THAT HE NEEDS TO CROSS PARTY LINES IN ORDER TO BUILD A BIG ENOUGH COALITION TO WIN IN A STATE THAT DEMOCRATS OUT NUMBER REPUBLICANS 2-1.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WAS THE MOST POPULAR GOVERNOR IN MARYLAND HISTORY.

AND OVER TIME PEOPLE HAVE STARTED [INAUDIBLE] AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO HAVE A LESS AND LESS FAVORABLE VIEW ABOUT HIM.

THAT IS ALSO HAPPENING TO ANGELA ALSOBROOKS AND THE CONSEQUENCE WHEN THERE'S TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CAMPAIGN ADS PEOPLE START TO THINK LESS FONDLY OF FOLKS.

>> Jeff: IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU -- LET HE START WITH HOGAN, THE QUESTION WAS ASKED ONE WAS LOOKING BACK ON HIS TIME AS GOVERNOR.

AND THE FAVORABILITY NUMBER ON THAT OR THE APPROVAL OF HIS TIME AS GOVERNOR WAS HUGE.

IT WAS 70 OR 71%.

AND THEN WHEN YOU ASK PERSONAL FAVORABILITY OF SOMEBODY, THAT IS WHERE YOU HAVE SEEN THE EROSION.

>> RIGHT.

AND PEOPLE REMEMBER HIM AS GOVERNOR AND LIKED HIM AS GOVERNOR AND THOUGHT HE DID A GOOD JOB.

BUT WHAT I THINK THE NUMBERS TELL YOU IS THAT ANGELA ALSOBROOKS HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN PROSECUTING THE CASE THAT HE WOULDN'T BE GOOD FOR THE SENATE.

CAN YOU LIKE HIM BUT IF WE SEND HIM TO WASHINGTON HE WILL CAUCUS WITH THE REPUBLICANS AND VOTED WITH THE REPUBLICANS AND WOULD NOT REFLECT THE STATE'S VALUES AND HE COULD NOT BE AS INDEPENDENTS AS HE SAYS HE IS.

AND THE NUMBERS TOGETHER SHOW YOU IS SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE YOU CAN LIKE HIM JUST DON'T VOTE FOR HIM FOR THE SENATE.

WHICH HAS BEEN HER THEORY OF THE CASE THE ENTIRE TIME.

THE CENTRAL IDEA OF WHAT SHE HAS BEEN RUNNING ON IS WE ARE DEMOCRATS, WE HOLD -- SHARE ALL OF THE DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND HE'S PLAYING FOR THEIR TEAM.

>> Jeff: AND YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE QUESTION OF RESPOND ENDS TO THE POLL DO YOU THINK LARRY HOGAN WOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT MAVERICK IN THE SENATE OR LARGELY VOTE WITH HIS PARTY AND THAT IS NOT BREAKING HIS WAY?

>> NO.

NO.

I THINK THERE IS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO BUY HIS ARGUMENT THAT I AM A MAVERICK.

BUT [INAUDIBLE] FOLKS THINK WELL, YOU ARE -- 49% OF PEOPLE NOT QUITE HALF DON'T THINK THAT HE IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE POLICIES OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS THAT HE IS GOING TO GET THERE AND BE A REPUBLICAN.

>> Jeff: THE PRACTITIONERS OF THE DARK ARTS OF NEGATIVE POLITICAL ADS HAVE BEEN DOING THEIR WORK.

EVERYBODY HAS SEEM A MILLION ADS IN THIS RACE.

AND FROM THE HOGAN SIDE OR AT LEAST THE SUPER PAC THAT IS INDEPENDENTLY SUPPORTING THE HOGAN SIDE HAS BEEN RUNNING A TON OF AFDS ATTACKING ALSOBROOKS FOR TAX ISSUES WITH REAL ESTATE TAXES IN THE DISTRICT AND IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND YOU SEE MOVEMENT IN THIS POLL COMPARED TO THE ONE TAKEN A MONTH AGO IN HER UNFAVORABLINGS HAVE GONE UP FROM LOW 20s TO LOW 30s.

WHICH IN THE WORLD OF POLITICS IS NOT UNFAVORABLE BUT THAT MOVEMENT DOESN'T SHOW UP WHEN YOU ASKED QUESTION WHO ARE YOU GOING TO VOTED FOR?

IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE CHANGED ANY VOTES.

>> RIGHT.

A LOT OF TIMES POLITICS IS A POPULARITY CONTEST.

WHO DO YOU FEEL BETTER.

A LOT OF VOTERS GET A GUT REACTION FROM ADS.

THIS SENATE RACE HAS REALLY BEEN A LOT MORE LESS ABOUT ISSUES AND MORE ABOUT PARTISANSHIP AND MORE ABOUT NOT NECESSARILY WHO DO YOU LIKE MORE, BUT WHO IS GOING TO REPRESENT US BETTER IN WASHINGTON, WHICH SEEMS LIKE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE CASE IN ELECTIONS BUT OFTEN ISN'T.

AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEGATIVE ADS IF WE CAN STEP BACK FOR A SECOND, THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE POLITICAL RACE IN MARYLAND HISTORY.

MARYLAND TYPICALLY IS NOT THAT COMPETITIVE IT HAS EXPENSIVE MEDIA MARKETS AND ALMOST ALWAYS VOTES FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND GOVERNOR'S RACES WE DON'T SEE THE MONEY THAT IS POURING INTO THIS.

THIS IS SIX TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE RACE THAT VAN HOLLEN RAN.

AND THIS IS GOING TO TOP OUT OVER $75, 80 MILLION BEFORE IT'S SAID AND DONE AND THE FOLKS IN THE BALTIMORE MEDIA MARKET ARE SEEING TICE AS MANY ADS THAN THE FOLKS IN THE WASHINGTON D.C.

SUBURBS.

THEY'VE RESERVED AS MUCH AIR TIME AS THEY CAN.

THEY'VE SUCKED UP ALL OF IT.

I WOULD EXPECT THIS MESSAGING TO CONTINUE, BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY THE ONLY TOOL THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE.

LARRY HOGAN HAS MADE THIS ABOUT HIM SAYING YOU LIKE ME, YOU CAN TRUST ME.

HE IS GOING TO KEEP SENDING THAT MESSAGE BUT THE ONLY WAY TO BRING ANGELA ALSOBROOKS' NUMBERS DOWN IS CONTINUE THE ATTACKS AND HOPE AT SOME POINT THERE IS A TIPPING POINT THAT MAKE PEOPLE THINK LIKE YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH SHE IS A DEMOCRAT MAYBE I DON'T WANT HER.

SEEMS LIKE IT IS A TALL ORDER BUT THAT IS THE ONLY MOVE RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: AND YOU CAN READER RIN'S REPORTING AT WASHINGTON POST.COM.

>> TO A BALLOT QUESTION THAT WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF ONE OF THE STATE'S MOST FAMOUS DESTINATIONS HARBORPLACE.

VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO REPLACE THE VACANT OLD PAVILIONS WITH LARGER BUILDINGS.

WE SPOKE WITH ECONOMIST ANIRBAN BASU WHICH OPPOSES QUESTION F AND JON LARIA FOR THE QUESTION F. GENTLEMEN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JON IF I CAN BEGIN WITH YOU.

WHY IS A REFERENDUM EVEN NECESSARY FOR THIS?

AND WHY DO YOU WANT TO SEE IT PASS?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, JEFF.

THE REFERENDUM IS NECESSARY PAUSE THE CITY CHARTER IN ITS CURRENT FORM DOES NOT PERMIT RESIDENTIAL USE AT THE HARBOR AND LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT CAN BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.

THAT DATES BACK TO 1978 WHEN THE CHARTER WAS AMENDED TO ALLOW THE ORIGINAL HARBORPLACE AND AMENDED A LITTLE BIT SENSE AND NOW IT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED AGAIN IN ORDER TO PERMIT THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROPOSED.

>> Jeff: I THINK OF YOU AS BEING PRO GRORTD WHY ARE YOU A NO VOTE ON THIS.

>> IN THE FOLLOWING SENSE YES BIG BUILDINGS WHY THEY ARE PUTTING THE REFERENDUM TO TURN THIS PARK INTO A NON-PARK.

I DON'T LOVE THAT.

I THINK THAT PARK TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ECONOMIC VALUE.

AND THAT IT YOU KEPT THIS A PARK AND BEAUTIFIED IT AND CITY AND STATE GOVERNMENT ARE WILLING TO PUT FORTH $400 MILLION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, THE DEVELOPERS ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS.

LET THEM MAKE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, HE MAKES ELON MUSK JEALOUS.

KEEP THE PARK A PARK.

AND AGAIN, THE CITY AND STATE ARE WILLING TO PUT FORTH $400 MILLION MAKE IT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARK IN NORTH AMERICA THAT WILL INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES AROUND THAT PARK, BRING MORE VISITORS TO BALTIMORES AND CREATE SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND I THINK THAT IS THE WAY WE SHOULD GO.

>> Jeff: DO YOU BOTH AGREE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE?

THIS IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IT WAS CREATED OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH AND NOW IT'S BASICALLY MOSTLY VACANT AND SOMEWHAT DERELICT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW I BELIEVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WHAT I BELIEVE IS A VIBRANT MIXED-USE COMMUNITY 24/7 COMMUNITY WITH RESIDENTS AND RETAIL AND BUSINESSES, ARTISTS AND REALLY A TRUE URBAN MARKETPLACE A GATHERING PLACE ALL THE THINGS THAT HARBORPLACE HAS BEEN.

THIS WILL BE THE 2024 VERSION NOT THE 1978 VERSION AND THAT PROBABLY FOR THE BEST.

OF COURSE, IT NEEDS TO BE REVITALIZED.

AND I GUESS WE DISAGREE.

I DON'T THINK THAT A TRUE SIMPLE CLASSIC PARK ENVIRONMENT IS GOING TO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

MY OFFICE IS ACROSS THE STREET.

IT LOOKS DOWN ON HARBORPLACE FROM THE WINDOW.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S JUST NOT MUCH GOING ON DOWNTOWN.

DOWNTOWN NEEDS A BOOST.

AND MY VIEW AND OTHER PEOPLE'S VIEW IS THAT A ROBUST VE VIT -- REVITALIZATION IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DO THAT THAN SIMPLY KEEPING IT OR REALLY ENHANCING INTO SOME SORT OF A PASSIVE PARK LIKE ENVIRONMENT.

>> Jeff: BEFORE YOU JUMP IN, JON PAINT ME A PICTURE OF FIVE YEARS FROM NOW WHAT YOU THINK THE HARBOR IS GOING TO BE LIKE?

>> FIVE YEARS FROM NOW IT'S RESPECT RESIDENTSES IN BUILDINGS IT'S 250,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES.

RESTAURANTS, ARTISTS.

IT IS A 24/7 COMMUNITY WHERE COLLEAGUES CAN GO DURING THE DAY FOR FOOD, FOR JUST ACTIVITY, FOR VIBRANCY.

AND THAT WOULD CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING.

ALSO IT WILL ATTRACT TOURISTS TO BALTIMORE AS I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS WE SAY THAT HARBORPLACE USED TO ATTRACT MORE VISITORS THAN DISNEYWORLD AND IT IS NOT THE CASE ANYMORE AND THE IDEA IS TO PROVIDE SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY AND PEOPLE WILL COME.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND EXCITING, MIXED-USE COMMUNITY THAT RUNS 24/7 AND INCLUDES ALL THE AMENITIES AND ACTIVITY THAT I'M DESCRIBING.

>> Jeff: ANIRBAN BASU?

>> TWO THINGS, LOOK, BOSTON COMMONS, CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK ATTRACT A LOT OF VISITORS.

WE CAN HAVE A PLASTIC ECOLOGICAL PARK AND ATTRACT VISITORS.

LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HARBOR POINT?

THEY HAVE TAKEN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FROM THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND MOVE TO DO THERE, WHATEVER IT HAPPENS TO BE.

AND SO WHAT YOU WOULD GET SOME OF THE TENANTS IN THE HISTORIC CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WHERE VACANCY IS 30% WILL MOVE TO THE NEW OFFICE BUILDING AND YOU WILL GET WEALTHY RENTERS RENTING IN THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

I TELL YOU SOMETHING, JEFF, PEOPLE DO NOT COME TO A PLACE TO VISIT APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND OFFICE A LITTLINGS I CAN SEE OFFICE LTSDS IN TOWSON.

I DON'T NEED TO COME TO THE HARBORPLACE FOR THAT.

THIS NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT NOT TO BE REST TOWN CENTER IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

IT NEEDS TO BE SPECIAL AND ELEVATES THE BALANCE OF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T TAKE AWAY PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY.

>> JEFF, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER PLACE.

BUT YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVE BEEN IT THE WHARF IN DC.

IT'S RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE ALL OF THAT IS ABOVE A ACTIVATED GROUND FLOOR MAYBE TWO GROUND FLOORS THAT HAVE RETAIL SPACE AND RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITIES.

IT'S TRUE THAT THERE WOULD BE RESIDENTS AND OFFICE BUT WE THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO CREATE THE VITALITY.

THE GROUND LEVEL EXPERIENCE IS NOT AS SOME FOLKS SUGGESTED A WALLED APARTMENT BUILDING WITH A GUARD DESK.

THE GROUND FLOOR EXPERIENCE IS RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL AND ARTISTS AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS.

A MARKETPLACE AND GATHERING PLACE.

AND ABOVE THAT THERE WOULD BE THOSE OTHER THINGS WHICH CREATE THE DEMAND FOR THE THINGS ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND THE ECONOMICS TO MAKE A COMPLICATED EXPENSIVE PROJECT LIKE THIS WORK.

>> Jeff: LET ME DIG INTO THE MIXED-USE ASPECT OF IT A LITTLE BIT AND THE COMPARISONS TO THE WHARF.

BACK TO 1980 WHEN HARBORPLACE OPENED THERE WAS NOT ANY RETAIL AROUND THERE.

SO THERE WAS A NEED FOR RETAIL.

SINCE THEN EVERY OFFICE BUILDING ON PRATT STREET HAS CREATED GROUND FLOOR RETAIL.

SO IS THERE REALLY DEMAND AND DEMAND FOR OFFICE SPACE?

THE OFFICE MARKET HAS BEEN DES ESTIMATED BY THE PANDEMIC AND WORK-FROM-HOME.

THEY ARE BASICALLY GIVING AWAY OFFICE BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

SO WHERE'S THE DEMAND GOING TO COME FROM?

>> THAT IS A QUESTION FOR ME.

THE MARKET STUDIES ARE THAT DOWNTOWN NEEDS 5500 MORE RESIDENTS IN THE NEXT NUMBER OF YEARS.

SO THERE IS A TREMENDOUS DEMAND FOR RESIDENTS.

YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT THE RETAIL AND THE OFFICE.

AGAIN, THE MARKET STUDY SHOWED THAT HIGH QUALITY RETAIL WILL COME TO HIGH QUALITY PROJECTS AND HIGH QUALITY ENVIRONMENTS THAT IS WHAT THE REIMAGINE HARBORPLACE WILL BRING.

THE OFFICE IS NOT THE BIGGEST COMPONENT OF OUR PLACE.

IF THE DEMAND IS NOT THERE WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE.

IN THE MOMENT IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE TO BUILD A PROJECT THAT INCLUDES RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL RETAIL AS WELL AS OFFICE AND WE'LL SEE.

BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, THE DEMAND WILL DRIVE IT.

THERE IS DEMAND FOR THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE HARBORPLACE GO AND IF WE ARE LUCKY WE WILL END UP WITH DEMAND FOR OFFICE THAT WILL ADD TO THE VITALITY OF HARBORPLACE IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

>> Jeff: YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AND IF YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE WIDE OPEN TO OTHER IDEA WHAT IS IS AN IDEA THAT IS GOING TO LIGHT THE ECONOMIC FIRE IN DOWNTOWN AS WE SAW BACK IN 1980?

>> JEFF, IT'S NOT CLEAR.

WHAT I WOULD HAVE SAID IS THIS, LET'S HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION.

THE DEVELOPER BOUGHT HARBORPLACE FOR ALMOST $83 MILLION.

BUY IT BACK FROM HIM.

GIVE HIM MORE MONEY.

BUY HIM OUT OF THIS DEAL.

AND THEN HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION SPONSORED BY THE CITY AND THE STATE.

AND WHETHER THE BEST IDEA COMES FROM COPENHAGEN OR KOREA, ADOPT THAT IDEA AND LET THE LANDSCAPERS AND PLANNERS IMPLEMENT THAT VISION AND LET BALTIMORE BE VERY UNIQUE APARTMENT BUILDINGS EVERYWHERE, OFFICE BUILDINGS EVERYWHERE.

A REAL GATHERING SPOT IN BALTIMORE IN THE HEART OF BALTIMORE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE GATHERING SUCH.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PARK SPACE LET'S BRING THAT BACK TO BALTIMORE A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES CAN REALLY GATHER.

I TELL YOU THAT WILL HAVE MORE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAN ANYTHING THAT IS BEING PROPOSED.

>> LET ME MAKE ONE POINT IF I MAY.

THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT ACTUALLY WILL INCLUDE MUCH MORE PARK AND OPEN SPACE THAN IS THERE TODAY.

THE CHARTER PROVISION WHICH WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO INTO DOES HAVE AN INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL BECAUSE OF SOME PLANNING ISSUES THAT ARE SORT OF TECHNICAL.

BUT THE PLAN ACTUALLY INCLUDES ALMOST FIVE NEW PARKS INCLUDING A GIANT PARK AT THE INTERSECTION OF CALVERT AND LIGHT WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS THERE IS A WEIRD LANE THAT CREATES A HIGHWAY AS WELL AS ONE-AND-A-HALF NEW ACRES OF WATERFRONT PROMENADE.

IT IS NOT A LOSS OF PARK SPACE.

IT IS ACTUALLY GAIN OF PARK SPACE AND NO ONE IS UNDER VALUING THE PARK SPACE THE POIN% I'M TRYING TO MAKE YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL.

YOU CAN HAVE VIBRANT MIXED-USE COMMUNITY AND MORE PARK SPACE AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT THE PLAN IS PROPOSING.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO JON LARIA AND ANIRBAN BASU TO SEE OUR RECENT DISCUSSION ABOUT THE STATE-WIDE ABORTION RELATED BALLOT QUESTION, VISIT MPT.ORG/VOTE 2024.

A SPECIAL COUNTDOWN KICKOFF RECENTLY FOR MARYLAND'S 400TH ANNIVERSARY.

OUR SUE COPPIN HAS THE STORY FROM HISTORIC ST.MARY'S CITY.

>> THE CREW OF THE PRIDE OF BALTIMORE 2 GETTING READY TO SET SAIL WITH HELP OF A FEW VISITORS ONBOARD FOR THE JOURNEY.

THIS JOINT SAIL OF HISTORY IRK ST.MARY'S CITY IS A FIRST WITH THE REPLICA OF THE MARYLAND DOVE WHICH BROUGHT THE FIRST GROUP OF COLONISTS TO THE SHORES ENJOYING THE PRIDE OF BALTIMORE.

IT KICKS OFF THE COUNTDOWN TO THE INCLUSIVE CELEBRATION OF MARYLAND'S 400TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2024.

AND IT BRINGS TOGETHER THE RESOURCES OF THE RECENTLY CREATED SOUTHERN MARYLAND NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA WITH THE BALTIMORE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

>> EVERYTHING WE'RE GOING IS HIGHLIGHTING THE BEAUTY AND POWER OF THE STORIES AND HERITAGE OF THIS REGION AND ALSO THIS IS WHERE MARYLAND BEGAN.

SO I'M ONLY PART OF THAT PROCESS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A STATE-WIDE PLANNING, COMMISSIONS, WE ARE JUST GETTING AT TENSION FOCUSED SAYING WE NEED TO GET STARTED BECAUSE 10 YEARS IS NOT A LOT OF TIME WHEN YOU ARE PLANNING A MAJOR EVENT.

>> ONBOARD THESE TWO SHIPS, STAT, REGIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS ALONG WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS.

MANY WITH TIES LONG PREDATE THE ARRIVAL OF THE ARC AND THE DOVE FOUR CENTURIES AGO.

>> LET'S BE TRUE TO OURSELVES.

ALL OF US.

LET'S ACCEPT THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY AND TELLING THIS WONDERFULLY RICH HERITAGE OF WHAT WE CONSIDER OURSELVES AS MARYLANDERS TODAY.

SEE, THERE WAS PEOPLE WELL BEFORE THE LANDING OF THE ARC AND DOVE.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE STORIES BE TOLD AS WELL.

>> AND THE TELLING OF THOSE STORIES IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE PLAN FOR THE RUN UP TO THE STATE'S MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

>> IF WE CAN LEARN TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND OUR JOURNEYS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NOT JUST WE HAVE ISSUES WHETHER IT IS A STRUGGLE, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THAT AUTO WAS AN INJUSTICE BUT WE CAN LEARN TO VALUE AND APPRECIATE AND SOMETIMES IT FORMS AN INTIMATE BOND BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED TO LEARN MY JOURNEY.

AND I'M LEARNING YOUR JOURNEY.

NOW WE HAVE A SHARED JOURNEY ABOUT THE HISTORY THAT NEITHER ONE OF US WERE PRESENT FOR.

BUT WE CAN LEARN FROM T. >> KYLE HARMON IS A TEACHER, A BOARD MEMBER OF THE ST.MARY'S COMMISSION AND A TRIBAL MEMBER.

HE SAYS HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING A PART OF MARYLAND'S HISTORY THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

>> IT IS A WAY TO BRING US ALL BACK TOGETHER SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE THIS THE NEXT 400 YEARS A MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE FIRST 400.

>> EVERYBODY HAS A SPACE HERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US TRULY MARYLANDERS.

AS THE GOVERNOR TODAY SAYS, NO ONE LEFT BEHIND.

LET'S NOT LEAVE OUR ANCESTORS AND OUR ELDERS BEHIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, OF TELLING OUR STORY AS WELL.

>> LUCILLE WALKER SAYS THIS JOINT SAIL IS NOT JUST INTENDED TO RECALL THE PAST.

BUT TO CONSIDER WHAT LIES AHEAD AS WELL.

SAIL INTO MARYLAND'S FUTURE.

A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS NOT ABOUT WHO WE WERE, IT'S NOT ABOUT WHO WE ARE.

IT'S ABOUT WHO WE WANT TO BE.

>> IN HISTORIC ST.MARY'S CITY I'M SUE COPPIN FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WITH OUR SALUTE TO VETERANS HERE IS NANCY AMATA.

>> I CAN'T THINK OF ANOTHER PLACE I WOULD RATHER BE.

>> 79-YEAR-OLD RALPH SAYS HIS GOLDEN YEARS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BEST YEARS OF HIS LIFE SINCE HE MOVED INTO THIS HOME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY ALMOST 12 YEARS AGO.

HE WAS PLACED HERE BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AS PART OF THEIR MEDICAL FOSTER HOME PROGRAM.

>> THE FOOD IS GOOD AND THEY TAKE BEAUTIFUL CARE OF US.

NICE NEIGHBORHOOD.

YEP.

EVERYTHING IS REAL NICE.

>> A FAR CRY FROM THE DAYS HE LIVED ON THE STREETS.

92-YEAR-OLD MARINE CORPS AND ARMY VETERAN BOB LIVES HERE, TOO.

>> HERE YOU GET THREE MEALS A DAY.

VERY NICE AND IT'S DIFFERENT THAN LIVE UNWILLING A HOTEL.

>> BOB AND RALPH LIVE WITH THE HOMEOWNER JOANNE WEST WHO DECIDED TO OPEN UP HER HOME AS A V.A.

FOSTER HOME ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO.

>> THERE IS A NEED.

THEY SERVED THIS COUNTRY AND IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO BE SERVED.

>> IN ADDITION TO HOMEMADE MEALS MRS. WEST KEEPS TRACK OF MEDICATIONS AND DRIVES THE VETERANS TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND BRINGS THEM TO DAYCARE AND THERAPY AND FUN OUTINGS.

>> THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB.

BECAUSE IF IT WAS EVERYBODY WOULD BE DOING IT.

>> ACROSS THE STATE THERE ARE FIVE HOMES THAT ARE PART OF THE V.A.

'S MEDICAL FOSTER HOME PROGRAM.

>> IT IS A NURSING HOME DIVERSION PROGRAM TRYING TO KEEP VETERANS OUT OF THE NURSING HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> SARAH HOFFMAN SAYS THE V.A.

GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE THE FOSTER HOMES ARE SAFE AND AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR AGING VETERANS.

>> ONCE THE HOME IS LICENSED BY THE STATE THEY CAN APPLY TO BECOME A MEDICAL FOSTER HOMECARE GIVER AND WE COME IN AND DO LENGTHY APPLICATION, BACKGROUND CHECKS, INSPECTIONS, NURSING, FIRE AND SAFETY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST SETTING FOR VULNERABLE VETERAN.

>> THE V.A.

IS HOPING MORE HOMEOWNER ALSO STEP UP AND APPLY TO TAKE CARE OF VETERANS TO AVOID GOING TO A NURSING HOME.

>> SUCH A BENEFICIAL ENVIRONMENT TO BE IN A HOME INSTEAD OF A NURSING HOME.

IN NURSING HOME YOU ARE IN LONG-TERM CARE ALL SORTS OF STAFF COMING IN AND OUT AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE JUST THE TIME THE ABILITY TO MAKE LASTING RELATIONSHIPS.

MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS.

HERE IN THE MEDICAL FOSTER HOME THE VETERANS BECOME PART OF THEIR FAMILY.

>> I ENJOY TAKING CARE OF THEM AND I HAVE A SAYING IF THIS DOES NOT WORK IT'S ONLY TAKING CARE OF THEM.

SO [INAUDIBLE].

>> THIS IS LIVING.

THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE.

I'M HOPING ALL THE VETERANS IS HAPPY AS I AM LIKE THIS LIVING HERE.

>> BESIDES THE MEALS, DAY-TO-DAY CARE AND RIDES, HE MOST APPRECIATES THAT HE IS LIVING OUT HIS GOLDEN YEARS WITH DIGNITY, FRIENDSHIP AND RESPECT.

>> I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: MARYLAND'S TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT OF THE EQUESTRIAN WORLD DREW CROWDS TO CECIL COUNTY.

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MARYLAND FIVE STAR.

>> FIVE STAR HERE PRESENTED BY BROWN ADVISORY.

THE 2024 WAS ALL TO PLAY FOR FOR ALL VYING TO WIN HIS FOURTH FIVE-STAR TITLE ABOARD THE 17-YEAR-OLD.

OLIVER WHO CAME IN 2021 FINISHING SECOND HE WAS THIRD IN 22, THIRD IN 23.

HE IS SO, SO WANTED THE FIVE STAR WIN AND IT WAS HIS FOR THE TAKING.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO DO HIS JOB THERE'S NO HORSE BETTER IN THE WORLD.

IT'S BRILLIANT IT'S FIVE STAR AND WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT THEY MARY LAND AND THE CECIL COUNTY PUT IT ON FOR US.

>> NO BETTER HORSE IN THE WORLD THAN OLIVER AND HE WINS THE 2024 MARYLAND FIVE STAR VERIZON.

>> FOR MORE ON THE EVENT VISIT MPT.ORG/MARYLAND 5 STAR.

YOU CAN SEE OUR RECENT PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV AND THROUGH THE FREE PBS APP.

YOU CAN BE FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

WE'RE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION" YOUR CHANCE TO ASK THE EXPERTS MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. FROM ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.