Politics

A day after a public announcement to cut more than $3 billion in transportation projects, county officials are pushing for answers and a way to avert the gutting of local road and transit priorities. Leaders from the state’s 24 major political subdivisions arrived in Cambridge for the annual Maryland Association of Counties winter conference with more questions than answers and a growing sense of frustration.

The Maryland Association of Counties began its winter conference Wednesday assessing policies on climate change, transportation and parks and recreation. The organization also known as “MACo” needed two parts to discuss juvenile justice reform at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge. A one-hour discussion focused on how new laws, specifically Juvenile Justice Reform and Child Interrogation Protection Act bills passed last year, are working so far.

City Council members rejected a last-minute resolution Thursday calling for a long-term ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, just days after a separate last-minute measure asking the body to condemn the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas similarly came up short. The ceasefire measure — introduced by the four council members who abstained from Monday’s vote to condemn Hamas — comes as division over the conflict in Israel and Palestine has roiled City Hall in recent days.

Maryland state Dels. Mark Chang and Mike Rogers, both Anne Arundel Democrats, are a part of the growing pool of lawmakers hoping to succeed Democrat John Sarbanes once he leaves his seat representing the 3rd Congressional District. The delegates joined the race after state Sen. Sarah Elfreth launched her candidacy early last month. Elfreth, a Democrat, represents the Annapolis area.

A former member of the Frederick County Council appeared at a meeting on Tuesday to weigh in on a water and sewer reclassification request related to Calumet, a 923-unit planned development in New Market. Tony Chmelik, a Republican, represented council District 2 from 2014 until 2018, when he was unseated by Councilman Steve McKay, also a Republican.

Crisis intervention teams would pair Montgomery County law enforcement officers with medical professionals to respond to mental health crises in hopes of limiting negative interactions between police and civilians in crisis if a new bill introduced in the Montgomery County Council on Tuesday is approved. “This legislation would improve our county’s response to individuals in crisis using a model that is effective at de-escalating violent situations, diverting individuals from the criminal justice system and increasing access to needed follow up services,” said councilmember Dawn Luedtke (D-Dist. 7), who is sponsoring the legislation.

With the Maryland Department of the Environment set to release a final recommendation in a matter of days on what the state needs to do to meet its ambitious climate goals, a coalition of environmental organizations, advocacy groups and community leaders has written to Gov. Wes Moore (D), urging his administration to adopt the most aggressive strategy possible.

Housing Officials from across the state of Maryland meeting at the Winter MACO conference in Ocean City highlighting the state’s challenges and solutions. Speaking at a panel, Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day says across the state Maryland is at least 92,000 houses short. That scarcity he says hurts the marginalized and low-income communities the most, calling on the state to meet the crisis level with investments.