Pittman and Friends Podcast

​​What if local government felt like a neighbor who shows up with the right help at the right time? In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Alison Flores, Director of Anne Arundel County’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, to unpack how a “small but mighty” team turns the value of belonging into practical action. From festivals and murals to legal lifelines and business roundtables, they trace the systems that let immigrant families connect, grow, and navigate services without getting lost in the maze.
Alison explains why the office was built to connect rather than duplicate—linking residents to Economic Development, Central Services, and trusted nonprofits. They talk about the Community Building Mini Grant, the Certified Welcoming audit with Welcoming America, and a monthly network of immigrant service providers that keeps information current and useful. The thread through it all is trust: engaging directly with communities, honoring language and cultural nuance, and using faith partners to reach people who might be wary of public buildings or paperwork.
They also reflect on cultural visibility: from a joy-filled Super Bowl halftime performance, to neighborhood businesses that anchor community life, and on pandemic lessons that revealed both the essential role and the fragile safety net around immigrant workers. If you care about immigrant inclusion and building a welcoming county, this conversation offers a grounded, hopeful roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend, and join us next week for another great episode.
If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

Weekly Letter: https://www.aacounty.org/county-executive/steuart-pittman/pittmans-pen/weekly-letter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACoExec

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArundelTV

In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with State Senator Dawn Gile for a candid discussion of how a military spouse and attorney found her lane in Maryland’s Senate, learned to lead on hard votes, and kept family life intact while pushing forward consumer protections and healthcare reforms. From Broadneck to Crofton to Davidsonville, her district spans traffic chokepoints, has rural character, and shoreline concerns—so listening isn’t a slogan, it’s the job.
They dig into the moment she defended Maryland’s constitutional amendment protecting reproductive freedom after the Supreme Court issued the Dobbs decision. Consumer protection takes center stage as they unpack the ticketing mess: bots snapping up seats, speculative listings that sell shows before real tickets exist, and families paying triple for community events like the Renaissance Festival or the local Nutcracker. They also explore Maryland’s push on prescription drug affordability and how the state’s board can bring real savings to public plans and set a path for wider relief. Throughout, Senator Gile talks about balancing law, parenting, and public service; building durable relationships across the aisle; and translating values into bills that hold up in the real world. 
Tune in to this heartfelt conversation between two public servants and learn more about those that represent Anne Arundel County every day. Subscribe, share with a friend, and join us next week for another great episode. 
If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

Weekly Letter: https://www.aacounty.org/county-executive/steuart-pittman/pittmans-pen/weekly-letter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACoExec

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AACoExec

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AACoExec/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArundelTV

Each year, I reflect on the state of our county and speak directly to residents. This year's address focuses on offering a path for residents to restore their faith in government and showcase our progress driven by fiscal responsibility and efficiency.
I am committed to 'finishing what we started' in my final year—solidifying progress on housing, land preservation, and infrastructure to ensure Anne Arundel County is set up for success for years to come.
Local government exists to protect our people and ensure opportunity is available to all. Tune in this week to hear my full address and learn more about the vision to make Anne Arundel County The Best Place - For All.
If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

Weekly Letter: https://www.aacounty.org/county-executive/steuart-pittman/pittmans-pen/weekly-letter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACoExec

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AACoExec

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AACoExec/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArundelTV

A campaign can win votes or it can build a blueprint for governing. Jared Littman, Annapolis mayor-elect, joins us to share how two years on the trail reshaped his plan: take the budget to every ward through annual town halls, walk blocks with residents to see issues first-hand, and rebuild trust by making engagement the start of policy, not the afterthought.

We dig into City Dock and resilience with clear-eyed realism—what it takes to protect a waterfront that the entire county treats like a shared park, why multi-level funding matters, and how climate adaptation must also include cooling heat islands, planting trees, and expanding public water access beyond tourist districts. Jared explains how the Resilience Authority and county partnerships can speed stormwater projects and align transportation without chasing a complicated city-county merger that might not improve service or cost.

Housing takes center stage as we discuss public housing conditions, voucher funding risks, and major redevelopment efforts like Robinwood and the Choice Neighborhood Initiative. We talk nuts and bolts—inspections, licensing, revenue restoration—and the legal landscape around lawsuits that could strain a $200 million budget. Jared makes the case for addressing root causes whether or not the city prevails in court, with homelessness prevention and wraparound services on deck through stronger county and state coordination.

We also go inside City Hall strategy: pairing new and returning council members for mentorship, holding a retreat to set norms, and starting budget priorities in the fall to avoid the annual ambush. The ultimate goal is simple and measurable: every resident should feel that their government cares, responds, and works without insider access. If that culture holds, trust grows—and with it, the capacity to deliver on resilience, equitable housing, and access to the water that defines Annapolis. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us your top priority for the first round of budget town halls.
If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

Weekly Letter: https://www.aacounty.org/county-executive/steuart-pittman/pittmans-pen/weekly-letter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACoExec

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AACoExec

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AACoExec/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArundelTV

What does it take to run a county people are proud to call home? We sit down with Councilmember Lisa Rodvien to pull back the curtain on the choices behind stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, and a fairer tax system—choices that rarely make headlines, but change lives every day.

Lisa traces her journey from desegregated classrooms in Missouri to teaching during the Great Recession, where she watched talented educators leave as pay fell behind. That experience fueled a clear mission: stabilize the teacher workforce and invest in students, even if it means having an adult conversation about revenue. We share how early budget town halls led to a modest, progressive income tax structure—asking more of high earners while easing the burden for those with the least—and why that shift helped close vacancies, fund core services, and rebuild trust.

Housing and environment take center stage as we tackle a persistent false choice: protect the Bay or build homes. Lisa lays out a smarter path—preserving the county’s green heart while adding attainable housing near jobs and transit, and locking in affordability through inclusionary tools we wish had started sooner. We also dive into public safety reforms born after the murder of George Floyd: body-worn cameras, a stronger accountability framework, and a culture of constitutional policing. Alongside that, violence interruption teams in Eastport show how credible messengers and relentless, data-driven outreach can prevent shootings before they happen.

We close with practical climate moves, from electrifying county tools to expanding clean energy access, and the rising voice of youth calling for transit, bike routes, and safer sidewalks. If you care about how local government balances values with results—education funding, fair taxes, housing that fits, clean water, and safer streets—this conversation offers a candid roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: what’s the one local change you want to see next?
If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below.

Weekly Letter: https://www.aacounty.org/county-executive/steuart-pittman/pittmans-pen/weekly-letter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACoExec

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AACoExec

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AACoExec/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArundelTV