Weekly Letter: Housing Subcabinet and Major Initiatives Update

As the federal government dismantles the social safety net and increases prices through massive import taxes, affordability pressures on working families are growing, and obstacles get larger for local and state governments.

Nowhere is the challenge greater than access to housing for our essential workers and low income residents.

On Wednesday, our new Housing Subcabinet had its first monthly meeting. The participating agencies and staff are:

• Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS)
• Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County (HCAAC)
• Office of Equity and Human Rights
• Office of Planning and Zoning (OPZ)
• Office of Inspections and Permits
• Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation
• Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families
• County Executive’s Office: Me, CAO, Chief of Staff, Both Deputy CAOs

I heard a lot of good news and bad news. Here are some of my notes.

1. There are nearly 13,000 units of housing in the permitting process right now. The Howard/Arundel Report on real estate development described it as a “Plethora of Plans.” 8,000 of those came in just before the July 1 start of the requirement for moderately priced dwelling units. That means somewhere between 800 and 1200 units will not be subject to the price or rent restrictions of that program. It’s unfortunate. Had the bill to create the program passed a year earlier when we introduced it, those new units would be included. 
    
2. Our record number of Low Income Housing Tax Credit and workforce housing deals is working its way forward with the help of ACDS and our state partners. That includes two public housing redevelopments in Annapolis and one in the county. We reviewed each and discussed the regulatory and financing obstacles they are navigating, but they are getting done.
    
3. ACDS and HCAAC are hard at work on a plan for housing at the Meyer Building at Crownsville, and we are hopeful that the project will receive federal funding.
    
4. Dr. Pam Brown at the Partnership reported a large increase in families with housing-related crises, and that while their wrap-around service model is more effective than just eviction prevention programs, the waiting list to participate is growing far too fast. Cruel business practices by landlords - massive and arbitrary rent increases, unwillingness to make repairs, and regular evictions - all work as a business model because demand for affordable units is so high. She reports that when units deteriorate beyond repair, affordable housing is demolished and replaced with new units that these families can’t afford.
    
5. Office of Equity and Human Rights (OEHR) Director Asha Smith reported that our Housing Resource Portal is flooded with complaints about lack of supply in general, frustration with the years-long wait list for housing vouchers, and the lack of units where the vouchers can be used once you get them.
    
6. I asked the team if we should reconsider the question of rent stabilization, a legislative solution implemented by Maryland’s largest counties. The question for Anne Arundel would be whether limiting rent increases would slow production of new units enough that benefits to renters would be offset. We agreed to gather more data and bring the topic back for discussion at our next meeting. 
    
7. I also raised the concern that very few homeowners have taken advantage of our accessory dwelling unit legislation. We will explore regulatory barriers and program marketing ideas at our next meeting.

Problem-solving meetings like this with department heads usually happen without my participation, but whenever I do get to attend, it’s inspiring.

Another of my favorites is a regular meeting on my schedule called Major Initiatives Updates. Each time I get to hear from project leaders about a handful of high priority efforts. This week we covered some great ones.  

1. After a period of slow progress, our agricultural land preservation program is back strong. We transferred it into OPZ and brought in long range planning superstar Michael Stringer to lead it. Today, we have 595 acres of prime farmland moving through the voluntary preservation process. My father, who spent years advocating for the program, is smiling down from heaven.
    
2. Our Office of Equity and Human Rights is putting together an extraordinary day of teaching and learning as part of our official county government apology for slavery. The request for this apology came from our local NAACP, Human Relations Commission, and Caucus of African American Leaders. We have scheduled it for November 1, Maryland Emancipation Day, and brought in a team of partners that will make this an extraordinary moment in the history of our county.
    
3. Recreation and Parks brought updates on creation of indoor recreation centers, including Brooklyn Park, Edgewater, and the West County Swim Center. We discussed the lessons and successes of the Severn Center, and the opportunities to be offered by the forthcoming Boys and Girls Club in Lothian and YMCA in Millersville. We reflected on the county’s history of acknowledging the need for indoor recreation space and obstacles that prevented it from happening. Creative thinking and partnerships are finally moving us forward.
    
4. Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board just met and identified two diabetes drugs that are unaffordable and require interventions to bring costs down, such as upper payment limits. Others will follow, and the limits will apply first to local and state government plans. Anne Arundel County has a new health plan and we’re looking forward to being able to add more discounts, first for our employees, and eventually for all county residents. Good to hear that our Office of Personnel is engaged.

I often say that what has surprised me most about this job was the quality and dedication of the public servants throughout county government. They are always getting things done for our people, even in the face of some powerful headwinds.

Until next week…