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Mayor Cross frames Glenarden priorities in Annapolis — youth programs, health equity and economic supports
Summary
Mayor Cross described advocacy work in Annapolis on issues affecting Glenarden residents, including education, health equity and workforce pathways, and told council she is focusing attention on state legislation that could affect housing, juvenile sentencing, disability supports and workforce opportunities for youth.
Glenarden, Md. — In the mayor’s report at the Feb. 18 council meeting Mayor Cross outlined state legislative priorities she said have direct implications for Glenarden residents, including youth education and workforce programs, health‑equity initiatives and advocacy on housing and expungement policies.
Cross told the council her office has monitored a range of bills in the 2025 general assembly and has engaged with state legislators and advocacy groups on issues she said affect local families: efforts to reform juvenile charging practices, protections for people with hidden disabilities that would affect police interactions, and measures tied to education and workforce development that could bring training and jobs to young residents. She described outreach on the “Second Look” and other criminal‑justice reforms that could reduce expungement costs for residents and on proposals to expand career training — including cybersecurity and trade certifications — for local youth.
The mayor also discussed concerns about possible state and county budget cuts and the potential effect on municipal services; councilmembers asked for clarity about what the mayor’s office is securing from state and county partners. Council members praised the mayor’s contacts and presence in Annapolis but also urged attention to immediate local needs: sidewalks, potholes and long‑pending street projects in specific wards. Mayor Cross and councilmembers agreed to continue coordinating so the mayor’s state‑level advocacy complements the council’s local priorities.
During the department reports that followed, the city manager and finance director provided operational follow‑ups: the city manager described recruitment for a public‑works director and plans to begin presenting the FY2026 budget in March; the finance director reviewed December bank and cash balances and reported that American Rescue Plan funds expended to date have freed reserves for capital projects and that auditors were scheduled for a single audit related to federal funding thresholds.
Councilmembers pressed for clearer project timelines and for staff to return with specific information about sidewalk and street repairs, GPS installations on municipal vehicles and previous feasibility work related to potential police building sites. The mayor reiterated that state‑level advocacy aims to protect local programs and support residents, while several councilmembers said they want both high‑level advocacy and tangible local results to appear in subsequent reports.
Mayor Cross asked staff and council to continue communicating priorities so advocacy work in Annapolis supports concretely funded local actions.
