For those of you that live in Council District 2, County Executive Pittman and Councilwoman Pickard are hosting the first Budget Townhall tonight at 6 p.m. Remember, the budget is a statement of priorities, not just a collection of numbers, and it's important to let your voice be heard. The event will be live-streamed on the County Executive's Facebook page, but you may also click here to register for Zoom, where you will have the opportunity to make a live, public comment.

Please see the County Executive’s statement on the indoor mask mandate and his request for each of you to submit testimony ahead of Friday mornings’ emergency session of the County Council. It is critically important that the Council hears from each of you that you want your government to work to protect public health.

Our County Council will take a vote this Friday that could either help to slow the spread of COVID-19, or challenge the principle that local government should act to protect public health.

The County Council will have an emergency meeting this Friday at 8 a.m. to vote on extending the mask mandate, Bill 6-22, and the state of civil emergency, Bill 7-22. If you want to stand with our hospital heroes against this damn virus, this week is a good time to speak up.

Click here to register to testify or click here to submit written testimony.

Read the full letter.

District 2 residents, join County Executive Steuart Pittman and Councilwoman Allison Pickard, TONIGHT at 6 p.m. to let them know what you want to be funded in the county budget. Register now for the virtual budget town hall at aacounty.org/budgettownhalls, and we'll see you tonight.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and the Anne Arundel County Department of Health (DOH) announced plans for the distribution of 200,000 rapid at-home COVID tests, including an allocation of 100,000 for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS). The remainder will be distributed through a variety of equity-based channels, to help provide kits to residents and communities that have faced barriers to accessing kits through traditional means.

Read the full press release.

County Executive Steuart Pittman released the following statement regarding Resolution 1-22. The resolution, introduced by the County Executive, asks the County Council to place a charter amendment on the 2022 ballot to create a system for public financing of County elections.

“Providing a public financing system for local elections gives popular candidates without access to wealthy donors a fair shot at public service.

The system that would be created under this amendment is voluntary, and would require candidates to match public funds with small donations. Opting into the system requires candidates to forego large contributions from PACs, corporations, and individuals.

We are not alone in this effort. Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County have all approved public campaign finance systems, and Governor Hogan used Maryland’s statewide system to win office in 2014.

The public campaign finance question will be put on the 2022 ballot if five of seven County Council members approve letting the voters decide the matter. I believe that it’s a choice our voters should be allowed to make.”

On January 7, 2022, the Anne Arundel County Council will meet in a virtual emergency legislative session in order to hold public hearings and vote on two emergency bills that address mask mandates and executive powers. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m.

Individuals may sign up to speak during the public hearings by completing the online registration form. The deadline to register to testify during the meeting is Thursday, January 6, 2022, at 3 p.m.

A meeting agenda, copies of legislation, including Bill Nos. 6-22 and 7-22, and other information for the meeting can be found on the County Council's webpage.

Note: Those who wish to testify must be registered. Testimony will be limited to 2 minutes per person.

Curbside crews are working to collect trash and recycling containers that are safely accessible. Containers that are blocked and/or covered in snow may not receive service. There will be NO yard waste collection this week.

See below for the modified curbside collection schedule for this week:

Last spring, the Department of Recreation and Parks asked for your help with planning for the future of county parks and natural spaces. Now the draft Land Preservation Parks and Recreation Plan (aka "LPPRP") is available for review.

Review the draft plan on the Recs and Parks section of aacounty.org. Copies are also available at Anne Arundel County Public Library branches, Seniors Centers, and staffed Recreation & Parks facilities. After reviewing the draft, please email your comments to lpprp2022@aacounty.org.

County Council - Below is a list of the legislation receiving a public hearing at the January 7, 2022, County Council meeting. Come and let your voice be heard during the public comment period for each of these!

Please note: This is a virtual emergency legislative session in order to hold public hearings and vote on two emergency bills that address mask mandates and executive powers. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. Click here to register to testify or click here to submit written testimony.

The legislation scheduled to be heard at the next County Council meeting is subject to change. Click here for an up-to-date list and to see other legislation that has been introduced but isn't scheduled for a hearing at the next meeting.

Region Plans - The county's nine Region Plans will be the backbone of our county's planning work and will include an evaluation of community assets and needs, a shared vision for the next 20 years, and specific recommendations for each region about land use, zoning, environmental protection, transportation, public facilities, and more. Work in regions 2, 4, and 7 are currently underway, and you can provide input now. Find out what region you live in, and click the following link for your region to complete a quick survey: Region 2 - Region 4 - Region 7

Residents can view a calendar of upcoming meetings in their area, review site plans and other documents, attend virtual meetings, watch previously recorded meetings, and provide public comments directly to the Office of Planning and Zoning - all through the new Community Meetings website. See a partial list of upcoming meetings below and click here for more details and to view the full calendar.

Visit the Maryland Department of Health's website for more information.

For media inquiries, please contact Jeff Amoros at examor21@aacounty.org