Dear Community Leaders and Members of Anne Arundel County,
It’s been quite a week. Being seated at the top of your county government during this time is a responsibility that I manage carefully. Most of my time is spent listening. When I act, it must be informed and decisive.
Nobody can measure all of the potential impacts of not only this health threat, but also a shut-down of much of our economy. Businesses are already laying off their employees. Bills won’t get paid. Most of us have not experienced the kinds of disruptions that face us.
The public turns to government at times like this. We pay our taxes and we expect action: from the feds, the state, and our counties.
It’s easy to look back and lay blame for the failures of elected leaders to pay attention to science and better prepare us for COVID-19, but it’s the future that we can impact.
As someone who spent most of my life outside government, I must give credit where it’s due. I am impressed, both by the passion and the creativity of our public servants as their job descriptions are altered and their need for collaboration becomes urgent. I see Democrats and Republicans at every level of government silencing their incessant drive to take credit for things, and passing the legislation that people need. And I see county employees setting aside their egos and doing whatever they think will help the people they serve.
I hope you’ll join me online tomorrow at 11 am to hear more of the story of how government is responding to COVID-19. My guests this week are Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, Congressman Anthony Brown, and Senator Sarah Elfreth. Send us your questions and comments.
And stay healthy.
Steuart Pittman
County Executive
Anne Arundel County
410-222-1821
