Lt. Gov Aruna Miller, Mayor Brandon Scott, and Secretary Jake Day Headline Day 2 of MML Fall Conference

(October 16, 2023) Annapolis, Md. – The Maryland Municipal League (MML) opened its Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference today in the City of College Park, featuring remarks from Housing Secretary Jake Day, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller.

The opening general session focused on one of the largest challenges currently facing our state and individual communities: the housing crisis.

Secretary Jake Day, Department of Housing and Community Development – and past MML President – spoke about meeting this challenge in “absolute, committed, full partnership” with local government, estimating that the State has a deficit of 120,000 units. Day also challenged local leaders to deal with historical injustices in housing. “We have an obligation and responsibility to ensure that this time, we get it right… If we care about those outcomes, there is no way out but to be deliberate.”

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott then spoke about addressing those challenges in his city. “In Baltimore, we’re facing debates about housing, affordability, and growth. But we’re also still reeling from more than a century of racist redlining and disinvestment in many of our communities,” said Mayor Scott. “From the moment I was elected to office as a City Councilman, I’ve made it my mission to turn the tide on those injustices, and, as Mayor, working to overcome decades of disinvestment has been one of the driving forces of my Administration. Whether it’s in public safety, in Rec & Parks, or in housing – righting the wrongs of disinvestment is what is making a difference today and leaving the building blocks for future generations in every single neighborhood across the City of Baltimore.”

At lunch, Lt. Governor Aruna Miller spoke more broadly about the partnership between the Miller-Moore administration and local governments. "The Moore Miller Administration is committed to leaving no Marylander behind, and that means working with municipal leaders to support the economic mobility of all individuals and communities," said Lt. Governor Aruna Miller. "We will continue to work closely with local leaders and collaborate with state agencies to identify the resources and tools you need to attract and retain local businesses, drive tourism, and build stronger towns and cities."

The most heavily attended Fall Conference in MML’s history, members spent the rest of the day in courses focused on today’s pressing issues and networking with one another. Today’s courses included Fighting Hate for Good: How to Speak Up Against, Hate and Extremism; Defining Housing Supply, and; Traffic Calming, Road Diets and Speed Management: Moving to Pedestrian Safety.

The opening general session was sponsored by Community Heart and Soul, and the lunch was sponsored by Keenan Pharmacy Services. 

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About The Maryland Municipal League:

The Maryland Municipal League (MML) was founded in 1936 and serves as the collective voice of 160 municipal governments and the 2 million Marylanders it represents. A voluntary, non-profit, nonpartisan association controlled and maintained by city and town governments, MML works to strengthen and support municipal government through advocacy and the development of effective leadership. Through its membership in the National League of Cities MML offers legislative representation in Washington, urban research programs, and a national municipal government information exchange. MML is the only statewide organization in Maryland composed solely of municipal officials and devoted to the promotion of all branches of municipal administration.