Cooperation Between City and Residents

In the 15 months since I launched my campaign, I’ve talked with hundreds of City residents like you, and a message I’ve received loud and clear is this: you want a mayor who hears you and cares about residents’ concerns. You understand that Annapolis needs strong businesses, but you don’t like feeling that residents’ needs are pushed aside.

Small businesses are the City’s engine. The people who live here are its heartbeat. The City government must provide balanced support for both. My goal is to help small businesses and address residential concerns at the same time.

If you think about the complex range of services that Annapolis provides, it’s pretty amazing. Police and fire departments; public works, sidewalks and streets; trash removal and water supply; zoning and land use; transportation; parks and recreation, to name a few. These core services are important to everyone: residents, businesses, workers, and tourists. But the City government alone can’t do everything for everyone.

That’s why collaboration, public-private partnerships, nonprofit organizations, and other resources are so important to meet everyone’s needs. As Mayor, I will work hard to ensure we make the most of all possibilities around us. Is there a way to boost synergy among groups with similar missions? When services overlap, is there a way to enhance efficiency?

Let’s think outside the box—or throw the box away—to overcome barriers and find new, cost-effective ways of meeting needs. Just a few ideas:

• Tap into County resources to enhance City capabilities for specialized efforts like emergency dispatch, criminal evidence processing, and traffic engineering.

• Work with entities such as the County School Board, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Housing Authority, etc., to solve problems such as student transportation to after-school activities or recreation and enrichment opportunities.

• Draw on business insights to grow and support the local economy with programs like Midnight Madness.

• Establish clearinghouses of information to help people get critical help efficiently.

We have so much expertise and enthusiasm nearby, from Historic Annapolis to the Naval Academy and St. John’s College, to business leaders, churches, community groups, charities, foundations… the list goes on. Let’s maximize these strengths to ensure all our residents’ needs are met at home, school, play, and work.

Warm regards,

Jared

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