I love Towson.
That's exactly why I'm willing to say something that too many politicians won't.
Towson has a problem.
Not because it lacks potential. Not because its people have given up. And certainly not because it's beyond saving. Quite the opposite. Towson should be one of the premier downtown districts in the Mid-Atlantic—a place where families spend Saturday afternoons, students stay after graduation, businesses compete for storefronts, and visitors come to shop, dine, and enjoy themselves.
Instead, too many storefronts sit empty. Too many business owners are struggling. Too many residents tell me they avoid certain areas after dark. And too many of our elected leaders continue to debate whether these problems even exist.
That debate needs to end.
You cannot solve a problem you're unwilling to admit exists.
Throughout this campaign, I've been at the forefront of identifying Towson's challenges—not because I enjoy criticizing my own neighbors, but because I believe its best days are still ahead of it. The first responsibility of leadership is honesty. The second is bringing people together to solve problems.
That's why I've proposed three ideas that work together.
First, I believe it's time to establish a Towson Public Safety Zone. Think of it as a collaborative district rather than just a policing initiative. The zone would include Towson University and the neighborhoods surrounding campus, continue north through the Circle, encompass Towson Town Center and the surrounding commercial district, and even include Goucher College if it wished to participate.
Within that district, we'd bring everyone with a stake in Towson's success to the same table: business owners, residents, Towson University, Goucher College, law enforcement, fire and EMS, county agencies, and other public safety partners. Instead of waiting for problems to become headlines, we'd meet regularly to identify them early and solve them together.
Maybe it's a parking garage where lighting has failed. Maybe it's a street where speeding has become dangerous. Maybe it's a traffic pattern that no longer works. Maybe it's a series of quality-of-life complaints that, left unaddressed, eventually become crime problems. Whatever the issue, the people experiencing it should have a direct line to the people empowered to fix it.
That's what good government looks like.
Second, I believe Baltimore County should pursue a public-private partnership with Towson Town Center to establish a permanent police substation inside the mall.
This isn't some untested idea. Columbia has successfully implemented a similar model. A visible police presence improves response times, strengthens relationships with businesses and visitors, and sends a clear message that public safety is a priority.
Frankly, this is a good idea whether the challenges in Towson are real, perceived, or somewhere in between. If some believe the problem is merely one of perception, then let's improve that perception with a permanent, highly visible commitment to public safety. That's a win either way.
Finally, we need to have a serious conversation about how Towson is governed.
Baltimore County and Howard County are the only counties in Maryland that do not permit their cities and towns to govern themselves. Every issue affecting Towson is funneled through a single County Council office.
That may have worked in 1920, when Towson's population was roughly 3,000 people.
Today, Towson is Baltimore County's largest urban center, with a population approaching 60,000. It is the county seat, an economic engine, a university community, and the face of Baltimore County to thousands of visitors every day.
It's time to ask whether our governing structure has kept pace with Towson's growth.
As County Executive, I will champion a Charter Amendment that allows Towson residents to decide for themselves whether they want a greater measure of local self-governance. I'm not proposing an outcome—I'm proposing a conversation that is long overdue.
I have a lot more to say about Towson.But I also have a lot of listening to do.
The people who live here, own businesses here, attend school here, and raise families here know Towson better than anyone. They deserve a County Executive who listens as much as he leads.
Right now, I'm asking for your help.
Maryland law requires me to collect nearly 6,000 petition signatures just to earn a place on the ballot. Signing my petition is not a vote for me. It's simply a vote for giving Baltimore County voters another choice—and allowing this conversation to continue.
I'm not giving up on Towson.I hope you'll join me in the fight.
