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Four Stories and My Observations About Them?

National: What’s the Word?

Yesterday afternoon, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced that the Federal Reserve would not raise interest rates. He was careful not to hint at whether this policy would continue or if there would be a rate hike or cut at the next meeting.?

Leaders need to be mindful that their words carry weight. Fortunes can be made or lost on the words of world leaders like the Federal Reserve Chair.?

State: Can’t Talk About That

Baltimore Police Chief Michael Harrison recently resigned and did so rather abruptly. The Baltimore Banner is asking why and if Harrison gave the required notice. The police department has said they can’t talk about it because it is a personnel matter.?

Transparency from leaders is important. It helps establish trust and confidence in the community. Even though this is a “personnel matter,” some level of transparency is needed here if the police department and city officials are to have the trust and confidence of Baltimore’s citizens.?

Local: There’s Not a Parking Problem Anymore

Last year, Annapolis city officials announced that the Hillman Garage would close so a new parking garage could be built in its place. After more than a year of residents and tourists scrambling to find spots, the Hillman Garage has opened.

The significance of this story is that the city and its parking management vendor worked hard to limit the disruptions caused by losing so many parking spaces downtown. It’s often debated whether Annapolis has a parking problem or not. But it is a problem for those who can’t find a place to park. Now we have a new facility that should alleviate some of those pressures. Kudos to the City of Annapolis for helping mitigate the stress of finding parking downtown during the rebuild through regular communication, reliable public transportation, and transparency throughout the process.

What’s Next: If You Build It, They Will Come

Ford and GM announced that their EVs will be compatible with Tesla’s charging infrastructure. This decision is important because it reflects the demands of the consumer to have standard charging technology across vehicles.?

I am watching to see how convenience stores and gas stations adapt to the expansion of charging stations. The argument was that motorists wanted to fill up fast and get back on the road. This could be an opportunity to hold customers’ attention longer if it takes more than a few minutes to charge.