This month, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed a new Executive Order to increase housing production and affordability in Maryland. Secretary of Housing & Community Development Jake Day joined Radio Abundance in Washington DC to answer your questions about the new Executive Order, from what it entails to how they plan to enforce it to what we can expect to see as results.Secretary Day joined us on the same day that we interviewed both him and Congressman Jake Auchincloss at the DNC in Washington DC — two of three guests from our premiere episode double-header. With only Governor Wes Moore missing from a reunion special, Secretary Day brought a special message from Maryland Governor Wes Moore for all YIMBY Democrats across America:“Hey, Jake, please give my best to the YIMBY Democrats! It’s crazy to think it’s been just 5 months since that first episode we did together. How funny that you’re getting the band back together with my man Jake Day and Congressman Auchincloss. I’d be there with you if I wasn’t literally launching my re-election bid today! You’re in great hands though, and together with Secretary Day, we’re making sure that Maryland leads in addressing our housing crisis, Building America, and championing Progressive Abundance. We got this.”Here’s that clip:

The “Housing Starts Here” executive order:

* Directs the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of General Services, to identify specific state-owned properties for transit-oriented development, paving the way for more homes for Maryland families to be built through improving the use of state-owned land.

* Promotes government efficiency by reducing state permitting timelines, bringing more homes to market faster while improving the transparency of jurisdictional housing production.

* Creates a new state housing ombudsman to act as a liaison between the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and other state agencies, local governments, developers, local communities, and other stakeholders to assist in the permitting process—ensuring development projects continue without delay.

* Directs the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to work with local jurisdictions to create housing production targets for the state, each county, and each municipality with planning/zoning authority. The production targets are to be published in January 2026 and updated every five years.

* Establishes annual Maryland Housing Leadership Awards to recognize jurisdictions that make progress on their housing development goals. The awards give jurisdictions bonus points that increase their competitiveness when applying for funding programs through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

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