Jewish leaders in Anne Arundel County are turning up the pressure on local officials, urging them to create and fund a security grant program that would help synagogues, other houses of worship, and local nonprofits pay for guards, cameras, and related safety upgrades amid rising antisemitism and other hate incidents. The Jewish Federation of Annapolis & the Chesapeake says federal and state grants have not closed urgent security gaps, especially for preschools and community programs that need consistent on-site protection. County Executive Steuart Pittman has told advocates he will not include a county-run grant program in his next budget proposal.
Federation leaders press for local support
Jody Goldsmith, president of the Jewish Federation of Annapolis & the Chesapeake, told WBFF that "this is not just for Jewish organizations" and called for a county program that would help faith groups hire guards and upgrade surveillance systems. Federation officials note that many houses of worship operate preschools or community services on schedules that make occasional police drive-bys a thin safety plan at best.
Pittman says county resources should take the lead
In a weekly letter, County Executive Steuart Pittman wrote that he "took the proposal seriously" but chose not to include a small grant program in his next spending plan, arguing that such a fund could leave many applicants turned away and frustrated. Instead, he said the county should lean on a newly created Hate Crimes Prevention Program and the police department, which "does free security assessments at facilities," according to Anne Arundel County.
Neighboring counties open their wallets
Montgomery County has already put local dollars on the table for nonprofit security. County materials show $1.2 million in base awards for a nonprofit security grant program, and reporting indicates the county approved another $500,000 in emergency staffing support this spring. Howard County ran a one-time FY25 program that reserved $250,000 for nonprofit and faith-based security grants, according to county materials. Advocates say those neighboring efforts are proof that a similar model could work in Anne Arundel.
Advocates say local grants would close urgent gaps
Press materials from the Jewish Federation call for a county-administered security fund and stress that federal grants can be slow to arrive and may require matching dollars that small congregations simply do not have, per the Jewish Federation of Annapolis & the Chesapeake. Supporters argue that a local program could be tailored to cover full-time security personnel, camera integration, and training so parents and congregants can rely on having protection in place whenever buildings are in use.
What to watch as the budget fight unfolds
Pittman is scheduled to present his final budget on May 1, and the County Council will hold hearings and consider amendments that advocates hope could carve out money for security grants. For now, county officials say the Hate Crimes Prevention Program and the police department will keep offering free security assessments and guidance while the budget debate plays out.
