A Behind the Scenes Conversation with Baltimore County Councilman Mike Ertel Discussing Towson's Future

It was a reminder that Towson's story is deeply rooted in history, and that its next chapter is still being written. Mike seemed proud to work there and to share Towson’s rich history.

Our discussion covered everything Towson, from crime and homelessness to workforce development, housing, and youth engagement.

What stood out most wasn't politics. It was how much of the work happening behind the scenes never reaches the public.

Ertel grew up in Baltimore City's Hamilton neighborhood, attended Poly High School, graduated from Towson University, and then got married and moved to Towson, where he still resides today.

His connection to the community remains deeply personal. His three children graduated from Towson High School, and while they have since moved elsewhere for career opportunities, he hopes they'll eventually return home.

When I asked about the new Towson High School currently under construction, Ertel said he's excited to see a facility that finally matches the quality of education being provided there. He pointed to the programs handed out at graduation each year, which highlight the impressive colleges and universities that Towson graduates go on to attend. He was especially proud to note one graduation that he had attended where two Towson High School graduates enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy, an accomplishment he believes speaks volumes about the strength of the school's students and educators.

Throughout our conversation, one message came through clearly: he cares deeply about Towson and believes it is worth fighting for.

One topic we spent considerable time discussing was the growing disconnect between perception and reality, especially as it relates to crime.

County officials frequently point to statistics showing that many categories of crime have declined. Yet many residents, and perhaps even more importantly, people who don't regularly visit Towson, have already formed a very different opinion.

When stories circulate on social media without context or follow-up, they often become accepted as fact. Corrections rarely travel as far as the original posts. Over time, those isolated incidents accumulate into a narrative that Towson is somehow beyond repair.

For example, we talked about how the Chief of Police’s comments were taken out of context at the recent Town Hall in Towson. The media has been running with a narrative that the local elected officials do not believe Towson has a crime problem, and it is only a perception created by the media. Meanwhile, here is what the Chief of Police actually said at the town hall:

“Perception is the issue, and perception is reality, right? If we perceive that we’re unsafe and we feel unsafe, then that’s our reality. Once again, as your law enforcement agency, it’s our job to make you feel safe and to create that environment.” 

-Baltimore County Chief of Police, Robert McCullough

The goal isn't to minimize legitimate concerns. It's to ensure conversations are grounded in facts, but sometimes it doesn’t matter what the data says if people’s feelings and experiences do not match what the charts may show.

We also talked extensively about young people, as Mike brought up how he would like to see more resources and programs become available for teens who, unlike in the past, can’t go to the mall to hang out or can’t simply roam the neighborhood with friends until the streetlights come on and the dinner bell rings.

After recently meeting with the Executive Director of Orakawa Y in Towson, Jovan Custis, I'd been thinking about how he described the importance of giving teenagers places to gather in Towson that aren't shopping malls or social media. The Y is one of those safe spaces. Mike Ertel wants to see more affordable community spaces where young people can exercise, build friendships, find mentors and simply spend time together; these may prove to be just as important as enforcement when it comes to improving long-term public safety. 

Towson's future will depend as much on opportunity as accountability.

That naturally led into workforce development, an issue that will be the focus of our upcoming Towson Growth Summit. Maryland faces significant shortages in healthcare and skilled trades over the coming decade, creating thousands of well-paying career opportunities. Local employers, educational institutions, and workforce organizations are beginning to collaborate in ways that could create meaningful pathways for the next generation.

Those are exactly the kinds of solutions our community needs to be talking about.

Then Ertel shared something that really resonated with me. He admitted that one of his greatest frustrations is people who are very vocal and critical of public servants but never ask what role they themselves can play in strengthening the community. Whether it's volunteering, mentoring a young person, supporting a local nonprofit, attending community events, or simply becoming a more engaged neighbor, he believes the future of Towson won't be built by government alone.

Strong communities are built through shared responsibility. Every one of us has the opportunity to help write Towson's next chapter. Rather than waiting for someone else to fix what's broken, we can all contribute our time, talents and ideas to create the kind of community we want future generations to inherit.

Before we wrapped up, Ertel also shared something that meant a great deal to me personally. He told me he believes Towson benefits from having a publication dedicated to highlighting positive news and community success stories. He expressed support for The Towson Torch's mission and said he hopes more organizations across the county recognize the importance of investing in positive storytelling about Towson.

That affirmation was appreciated.

The reality is that communities become what people believe they can become.

Towson certainly isn't the same place it was twenty years ago. No successful community ever is. The more important question is what Towson becomes next.

That future won't be shaped by headlines alone. It will be shaped by residents, businesses, nonprofits, educators, employers, local government and community organizations choosing to work together.

If there was one takeaway from my conversation with Mike Ertel, it's this: while many people only see the debates taking place in public, there are countless conversations happening behind the scenes with people who genuinely care about Towson's future.

The challenges are real.

But so is the commitment to building something even better