Baltimore Mayor Jack Young and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski recently got together over a table of steamed crabs to look for ways the city and county can work together. The two leaders are expected to make announcements soon on issues ranging from public safety to transportation.

The crab summit, if you will, was June 4, on Olszewski’s home turf, Costas Inn in Dundalk. Crabs were on the table, as were a number of issues the city and county share, according to Olszewski.

“It’s everything from infrastructure, to public safety and transportation, public works,” Olszewski said.

Olszewski said they are working out details on city and county collaboration and we should be hearing about them in the weeks ahead.

Lester Davis, Mayor Young’s spokesman, said the mayor is committed to working with the county executive on regional issues as well.

Olszewsk said he and Young go way back, at least 15 years. He added his father, former county councilman John Olszewski Senior and Young have known each other a long time as well. 

“It’s so critical in life, as well as in governing to have those relationships,” Olszewski said. “So being able to break bread or crack crabs as it were informally I think is just as important as having those formal meetings and I’m glad the mayor and I have a relationship where they can do both those things.”

Olszewski said he and the mayor have had a formal meeting as well. No crabs at that one. And he said they text and talk on the phone regularly. 

Both Olszewski and Young are new at their jobs. Olszewski was sworn in in December. Young, who had been president of the city council became mayor after Catherine Pugh resigned last month.