Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 15, 2019

HB 310(Longhurst) essentially enables the ethically-bankrupt Dick Cathcart to be at the center of what looks like a deal that will put $$’s in connected people’s pockets far from the view of the public. You may remember that Cathcart awarded no-bid contracts to friends of his while ‘working’ as contract administrator at Delaware State University; had his clear involvement in awarding these contracts whitewashed by Republican crony pal Auditor Tom Wagner; and even had Wagner recommend him for the position of City Manager of Delaware City as the scandal-scarred Cathcart beat a hasty retreat from elective office before the voters did it for him. Under HB 310, which, by the way just happens to be in the House Administration Committee chaired by…sponsor Valerie Longhurst, this is what would happen:

This bill creates the Fort DuPont Redevelopment Corporation, along with a board of trustees and an advisory council, to oversee the economic development of the Fort DuPont Complex near Delaware City while preserving the historical and environmental interests of the Complex and surrounding areas. This Act will allow the City of Delaware City to annex the land, will allow the Corporation to take title to the land to manage redevelopment, and will provide for the implementation of the pending redevelopment plan. The Corporation is required to comply with all laws of the State of Delaware and the City of Delaware City in the exercise of its powers.

So, let me get this straight. The State gives this land away? So that Dick Cathcart, in his role as City Manager of Delaware City and who has already proven that he is not ethically-fit to handle taxpayers’ dollars, gets to make decisions on how this land gets developed and sees that dollars go to certain parties? Oh, and that’s before we look at the strong possibility that this land could well end up underwater? What could POSSIBLY GO WRONG? BTW, the bill’s only sponsors are Longhurst and Sen. Poore, who have this perhaps soon-to-be-developed parcel in their districts. Any of their cronies involved? Will anyone dare to challenge this program until/unless any and all questions about this project are answered? Is this really gonna be rushed through the General Assembly between now and June 30? I’ll make a prediction now. If this project gets approved, sometime in the perhaps not-so-distant future, indictments will be the result.  One more prediction: After Delaware’s master of suspendered disbelief, Auditor Tom Wagner, leaves office at the end of the year, either of his own volition or on the sword of Brenda Mayrack, he just might end up as a beneficiary of Cathcart’s largesse. Enough already.

Fast forward to now.  Another sketchy piece of legislation is introduced by Poore and Longhurst.  I know, it looks like a little bit of boilerplate reorganization which, among other things, gives more power to the Mayor of Delaware City, which may or may not be a good thing.   Here’s the point: Any consideration of this legislation should be accompanied by a review of this project, with at least a review of what commitments are being foisted on Delawareans.  It likely won’t happen in the House b/c the bill (of course) is in Val Longhurst’s Administration Committee. Maybe someone will raise questions on the floor.  But maybe, just maybe, the Senate will cast a more critical eye on what looks like a boondoggle where the only boon could well be to Dick Cathcart’s net worth. Where’s John Carney’s vaunted green eyeshade when we need it?

It’s the second week of the General Assembly. Never too early for the first Special Interest bill of the session to hit the floor.  Especially when the beneficiary is, wait for it, Buccini/Pollin.  The bill in question? This one. The bill permits the new basketball arena at the Riverfront to get a license to sell alcohol. If that sounds vaguely familiar to you, the General Assembly passed similar legislation for Buccini/Pollin a few years back, which enabled the Queen to sell alcohol.  No, I don’t oppose this initiative, just want to point out what passes for legislative priorities.  There are likely enough votes to pass a ban on assault weapons in the General Assembly this January, but that can wait.  This, of course, apparently can’t.

That bill represents the entire House Agenda today.  There is no Senate Agenda. The Senate Executive Committee will consider the State ERA Constitutional Amendment tomorrow.  The bill will no doubt pass the Senate, most likely on Thursday.

I’ll be back tomorrow to discuss committee meetings plus today’s activity.  Just a memo to new committee chairs: If you schedule a committee meeting, you must provide the public of proper notice as to what you will consider. There are several committee meetings scheduled for this week that do not provide such notice.  You know what you need to do.