DL Open Thread: Weds., May 22, 2019
Charles Pierce: It’s time. Which reminds me, what is LBR’s current stance on this issue? Or is she still putting the finishing touches on her office decor and marveling about the powerful Sisterhood of her Carpool? Lisa, where a-a-a-a-re you?
Rethug Miss. State Legislator… Well, Just Read It.
How NJ Power-Brokers Controlled State Tax Breaks. While reading this, just remember that Delaware is even less transparent than New Jersey. A bunch of connected officials and corporate types handing out money and tax incentives in secret.
Yes, Buccini/Pollin Hoovers Up Money Earmarked To Help Poor. For luxury apartments downtown, of course. Memo to Kathy Jennings: Please investigate this unholy alliance between Mayor Mike and Buccini/Pollin. It stinks to high heaven.
OK, the full story hasn’t been written up in article form yet. But read this for starters. Let’s see… Oleg Deripaska, Mitch McConnell, the lifting of sanctions on Deripaska by Mnuchin at Treasury, the House vote to reinstate them, Mitch McConnell’s blocking of the bill in the Senate, a $200 million investment in an aluminum plant in McConnell’s Kentucky. That part’s in the article. What’s not in the article but was reported on Rachel Maddow last night is that the lobbyist who worked with McConnell on the deal was, wait for it, that Diaper Dandy himself, that PTPee-er, disgraced ex-Senator David Vitter. But I’m not done yet. Once the deal was finalized, guess what else happened? This. Her nomination had been on the shelf for 18 months but was dusted off once this deal was cut. Absolute corruption corrupts absolutely. This is America in 2019.
What do you want to talk about?
Yep, corruption is rampant and they barely try to hide it anymore. Why should they? It goes unpunished like most white collar crime in America. And while every election cycle of recent years has been of the “throw the bums out!’ variety it’s hard not to notice the worst bad actors aren’t going anywhere. As for Delaware vs. New Jersey the same games are being played here, and we all know it.
Recorded a double episode for release Friday. Activist from Puerto Rico and Network DE affiliate, Maria Beauchamp.
Plus environmental activist, previously with the Sierra Club, Stephanie Herron makes a big return to the Bunker.
I don’t know why I give so much to you ingrates.
Speaking of BPG theft, we speak specifically about Southbridge. The neighborhood where our neighbors live that we pretend doesn’t exist.
Also, recording tomorrow evening, a very special guest you’re all quite familiar with.
Consider a patronage. Rumor has it anyone on the rolls for $10 a month or more gets to visit the Bunker and sit in on a recording.
Seventeen episodes and counting. The special bonus episode specifically on BPG and the mayor (Throwing Stones at Mike Purzycki, 25 Feb) has been downloaded over 1,200 times. We see you Mayor Mike.
Som, I like your open threads the best. Please continue.
Forgot the link:
https://www.patreon.com/TheHighlandsBunker
Get in there.
Since its an open thread….Blue Delaware was kind enough to post a Guest OP-ED dealing with Development Money in County politics that I wrote. Take a look and let me know what your thoughts are. I’m interested in feedback on this proposal. My feelings won’t get hurt if you disagree.
https://bluedelaware.com/2019/05/22/a-good-government-proposal-for-new-castle-county/
Welcome. We’ve heard good things about you…
Thank you Som. Should anyone have any insight or questions they don’t wouldn’t like to make public they can always reach me at kevincaneco@gmail.com as well.
Time to change some things around our county and state….
I wasn’t expecting much from a “President of the Delaware Law School American Constitution Society, Delaware National Guard Captain,” but if you want to expose and fight big development money in local politics I’m in.
You know if you want to really get the word out… 🙂
@revanella lol the American Constitution Society is a progressive legal organization for law students.
Yep, it’s a progressive organization all right…
https://www.acslaw.org/
Ha! I know. (Looked it up.)
Just an on brand joke.
And I agree with Alby. Capitalism is the problem. You’ve identified a symptom and prescribed a work-around to treat it, which is fine. But we need to be clear what the disease is.
@KCaneco: Getting development money out of county council elections is a worthy goal, but I’m not sure it would change the dynamic much if at all. The problem is simple, and shared by a lot more governments than NCCo’s: Mistakenly considering development and population growth the metrics for success. It’s an outgrowth of people thinking the constant growth required of capitalism is good instead of treating it as the economic equivalent of cancer, which is unregulated growth by cells that shouldn’t be multiplying at all.
We saw this most recently in the outcry of the asshat community when NYC rejected Amazon’s plan to swallow up a section of Queens. Government hacks bemoaned all the “lost” jobs, never even noticing that what they were really trying to do was swap out their lower-middle-class actual constituents for a better-paid cohort Amazon would supposedly hire. Why? More revenue! To make up for the revenue politicians were ready to cede to the employer. The cynicism required for this stance makes even cynical ol’ me blanch.
This couldn’t be simpler: An elected official’s loyalty is to THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE in that jurisdiction, not to the government’s bottom line. Since most people who live in any jurisdiction don’t want to be displaced by growth, all elected officials should be fighting growth tooth and nail. The fact that they don’t, whether they get developers’ money or not, shows that the campaign donations themselves are not the problem. Greed and callousness, the hallmarks of capitalism, are.
Alby. Thanks for the feedback. While I agree it’s not a simple fix and see some of your larger points I do feel this incremental step may help level the playing field for residents and developers.
I think your concern is more on the philosophical side which I respect. I’m simply trying to create a solution in the current political environment.
Understood, and I support your pursuit of this course of action.
The course most likely to produce a quicker effect is putting this information in the hands of Bell’s would-be opponents. In any high-growth area, selling out to the developers is frowned upon. Even Bob Weiner, who seemed to have a lifetime job in a low-growth area, was ousted in large part because he got too chummy with development interests.
That’s supposed to be the way in which a system of democratically selected lawmakers self-corrects. As we see all around the world these days, most recently in Australia, democracies don’t work that way anymore. The dumb motherfuckers instead bend over and chant, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?”
Forgot to mention this yesterday. The greatest of all time would have turned 47.
“All I do is separate the game from the truth”
–Notorious B.I.G.
This is to be played at my funeral:
https://youtu.be/yjYDZMRTt8U
I would have figured you as more of a Chuck D guy.
Love PE. DJ Ren. Whole crew.
But the late Mr Wallace is the GOAT
In your mind maybe. Held no attraction for me. No rap since PE really has. Once the industry put the glorification of thug life above political awareness — and no, I don’t think it was an accident — I got off the bus, and have never regretted it.
Back in the days our parents used to take care of us
Look at ’em now, they even fuckin’ scared of us
Calling the city for help because they can’t maintain.
Damn, shit done changed
If Caneco runs….Bell is fucked. Kid is all fire and fury. Andddd I like it.
Bell is a washed up old Gordon hack. Take out the trash!
Yeah. If a box of crayons runs against Bell, I’d knock on doors for the box of crayons.
I think Dave Carter might well feel the same way.
The glorification of thug life was the heart of genre. Street life. Like Ras Tafari (H.I.M.) is to roots reaggae.
Jah isn’t necessarily my keeper, &c.
Let’s discuss!
Not in the beginning, no, it was not. It was good-time music in the very beginning. PE made it political, and it scared the living shit out of white America.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWkty6Ux36g
I mean, no offense, but that song is actually MORE salient today than it was when it was released.
I would say America hasn’t stopped being scared since of hip-hop since MC Hammer faded away. They prefer being able to demonize its practitioners, which thug stuff allowed them to easily do.
MC Hammer used to live a few blocks from me in Fremont, CA. I would say I lived few blocks from him, but I lived there first.
He had a studio just short away from his house. We occasionally went there to watch/listen. We weren’t BFFs or anything, just acquaintances, although I will admit I had a pair or two of brightly colored Hammer pants. They were all the rage for a month or two.
Really nice house. All tricked out. Forgot what it sold for when he had financial difficulties, but it was a heck of lot less than it cost to build. https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.i01HVRi4x43uvUggwuGYygHaE-&w=297&h=190&c=7&o=5&dpr=1.38&pid=1.7
Mario Puzo.
etc.
Exactly. Didn’t say people didn’t like thug stuff, just that I prefer Umberto Eco.