Announcing DL’s MVP’s Of 2023!!

As usual, there are more than ten on the list.  While one of Jason’s preferred choices isn’t on the list, I’m pretty damn sure he’ll agree with our #1.

10.  Reps. Osienski , Heffernan, and Sen. Paradee.  While none of the three would be categorized as predictably progressive, each of the three passed signature bills this year.  Rep. Osienski was finally able to get pot legalization past the human rain delay that was, and remains, John Carney.  Rep. Heffernan passed the Climate Change Solutions Act of 2023,  and Sen. Paradee overcame the not-insubstantial barrier known as Our PAL Val Longhurst to enact legislation getting rid of a lot of unnecessary plastic waste in restaurants.

9.  Sen. Bryan Townsend.  Got a real good Renters’ Right To Counsel bill passed after previously having had it  stopped by the likes of Stephanie Bolden and Ol’ Lumpy Carson.  Good legislating only begins when a bill is introduced.   Townsend was able to modify the bill sufficiently to get it passed w/o abandoning the intent of the bill.

9.  Our DL Spies And Tipsters.  We have never had so many tips that bore fruit as we did this year.  From BHL to Mike Ramone to Ben DuPont and plenty in between.  We broke quite a few stories thanks to our tipsters.  Our Suxco Spies also had a banner year, and kept us up to speed about Lower Slower.  Thanks, everyone!

8.  RISE Delaware.  Yes, they were on the list last year.  But nobody is doing a greater job of advocating for state retirees.  “Will you support maintaining the current benefits package for retirees” is now a must-question for every candidate for state office in Delaware, including incumbent legislators and challengers.

7.  Shyanne Miller:  People who responded to our call for candidates singled out Shyanne for her work on police reform and housing.  Here’s an interview from 2021 that exemplifies why she’s on the list.  She also was awarded the Change Agent Of The Year in 2020 by Network Delaware.  Here’s a podcast from The Bunker in which Shayanne and Branden Fletcher ‘give an update on what the HOMES Campaign has been doing to stop the rising housing crisis in Wilmington, from water shut-offs to tenants’ rights’.

6.  Drew Serres: Network Delaware is the catalyst for so much positive change in Delaware, and has brought people like Shyanne and Branden into the public arena.  Not to mention that, on his own, Drew has helped to train some incredible progressive candidates for office, many of whom have won.  That list will be added to in 2024.  When I think about it, I shudder to think where we’d be if Drew Serres hadn’t shown up here.  He belongs in that Hall Of Fame I referenced at the beginning of this piece.

5.  Judge Eric Davis:  Made clear to Fox that he wouldn’t put up with any rope-a-dope tactics when it came to the defamation suit by Dominion Voting Systems.  They had no choice but to settle, and to pay bigly.  Fox’ top lawyer is still crying crocodile tears over it.

4.  AG Kathleen Jennings: She may be doing it under the radar, but she’s running a very progressive Justice Department.  Suing corporate polluters and financial scofflaws, going after public officials who violate their public oaths of office, and doing a lot of little things that get no public attention.  One of my favorites being, she’s halted payments out of that police slush fund known as SLEAF, which consists of property that the cops stole from private citizens.  She’s right up there with Matt Denn in my book, and that’s high praise.

3.  Karl Baker, Cris Barrish, Meredith Newman.  The Washington Post is correct:  “Democracy dies in darkness.”  These three reporters did essential work this year.  And not just on the Bethany Hall-Long story that what passes for the mainstream press has tried to contain.  Meredith Newman provided essential reporting on the scandal that is the lack of any regulation on assisted living facilities;  Karl Baker covered New Castle County like nobody else; and Cris Barrish always writes stories that shouldn’t be ignored.

2.  Nick Beard, Frank Burns, Branden Fletcher Dominguez, Tracey Miller, Monica Shockley Porter, Marty Rendon,  Kamela Smith.  Nick, Frank and Tracy are running against incumbent R’s.  Frank is also facing a nuisance primary from a Val acolyte.  Branden and Marty are running for open seats, while Monica and Kamela are running against two of Delaware’s worst D incumbents.  I’ve linked to each of their pages.  Please feel free to donate early and often.

Before we announce our MVP Of The Year,  we are thrilled to induct the very first member into the Delaware Liberal Hall Of Fame.  Only one person deserves that accolade.  The voting was unanimous. The person who started it all over 15 years ago.  The person who gave a platform to dozens of contributors over the years..  The person who turned himself a Human Petition for Democracy.  Ladeez and gentlemen, please stand and put your e-hands together for:

JASON 330!  The first and, perhaps last, inductee into the DL Hall Of Fame.  Year of Induction: 2023.

1.  Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton.  It is only fitting that Madinah is one of only two Delaware politicians that Jason cited as never having disappointed him, the other being Matt Denn.  The worst have tried to paint her in an unflattering light, be they mobile home park slumlords or Our PAL Val.  They have routinely ignored her calls for genuine ethics reform in the House.  They have tried to bury her legislation.  They tried to pull that ‘Support Israel Or Be Labeled An Anti-Semite’ stunt when, in fact, the real anti-semite revealed herself to be Val Longhurst.   Here’s the deal, though, She’s very even-tempered, she’s light-years ahead of them when it comes to intellect (light-years ahead of me, for that matter),  she’s very capable of playing the long game.   She will be a leader in Dover, and I think it will be sooner rather than later.  I could see her seeking higher office once the ground shifts just a little more.   She set an example in 2023 for other legislators to follow.  I think they will.  We’re thisclose to getting meaningful change in the House.  I believe we achieve it in 2024 if we all jump in.  At which point, Madinah will, once again, be ahead of us all.