Our PAL Val Out At PAL – Might Be Taking PAL Down With Her
Shoutout to Spotlight Delaware for reporting this positively delicious story:
The Police Athletic League of Delaware, a celebrated and taxpayer-funded nonprofit, is facing an upheaval after its prominent executive director – former House Speaker Valerie Longhurst – announced her resignation this month.
It is not immediately clear why Longhurst is leaving her post, but she does so just as the organization she had led for more than seven years faces a precarious financial future.
Two board members told Spotlight Delaware that the nonprofit’s cash reserves have dwindled recently, even after the group received a record $5 million from taxpayers in 2024, as well as hundreds of thousands more in 2025.
Exacerbating the financial precarity is the state’s decision last month to freeze more than $500,000 in additional grants that lawmakers awarded in June to the PAL of Delaware, as it is commonly known.
Rep. Kim Williams (D-Stanton), who serves as chair of the legislative committee that awarded a portion of the grants, said she pushed for a funding pause because of “inconsistent information,” provided by Longhurst to various Delaware officials regarding the amount of money the PAL had requested.
On July 15, Delaware’s Controller General Ruth Ann Miller sent Longhurst a letter stating that the PAL of Delaware needs to submit financial records to the state before any of the newly approved dollars could potentially be distributed.
Those records – some of which were delinquent – include copies of a recent audit, and of project-completion reports for nearly $4 million worth of taxpayer-funded construction going back to 2022.
The nonprofit also has been an integral piece of Delaware’s political landscape, with elected officials regularly making public appearances at its locations.
And, up until last year, it also was one of several prominent Delaware organizations led by a state lawmaker.
That ended last September when Longhurst – then among the most powerful politicians in Delaware – surprisingly lost her seat representing the Bear area to now-Rep. Kamela Smith, a Democrat, after just a year in the top spot for the House.
Though the PAL of Delaware may be facing a drought of private donations, it received substantial cash awards from the state, federal and county governments in recent years. Those include a $1.8 million federal subgrant award in 2024 that was distributed through then-Gov. John Carney’s office, according to Delaware’s Open Checkbook website.
When asked about Longhurst’s requests in recent months to elected officials for funding, Witmarsh said he has not spoken with her about that. But he noted that part of nonprofit work is “about leveraging your contacts and hoping they can help you do good work.”
Asked if her value as an executive director was her role as a legislator, Whitmarsh said, “For me, no.” (Fact Check: It was her only value as Executive Director–unless being delinquent in filing required reports was part of the job description.)
As long as we’re on the subject of Our PAL Val–somebody, somebody, must investigate the use of state funds for the Underground City At Fort duPont. Whether the State Auditor or the eventual Inspector General. I can’t imagine such an investigation not turning up graft and corruption, likely on a massive scale. No more hands-off when it comes to these public miscreants.
what does PAL actually do?
Good question. You’ll have to look elsewhere for an answer.
I can tell you this, though–Val got that job b/c ex-cop Speaker Pete pushed for her to a politically wired board that featured at the time State Rep. Larry Mitchell, ex-state reps Roger Roy, Terry Spence and Bill Oberle, and IC and former cop Trinidad Navarro.
She needed a job, and they wired this one for her.
I drive past the building in hockessin several times a week and see 2 cars there. will the IG actually do anything when they start or will it be more “we took a long look and didnt find anything”
Yeah, the Hockessin location is a laugh and a fitting ‘tribute’ to Tom Gordon, ex-cop, ex-County Executive, and Hockessin resident.
There are loads of recreational facilities in Hockessin. It certainly didn’t need a PAL.
I suspect a buncha ex-cops hung around that PAL Center, you know, to convince kids that cops are their friends. And tell tales over donuts.
Didja ever notice how much of this featherbedding involves new construction of something, often something of dubious need? Ever wonder why construction unions line up behind this particular brand of Democrat?
‘…nearly $4 million worth of taxpayer-funded construction going back to 2022.’
Gee, wonder how many quid pro quo’s were involved in THAT…
Unions didn’t get the construction for the PAL centers, but nice of you to spread the hate.
Oh, really? The work goes to non-union shops?
I’m gonna have to ask for proof here.
They deserve every bit of it. Unions are out for themselves, nobody else. I’m glad they exist, but it’s possible to hate both unions and management, because they both take advantage of the regular worker. Union leaders are politicians, and they act like it in every way.
Insurance Commissioner Navarro’s comments suggest that there were concerning things going on under Our PAL Val’s “leadership” at PAL. What does he know???
The percentage increases are pretty stark. Especially once the white rose queen took over. Did everyone get those increases?I have my doubts would be interested in seeing a comparison.
Starting to think she supported Bethany because they each had kompromat on one another.
Remember – to all the people who want to tell you wfp is terrible – if it wasn’t for them and Kam, this incompetent narcissist would still be wetting her beak at the expense of real non profits.
Very curious to what Navarro knows – hopefully it comes out soon.
This is very BHL-coded like her opioid commission mess, good point. On Navarro, I think he was on the board long before Val was, I think most of the board was. So they probably saw things done different ways (worse). But she also held his legislation in a grip for years so tough spot to be in I guess. And speaking of political favors, I was surprised that Kim Williams seems to have either info from the board or personally went ahead and stopped these funds. I thought Val had – against tradition and her own caucus – installed her as JFC Chair out of the blue. Guess that sly incentive only lasted so long.
Yeah, I noticed that Kim/Val dynamic as well.
HowEVER, Speaker Mimi is no friend of Val’s, so there’s been mischief afoot ever since Val exited the stage.
Yes, Navarro was on the board when Val was chosen. As were fellow ex-cops Larry Mitchell and Terry Spence. And several legislative insiders.
Dear Spotlight,
Now do Jobs for Delaware Graduates (JDG). Run by Nicole (no longer) Poore.
Duarte
Y’know, it’s funny.
I pretty much always considered JDG the bigger rip-off.
But after reading that story today, I’m not so sure.