DL’s Endorsement for Wilmington Mayor

DL’s Endorsement for Wilmington Mayor

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In most Blue States, the usual source of Democratic progressive governing is from its major cities. The Editors of Delaware Liberal have often lamented the fact that Delaware’s biggest city has been lacking in a more progressive political vision at pretty much every level. There's one candidate in Wilmington's Mayoral race who is finally advocating a comprehensive progressive vision for governing Wilmington -- a vision that is inclusive of the entire city, that is committed to bringing city government practices into the 21st century and will start the work to tackle some of the social justice issues that damage and hold back some of our communities. Delaware Liberal is proud to endorse Eugene Young for Mayor of Wilmington.
Breaking: Delaware AG Matt Denn Will Not Appeal Death Penalty Ruling

Breaking: Delaware AG Matt Denn Will Not Appeal Death Penalty Ruling

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Just got this press release from the AG's office:
Attorney General Will Not Appeal To U.S. Supreme Court On Death PenaltyDelaware DOJ Will Argue State Court Decision Is Not Retroactive After carefully reviewing the Delaware Supreme Court’s opinion regarding the constitutionality of Delaware’s current death penalty statute, the Attorney General has decided not to appeal the decision to the United States Supreme Court.  He has concluded that even if the United States Supreme Court reversed the opinion on Federal Constitutional grounds, that the Delaware Supreme Court would ultimately invalidate Delaware’s current death penalty statute based on the Constitution of the State of Delaware.  The Delaware Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that the Delaware Constitution provides rights to a jury trial that are independent of and in some instances more expansive than those provided by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.  Litigating and appealing these issues – a process that would likely take years before issues of both federal and state constitutional law were resolved -- would likely not only bring about the same result, but would also deny the families of victims sentencing finality.

I Get Email

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Specifically, email from a Delaware State Representative campaigning to an email list for his wife, running for Wilmington City Treasurer. This is supposed to be a Big No No, right? And I would expect that if he is emailing this Wilmington-based list, there are probably others he is emailing as well. As I understand it, public officials are not supposed to campaign or conduct campaigns via their state-provided emails. And yet, here we find Representative Charles Potter campaigning via his taxpayer-provided email for the election of his wife. Velda Potter was running for Wilmington City Treasurer and was fired from the Williams Administration for apparent misuse of city resources for her son's Foxtail concert. Certainly, there were no formal charges over this, but even Dennis Williams was embarrassed enough over it to let her go.

When You Are Running for Mayor for the City of Wilmington and Your Campaign HQ Isn’t In the City

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I imagine Dennis Williams' campaign manager could be a bit rusty as to where the City boundaries are since he, like many of the Mayor's top people, does not live in the City. Yes folks, the Mayor's campaign headquarters is located on the wrong side of the road. In the County, possibly escaping City Wage taxes? This is 311 E. Lea Blvd, across from the Goodwill facility. According to Parcel View, this building is in New Castle County, but not in Wilmington. It is in a strip mall that doesn't seem to have many occupants. Today there was one car in the parking lot, in front of the Campaign building.

Thursday Daily Delawhere [8.4.16]

Keep Digging

Keep Digging

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Nobody, least of all the American “media”, has to do anything to demonize Trump. He’s taken care of it himself by continually attacking a Gold Star family with the GOP playing the role of Hype Man behind him shouting right along. What a disgusting joke the GOP has become. And the Delaware Republicans just follow suit. SAD!
What A Crisis in African American Leadership Looks Like

What A Crisis in African American Leadership Looks Like

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Mayor Williams' Chief of Staff, Gary Fullman, sent an email to the members of The Monday Club, inviting them to a fundraiser sit-down with the mayor but also invoking the real "threat" that a white candidate could win the Mayor's race:
"Our communities have fared better over the past 24 years (under an African American mayor) than under previous administrations, at the expense of those who previously benefited, and there is a strong effort by those others to regain control of City Government," wrote Fullman. "So much so that folks have paid candidates to enter the race or are paying black individuals to garner support for white candidates in the African American communities (Norman Oliver for Mike Pryszicki [sic]). Don't be fooled. Join us Wednesday evening to converse directly with Mayor Williams to get the real story."
SevOne to Delaware: “Thanks, Suckers!”

SevOne to Delaware: “Thanks, Suckers!”

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Perhaps Jack Markell's favorite poster child for economic development has given Delaware the finger. SevOne is conducting a series of 'brutal layoffs.'  And, of course, the Delaware Economic Development Office doesn't know how much money the state won't get back. Here's the (no) money quote from the News Journal story:
"They are laying off so many people I had to wait [hours] to get my severance," the worker said. "It's like standing in a line for a guillotine."
It's not clear where Delaware will stand in this line.  Here's what we know....
The Murdertown Chronicles — Finale

The Murdertown Chronicles — Finale

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Part 3 was released some time back and I apologize for not posting that. See the end of this post to see details on the release and wrap party for the final episode. Have you heard about this new podcast? Sponsored by the Delaware Center for Justice, this is a long-form reporting project that is meant to explore the role that poverty plays in Wilmington's crime problems. This will be in four parts -- and so far includes voices from young men wrapped up in crime as well as voices from the ACLU, Dr. Yasser Payne, Charlie Copeland and others who are illuminating the larger picture involved with Wilmington's crime problems. I've listened to the first one (this is about 20 minutes long) and it is riveting. Give it a listen and I hope you'll come back to this thread to discuss this work and the issues it raises.