The 2015 MVP (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware) Awards

The 2015 MVP (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware) Awards

How many times have I asked the question, "Won't somebody, anybody, challenge this egregious wrong?"  Lots of times.  Whether it's the illegal actions of the corrupt Minner team or the illegality of Tony DeLuca serving as both a legislator and as an administrator of a public agency, the answer has always been, no, nobody will challenge this egregious wrong.  The budget that was forced through the General Assembly this year was an egregious wrong.  Specifically, the (I believe) illegal application of settlement funds to help balance the operating budget. This misuse of funds violated the specific purposes for which the funds could be used.  While the AG strongly criticized the misuse of the funds, he either chose not to challenge, or was not in a position to challenge, the General Assembly's cavalier actions.  But someone else did. And that someone else is our Most Value Progressive of the Year.
In Which We Find That Bud Freel Was Right

In Which We Find That Bud Freel Was Right

So jump to now, where we discover that the WFD is 6 months into its budget and $300,000 over its overtime budget for the year. What does that mean? It means that the rolling company shutdowns are back as a cost cutting measure AND both Goode and Williams are now quite open to eliminating those vacant positions: The higher-than-average overtime cost was blamed on five vacancies in the department and coverage for personnel out because of injury or extended sick leave. As a result, Goode said one of the city's fire companies will regularly be shut down on a rotating basis to offset the costs and he could move to eliminate a handful of vacant positions in the agency. [...]
Final Call for 2015 MVP Candidates!

Final Call for 2015 MVP Candidates!

The Annual MVP (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware) Awards will be announced next week. Most likely Tuesday, to be simultaneously released here at DL and live on the Al Mascitti Show. I know it wasn't the best year for progressives in Delaware, but many rose up to fight the good fight. Nominate someone and cite what they did, and I will seriously consider them for the list.  Many who previously received recognition were nominated by our readers.  At least two winners came directly from our readers.  The responses have been kinda slow this year, but you have until this Friday to post your candidates. C'mon folks, help me out here.

Black vs. Blue: Where is the justice?

A white cop on an white police force severely injures a surrendering black suspect, and a white jury lets him off to the cheers of white president of his police union. And you're telling me race isn't important?
Delaware Is A Police State. Will Anybody Do Anything?

Delaware Is A Police State. Will Anybody Do Anything?

I hope you have all read this article in Sunday's News Journal.  If not, read it and then head back here. I'll wait. I didn't know, betcha that you didn't either, that police can seize property, money and valuables when they suspect that the owners of said property, money and valuables are involved in drug-related crime.  Betcha didn't know that neither (a) the filing of charges and/or (b) convictions for said offenses were a prerequisite for police just taking stuff.  Betcha didn't know that it's exceedingly difficult, if not down-right impossible, for innocent victims of said seizures to get their money, property and valuables back.  Betcha didn't know that the 'proceeds'  go directly to a law enforcement slush fund called SLEAF. Betcha didn't know that Delaware is the only state in the union that refuses to release the amount of money seized and how the money is spent....

State Police Now Posing As Foreign Policy Experts

Taking their cue from Craven Carney, the Delaware State Police are calling for a 'pause' in allowing Syrian refugees into the country. Unlike Jack Markell, the cops unsurprisingly have demonstrated no knowledge of the already rigorous 18-24 months screening process that precedes the admission of any Syrian refugee into the country.  The words in the statement are boilerplate from the pants-wetters, including Craven Carney. Poor wittle police critters are scared of widows and orphans from Syria.
Guest Post: Presents from Robbie

Guest Post: Presents from Robbie

This was first posted to Facebook by Jim Westhoff, whose family (featuring the amazing Robbie) started this Secret Santa effort last year.  I've posted the entire text of Jim's post…
Desperately Seeking MVP Candidates!

Desperately Seeking MVP Candidates!

It's that time of year again! Time to nominate those who were Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware in 2015.  Here is the main rule: You must submit your rationale along with your nomination.  The nominee doesn't even have to be a progressive, Christine O'Donnell won one year for the sh*tstorm she unleashed on the Rethuglican Party. In the last two years, the winners ended up coming from your nominations.  While I have a few names, including a tentative #1, your suggestions will, to a large extent, determine the names on the list. Nominations close on Friday, December 11, with the list being published sometime around Christmas. Have at it!
Remedies for the Classroom

Remedies for the Classroom

Often times when discussing education in Delaware, the conversation quickly turns to funding and resources which evokes a bristly response from residents and tax payers. We spend a LOT of money on our schools yet stories like the one Diane Ravitch shares here are every day occurrences up and down Delaware and all across the country.
LIVE from the Red Clay Consolidated School District Special Board Meeting on WEIC

LIVE from the Red Clay Consolidated School District Special Board Meeting on WEIC

Red Clay's Board of Education has called a special session public meeting this evening.  The lone topic on the agenda is WEIC. This will be my attempt at live blogging the meeting, start to finish. You can check out the agenda and related documents from Red Clay's BoardDocs site: http://www.boarddocs.com/de/rccsd/Board.nsf/Public Meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30pm.