2015: The Good. The Bad. The Ridiculous.

2015: The Good. The Bad. The Ridiculous.

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Because this list is generally a critical review of the year's events, I've decided not to place Beau Biden's death or Joe's flirtation with running for President on the lists.  Who is to say how one should react under such circumstances? And how does one rank a death? Answer to both questions: I don't know. So, I won't do it. We start as always, with the list with the fewest nominees: The Good.  Because, let's face it, on balance, this was not a good year for Delaware.  Much closer to an annus horribilis, or whatever Queen Elizabeth calls it. Wherever possible, I've linked to an article that provides context.

Colin Bonini: Tax Cheat

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Let's see. He takes taxpayers' money for Sunset Committee meetings he doesn't attend.  He has never voted for a state budget. He lied about having a Master's Degree he never came close to completing. It turns out he didn't pay his taxes either.  Had three separate  federal tax liens filed against him. Over $28K owed (Other documents available upon request).  At what point does this reach a critical mass of fraudulence? You know, with a record like that, there's only one elective body where he'd feel right at home: Wilmington City Council.
Pay Per Pupil?

Pay Per Pupil?

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Imagine if we paid for other government services on a per use basis. Fire companies. They can’t douse your burning home until you pay them. Paramedics can’t begin to administer emergency medical care until your form of payment clears. Police can’t come take your car accident report until they verify your credit card transaction goes through. They can’t investigate your home invasion until you remit payment. The 911 phone system. “The fee for this service is $2.99 per minute for the first minute, and $1.99 per minute thereafter, please enter your 16-digit credit or debit card number followed by the pound sign”. Transportation. I take Route 40 to work sometimes. Sometimes I take 896. Imagine if they set up EZ Pass sensors at every point where a secondary road connected.
Watching Mayor Williams Get Played By His Own “Take Credit for These Ideas” Strategy

Watching Mayor Williams Get Played By His Own “Take Credit for These Ideas” Strategy

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I've been following the news from my Holiday Location and it is looking like Mayor Dennis Williams is being hung by his own “We’re Not Going to Let This Commission Take Credit for These Ideas” strategy in his effort to push back against having to live with the accountability (and potentially some consequences) that would come with a grant being provided by the Joint Finance Committee to help the City pay for foot patrols. You'll recall that the Williams Administration's response to the Wilmington Public Safety Strategies Commission report was to claim that they had already implemented most of the recommendations made -- with the help of the VRN folks, not the Governor. There is wide skepticism about this claim that they've implemented most of those recommendations -- especially from me -- and the JFC looking to send the Police Foundation back into the WPD to check on progress is an excellent accountability measure. And if I am Mayor Dennis Williams with a re-election hanging in the balance because he is widely seen as utterly ineffective in managing the crime problem (in spite of campaign promises) -- it would be Good News all the way around if one of the Commission's consultants could say that progress is actually being made as promised.
All Education Eyes on January

All Education Eyes on January

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During the last 10 months, the public had opportunities to contribute their thoughts, ideas, feedback, and criticisms of the plan or any part thereof. Public comment ran the gamut from helpful feedback to downright racist criticism. In my observation, the comments that tended to align closer to the racist end of the spectrum were elicited when meetings were held in suburban locations. The more supportive comments, while also showing in the suburbs, really came to the forefront in the meetings’ city locations.
The 2015 MVP (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware) Awards

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

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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

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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!

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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.