The 2014 MVP Awards! And the winner is…. Mike Matthews.

The 2014 MVP Awards! And the winner is…. Mike Matthews.

Granted, it wasn't a great year for progressives in Delaware, to put it mildly. A business uber alles governor, a congressional delegation that aids and comforts the enemy, more shenanigans from narcissistic elected officials, and a refusal by the General Assembly to address financial shortfalls that will soon impact Delaware's infrastructure. However...we began to see the emergence of coalitions that may well have a profound and positive impact on our future. We also saw some elected officials step up their game. And we saw members of the public lead in challenging some of the most wrong-headed assumptions of our elected officials. So, here they are: The 2014 Bob Stachnik Memorial MVP Awards.   Dedicated to a man who epitomized the spirit of those who created this very blog. A man who, literally and figuratively, sought to 're-twinkle the stars'.
Red Clay’s Latest Idea Will Create More Hardship For City Parents, Or… Red Clay Demonstrates, once again, how Clueless They Are

Red Clay’s Latest Idea Will Create More Hardship For City Parents, Or… Red Clay Demonstrates, once again, how Clueless They Are

I had heard whispers about this for months.  Kilroy spells it out: Red Clay's (RCCD) plan for two of its Priority Schools is to turn one (Shortlidge) into a K - 2 and the other one (Warner) into a 3 - 5 school.  And while I'm no fan of the Neighborhood Schools Act (NSA), Kilroy points out that this move violates the NSA.

Sunday Daily Delawhere [12.14.14]

The Casear Rodney statue, in Rodney Square in Wilmington. The statue, dedicated in 1922, depicts Rodney's ride from Dover to Philadelphia to cast the deciding vote for independence in 1776.…
Jack Markell Offers Another Phony Choice. Just In Time for Christmas: Coal for the Laborers.

Jack Markell Offers Another Phony Choice. Just In Time for Christmas: Coal for the Laborers.

OK, kids, take some time and read this article. It's not long. I'll wait. Markell sets up a completely phony choice as the supposed upcoming battle for the 'soul of the Democratic Party'.  According to Markell, the choice is middle-class jobs vs. 'income redistribution', aka a living wage:
Markell said Democrats should pursue an "agenda around growth rather than an agenda around redistribution," saying that "there aren't a lot of people with middle class jobs who are aspiring to an increase in the minimum wage."
So, on behalf of this state's economic overlords, our putative Democratic governor wants to set up a battle of the middle class vs. those who need a living wage.  Uh, by the way, in such a battle, neither the middle class nor those in need of a minimum wage wins. The economic overlords do. BTW, Jack, there's no reason whatsoever why you can't or shouldn't pursue an agenda that promotes both growth for the middle class and a living wage. Geez, some of those people earning a living wage could become, dare I say it, middle class.
Final Call For MVP Nominees

Final Call For MVP Nominees

C'mon, now folks. You have until midnight tomorrow to nominate those Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware for 2014. Yes, I know it was not a great year for progressivism in Delaware. But that opens the door to some below-the-radar picks, those deserving of greater recognition. I've got six, and only six, real solid choices, some of them off the beaten track. So, there's plenty of room for your suggestions.  You've got until midnight Friday to submit your choices.  A 'Bulo Tip of the Sombrero awaits... I will post the list next Tuesday right here at 10 am, and will then go on the Al Mascitti show to discuss it.
Murdertown, USA

Murdertown, USA

That's the title of Newsweek's article looking at the crime problem in Wilmington. I thought that this article mostly tried to leverage off of articles like this one, that rank the safety of small cities using FBI crime stats and articles from the News Journal also reporting on Wilmington's crime issues. The author mentions a "tale of two cities" quality to the city (that's true) but doesn't really do this theme justice, which might have told us more about the problem. And if you google "Murdertown", you see places like Flint, MI, Chicago, IL, various towns in Texas and Youngstown, OH, tagged with it, so the title to this article is even a little worn. Still:
This year, there have been 27 homicides in Wilmington, tying its record 27 murders in 2010, and 135 people have been shot. Twenty-two of them died. With a population of just over 71,000, Wilmington had a violent-crime rate of 1,625 per 100,000 people last year, according to the FBI’s 2013 Uniform Crime Report (that crime rate measures murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault). The national average was 368 per 100,000 people. Wilmington ranks third for violence among 450 cities of comparable size, behind the Michigan towns of Saginaw and Flint, according to a Wilmington News Journal report.
The stats are bad, but if the number of murders could be cut by one third or so, Wilmington would fall right off of those top 10 lists. The city would be a little safer for the folks who live in the neighborhoods where the guns seem drawn all of the time, but would the problem be resolved? Probably not, because:
When you ask people in Wilmington about the root causes of the city’s crime epidemic, their answers read like the devil’s Christmas list: poverty, racism, lack of economic opportunities, drug and alcohol abuse, gun violence, high dropout rates, teenage pregnancy, stressed families and more.
In Praise of DMV And the People Who Work There

In Praise of DMV And the People Who Work There

The next time someone makes an ad hominem attack on state workers, please commend to them the people who work at DMV. In my case, the facility just south of Wilmington off of Rt. 13 across from Casablanca. I had to take my car through inspection today,  and I'd lost my registration card. So, before going through the lanes, I stopped inside to get a new card. They have a help desk right inside to route people to the proper services, two people answering questions. I told them my problem, and I was told that there was no need to get a card just for inspection, just let the inspectors know. I went through inspection. When I got to the inspector who handles checking the lights and emissions, I recognized him.  He's been there forever. Many years at the Bancroft facility, and now here. Working a tough job in all kinds of weather, breathing in all those fumes. Always very professional and always has a kind word.  When I last went through two years ago, I got a chance to talk to him, and he's had all kinds of health issues. Yet here he is, doing a great job.  When I think of why state employees deserve good pay, I think of him. I dare any of those reptilian Rethugs from Chateau Country to do his job for even one day. Then, I was able to handle the entire transaction of getting the new registration and tag w/o leaving my car. Using the Jetsons technology.  Don't think it took more than three minutes. I almost look forward to going to DMV now. A wonderfully crafted customer-centric system and great workers. When you consider the range of issues and the range of clients they deal with, you just have to take your hat off to them.
Ninth Street Book Shop: Bryan Stevenson To Speak At The Queen

Ninth Street Book Shop: Bryan Stevenson To Speak At The Queen

Via ninth street book shop - which you should totally shop at.
Bryan Stevenson, who was born in Milford, DE, will speak at a free public event at the Queen Theatre (500 N Market St) on Monday, Dec. 15th from 5:00--7:00 pm.  His memoir, "Just Mercy," is a powerful indictement of the inequities of our justice system and a call for action.  Following his presentation, he will be autographing copies of his book ($28) that will be available for purchase either there or at our store. 500 N Market St in the Olympia Room at the Queen Theatre Wilmington, Delaware
The Pandora household is trying to clear our calendar to attend. Hope to see everyone!