Guest Post — A Skeptic’s View of SB 197 on Human Trafficking

Guest Post — A Skeptic’s View of SB 197 on Human Trafficking

This is a Guest Post from multiple authors who wanted to discuss some of the weaknesses of HB SB 197 as they see it. As always, this Guest Post doesn't represent the views or opinions of the editors of Delaware Liberal -- we're giving other voices a forum to air their concerns. I'm hoping that the folks who wrote this will join in the discussion.
We (multiple authors) decided to write this post to outline where exactly we see the land lies with SB 197. This particular piece of legislation has been a long time coming, and we roundly applaud Sen. Blevins and all the co-sponsors on the bill. It should sail thru the legislature easily – who would be against stopping Human Slavery. However it seems other agencies, with the responsibility for enforcing the law seem to be either unaware or uncaring about the problem. [...]
2014: The Delaware Senate

2014: The Delaware Senate

We have gotten several comments recently from newcomers to Delaware asking us to explain who the cast of characters that is Delaware politics. So here is a first post in a series of posts giving every one of our readers an overview of the upcoming elections in the Delaware Senate. And then we will review the elections in the House. And then we will profile each and every Senator and Representative in our General Assembly. Each profile will include demographic information about each Senator or Representative, and information about their respective districts. To aid us in this series will be the graphics and tools of Stephen Wolf and his team at Daily Kos Elections. They have put together a Google Spreadsheet that shows us a map of all the Senate districts in Delaware, and colors them according to how they voted in the 2012 election and which party represents these districts today. This is is a great tool for a political junkie. What jumped out at me is that there are basically only 6 competitive Senate districts, and only one of them is ripe for a Republican takeover. Come inside to play with the interactive maps and charts!
Daniello: We Need Serious Negotiating Partners, not Paul Ryan wannabees.

Daniello: We Need Serious Negotiating Partners, not Paul Ryan wannabees.

Yesterday, I was emailed this op-ed by John Daniello. I have checked the News Journal and it looks like it it has yet to be published, which is odd, since the News Journal would publish the grocery lists of Senator Lavelle and GOP Chairman Copeland if given the chance. So inside we have the full op-ed from Chairman Daniello's op-ed, and afterwards, I have some unsolicited advice for our Democrats in the General Assembly. Here is a taste of both:
Delaware Democrats in the legislature are committed to working with their counterparts in the Republican Party. Disagreement is to be expected, but all members of the assembly were elected to work through these disagreements and come to legitimate alternative solutions. For example, Republican State Senator Dave Lawson proposed recently that the state should cut 2% from its budget. He offered no specifics, even though he sits on the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee. He suggested that 2% should be cut without affecting personnel, employee wages, or ‘critical services,’ a term he didn’t define. This is not a serious solution from a legislator who sits through hours of budget hearings.
My advice: Don't negotiate with yourself. If you move towards the Republicans, the Republicans will move further right. Move to the left instead.
Matt Denn is Running for AG!

Matt Denn is Running for AG!

Is this the good news of the day or what? From Denn's website:
[...]But as I have thought about it and talked it over with my family, I’ve realized that the Attorney General’s office would allow me to take a leadership role on some issues that are critical to our state, while still staying involved in the issues involving Delaware’s children that have been the core of my work over the last six years. The Attorney General, as the state’s chief law enforcement officer, must be someone with the judgment, impartiality and will to prosecute and punish those who have violated the laws of our state. He or she should also possess compassion for our most vulnerable residents, a respect for all citizens of our state regardless of their background, and a vision to prevent crime from occurring by combining smart crime prevention with a commitment to providing Delawareans with real opportunity and hope. I believe that I possess these traits. That's why I have filed to be the Democratic candidate for Attorney General of Delaware in 2014.[...]
Delaware To Tackle Human Trafficking

Delaware To Tackle Human Trafficking

Make no mistake. Delaware needs to tackle human trafficking. According to activists, Delaware ranks near the bottom when it comes to addressing the issue of, let's not mince words, slavery. Which, IMHO, is why, as 'Lazy Reader' pointed out (major tip of the 'Bulo sombrero), that Delaware has had this sudden proliferation of Asian massage 'spas'. Within the past year, New Jersey has enacted perhaps the most comprehensive statute in the country. The Pennsylvania legislature is likely to pass a comprehensive bill by the end of the current legislative session, and already has a stronger statute than Delaware. As to Delaware, while it comes relatively late in the session, there should be no reason why SB 197(Blevins) doesn't get enacted into law by the end of June.  I think that one of the elements driving the increased spa proliferation in Delaware is, in fact, likely the stronger statutes enacted elsewhere. Delaware offers a soft underbelly for those with no conscience. Just to give you an idea of the extent of the sprouting of these spas, My Friend At Work (huge sombrero tip to her), who is deeply involved in this issue, suggested a website that pretty much lays it out there. While I will not give the website any undeserving traffic, it promotes, both under 'escorts' and 'body rubs', many of these spas. Generalized locations include Philly Pike in Claymont,  Shoppes of Camelot in Rehoboth, Market Street in Wilmington, Foulk Road in Brandywine Hundred, State Street in Dover, Naamans Road in Brandywine Hundred, N. Broad Street in Middletown,  Silverside Road in Brandywine Hundred, N. DuPont Hwy. in Dover, Chestnut Hill Plaza in Newark, S. Maryland Ave. in Wilmington, Pulaski Highway in Bear, and Jenmar Plaza in Newark. 
Sooo… Who is running for AG?

Sooo… Who is running for AG?

The field is frozen until Lt. Governor Matt Denn decides what he wants to do, much like Hillary Clinton has frozen the 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary. If he runs, he is the nominee, and I doubt he will garner any challengers. But if Matt Denn doesn't run, then the floodgates are wide open. Celia Cohen has her uses. She is plugged into to the mover and shakers, the behind the scenes people in the know, on both sides of the aisle, though her bias and writing style leaves much to be desired. Still, she offers a wide range of potential candidates, so of which will garner a declaration of "WHAT????!!!" and some of which will leave you saying "Hmmmm, that's interesting."

Saturday Daily Delawhere [4.19.14]

The William H. Todd Memorial, in Brandywine Park near Baynard Boulevard in Wilmington. The memorial, also known as the Soldiers and Sailors of Delaware Monument, was dedicated in 1925 and features a bronze figure of Victory.