General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues. March 15, 2016

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues. March 15, 2016

This entire session has been one giveaway after another to the corporate behemoths.  Thursday's session continued the trend with the Senate voting unanimously to fatten the corporate coffers (at the expense of the state's coffers) by $10.6 mill by FY 2019.  Look, I understand that we don't want to lose any more jobs, but the state has essentially become a one-trick pony in recent years.  And, for all that we've doled out in corporate welfare, we've only retained a small fraction of the jobs that once were the backbone of our economy.  And now the county is jumping on the bandwagon.  And all the public officials are praising each other for moving so swiftly to 'save' the paltry number of DuPont jobs that were 'saved'.  What is lacking is the 'vision thing', to quote Bush the Elder. Plus, a thoughtful discussion as to whether the millions we're tossing to the companies extorting us would be better spent elsewhere.  Thankfully, we've got John Carney bringing his inspiring vision to--uh, never mind.
Delaware Political Weekly: March 4-10, 2016

Delaware Political Weekly: March 4-10, 2016

Mayor Dennis Williams Just Won't, Or Can't, Grow Up. You're probably aware that there is a Wilmington mayoral debate on March 15. You may be aware that there are six filed candidates for Mayor.  You may also be aware that none of those filed candidates are named Dennis Williams.  OK, when the forum was scheduled, quite some time ago, one of the requirements for participating in the forum was that you must be filed as a candidate.  Didn't seem unreasonable, still doesn't seem unreasonable.  But, from a highly-placed source (wink wink) this caused Wilmington's Embarrassment of a Mayor to go into high dudgeon...how dare they require that someone must be filed as a candidate to participate in a candidates' debate?  Junior high school stuff. But, the organizers relented. So, if Mayor Williams, for one of the very few times since he's been mayor, deigns to grace the crowd with his presence, he'll be welcome.  Of course, if he had just filed, like a reasonable person, none of this faux-drama would have been necessary. But he just can't help himself.
Do You Support Public Education in Delaware?

Do You Support Public Education in Delaware?

Christina has absolutely awesome programs. From the REACH program, to Gauger’s Business Professionals of America Team, to our outstanding arts programs, fantastic drama and performing arts programs, band and music programs, to Lego Robotics and Engineering clubs (YES! That’s a thing and makes me want to be in elementary school again!), career pathway programs like the new Forensic Science STEM program at Glasgow High School, Language Immersion programs to our amazing student athletes and budding philanthropists and advocates for those in need! These school programs are directly supported by operating funds raised through property taxes. And all of them depend on Christina’s operating referendum passing.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., March 9, 2016

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., March 9, 2016

In the Senate Executive Committee is yet another giveaway to business, this one the so-called (is Frank Luntz coming up with names for these bills?) "Delaware Commitment to Innovation Act". The bill basically is yet another $10 mill or so annual giveaway to corporations in addition to all the other giveaways that have taken place in less than three months. Hey, I've got some time, let's see how many of these giveaways I can list: 1. Right out of the box,  THIS bill, aka the 'Delaware Competes Act of 2016' was specifically designed to keep Chemours, you know, the company that DuPont spun off specifically to avoid liability for its environmental wreckage, here.  Passed and signed. Loss of revenue to state's coffers? About $50 mill over three years, according to this fiscal note. Requirements that Chemours clean up its mess? Zero. 2. Then we've had the Council on Development Finance scurry to throw yet more $$'s at the new behemoth, which may well reward the CEO's who carved out this merger dual CEO's with an $80 mill payoff. A relatively paltry $9.6 mill of taxpayer money. 3. In the same article, we read that:
New Castle County officials are in the process of approving their own five-year, $7.5 million commitment to DuPont. The plans, which still must pass the County Council, would create a strategic economic development fund for the first time in county history and commit tax reserves to that fund.
Once again, that's taxpayer money. 4. But that's not enough for the would-be chemical conglom-o:
County Executive Thomas P. Gordon last month said DuPont officials also have asked him to use his authority to lower its property tax bills.
5. We're even acting as their real estate agent. (I know I'm missing some more. Isn't Wilmington  being extorted as well?) 6. Which brings us back to this $10 mill annual giveaway. Practically everybody is on the bill as sponsors, so it will sail right through.  Delaware and its local governments have been reduced to paying extortion in order to salvage jobs here. We used to bribe companies (the banks) to come here by throwing people who need credit under the 18.6% bus.  We're now reduced to paying any and all kinds of extortion to get giant corporations to stay here, at least until someone bribes them with even more.   Guess it beats providing living wages for people who live and work here.  Except, the extortion never stops, and the wages never go up. Pretty much defines 'The Delaware Way'.
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tues. March 8, 2016

Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tues. March 8, 2016

We already know what won't be addressed by the returning General Assembly this week: Abolition of Delaware's death penalty. However, it's for the best of reasons.  It's quite possible that the United States Supreme Court has already sounded the, um, death knell for Delaware's capital punishment statute.  The ironies involved in this are dee-lish.  The Delaware legislative hardliners some twenty years ago decided that juries were sometimes too namby-pamby when it came to doling out the death penalty, so they decided to give the judges (who must come before the State Senate for  nominations and renominations) the exclusive life and death authority. Which is precisely why Delaware's statute appears to have run afoul of the recent Supreme Court ruling, which 'deemed unconstitutional part of a Florida statute that grants exclusively to judges the right to determine a sentence of death in capital cases'.  Delaware has the same language in its statute, which is why the Delaware Supreme Court has placed a moratorium on any capital case moving forward until it can review the statute and determine whether Delaware's statute can pass constitutional muster.
Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 26-March 3, 2016

Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 26-March 3, 2016

After missing much of the last session due to health reasons, State Rep. Harold Peterman (R-33rd RD) somewhat surprisingly sought, and won, reelection. He first survived a primary challenge from Charles Postles by a 64.5 to 35.5 margin, and then defeated D John Kevin Robbins, 58-42. However, two Republicans have already filed for this seat, which they likely wouldn’t do if Peterman didn’t give them the go-ahead. Postles is once again seeking the seat, and one Morgan Ann Hudson has also filed. Hudson’s website seems…incomplete and kinda weird. All I can say is that I could find nothing about her doing a Google search. Anybody out there with any info?
Consulting is Not Policing

Consulting is Not Policing

We've been talking for a few weeks now about former Philadelphia Chief of Police Charles Ramsey providing consulting services to the WPD. The NJ provides some detail on his $16,000/month contract -- namely, that there is a very ill-defined SOW for Ramsey's services, and that one of his Deputies from Philly is means to be on the ground here working. Working on what is still the question -- which is the question for all of the consultants that the Williams Administration has hired for the WPD.
Delaware Political (More Or Less) Weekly: January (More Or Less) 22-28, 2016

Delaware Political (More Or Less) Weekly: January (More Or Less) 22-28, 2016

Kathleen McGuiness is for real.  Except for that whole residency thingy.  BTW, turns out she moved out to Park Slope b/c a couple of her kids are competitive snowboarders.  Yes, she raised a lot of money. What really surprised me is that almost all of the money comes from Delaware.  Pretty much every D in Sussex County with money has ponied up. Guess there are more D's with money in Sussex County than I thought. Bethany Hall-Long has raised a lot of $$'s as well.  Ciro Poppiti has enough money to be competitive. Sherry Dorsey Walker, Greg Fuller, and Brad Eaby don't. Trinidad Navarro better get his ass in gear.  Those who deal with the insurance commissioner's office have apparently resigned themselves to, or more likely, fallen in love with the idea of, Incompetent Karen Weldin Stewart serving as Insurance Commissioner.  He's only raised $11K?  Vs. $83K?
UPDATED: NCCo President Chris Bullock Not Running for a Second Term?

UPDATED: NCCo President Chris Bullock Not Running for a Second Term?

That's what my sources tell me this evening. I talked to a couple of typically excellent sources this evening who tell me that NCCo President Chris Bullock will not run for a second term. A variety of reasons were offered, not the least of which is that his church is experiencing some turmoil and he wants to address that full time. According to these same sources, NCCo Rep Penrose Hollins would run for NCCo President. If so, I'd say it's about damned time. Announcements from both men are expected as early as tomorrow.
Delaware Political Weekly: Jan. 8-14, 2016

Delaware Political Weekly: Jan. 8-14, 2016

Denise D. Bowers has filed to run against State Senator Cathy Cloutier for the 5th SD seat in Brandywine Hundred.  Based on registration, this projects as a competitive race. Current figures:  13,703 D; 11,169 R; and 8790 I. Her candidacy does not come without questions.  She is a 21-year veteran of the Wilmington Police Department, although it's not entirely clear that she was on duty for all that time.  She filed at least two legal actions concerning her job during her time on the force.  The first deals with compensation for a scar on her knee, aka a ' serious and permanent disfigurement'.  The second was a prolonged litigation concerning her 'involuntary retirement' from the force. In fact, even though she allegedly was a police officer until 2008, it is not clear whether she was on the job after 2005, when she suffered the knee injury mentioned in the second suit. A swift Google search also reveals several actions brought against Bowers and her husband for unpaid taxes on rental properties in Wilmington.  OTOH, Bowers is president of the Northwood Civic Association and is currently the State Director of the Treatment Access Center, the liaison between the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the courts system.  I'm sure that some of you must have met her.  I need feedback, pipples!
A State of the Union to Remember

A State of the Union to Remember

I was essentially beyond words when Christy told me. Braeden’s been to the White House twice before, when he won in 2013 and when he was asked back to speak at the Kids’ State Dinner winners in 2014, and both trips were humbling and amazing, but this one is something else. To be asked to sit in a room with Congress, the Supreme Court justices, most of the president’s cabinet, and listen to one of the most important speeches the president can deliver, to be interviewed and featured by Time Magazine, to have your bio posted on the White House website, I don’t even know what to say. I couldn’t be more proud of Braeden and the ideas he’s come up with, the way he’s implemented them, and how he’s stuck with it for the last 3 years.