Newark to get a new mayor after 9 years.
Newark Mayor Vance Funk is resigning effective December 31 (that’s a lot of notice). He says that he is resigning due to health reasons. If health concerns are the reason, why isn’t he resigning right now, and not four and a half months from now?
In a letter sent to city officials Wednesday, Funk cited health reasons for his decision to leave effective December 31, blaming the campaign being waged against construction of a Wawa on South Main Street for growing health concerns.
“Quite frankly, I can no longer afford the adverse health consequences that come with my ever increasing blood pressure caused by the anti-Wawa campaign and the other issues before the city,” Funk wrote in his letter.
I can confirm that former City Councilman Ezra Temko has already disclaimed interest in the race. But others are making their interests known:
Councilman and Deputy Mayor Jerry Clifton, who had been considering a mayoral run, backed down when Funk [ran for a fourth term earlier this year].
“I always knew I wouldn’t run against Vance,” Clifton said at the time. “I don’t know anyone who would run against him. He’s just a likeable, popular guy.”
Clifton said Wednesday that “great things” have happened during Funk’s tenure, including the festivals and other events that have brought people downtown.
Maybe he’s looking forward to four and a half months of delightfully sticking it to the anti-this and anti-that crowds.
Maybe, but from the News Journal article, it hardly seems like the Wawa plans are anywhere near a done deal.
Honestly, Vance has stuck in there longer than I would have if I had the stroke that he had a few years ago. He has been a pretty decent mayor and is a hell of a nice guy.
Good luck, Vance.
Vance is a great person, and has been such a dedicated mayor for our town. He seems to have been born for the role of Mayor of Newark (aka Funkytown). He was my settlement attorney more than once, and he was my landlord for 14 years. I am pleased to call Vance my friend. As mayor, he will be deeply missed.
He’s such a solid guy, and seemingly governed without ego.
Can anyone share the story of the ‘anti-Wawa’ campaign? I’m not familiar with it.
I believe that it involves a gas station that has been fighting against a Wawa being upgraded from one of the old store to a new one (with a gas station). I know there has been a long running battle over the Wawa at Rt. 4 and Rt. 72.
I take it back… It looks like it is this:
http://delawareway.blogspot.com/2013/02/larry-tarabicos-brings-wawa-and-newark.html
Newark has been in a funk long enough.
Deleted by self.
Relax there SW. It was a joke. I asked half jokingly and he laughed and said no
There is a (not yet filed) proposal to put a Wawa with gas pumps at the corner of Apple Road and Elkton Road, at the current site of the Park-n-Go shopping center — former home to Video Americain (now closed), the yummy Yi Palace Chinese restaurant, an Asian grocery, etc. While it would seem appropriate for Elkton Road, it is viewed as wholly inappropriate for the Old Newark neighborhood adjacent to it (where Vance himself lives) — by of course those who live there. That neighborhood (Winslow, Sunset, Beverley Rds) has been unscathed over the years by Newark’s development — until now. And, they do not like it!
Some like it. A Wawa with decent landscaping and a slightly toned-down look would be a nice alternative to a half empty strip center with a crumbling parking lot and abandoned bank branch that stands there now.
YMMV.
Tarabicos told me that he was pulled off the project soon after the initial community meeting to test the waters, so to speak (linked above). The existing plan was filed but nothing’s been done since then.
My main concern was in the architectural features. How could a building looking like that be in keeping with the Newark Main Street program? My jaw dropped when the city planner said she thought the design committee had approved the crassly commercial features.
But unless you have lived in a University community, don’t think you know what the homeowners fear from an attractive nuisance like a 24/7 WAWA built across the street.
As for Funk, he cited the WAWA and “other issues before the city”. Newark has made some serious missteps with the University of Delaware’s proposed utility-scale power plant tenant planned for the old Chrysler property.
In his close business association with the school, it can’t be too comfortable being stuck in the middle of that growing fiasco.
Most of the details will be made very clear in the city council meeting on Monday night.
Agreed, xyz. I’ve seen residents lobby convenience stores and even Walmart to change the exterior, limit lighting and do landscaping. That’s the fight to have. Also, do any Wawa’s close? It might not have to be a 24/7 operation. Maybe they can close at 2. Just a thought.
That’s why I pulled it, DD. Why the peeking on edited posts?
No peeking. Here is a little secret about how DL works. When I post a story, like this one, I get emailed all the comments. So as soon as you submit your comment, it is emailed to me, no matter if you pull it.
I know that the Wawa in Claymont at Philly Pike and Harvey Road was built with lots of input by the Claymont Renaissance folks, including the landscaping and curbstones. Looks pretty nice.
And, any analogy between Wawa and Walmart doesn’t strike me as having any basis in fact whatsoever. Other than they’re both retailers.
I agree. I am not familiar with where this Wawa is supposed to be built in Newark or the plans, so I won’t take sides on the issue. But the Claymont Wawa is pretty awesome and blends into the community there well. I also cannot wait until they finish the new Wawa where the old Damons used to be on Concord Pike.
I’m really surprised and pleased how much Wawa went the extra mile with them. Of course, Claymont has been aggressively seeking compatible businesses and housing for the last seven years or so.
While the reinvention remains a work in progress, I really respect the efforts of Brett Saddler and others. There have been a few non-starters and disappointments but, on balance, the community has benefited from the collaborative approach. They make every effort to get everyone involved.
I’m rooting for them.
I thought it was awesome when the Wawas all upgraded to include bathrooms. I love telling people they can go pee-pee at the Wawa.
NW, I live in the middle of Newark. About halfway between the UD library and the location of the proposed Wawa.
Not sure what you are getting at with “unless you have lived in a University community, don’t think you know what the homeowners fear from an attractive nuisance like a 24/7 WAWA built across the street”
Drunken kids at 3 AM? There is already a 7-11 diagonally across from the proposed location.
Actually my bigger fear is both the 7-11 and the gas station at the other end of Park and Shop go under, leaving two more vacant lots.
Still think I prefer this to the current Park and Shop. It’s a sad state of affairs to those who remember when it had an Acme, the Paint Pot, and Dilorio’s.
One of the great mayors, with Bill McL, Jim Hutchinson, Layton Johnson. When he’s not looking, they’ll name something after him. If Olan Thomas gets a park …
DD: Not to belabor the point, but if someone edits their post so average readers can’t see and don’t respond to part of it, why does the blog owner then respond to the edited part? Just because he can? This is the second time you’ve done that to edited posts of mine. Either don’t allow editing or stick to the points that are actually made in public view.
SW: I did not know you pulled the comment until after I had posted mine. I am happy to remove my comment if you wish. Seriously, I am not trying to embarrass or shame you. I was merely responding to a comment I had thought you made.
And when was the first time?
On a previous thread on a reply of mine to kavips. It was a few months ago.
I edited my comment on this thread less than a minute after I posted it, at 4:11. You posted your reply at 4:24. Do math much?
I don’t think you’re trying to embarrass or shame anyone. But given this and your pissing match with El Som on the PDD thread and your request to him to stay off your lawn – I mean threads – I would suggest that perhaps you need to take some anti-dick pills.
C’mon now. Pissing matches is what we do. We thrive on it, long as they’re figurative.
He’s explained how this works. I think all of us mods have had a similar ‘ships passing in the night’ oops like this. No big deal.
God, you are a prick, SW. I already told you that I read your comment in the email, not on the site.
So you get an email with my original comment. You go to the site at least 10 minutes later to leave your comment, right below mine. You don’t see that my comment was edited in the interim? I call bullshit.
I know that I don’t re-read comments when I come here after an email responding to one of my threads. Especially if there are multiple comments in between the one I want to comment on and my own response.
It’s the way it is. DD did offer to pull his comment, so I don’t get why you’ve got your panties in a twist here.
Yes, it’s my fault that I did not look to see if the original comment was there. That is why I originally offered to delete my comment. I was trying to be nice. But at this point, that offer is rescinded.
damn, DD we all pay so much money to use this site… the LEAST you could do is never make any mistake of faux pas EVER. gah!
LOL
Right about the Claymont WAWA.
I used to follow the discussions on Delaforum about it. It got cray cray when somehow WAWA didn’t use the correct agreed-upon shade of brick for a portion of the construction and people wanted them all torn out.
Just like Newark’s Main Street program, Claymont proper has the right – in this case through county ordinance – to enforce desirable physical attributes of their commercial businesses. Signage, landscape, materials to name a few.
That was why I pointed out at the meeting that the WAWA is on now South Main and asked if it would come under the design guidelines. I was told yes. So was surprised to hear Roser say they’d been approved by the design committee.
Also, Tarabicos held the early meeting to see what people thought and intended on being responsive.
People suggested that low-intensity lighting, reduced hours, reduced number of pumps, etc. would be appreciated.
Park and Shop sold this as a pedestrian-styled walk-in WAWA….so why all the gas pumps?
“Newark Mayor Vance A. Funk III will resign three months earlier than originally expected, city officials announced Monday night.
Funk will leave office Sept. 30….
Council will hold a special meeting Sept. 30 to set the date of a special election to select Funk’s successor. Officials believe that election will be set for Nov. 26.”
http://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_f3c1254e-7ae5-57f6-af51-f0e525b0bcbf.html