Local
In Red Clay It Shouldn’t Be City vs Suburbs
I’m not even going to link to the article in today’s News Journal, because it really doesn’t say much and the reporter missed the opportunity to report on the real story – a story that involved parents and citizens all over the district are discussing around their kitchen tables, on blogs and at work. This story has several parts.
First, not all Red Clay Schools are created equal. For an interesting discussion on this check out Kilroy’s posts on Red Clay (there’s a lot of them) and this conversation taking place on The Seventh Type. Yes, we’ve been over this, and if you need to catch up check out my posts here and here.
One of the problems I’m seeing is the split in the District. Suburbanites want their neighborhood suburban schools. City parents don’t want their schools to suffer because of these new schools, and want the District to invest in these schools.
8Feb2012 | pandora | 17 comments | Continued
Readin’, Ritin’, and Running Amok
Newsflash: a Sussex County elected official doesn’t like to follow the rules and takes matters into their own hands. No, I’m not talking about Wyatt Earp Sheriff Jeff Christopher, I’m referring to Cape Henlopen School Board member Sandi Minard, (pictured 5th from the top).
Minard is a teabagger. She won her seat in [...]
Is Capacity Really The Issue In Red Clay?
Last week I wrote a post on the upcoming Red Clay Consolidated School District Capital Referendum. The ballot has been broken into two parts – renovations for existing schools and a new elementary school at Graves Road. I will not be voting for the new school, and here’s why…
6Feb2012 | pandora | 52 comments | Continued
Do Men Understand What Women’s Health Care Involves?
Take a look at this comment by Occam from my post Komen’s Betrayal:
Just throwing this one out there – planned parenthood does not provide mammograms and Komen’s donations have gone up 100% in the last two days. By rerouting that money to organizations who actually do provide mammograms and by raising [...]
Komen’s Betrayal
Last night commenter Liberal Elite wrote something that I couldn’t stop thinking about: “Looking at the whole picture, it’s easy to see this as a betrayal of women. ”
Betrayal. The word fits.
3Feb2012 | pandora | 13 comments | Continued
Delaware Political Weekly: Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2012
Two new positions are open, but the names are old and…shopworn. With City Councilman Charles Potter running for Dennis P. Williams’ RD 1 seat, guess who has reemerged to seek Potter’s seat? I’ll give you a hint. He was once suspended from practicing law in the State of Delaware for 18 months. That’s right. Sam Guy. He’s ba-a-a-ck.
3Feb2012 | El Somnambulo | 77 comments | Continued
Staton Off and Running
Not only is Andy Staton the only announced Democrat running for the new state senate district down here in Sussex (and I’m in the new district), he’s also the only announced candidate to have filed a campaign finance report.
2Feb2012 | MJ | 40 comments | Continued
Red Clay Referendum And City Schools
The Red Clay Consolidated School District is holding a Capital Referendum on February 28, 2012. Included in this referendum is the addition of another new suburban elementary school. Let me begin by saying that I wouldn’t have a problem with the new school if Red Clay would ensure that its other schools didn’t suffer when a new school opened. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case. In the past 10 days my email has been filled with letters from community advocates and parents from the Highlands, Warner and Shortlidge community. Everyone has the same concern: New schools hurt existing schools, especially city schools. The evidence backs up their concerns.
2Feb2012 | pandora | 23 comments | Continued
So Why Is DE State House Giving Official Tributes to Known Christian Dominionists?
On January 19, 2012, one C. Peter Wagner was awarded an official tribute from the Delaware House of Representatives, sponsored by Representative Daniel Short and officially signed off by Speaker Gilligan. The House awards tons of these, but this one is spectacularly different.
2Feb2012 | cassandra_m | 29 comments | Continued
Impressions of the First Wilmington Mayoral Town Hall
Last night was the first Mayoral Town Hall or Debate sponsored by WDEL. This forum played to a standing room only crowd (they did indeed stop people from coming in after awhile). All of the known candidates were there except for Bovell and Bobby Marshall. I was there with some friends and here’s what I think of the field so far.
31Jan2012 | cassandra_m | 31 comments | Continued
Reminder! — First Wilmington Mayoral Town Hall Tonight
Just received notice from WDEL that they will be hosting the first Town Hall (titled the Future of Wilmington) featuring the current crop of Wilmington Mayoral candidates next Monday, 30 January 2012 at 6PM at the Wilmington campus of Delaware Technical & Community College.
30Jan2012 | cassandra_m | 15 comments | Continued
Bill Shahan Running for NCCo Executive
On Saturday, Bill Shahan announced he was running for NCCo Executive, creating a primary for the incumbent, Paul Clark. According to his website, Shahan currently works for the County Land Use Department.
30Jan2012 | cassandra_m | 3 comments | Continued
Frank Knotts’ Last Post At Delaware Politics?
Frank Knotts, a contributor at Delaware Politics, has written a post about other contributors penchant for deleting comments they simply don’t agree with. This deleting of comments has been going on for quite a while, and fingers are being pointed at Don Ayotte – rightly so, imo.
For the second time today I have been made [...]
Governor Markell on Morning Joe
This video clip is from yesterday’s show, where Governor Markell appeared with both Governor O’Malley from Maryland and Governor Quinn from Illinois. A number of the questions are actually good ones, but better were the answers by these Governors. The focus on jobs and real issues in contrast to the circus that is the current GOP campaign for President is great and I’m hoping that there is somebody out there who will pay attention to getting more Democratic voices like this speaking everywhere over the next months.
28Jan2012 | cassandra_m | 5 comments | Continued
Delaware Political Weekly: January 21-27, 2012
Anyone expecting Sen. Mike Katz (4th) to go gently into that good night against Greg Lavelle are bound to be disappointed. Katz already has almost $200 K in the bank, much of it from Delaware’s medical community, with $73K in the form of a personal loan. Lavelle has $82K, $25K of which is in the form of a personal loan. This is one race where finances will not do the Democrat in. Meanwhile, neither Dave Sokola nor Liane Sorenson are rolling in dough. Time to toss some $$’s Sokola’s way.
27Jan2012 | El Somnambulo | 27 comments | Continued
Campaign Finance Reports – KWS Edition
End of year campaign finance reports were due by January 20, 2012, and of course, KWS filed hers late. It makes for some interesting reading.
It seems that a number of individuals and law firms with an interest in the captive insurance industry like KWS enough to give her money. Now mind you, captive insurance does nothing for the consumer. It isn’t to benefit Delaware consumers; captive insurance is insurance for corporations. It isn’t to benefit our state, and, despite her claims to the contrary, the captive bureau does not fill the state’s coffers. So why does KWS push the captive bureau so hard? Because it makes her donors (lawyers and law firms who work in captive insurance) more money. And in turn, they kick-back money to her campaign.
26Jan2012 | MJ | 23 comments | Continued
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 26, 2012
Wednesday’s session illuminated precisely why properly-functioning committees are essential to the legislative process. Or not, depending on the committee and/or your point of view. Here are arguments for either side:
The House Education Committee tabled legislation that would raise the mandatory age of school attendance from 16 to 18 years of age. It doesn’t mean that [...]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., Jan. 25, 2012
A pretty active day in Dover yesterday. The Senate passed legislation doing away with five agencies you never heard of. In addition to passing two City of Dover charter changes, the Senate also passed Colin Bonini’s annual ‘contribution’ to the legislative mix. That’s right. Recognizing Feb. 6 as ‘Ronald Reagan Day’ in Delaware. I got [...]
25Jan2012 | El Somnambulo | 14 comments | Continued
Breaking News: It’s Official! Bryan Townsend Files to Challenge Tony DeLuca in Primary
Yes, it’s on! Bryan Townsend has filed the paperwork and paid the fees to run for the 11th Senatorial District seat currently held by President Pro-Tempore Anthony J. DeLuca.. Here you have a well-qualified enthusiastic candidate taking on the person who embodies the worst of the Delaware Way.
24Jan2012 | El Somnambulo | 39 comments | Continued
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 24, 2012
Little of interest in the Senate today. There’s a bill from the Joint Sunset Committee eliminating some state agencies, boards, or committees that no longer serve a public purpose. Or perhaps never served a public purpose. Not that they’re the only ones…
There’s more action in the House today. Should be an interesting roll call on HB 222(Jaques), which would require the Department of Labor to ‘publish the names of employers who have violated the Workplace Fraud Act, by misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor or otherwise.’ Let’s see who favors screwing the little guy by claiming that an employee really isn’t an ‘employee’.
24Jan2012 | El Somnambulo | Comments Off | Continued
Delaware 2012 Political Weekly-Jan. 14-20
1. Wilmington Mayoral Candidates Disagree on Riverfront Hotel Deal.
The issue, of course, is whether the city should pay a $1 million ransom to the developers. As usual, I’m of two minds on this. I don’t believe that the City should have to do this. After all, if the project is this financial windfall that’s being projected, why shouldn’t the developers pay for it themselves? OTOH, government at every level in Delaware has already prostituted itself time and time again to pave the way for ‘economic development’. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t. In other words, to paraphrase George Bernard Shaw, the developers have already determined that we are whores, they’re only dickering over price. Bill Montgomery and Scott Spencer support the $1 mill guarantee. Dennis Williams, Bob Marshall and Rev. Derrick Johnson say they oppose it. Kevin Kelley is still reviewing it. Anyway, that’s not the reason I included this in my wrapup. After reading the Esteban Parra story, I was struck that there was more civility and substance in this discussion than in the entirety of the Kareening Klown Kar that is the Rethuglican presidential nominating process.
What are the other top political stories of the week? Check inside.
20Jan2012 | El Somnambulo | 35 comments | Continued
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 19, 2012
I don’t know whether the House will get to these bills today, because the highlight of the day, and often of the legislative session, is the Governor’s Annual State of the State Address to the General Assembly. In addition to proclaiming the ’state of the state’ (“The groundhog has seen his shadow!”), the address serves as the official unveiling of the Governor’s legislative priorities. Sometimes it’s a laundry list of specifics, sometimes it’s more an articulation of the principles that the Governor believes the General Assembly should embrace, usually it’s some combination of both.
Governor Markell is by far the best orator we’ve had as governor during my time in state government. He’s at his best when he speaks, or writes, from the heart. As he did on civil unions. And as he did on the Gattis decision. However, he tends to lose that human connection when he embraces the policy wonk side of his personality. We already know, based on this story, that the Governor intends to seek ’savings’ (meaning cuts) from Medicaid. Just so there’s no mistake, Medicaid=Health Care for the Poor. Last year, the Governor proposed a $92/month cut to services to the medically-indigent. I sure hope he has learned from that kamikaze mission that that’s both horrible policy and a political non-starter.
19Jan2012 | El Somnambulo | 6 comments | Continued
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., Jan. 18, 2012
At LAST. This year’s General Assembly session begins in earnest today. And on a committee day no less. All sorts of compelling action scheduled to take place today.
I support HB 222(Jaques), which would “require(s) that the Department of Labor publish the names of employers who have violated the Workplace Fraud Act, by misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor or otherwise”. This, of course, is just one way that the 1% take advantage of the 99%. For example, did you know that Linda & Vince McMahon’s WWE classifies its wrestlers/performers as independent contractors? Of course, they all have contracts, and the McMahons will take anyone to court for striving to be ‘independent’. Obligatory rasslin’ reference, sorry.
Now, that’s what I call a committee meeting.
18Jan2012 | El Somnambulo | 1 comment | Continued
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 17, 2012
Sen. Bob Marshall has introduced a two-tiered increase in the state’s minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour to $7.75 an hour in January of 2013 and to $8.25 an hour in January of 2014. It will be interesting to see where our Governor stands on this.
17Jan2012 | El Somnambulo | 2 comments | Continued
Fighting Abnormal (And Fake) Body Images As The Mother Of A 14 Year Old Girl
My 14 year old daughter wears a size 0 and still thinks she’s not skinny enough. It’s enough to make me want to pull my hair out. I want to scream when her friends come over and the discussion spirals into what’s wrong with my body. Granted, their focus is on their bodies only, and they’re quick to come to each others’ defense. Also, they don’t attack someone for their weight or their looks, which, I guess, is a step in the right direction.
But… they are ridiculously hard on themselves.
16Jan2012 | pandora | 46 comments | ContinuedSocial Media
