Delaware’s I-495 Closing Brings Attention to State Infrastructure

Delaware’s I-495 Closing Brings Attention to State Infrastructure

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Monday's closure of Delaware’s I-495 bridge has brought to attention the ailing state of Delaware’s infrastructure (not to mention America’s infrastructure). It’s no secret that the infrastructure of Delaware and the entire nation is in desperate need of attention and repair, and most state politicians have agreed, yet few have actually taken action on this issue. Governor Markell has repeatedly called for additional focus on Delaware’s infrastructure, and with the recent bridge closing, so have many more members of the state legislature. The infrastructural issues of Delaware range from our roadways to our waterways, and none of it can be ignored. With a quick google search any person can find several reports and informative pieces on Delaware’s infrastructural shortcomings. 36% of Delaware’s major roadways are in poor or lacking condition, over 20% of our bridges are either structurally deficient or obsolete, and the state has 65 high hazard dams. This is nothing short of extremely concerning.
Jobs in Delaware

Jobs in Delaware

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The NJ on Sunday begins a series looking at the state of jobs in Delaware, pointing out what we already know -- that very low wage jobs are increasing, jobs in the middle are disappearing (or taking much less money) and there is employment in the upper end if you have the right education and skill set. And while the Governor and Alan Levin have been working at "economic development", there's been little increase in the kinds of jobs that are most needed here immediately. It is difficult to say that the Governor and his DEDO Director haven't been working hard at this -- I think they have. But most of what passes for economic development since the Great Recession pretty much everywhere is a numbers game -- figuring out how to boost the number of jobs in your state without paying much attention to either the quality of those jobs or the ROI any taxpayer subsidy might provide for Delaware taxpayers. Governments are chasing the same limited pool of jobs and working at a classic race to the bottom strategy to get them. Almost all of them are providing taxpayer subsidies to get those jobs in their states, and clawback provisions in case the employer doesn't fulfill promises are still too rare.

Governor Markell Discusses Delaware as a Wind Energy Hub

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Governor Markell addressed the AWEA's Offhsore Wind Workshop a few weeks back, highlighting his plans to make Delaware a hub of offshore wind energy expertise and manufacturing. We've been enthusiastic about this previously, and we're still enthusiastic. Starting with the U of D really evolving as a major research center for applied alternate energy strategies, to the Bluewater Wind effort, to work to manufacture components here there is great groundwork to grow a real next generation piece of the economy right here.

Congratulations All Around for Fisker

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The press conference/Pep rally for the announcement that the Boxwood Rd. auto plant has just concluded. We will now refer to the plant as the Fisker plant. I am still in a state of shock. It was a tour de force of Delaware politicos. Huge kudos are in order for Governor Markell for his attention to this issue and for putting together this event. Getting Joe Biden was the perfect touch.