Tag: Port of Wilmington

City Council Hearing on the Port of Wilmington

Filed in National by on March 1, 2013 8 Comments

Yesterday evening there was a Wilmington City Council joint committee hearing — the Economic Development Committee and the Public Works Committee — to gather viewpoints and input on the proposed privatization of the Port of Wilmington to be run by Kinder Morgan. While invited, no one from the Governor’s office spoke on this project, but there were a number of businesses from outside of the Port fence who did speak on the potential conflicts and downside that this deal presents for them. I think that this may have been the first public forum that provided these businessmen (as well as the ILA) a chance to make their concerns heard. Senator Bobby Marshall was also in the audience, but did not speak.

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Today is the Port of Wilmington Bond Bill Hearing

Filed in National by on February 27, 2013 14 Comments

It started at 10AM in Dover and it doesn’t look like it is being live streamed anywhere — which is a pity. I’m hoping to hear from those of you who did go in the comments below. But in the meantime, I want to repeat what I think is one of the two most compelling reasons why the port shouldn’t be privatized — having over a monopoly for the running for the ONLY port shipping terminal that Delaware has to a private entity is not a business decision that is in the best interests of taxpayers.

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The Kinder Morgan Presentation

Filed in National by on February 14, 2013 20 Comments

Kinder Morgan had their public presentation on Monday accompanied with the requisite PowerPoint deck to highlight main points. I’ve embedded a copy of that presentation below — it is a black and white copy, so some of the graphics are hard to read. I hope you’ll take a look at these slides (some of them you might need to print) and let us know what you think of this deal so far. But here are some of my thoughts on what is here:

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Kinder Morgan Starts Talking

Filed in Delaware by on February 11, 2013 9 Comments

Kinder Morgan is making its proposal to privatize the Port of Wilmington to the Diamond State Port Corporation today. We’ll hear more about this (I hope) in tomorrow’s news, but wanted to take a look at this deal via what we know already. The most recent information has come from a few NJ articles — Deal to lease Port of Wilmington at risk; Delaware’s Port of Wilmington plan includes expansion; andKinder Morgan seeks new challenge in Del.

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Kinder Morgan Doesn’t Like to be Bashed

Filed in National by on January 31, 2013 30 Comments

This is what Alan Levin had to say reacting to Kinder Morgan’s comment that the DE Legislature’s insisting on doing their job might kill the deal to privatize the Port of Wilmington. The NJ’s front page story on this today accounts for Kinder Morgan’s new found nervousness over this deal, telling an analysts’ conference call that the GA may have scuttled whatever deal is in being secretly negotiated:

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Filed in National by on January 22, 2013 14 Comments

Lotsa fascinating (and otherwise) bills introduced last week. Let’s take a look, shall we? You can follow along here, here, and here. For those with limited time, the first here here has the most there there. There there now, it’ll be alright.

First, and least, we have parts of the Rethuglican legislative agenda, courtesy of Rep. Ruth Briggs King. It’s what you’d expect. Opposition to strong automobile emission standards, and two more shots at prevailing wage, HB 6 and HB 7. Thanks for playing. King also tackles the rampant problem of ticket-scalping at the Delaware State Fair. Ticket scalping elsewhere would presumably still be OK. As far as I’m concerned, anybody willing to pay excessive prices for whatever big empty hat country performer the Fair brings in has a right to pay excessive prices. Although it might not leave enough $$’s to pay for a few rounds of ammo, which would be a shame.

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Speaker Pete Burying Port Bill?

Filed in National by on January 19, 2013 17 Comments

Signs point to yes. On Wednesday, January 16, the Senate passed Senate Bills 1, 2, and 3: http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/LAH147.NSF/65d260a8f0fbce13852572360055cafe/f4c55b7e0e893ce785257af600176dee?OpenDocument Senate Bill 1, which pertains to the Bank Franchise tax, was assigned to the House Business Uber Alles Committee, will be considered in committee on Wednesday, and likely voted on by Thursday. Senate Bill 2, which is […]

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Two Good Bills

Filed in National by on January 11, 2013 11 Comments

Even for the first week of legislative session, this was the slowest first week evah for the Delaware General Assembly. However, the first worthy pieces of legislation of the 147th surfaced, and both deserve your attention…..

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