The News Journal | Guest Column | Rep. John Kowalko Full transparency in government matters is of the utmost importance in embracing and appreciating the public’s right to know. Full transparency guarantees that the public’s need to know is not obfuscated under some misguided interpretation of the public’s right to know. During this most threatening crisis enveloping Delaware, which has its families faced with economic upheavals as well as fears for their safety and welfare, the government must be totally and honestly transparent in regards to the information it is […]
State Rep. Calls On Governor To Disclose COVID-19 Details Citing Public’s Right To Know
First State Media | by Staff Writer Newark Representative John Kowalko has penned an open letter calling on Governor John Carney to release additional details regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Delaware. COVID awareness a right and a responsibility Full transparency in government matters is of the utmost importance in embracing and appreciating the public’s right to know. Full transparency guarantees that the public’s need to know is not obfuscated under some misguided interpretation of the public’s right to know. During this most threatening and serious crisis enveloping Delaware and its […]
Why you can’t know if COVID-19 is in your Delaware town
The News Journal | by Meredith Newman As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Delaware continues to climb and the first deaths have been reported, many residents are looking for answers. “Could Delaware please provide more detailed info of what towns, within each county, that have confirmed cases of the virus?” asked Milton resident Cindy Black. “I’d like to know if any cases are in my town? “Maybe this info could help flatten the curve?” she said. Others are asking: How many tests have been conducted? Does the state […]
Kowalko: Carney, DHSS misrepresenting information from the CDC
The News Journal | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko The editorial in Wednesday’s News Journal commending the efforts of Govs. Wolf, Hogan and Carney in response to the COVID-19 outbreak should have pointed out the consistent misrepresentation of the Centers of Disease Control reports by Carney and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. The recommendation to keep daycares open while closing schools and the additional irresponsible declarations that child care centers are safer places or that children are less vulnerable to becoming infected poses […]
Child care centers remain open in Delaware at state’s recommendation
Delaware Public Media | by Nick Ciolino Schools are closed in Delaware amid concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus, but many child care providers are staying open. The state of Delaware issued guidance to non-public child care providers earlier this week recommending they stay open. The state cites a CDC recommendation and data showing out of 74,000 cases of COVID-19 in China, only 2 percent under the age of 19. The guidance also recommends increasing sanitary practices at child care centers. Jill Fredel is Director of Communications for […]
Newark Representative Takes Issue With DHSS’ Private Childcare Coronoavirus Guidance
First State Update | by Staff Writer Newark State Representative John Kowalko is taking issue with the “Guidance for Childcare Providers on Coronavirus” provided this morning. by the Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS). Kowalko said the press release from DHSS sent out regarding childcare should be rescinded immediately. It wasn’t sourced adequately and the sources quoted were outdated or inaccurate. You are doing harm if you encourage daycares to stay open to spread this virus, Kowalko said in an email to the agency. Governor Carney did the right thing […]
Think Delaware’s two biggest universities are public?
The News Journal | by Natalia Alamdari Both the University of Delaware and Delaware State University receive millions in state tax dollars each year, with UD taking home the bulk of that higher education funding. Both offer lower tuition rates and prioritized scholarships for students from Delaware. Both are categorized as public universities on national college ranking lists. Most people would assume that Delaware’s largest universities are public institutions. But they’re not. UD has a private charter and DSU is a private corporation. That means that even though both schools […]
Transparency murk: Will General Assembly crack open the door?
Dover Post | by Sarah Gamard When House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf announced earlier this month that his staff has been researching livestreaming Delaware General Assembly debates for more than a year, a lot of people were surprised. Some were even incredulous. “I don’t know what Schwartzkopf is trying to make out of whole cloth, but it’s not anything other than a figment of his imagination to say that we have been working on this for a year,” said Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, who is a member of Schwartzkopf’s caucus. “I’ve […]
Was the fate of Delaware’s government transparency proposal decided in secret?
The News Journal | by Sarah Gamard When House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf announced earlier this month that his staff has been researching livestreaming Delaware General Assembly debates for more than a year, a lot of people were surprised. Some were even incredulous. “I don’t know what Schwartzkopf is trying to make out of whole cloth, but it’s not anything other than a figment of his imagination to say that we have been working on this for a year,” said Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, who is a member of Schwartzkopf’s caucus. […]
Delaware gives $4.5 million to bring Amazon to former Newport-area auto plant site
The News Journal | by Sarah Gamard It’s now safe to say that Amazon, with the help of $4.5 million in Delaware taxpayer grants, is coming to the Newport area. The company, which reported $3.3 billion in profits for the three months that ended in December, says it is bringing about 1,000 full-time jobs to the former General Motors plant site on Boxwood Road. The state’s seven-person Council on Development Finance approved the grant on Monday. A Nevada-based distribution company that counts Amazon as a client plans those jobs and […]