Delaware General Assembly State of Delaware 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, Delaware 19901 We, the undersigned, submit this open letter as elected Delaware legislators who have been appalled by police actions of the last few weeks. We have been equally appalled by the attempt to shift focus to “looters”, seemingly to distract attention from the cry of racism and black disenfranchisement. The recent events surrounding and following the brutal public murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by four members of that city’s police force have once more brought into focus a […]
Press advisory: Lawmakers release letter of support and commitment to Delaware’s Black community and legislative reforms
Delaware General Assembly Press Advisory: For immediate release June 18, 2020 Contact John Kowalko 25th District Representative 302-737-2396 302-547-9351 State Lawmakers Release Open Letter of Support and Commitment to Delaware’s Black Community and the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus Nine members of the Delaware State Legislature have released a letter denouncing systemic racism and pledging full commitment for all legislative reforms necessary to secure equal justice and equal treatment for Delaware’s Black community. The reality of Black disenfranchisement and systemic racism in our society today demands that legislators acknowledge their past […]
Once Again, Taxpayers are Left Paying the Bill
The grand opening of the newly constructed Wilmington transit center is being celebrated as a success story for Delaware’s system of creating public/private partnerships. Throughout my 14 years as a State Representative, I have consistently questioned and challenged investment of taxpayer money in creating these public/private ventures. In those cases where I’ve been able to access performance records, the results have been rather disturbing. In many instances these deals are announced as an investment of public money that will give the taxpayers more bang for the buck, enable private investors […]
Kowalko: Responsibility for all requires respect
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko I will vigorously support reopening of the economy when the scientific data and studies dictate that the risk to the health and welfare of the public is dramatically lessened. I will not support making life and death decisions when the message to “reopen now” is delivered by those who ignore the realities of this deadly contagion and its capability to infect everyone. I am more reluctant to consider a proposal or position when the messenger presenting that […]
Kowalko: Amazon should give back
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko Would it be impertinent of me to ask, on behalf of Delaware taxpayers, that the multi-billion-dollar corporation Amazon return the $4.5 million in taxpayer money gifted to them earlier this year by the Partnership for Prosperity and the Delaware Economic Development Office? Amazon owner Jeff Bezos is estimated to be the wealthiest individual in the world with a net worth ranging somewhere over $100 billion. The Amazon distribution center sited for the old GM location has already […]
Protect emergency service providers by providing COVID-19 info
Delaware should adopt similar policies as other states to further protect our courageous emergency service personnel and the Delawareans they bravely serve. These policies should be implemented immediately and examples of other states actions can be emulated as follows: State and local governments are beginning to share the addresses of people who test positive for Covid-19 with police and other first responders in an effort to help protect emergency personnel from getting infected. Health officials in at least three states—Alabama, Massachusetts and South Carolina—have all decided to share the information […]
Resources for COVID-19 in Delaware
Delaware has begun Phase 1B of its vaccination plan. All individuals 65 and over are eligible, as well as frontline essential workers. Please click here to learn more. Stay-at-Home resources for kids and families Medical, food, employment, and other government services. Additional resources for COVID-19: Coronavirus information from the State of Delaware Delaware vaccination plan status and additional information Resources from the Delaware House Democratic Caucus Resources and learning activities from the Delaware Department of Education Homeowner assistance and other resources from the Delaware State Housing Authority Learn more about […]
COVID-19 awareness is 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 families faced with economic upheavals and palpable threats to the health and welfare of the public, the government must be totally and honestly transparent in regards to the information it is releasing, the policies it is formulating, the […]
Close child care centers to all but essential workers’ children
It’s time for Delaware leadership to get serious about protecting its population from the spread of the deadly coronavirus. It is no longer an option to claim that child care facilities are safe places or “controlled environments” or that children are less likely to contract the virus. The reality that a positive test for the virus has occurred in a child care center sounds a vivid warning that Delaware must act quickly and resolutely. New Jersey’s Governor has issued an executive order (Executive Order 110) to close child care centers […]
News Journal spreading false information on coronavirus at daycares
I have repeatedly questioned the Department of Health and Social Services and the Governor’s office recording their ongoing promulgation of erroneous data and misrepresentations in their recommendations to childcare providers. Although I have made available well sourced studies that challenge the validity of their persistent pronouncements that daycares are “controlled environments” that are able to limit infectious contacts and behaviors, the Governor’s office and now the News Journal have doubled and tripled down on the falsities that they continue to spread. These misrepresentations of the truth not only misinform the […]