Spotlight Delaware | by Brianna Hill Newark’s controversial proposal to lease a public park to a local charter school has been withdrawn. On Monday, the Newark City Council voted in favor of a motion – which wasn’t listed on the council meeting’s agenda – that directed its officials to end negotiations around the proposal to turn over Folk Memorial Park to Newark Charter School. The school had intended to build a $3 million sports complex there that would have included baseball and softball fields. The development brings relief to opponents […]
Former state lawmaker, Newark residents file petition to attorney general over fields
The News Journal | by Shane Brennan A group of Newark residents, led by a former state representative, filed a petition on Feb. 1 to the Attorney General’s Office claiming the city violated the Freedom of Information Act while planning baseball and softball fields at Folk Memorial Park. The petition is headlined by John Kawalko, who represented Newark in Dover from 2006-2022. He is one of 11 people who signed the petition, which claimed discussions of the sale of that portion of public land should have been held publicly. “Normally, […]
Meyer’s planned reforms put big business on alert
Spotlight Delaware | by Brianna Hill & Jacob Owens In a room filled with hundreds of Delaware’s top CEOs and corporate leaders Monday, Governor-elect Matt Meyer laid bare his plans to give fewer taxpayer-backed grants to for-profit companies and instead focus on creating economic growth through small businesses and workforce development. “In my administration, you’re going to see the use of this cash assistance de-emphasized. Let’s focus our resources on things that matter the most to the companies and employees of today and tomorrow,” Meyer said as he spoke at […]
The Meyer Plan: Inspector general, campaign audits for better government
Spotlight Delaware | by Karl Baker With Matt Meyer ascending to Delaware’s top elected post this month, the state will be getting a governor who has professed support for a string of transparency reforms, including many that would force lawmakers to disclose more information to the public than they do today. They include calls for expanding the state’s open records laws to the legislature; requiring politicians to publicly disclose business relationships with lobbyists; and mandating that departing elected officials wait two years before taking jobs as lobbyists or in state […]
Is there a new ‘Delaware Way’ coming to state politics?
Delaware State News | by Joseph Edelen Since the General Assembly was expanded to 62 members in 1965, the “Delaware Way” thrived as Democrats and Republicans traded party control of the First State. During the years since, the state House of Representatives has flipped control seven times and the Senate three, though Democrats have maintained their majority status in the upper chamber since 1973. The Delaware Way’s core tenants — its clublike, bipartisanship rooted in compromise and cooperation — appear much different now than it did in those days, however, […]
Public’s right to know is nonnegotiable
Delaware State News | Opinion | by John Kowalko As a lifelong Democrat, who served for 16 years in the Delaware General Assembly, I have growing concerns about the 2023 embezzlement of $181,000 from the Division of Unemployment Insurance trust fund. One of my concerns is the strong possibility that Democratic state officials — both elected and appointed — may be involved in collusion and a cover-up, with the intent to hide the embezzlement from the public. Another concern I have is the apparent lack of Democratic leadership in the […]
The Public’s Right to Know Is Non-Negotiable
Delaware Call | Commentary | by John Kowalko As a lifelong Democrat, who served for 16 years in the Delaware General Assembly, I have growing concerns about the 2023 embezzlement of $181,000 from the Division of Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. One of my concerns is the strong possibility that Democratic state officials – both elected and appointed – may be involved in collusion and a coverup with the intent to hide the embezzlement from the public. Another concern I have is the apparent lack of Democratic leadership in the General […]
Colin O’Mara is my choice for progress in Delaware
The News Journal | Opinion | by John Kowalko Throughout my many years of engagement in politics, as an activist and an elected official, I have been consistent in one regard. I do not respect or regard negative ads or attacks on individuals running for office. I have found that most of this negative attitude is based on half-truths, innuendo and a disregard for the whole truth. I will judge candidates on the policies they propose and the policies they support and their willingness to publicly state that fact. When […]
With Senate vote, Carney veto overridden; 1st time in 47 years
Delaware Live | by Jarek Rutz It’s official – the Delaware General Assembly has overridden a veto by Gov. John Carney. And House Bill 282, sponsored by Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, has become state law. It will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, altering the membership, leadership, structure and procedures of the State Employee Benefits Committee, which controls health insurance and more for employees and retirees. Carney on Tuesday vetoed the bill, which unanimously had passed both chambers of the legislature. On Wednesday, the House again voted unanimously to pass the […]
Why won’t the General Assembly move forward on creating an Inspector General for Delaware?
The News Journal | Opinion | by John Kowalko There appears to be a certain illogical resistance to creating an independent Office of Inspector General by some members of the Delaware General Assembly. SS1 for SB 21, sponsored by state Sen. Laura Sturgeon, is the latest effort to create such an office that would benefit all Delawareans and taxpayers by creating a more transparent public access to government agencies, officials and situations that affect all of us. It would expose incidents of theft, waste and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. It’s […]