On Saturday the 3^rd I attended a lunch with members of the American Turkish Friendship Association.  On Monday the 5^th I attended and spoke at the UD Faculty Senate, which overwhelmingly passed a resolution asking the UD Board of Trustees to act in good faith for a consensus change to the bylaws.  That evening I attended the annual Delaware Coalition for Open Government meeting in Wilmington.  On Tuesday the 6^th I attended the annual holiday open house for the Port of Wilmington.  On Wednesday morning I hosted my monthly constituent coffee and afterwards I drove to the White House for a meeting of state legislators working to reduce gun violence.  After that meeting, I attended the annual Taste of Delaware reception in US Senate offices, showcasing many Delaware eateries. 

On Sunday the 11^th I attended the annual holiday party for CHIMES, which operates a few group homes in the district for adults with disabilities.  On Monday the 12^th I joined several colleagues in a meeting with the executive committee of the UD Faculty Senate.  I then attended a holiday gathering in Newark of the Delaware World Trade Center, then served on a panel exploring restoring UD’s college wrestling program.  After this I joined the joint 23^rd/25^th RD Democratic Party Committees’ annual holiday gathering at Iron Hill.  On Tuesday evening I served on a panel sponsored by the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence.  On Wednesday evening I attended an annual holiday gathering with ASCME.  On Friday I taped two segments for the Comcast Newsmakers program, and also some video clips with Delaware United.

 Emails—Over the past two weeks, I continue to have had emails about the issue of Electoral College reform, and the UD Board of Trustees, and the issue of research versus teaching excellence for UD professors.  There have been emails about the settlement between Christina School District and many charter schools.

I have been working on re-introducing several pieces of legislation I authored which did not make it through the last session.  I have raised several insurance-related concerns with the incoming Insurance Commissioner team, concerns which could involve future legislative changes.  I am exploring best practices to add to Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

I have done some work reviewing the likely next state budget, and have been working on ideas for improving the expected large budget gap.

I have assisted Radio Newark in their efforts to install their antenna on the UD STAR Campus, and I have done the same for the Delaware Solid Waste Authority.  I am working to determine if a culinary arts program can be created at Newark High School, in partnership with DelTech.

I have had emails on City of Newark matters, including the proposed ‘Florida T’ intersection at Library Avenue and Cleveland Avenue, repaving projects in Nonantum Mills,  I am working with Aetna fire company to see if my colleagues and I can assist them in acquiring equipment to better serve the large park acreage in their territory.