On Saturday the 17th I attended the graduation ceremony at Delaware State University. On Sunday the 18th I attended the Unity March in Newark. On Tuesday the 20th I was interviewed on my efforts to bring ‘medical aid in dying’ legislation to Delaware. On Friday the 23rd I met with a student from Newark Charter High School to discuss gun violence in Wilmington and throughout Delaware.
On Wednesday the 28th I met with a state employee to discuss concerns within the Kids Department. On Thursday I met with Kyle Schwab, my new legislative aide, who also serves as the aide to Rep John Kowalko. On Friday I met with a representative of Connections (http://www.connectionscsp.org/), which provides much counseling to Delawareans with mental illness, in the community and in our correctional institutions.
On Monday the 2nd I met with the owner of St Jones Landing, a manufactured housing community undergoing a controversial ‘change of land use’ process. On Tuesday evening I met with residents, elected officials, and DelDOT staff to discuss a proposal to install a ‘Florida T’ device at the Cleveland Avenue/Library Avenue intersection to reduce gridlock in Newark. On Wednesday morning I hosted my monthly coffee at Caffé Gelato and afterwards met with a University professor to discuss the controversy over research/teaching/service balance/prioritization. On Thursday I met with members of the Newark Chapter of the NAACP and city of Newark officials to discuss plans to celebrate the history of the school which is now the George Wilson Center.
Email—Over the past three weeks I have had many emails on legislation, on enhancing DE’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), tax policy, the direct shipment of wine, Widener’s review of Delaware’s manufactured housing law, medical aid-in-dying, public school funding approaches, marijuana legalization/regulation/taxation, computer science requirement in our high schools, ensuring student body diversity at Delaware’s charter schools, minimum wage, and a soda tax.
I have had emails regarding state issues related to National Popular Vote, transgender health insurance benefits, SEU’s Energize Delaware program, legislative committee assignments, division I college wrestling task force, recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness month, recognizing April as Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month, ensuring voting reliability, medical marijuana dispensaries, and animal welfare organizations.
I have had emails regarding local issues related to a nuisance property in Chapel Hill, the Florida T intersection, drainage concerns in Christine Manor, roadkill management (concern raised by a team of students from Newark Charter School), building a culinary program at Newark High School, funding an ATV for Aetna fire company, White Clay Creek State Park trail plan, potholes (of course), and street paving.
I have had emails with constituents on matters involving a labor dispute, supporting a constituent applying to serve on a state government council, the legal status of a teenage caught up in the criminal justice system over the holidays, alternative therapy (art/yoga/massage/music) at the VA in Newport, and groundwater contamination found south of Newark,