2019 Update—March 4th to 23rd

On Monday the 4th I met with an organizer focusing on promoting community and economic development. That afternoon I attended a DelDOT workshop on the upcoming Main Street project and that evening I attended a 23rd RD Democratic committee meeting. On Tuesday in Dover I met with students and a teacher from the Odyssey Charter school to discuss reducing single use plastic. I attended the press conference announcing the bill to raise the age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21. On Wednesday morning I attended the assembly at Downes Elementary to ‘Spread the Word to End the Word,’ and that afternoon and Thursday afternoon I went to Dover for legislative session. On Friday I met one of the four candidates running for Newark mayor.

On Monday the 11th I met a resident whose son committed suicide and who is committed to improving how potential suicide is addressed in Delaware. I met with another resident concerned with human rights abuses in Cameroon. Afterwards I met with a resident who is seeking to raise money for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. On Tuesday before session in Dover I attended a luncheon with the FFA, Future Farmers of America, stopped by a meeting with Delaware’s realtors, and with groups involved with improving Delaware’s electronic medical record system. On Wednesday before session I met with AARP advocates regarding the Share the Care Act I am co-prime sponsoring. After session I participated in a meeting of the Ethics Committee of the Medical Society of Delaware, discussing the issue of Medical Aid in Dying. Afterwards I participated in a fundraiser for ACLU-Delaware. On Thursday before session I participated in the press conference announcing almost 20 improvements to our criminal justice system, making it work smarter. On Saturday I attended the annual Delaware Democratic Convention, and afterwards attended a dinner event at which Vice President Biden spoke. On Sunday evening I attended the interfaith vigil at the Islamic Society of Delaware, showing unified support for Delaware’s Muslim communities in the face of the massacre in New Zealand two days earlier.

On Monday the 18th I met with advocates for the White Clay Creek State Park. That evening I joined my colleague Rep Sherry Dorsey Walker for a Facebook Live Town Hall in Wilmington. On Tuesday I attended an interfaith lunchtime event celebrating the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak who founded the Sikh faith. Afterwards I held a meeting for legislators with supporters and opponents to the End of Life Options Act from the disabilities community. After session I went to the Newark Senior Center for the candidate forum in advance of the April 9th city council/city mayor elections. On Wednesday the 20th I joined Rep Ed Osienski and Rep Mike Smith with the Meals on Wheels program at the Newark Senior Center, and joined Ed on his regular route. After session on Thursday I went to McGlynns in Pike Creek to assist in the fundraiser for the Newark Arts Alliance. On Sunday I attended Pilgrim Baptist Church for Sunday service, went to Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen for a fundraiser for fallen law enforcement officers, and went to UD for the B+ Foundation/UDance event which raises money for childhood cancer.

Emails—It has been almost three weeks, and we have been in session during each week, so there have been a lot of emails. There have been emails about contentious issues (National Popular Vote, the four reproductive rights bills, the safe storage firearm safety bill). There have been emails about legislation that I am working on (HB45 manufactured housing bill passed by both chambers, HB49 and HB 80 bills to reform the Earning Income Tax Credit, HB61 to improve tracking benzodiazepines, SB11 on Newark’s participation in the PILOT program, SB12 on electric vehicles, SB27 the Share the Care Act, resolutions on Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month and on plastic straw use reduction, and the as-yet-unfiled Medical Aid in Dying bill.

We have had emails about tributes, for those who have passed away, notable retirements, etc.

I had emails about legislation from other legislators, including HB46 a manufactured housing bill, HCR5 calling for a constitutional convention to overturn Citizens United, HB12 to make changes to the mission of the Provider Advisory Board, HB36 about real estate assessment liens (the bill was struck), HB17 a tax intercept bill, SB25 (tobacco at age 21), SB15 on Lyme disease, HB47 on minimum wage, SB34 the opioid impact fee bill, HB48 to provide additional funding for basic special education in grades K-3, and about HB101 which funds health centers in our high-needs public schools.

I had emails about the new voting machines, verifying that $100,000 committed to the African American Heritage Institute was paid to it, about a driveway/parking issue on New London Road, about the closure of recycling igloos and of the upcoming closure of the Polly Drummond Rd yard waste site, about a concern with an employee at a local establishment, about funding a historical marker, about potholes, about the upcoming Newark municipal elections, and about arranging several leaders of Delaware’s Islamic communities to come to Dover last week.

I am researching prescription drug pricing transparency.