Update—November 3rd to 15th

On Monday the 4th I met with two Christina School District staff members to discuss their concerns. On Tuesday morning I had a meeting with Senator Hansen and others to discuss legislation regarding accessible public meetings. Later that day I had a meeting regarding ensuring in-state tuition rates for children of Delaware residents here on visas. That afternoon I went to Dover for a caucus meeting and that evening had dinner with the Governor in Dover. On Wednesday morning I hosted my monthly coffee at the Green Turtle. I had lunch with a representative of the Interfaith Community Housing. That evening I taped a segment of the HighlandsBunker podcast. On Thursday afternoon I participated in a meeting on the UD campus with safety engineers, professionals and students. Afterwards I attended an education session on vaping at Shue-Medill middle school. On Friday morning the 8th, I attended the American Heart Association breakfast celebrating the 2019 Heart Walk, at which my colleagues Senator Townsend and Representative Minor-Brown were recognized. That afternoon I met with a Christina School District leader. On Saturday morning I attended a pancake breakfast to support the UAW food closet and the 24th RD committee. That afternoon I went to the grand opening of the new Park n Shop location for Margherita’s Pizza.

On Sunday the 10th I attended the Hearts for Heroes at the Newark City Hall sponsored by the Morning Rotary Club. Later that afternoon I attended a service at Pilgrim Baptist celebrating Veterans Day. On Monday morning I attended the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the War Memorial Plaza. On Tuesday I attended a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Howard Young Correctional Institution (aka Gander Hill). On Wednesday I met with a DHSS employee to discuss public policy. Later that morning, Senator Sokola and I led the meeting of the Local Service Fee task force. That afternoon I presented the End of Life Options Act issue to about 20 members of a local church. That evening I attended a film critical of the Confucius Institute on the UD campus. On Thursday I took Amtrak to a Cato Institute conference on monetary policy. On Friday morning I had a breakfast with stakeholders to consider the parcel known as 0 Paper Mill Road, adjacent to the White Clay Creek State Park. Later that morning I joined Rep Michael Smith at a local physician practice, to discuss issues facing family practice doctors. That afternoon I taped two segments for the Comcast Newsmakers program.

Emails—I had emails responding to the needs of residents, including one for an individual who needed assistance with the VA (Senator Carper’s office was able to assist) , a second veteran concern (Rep Blunt-Rochester’s office worked on this one), the federal Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act, upcoming dental services for downstate veterans,

There were questions on city issues: availability of UD classes to senior citizens tuition-free, expanded parking availability on Main Street on weekends (thanks, DelDOT), and a concern over an over-aggressive parking-lot towing incident.

There were issues on DelDOT matters: a missing street sign for Nancy’s Way (still working with DelDOT), about the Main Street construction project, DMV client data security, paint striping on Delaware Avenue, requesting two speed studies to be conducted by DelDOT, requesting lighting on Creek Road, reporting potholes, and road markings on the Chambers Rock Bridge.

There were issues on other state government matters: about global climate change, about the University’s public/private status, responsibility for trees that overhang sidewalks and roads, recommending a resident for an advisory board, economic development, sufficient hearing rooms for the Industrial Accident Board, voting machine security, the status of the White Clay Creek State Park master plan release, plans to reduce affordable housing by the YMCA in Wilmington, mold at a local food store, health insurance premium rates, the Public Integrity Commission’s ruling on board member conflict-of-interest, verifying that Delaware’s Mandarin materials are properly supervised (not provided without review from mainland China), a concern raised regarding the Wilmington Housing Authority, and a request for more accessible children’s playgrounds at area parks.

I have had emails regarding my legislation, including an upcoming bill to provide improved oversight for our school board members, HB140, the End of Life Options Act, net neutrality, Earned Income Tax Credit expansion, and a bill to end corporate giveaways of taxpayer money.

I have had emails about colleagues’ legislation, including the National Popular Vote, a convention of the states, direct shipment of wine to consumers, and HB158 (brew pups having more than two locations).