issues
Delaware, it’s time we rewrite the rules of what’s possible. Some of these ideas can be done immediately, and some of them will need all of our voices to advocate for over the coming years.
If you haven’t taken the team’s Delaware Issues Survey, let us know what issues you care about!
Address Our Housing Crisis
As Housing Director for the State of Delaware, I see everyday the growing housing crisis facing our state and country. There isn’t a community immune to staggeringly high housing costs. I believe this is quickly becoming one of the biggest issues facing all Delawareans.
Delaware is behind 22,000 housing units, which drives up housing costs for both renters and owners. This exacerbates homelessness and housing displacement. In addition, much of the nation’s public housing is behind on maintenance, costing more over time and providing worse quality for residents.
Delaware, let’s Rise Together to:
► Extend tax benefits to homeowners to increase long-term stability.
► Incentivize local governments to promote affordable housing in their communities.
► Reform the low-income housing tax credit to help those most in need.
► Repeal the limit on building new affordable public housing units.
► Institute a Renters’ Bill of Rights.
Expand Economic Opportunity
I believe Delaware can be a leading economic hub for growing a talented and well-paid workforce. We can no longer rely on just a few large companies, we have to focus on growing our own opportunities here. We can do this through growing our small business community, embracing the arts, protecting union workers, and investing in infrastructure projects.
In Delaware, I’ve seen so many dedicated people who are just looking for an opportunity to contribute to our state. One of the best ways to tackle crime, advance education for our youth, and have a bright financial future is to grow our local economy.
Delaware, let’s Rise Together to:
► Support our small businesses with improved access to capital and professional guidance, and decreased time-intensive, costly barriers.
► Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour (and index it to inflation).
► Protect the rights of workers to organize and unionize in their workplaces.
► Ensure small businesses can more easily handle regulatory requirements.
► Invest in large-scale infrastructure projects (e.g. our port, public transit, roads and bridges, high-speed rail, and clean energy systems).
Protect Reproductive Rights
I know that across the country reproductive rights are under attack and we have to urgently push back against these efforts. While Delaware has been protected since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, many of our neighbors and those across the country are facing harsh and restrictive policies.
Anyone who’s pregnant should be able to decide what to do with their own body. We must pass legislation that would federally guarantee a person’s right to affordable abortion access.
Delaware, let’s Rise Together to:
► Codify Roe v. Wade into federal law.
► Institute Title X protections which remove restrictions around talking about abortion.
► Repeal the Hyde Amendment which restricts the use of federal funds to cover the cost of abortions.
► Ensure that abortion is safe, legal and widely accessible to everyone no matter their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, zip code, or immigration status.
► Reverse the global gag order that restricts U.S. global health assistance from providing any information and services for legal abortion.
Require Real Affordable Healthcare
In the 21st century, no one should have to use a GoFundMe to pay their medical bills, or choose between getting the healthcare they need or putting food on the table. I know too many friends and family members who have medical debt (some have even had to declare bankruptcy).
All families should know their children, their parents, and themselves can get high-quality healthcare.
It’s time we create a universal healthcare system that is the model for the world, instead of an ever more expensive system that fails to provide adequate care for all. Our healthcare system should include primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, substance abuse, long-term services and supports, reproductive healthcare, and more.
Delaware, let’s Rise Together to:
► Institute a Medicare for All type system.
► Allow Medicare (or a single-payer system in the future) the power to negotiate prices for all drugs with pharmaceutical companies.
► Ensure health insurance covers dental and vision.
► Prevent price gouging of critical pharmaceuticals.
► Invest in wellness and preventive care.
Protect Our Climate and Environment
I love our beaches and want my kids to be able to experience them as I did growing up. However, since Delaware is the lowest lying state in the country we are at the most risk due to climate change.
Our environment thrives when we have a long-term plan for the future, instead of just thinking of today. Our children and grandchildren deserve to live in a world even better than ours, and so we must have to be good stewards to bring about a sustainable tomorrow.
While many Delawareans have access to clean air and water there are still too many who lack even these fundamental human rights, especially in Sussex County. In addition, even fewer have adequate green space within walking distance. Our children deserve a place to play beyond just concrete structures. We have to identify where our state fails to provide adequate clean air, water, and green space.
Delaware, let’s Rise Together to:
► Transition to a green economy through the Green New Deal.
► Increase climate resources for historically disadvantaged communities.
► Institute a Civilian Climate Corps to put people to work providing green infrastructure and maintaining our natural resources.
► Increase penalties for polluters.
► Ensure all Delawareans have consistent clean air, water, and green space.
Secure Our Seniors and Elders’ Future
Our country made a promise to people that once they have reached retirement age, they would be able to live comfortably and securely in their future. I see everyday how that promise is broken for so many.
More and more of our elders here in Delaware are struggling to keep up with rising costs in healthcare and housing. This is unacceptable. All of our seniors deserve to see a secure retirement in their golden years.
Delaware, let’s Rise Together to:
► Protect Social Security from any and all cuts.
► Expand Medicare to include vision, hearing, and dental care.
► Increase home- and community-based services to meet long-term care needs.
► Allow family members to earn social security benefits if they take off of work to take care of their family.
Take the Delaware Issues Survey!
Let us know what issues you think are most pressing here in Delaware. The more responses we get the more we can demonstrate how united we are for urgent change!
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