While City Council discussed creating a committee to determine the legality and advantages of an “anti-dawdling” ordinance last week, the decision was ultimately tabled. The topic may come up next during January’s Safety, Advisory and Transportation Committee meeting. “As we have all found, the dawdling ordinance has been one that has come up against opposition,” Councilman Ralph Taylor said.
- Let’s hope common sense prevails on this emotionally charged attempt to appease “old Dover.” — Bob Skuse
- Is loitering allowed around shops and parking lots? Are there already ordinances on the books addressing that? Is panhandling and accosting shoppers for money on downtown streets permitted? Are there already ordinances on the books addressing that? If the answer to these questions is yes, then council should stop wasting their time in an attempt to appear that they are serious about creating an environment downtown where customers will feel safe supporting those businesses and instead encourage and allow law enforcement to enforce ordinances already in place. If the answer to these questions is no, then council should continue to construct an ordinance which will help ensure that residents and visitors to our city are able to shop in their own downtown district without fear. And they should do this all without falling for the false charge that one must be racist if they seek to create a safe environment for shoppers. That is a red herring continually thrown out without any supporting backup data and which only serves to stifle any attempt to find a solution to an acknowledged problem. — Dennis Kirkwood
Indian River School District declines to begin in-school COVID testing
After hearing mounting objection to Delaware’s in-school mask mandate recently, Indian River School District’s board of education did not act on a pitch for free voluntary COVID-19 testing in its facilities. During discussion, the “Test to Stay” proposal brought to the board was labeled by one member as discriminatory and as a power play by the state.
- What a bunch of backward-thinking conservatives. The radical right. — Tommy Bou
