Dear Fellow Concerned Delaware Citizen:
As of May 20, 2024 there were 1,827 Delaware citizens who signed the referendum petition that would have allowed the voters of Delaware to decide on the ballot this November if the property at State Route 521 and Byxby Parkway should be zoned for 16 three-story apartments and more high density housing.
As you are probably already aware, on May 21, 2024 the petition was refused acceptance by the Delaware city clerk and Delaware city attorney.
The petition was snubbed, ignored, and treated as if it didn’t exist. Initially, no reason was given for refusal to accept the petition.
However, Delaware City Attorney Natalia Harris finally admitted that the city could not accept the petition as Section 36 of the Delaware City Charter prohibits any petition “that pertains to any measure providing for the discharge of any obligation legally due from the City”.
What? How can that possibly be related to this petition, I wondered.
Would you be surprised to find out that your city government settled a lawsuit brought by a developer that obligated the City of Delaware to pay nearly $1.5 million as part of the settlement? In addition, the Settlement requires the city to approve another 15-unit three story (minimum) apartment complex to be completed and occupied during the three-year period defined by the settlement agreement. The City has already paid $500,000 but is on the hook for another million if this development doesn’t occur.
Keep in mind, this settlement was not about the rezoning project that was the subject of the petition. Yet our rights as citizens to petition our government have been negotiated away along with our tax dollars.
Meanwhile, our Delaware City Council voted unanimously to pass the annexation and almost unanimously the rezoning of the property identified in the petition. Council did this knowing the petition existed and knowing there was growing sentiment against the project.
Now, let me ask you. Knowing these facts, do you feel like a sovereign citizen of the City of Delaware or a serf who’s only value lies in your ability to pax taxes? In other words, does your government think you work for them, or do they realize they work for you?
If we don’t have the right to petition our government, you can only react to what the City Council allows to be put on the ballot. Yes, voting is important – but so is control of the issues that are placed before the people.
I don’t know about you, but I am tired of being treated like less than a citizen. I’m tired of the instances of mismanagement of resources and tax dollars I’ve seen since moving to the City of Delaware in 2002.
I believe it is high time to hold our city council members accountable for the sloppy management and erosion of our rights that has happened under their stewardship.
Will you help me? You can become better informed and more involved? To be clear, this isn’t about political parties or candidates. This is about returning control of the City of Delaware to the citizens and not developers. This is about holding our elected officials accountable for their votes.
Make no mistake, I am not looking to activate a group of people against development. Delaware can still be a great place to live and grow responsibly while maintaining that sense of community we love.
Join me please if you care about preserving our city and our rights as citizens. A group of your fellow citizens has formed a PAC, Delaware Grows Together. We will work to make changes to the city charter that preserve our rights to petition our government when we feel it is necessary. We will push back against a proposed tax increase that is coming at the same time the City is limiting our rights. We will look at all proposed City Charter changes through the eyes of citizens and not developer.
Learn more about the petition fiasco, financial mismanagement and other issues at www.delawaregrowstogether.com. Visit out Booth a First Friday on August 2nd.
An organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday August 21st at 6:30PM at the 3-season Shelter in Mingo Park. RSVP at delawaregrowstogether@protonmail.com. You tried to send a message to the city government, and they refused to listen.
Let’s stand up and speak in numbers they can’t afford to ignore.
Please join us.
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