Thinking of moving to Southwest DE? -- Don't! (Seaford, Rehoboth Beach: attorney, live)

[toobusytoday]

I think a thread about the State Fair would be great!

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

I think a thread about the State Fair would be great!

Yes, it would. We've touched on it quite a few times in various threads. I remember posting often about the Fair, but there was no separate thread that I can remember.
It was the Harrington Fair, then it was called the Kent-Sussex Fair, now the Delaware State Fair.

[virgode]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

OK, the title of this thread is deliberately provocative and a parody of the similarly titled Wilmington thread. However, what I want to discuss is the socio-economic problems of the portion of DE that includes places like Seaford, Laurel and Greenwood, and what the future of that part of the state may be. Today yet again I read a piece in the News-Journal regarding three young men charged in a shooting incident in Seaford, a couple of whom were apprehended during a traffic violation stop in Greenwood. These types of crime reports from southwestern DE are pretty routine fare, being reported very frequently in the newspaper.

There is, of course, no place anywhere that isn't afflicted with at least some crime of some sort, but when you think of the relatively low population density of southwestern DE, it might seem that area of the state has a quite high crime rate relative to the more densely populated coastal and northern regions.

My perception is that there isn't a lot going on economically in southwestern DE, the area has lost industry, and it's a backwater with little opportunity for youths whose families aren't agricultural land-owners. I wonder what efforts are being made to bring in more industry and jobs, and to rectify social problems there. I also wonder what future the area may have in terms of housing development for people who want to move to a more rural/small town environment -- the sort of folks who presently are moving to new developments in southern New Castle County or more central/easterly Kent County.

Any insights?

Bear, Glasgow area was the same 30yrs ago. Traveling over the St. Georges bridge was nicknamed 'Slower Delaware', and a different world. Middletown certainly isn't the same as it was 10yrs ago.

Where else is will there be to build new housing developments below Symrna and Dover? I have no doubt this area holds a better future.

[Legendof302]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

I think a thread about the State Fair would be great!

Ok, lets get it going then...

[Pine to Vine]

I just read this article from delawareonline: Two Sussex Council members oppose NAACP grants. I realize that those links don't always work, so here's the gist: Two Sussex County Council reps (Sam Wilson & Vance Philips) declined to offer $100 grants to the NAACP Youth Council because - get this - the organization has the words "colored people" as part of their name. As best as I can ascertain, these two council reps feel that it's "discrimination" to extend any funds to an organization that focused its efforts on any particular race. As a native Sussex Countian, I am disgusted that there is not one - but two elected officials who actually feel comfortable enough in their roles to display such ignorance.

I didn't know where to post this and remembered this thread. If I were a progresssive-minded individual, I might think the thread title is a valid warning to anyone considering re-location to this area.

[longnecker]

[quote=jm02;34796235]I just read this article from delawareonline: Two Sussex Council members oppose NAACP grants. I realize that those links don't always work, so here's the gist: Two Sussex County Council reps (Sam Wilson & Vance Philips) declined to offer $100 grants to the NAACP Youth Council because - get this - the organization has the words "colored people" as part of their name. As best as I can ascertain, these two council reps feel that it's "discrimination" to extend any funds to an organization that focused its efforts on any particular race. As a native Sussex Countian, I am disgusted that there is not one - but two elected officials who actually feel comfortable enough in their roles to display such ignorance.

I didn't know where to post this and remembered this thread. If I were a progresssive-minded individual, I might think the thread title is a valid warning to anyone considering re-location to this area.[/QUOTEi
I think they being are fair and not intimidated to cater to one group. I can imagine the fuss if they wanted
to donate $100 to NAAWP.

[Don163]

I think they being are fair and not intimidated to cater to one group. I can imagine the fuss if they wanted
to donate $100 to NAAWP. [/quote]


NAAWP.ORG

The NAAWP looks like a racist organization.

[doctorjef]

The NAACP is not a racist or discriminatory organization, and its membership is open to anyone. I myself have held membership in the NAACP (don't know if it's still current). The organization was started during the days of segregation/Jim Crow, decades before the federal civil rights legislation of the 1960s. In recent years they have championed progressive causes such as marriage equality and non-discrimination legislation for gay/lesbian and transgender persons. More Sussex County ignorance, backwardness, reactionism.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

The NAACP is not a racist or discriminatory organization, and its membership is open to anyone. I myself have held membership in the NAACP (don't know if it's still current). The organization was started during the days of segregation/Jim Crow, decades before the federal civil rights legislation of the 1960s. In recent years they have championed progressive causes such as marriage equality and non-discrimination legislation for gay/lesbian and transgender persons. More Sussex County ignorance, backwardness, reactionism.

It's so disappointing to read such a statement. It's just more proof, that on the Internet, you never really know what a poster is really thinking. This reinforces to me, that so-called educated, well respected, and well traveled individuals also have crude character flaws, that eventually creep out. Making such a blanket statement, as the above, sadly, results in a null and void effect.

[doctorjef]

Rdlr, did I say that this applied to all residents of Sussex County? No, I did not. So just untwist your knickers. However, the Sussex County Council and other elected county officials are a joke -- backwards dinosaurs and a sheriff who wants to play Wyatt Earp. The County Council seems obsessed with issues of prayer and the pledge of allegiance. The clerk of the peace refused to obey the law himself in respect to marriage equality. You've got at least two members of Council who don't seem to understand what the NAACP is, and one who is quoted as saying that people are too concerned with race, apparently oblivious to the fact that institutional racism and personal racial bigotry continue to be serious problems in this country.

Clearly eastern Sussex is rather different to western Sussex, and some of the state's progressive politicians represent the eastern portion of the county.