WILMINGTON – City Council on Thursday voted against dissolving the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank, instead shifting its focus on reforming the agency amid ongoing concerns about transparency, accountability, and effectiveness. Councilmember Shané Darby, who sponsored the legislation to dismantle the Land Bank, argued the agency had lost public trust and failed to deliver on its mission of creating lasting …
New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry has signed into law a major overhaul of how the county calculates and applies impact fees on new development, the first significant update to the policy in nearly two decades. The ordinance updates Article 14 of the New Castle County Code to raise current impact fees to account for inflation and establishes a new …
Wilmington City Council is weighing whether to dismantle the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank, but supporters of the Land Bank say critics are ignoring key facts. The push to dissolve the Land Bank follows a 2024 audit that flagged weaknesses in financial controls and governance. Councilmember Shané Darby introduced legislation to dissolve the agency, calling the audit evidence of “severe mismanagement.” …
New Castle County Council members expressed concern this week over proposed changes by Wilmington City Council that could impact public access and security policies in the shared City-County Building. During Tuesday’s executive committee meeting, Kevin Caneco alerted colleagues to a developing ordinance being considered by Wilmington officials that would increase security protocols in the facility, including potential restrictions on bringing signs …
WILMINGTON — The future of the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank came under intense scrutiny Monday night as members of City Council’s Community Development & Urban Planning Committee clashed over whether to dissolve the entity, and whether one of their own is being removed from the committee for demanding accountability. The proposed ordinance, sponsored by Councilmember Shané Darby, would …
WILMINGTON — A planned replacement of gas flares at the Wilmington Wastewater Treatment Plant would increase air emissions due to a proposed switch to propane-fired pilot flames. The plant, located at 12th Street and Hay Road, uses flares to burn off digester gas, a byproduct of sewage treatment. The proposed upgrade includes two elevated flares that will feature continuous pilot …
WILMINGTON — New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry signed his first budget into law Thursday morning following unanimous approval by County Council the night before. The $454 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026 passed 13–0. “Thank you all for joining us today as I officially signed the FY 26 budget for New Castle County,” Henry said during a …
WILMINGTON — Governor Matt Meyer has nominated Judge Monica A. Horton to serve on the New Castle County Superior Court, referencing her broad legal background, public service experience, and judicial leadership. “Judge Horton brings a wealth of professional knowledge and a steadfast dedication to impartiality and fairness,” Meyer said in a statement. “Monica has consistently demonstrated intelligence, integrity, and compassion. She …
WILMINGTON — The Wilmington City Council on Thursday narrowly voted down a controversial rent stabilization ordinance after a tense debate and emotional public comment period, triggering outrage from residents and a brief disruption of the meeting. The ordinance, introduced by Council Member Shané Darby, would have capped annual rent increases at the greater of 5% or the Consumer Price Index …
WILMINGTON — In response to another fatal shooting in Wilmington’s 2nd District, local officials, community advocates, and residents gathered Wednesday to call for urgent action to address the city’s gun violence crisis. The press conference, led by Councilwoman Shané Darby, came days after a shooting at 23rd and Washington streets left one person dead and injured a 9-year-old girl and …
NEW CASTLE- On Tuesday, New Castle County Council’s Community Services Committee officials confirmed that the county will receive increased federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for fiscal year 2026, supporting key housing and community development programs amid continued economic strain on vulnerable populations. Carrie Casey, general manager of the Department of Community Services, announced …
WILMINGTON —On Thursday, Wilmington City Council voted to approve a new property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year, as residents and lawmakers grappled with the fallout of a controversial reassessment conducted by Tyler Technologies. The approved ordinance establishes a bifurcated tax rate of 3.7413M for residential properties and 5.8276M for commercial properties for fiscal year 2025–2026. The city says …
