Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Celebrating the Holiday Season While Staying Safe on Delaware’s Roadways

As Delawareans observe the holidays and look ahead to a new year they have many reasons to celebrate, and zero reasons to drive distracted or to get behind the wheel after drinking. So far this year 116 people have lost their lives on our roadways, including 40 whose deaths involved impaired driving or an impaired pedestrian. Each one is a tragedy that leaves behind a family who is hurting this holiday season. And they’re stark reminders of how important it is to remain alert and sober when driving and walking along our roads.

With more Delawareans and visitors on the move this time of year, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety has launched a campaign to remind the public of the increased dangers of holiday driving through four simple messages: Don’t drive if you’ve had too much to drink. Put your cell phone down when you’re behind the wheel. Wear a seatbelt and obey the speed limit. And, be alert and visible to others when walking along our roadways.

Commit yourself to taking these steps over the holidays and beyond. Plan ahead. Have conversations about drinking and driving before you get on the road. If you and people in your group will be drinking, designate a sober driver or prepare to take a taxi. Pay attention to the road, not your phone. And if you’re walking, especially along a busy roadway, wear visible clothing and be aware of vehicles around you.

For many Delawareans, this is the most wonderful time of the year. So let’s keep it a safe time of the year by acting responsibly and taking simple precautions. Together, we can all act to ensure that our friends and neighbors enjoy a safe holiday season this year, and for many years to come. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.


Video: Building the nation’s fastest broadband network

Creating a Stronger, More Prosperous Delaware

Dover, DE – Recognizing the importance of high speed broadband networks to drive economic competitiveness, improve educational opportunity, and strengthen quality of life for Delawareans, the Department of Technology and Information (DTI) is taking steps to maintain Delaware’s position as the nation’s leading state for high-speed broadband networks.

Following a successful first round of Broadband Grant funding in 2014 and 2015 for Internet Services Providers (ISPs) to extend high speed broadband services to their customers, particularly in rural underserved areas, DTI is reviewing applications received for a second round of grant funding for three pilot projects to evaluate the success and assess the viability for ISPs to extend wireless broadband services into rural communities around Seaford and Marydel and a municipal Wi-Fi network in Rehoboth. DTI anticipates a subsequent third round of funding to broaden wireless high speed internet services into additional rural communities.

To further promote the benefits of Broadband, the Markell Administration has released the following video that celebrates the impact of broadband in driving economic opportunity, enhancing quality of life, and improving healthcare through telehealth services.

“Supporting economic mobility and opportunity for everyone in today’s economy requires access to high-speed internet,” said Governor Markell. “Whether it is giving students the tools at school and at home to get the most out of their education, ensuring businesses have the ability to compete efficiently and effectively, or making available tele-medicine to improve access to health care, expanding high-speed broadband raises the quality of life for our citizens. I’m proud of the progress we have made together to make Delaware the best state in the nation for internet speeds and, with new rounds of grants from the state, I’m confident we can build on this progress toward becoming the first state where everyone has access to all of the benefits broadband provides.”

Delaware broadband facts

• Delaware boasts the fastest Internet connection speeds in the country, and ranks among the fastest in the world, according to Akamai Technologies Inc. who publishes a quarterly “State of the Internet report”. Downloading a high definition movie that would have taken 25 seconds in 2009 can be accomplished in 2 seconds on today’s network.
• In 2014, Delaware had the largest increase in Internet speed of any state in the nation with a 42% jump over the previous year.
• Delaware’s Department of Technology and Information has established Wi-Fi networks in more than 200 state government buildings, which provide fast and reliable access to more than 2,500 staff and citizens each day.
• Since 2009, public-private partnerships to expand Delaware’s broadband infrastructure have resulted in construction of more than 700 miles of new fiber optic infrastructure throughout the state.
• Delaware’s broadband “backbone” features high capacity fiber-optic lines that run the length of the state from Wilmington to Georgetown, and from Seaford to Lewes, improving internet reliability for consumers and increasing internet access speeds by as much as 10 times since 2009.
• Legislation passed in 2013 establishing the Delaware Broadband Grant allows DTI to leverage additional private investment to install high speed fiber optic lines in underserved communities and key public sites such as schools, libraries, health care facilities, and places that provide government services.
• Work with wireless service providers to expand and upgrade 4G/LTE cellular phone services into southern and rural communities across Delaware has ensured more than 99 percent of the state is covered by wireless providers, improving citizen access to public safety and emergency services, including enhanced 911, benefiting the agricultural community, and improving services to local businesses.

Excerpts from the video: Celebrating Delaware’s broadband success
The video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0vgMgp6vkk.

“Broadband access has become like a utility,” said Delaware Chief Information Officer James Collins when speaking about its importance in spurring economic growth and opportunity. “If you’re going to operate and be successful in the information age you need access to broadband.”

“We found that there was a lot of area that wasn’t served very well by fiber,” said Lightower CEO Philip Olivero. “The State of Delaware, who was willing to invest in this network definitely helped make this happen.”

“In many instances we’re getting orders for customers, and the first truck has to be rolling out of our gate within three to six hours,” said Edward Krupka, Jr, Chief Information Office for Burris Logistics, speaking about the benefits of reliable access to broadband. “For us to miss an order or miss processing times because of a network failure means that we’ll miss out on the service levels that we guarantee to our customers.”

“One of the key aspects to this investment (in broadband) is the quality of life to our citizens and visitors. (It has) a direct impact to their level of service and as a result it’ll improve Sussex County’s attractiveness,” said Todd Lawson, Sussex County Administrator, who emphasized broadband’s role in supporting economic development and quality of life.

“With broadband we were able to offer more kinds of things, more access to materials,” said Georgetown library Director Elaine Fike. “In our job center, having laptops and a person to assist with resumes and online job searches would not have been possible without (the broadband network).”

Carolyn Morris, Director of Telehealth Planning and Development for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, applauded the capabilities created by broadband to transmit healthcare records electronically over great distances and enable telemedicine, which connects residents at home and in their own communities to healthcare professionals via video link. “To see a specialist, downstate patients may need to travel great distances, maybe 200-300 miles (taking) a whole day,” Morris said. “Having broadband in Sussex County, the services will be able to be delivered in the community.”


Governor’s Weekly Message: Improving Public Safety by Breaking the Cycle of Recidivism

Wilmington, DE – In a guest weekly message, Department of Correction Commissioner Robert Coupe highlights the Markell Administration’s efforts to give offenders a better chance of successfully reentering the community after their release from incarceration. By reducing the barriers to reentry, these initiatives are aimed at lowering the rate of recidivism and improving public safety.

“At the Department of Correction, we’re focused on keeping the public safe by providing effective supervision to individuals whose behavior has brought them into contact with our criminal justice system,” Commissioner Coupe said. “And we’re taking new steps to give these individuals a better chance of turning the page on their past and building new, productive, and law abiding lives. Together, these efforts are giving individuals a better chance to achieve personal success and break the cycle of recidivism. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/jLG7NQym31U
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/governormarkell

Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Improving Public Safety by Breaking the Cycle of Recidivism


Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Improving Public Safety by Breaking the Cycle of Recidivism

Hello, I’m Rob Coupe, Commissioner for the Delaware Department of Correction. At the Department of Correction, we’re focused on keeping the public safe by providing effective supervision to individuals whose behavior has brought them into contact with our criminal justice system. And we’re taking new steps to give these individuals a better chance of turning the page on their past and building new, productive, and law abiding lives.

It’s a fact that more than 95% of inmates will be released from incarceration and return to the community. Historically, after release many of these individuals commit new crimes and return to prison. Many factors can influence criminal behavior, and even those who are determined to chart a new course must overcome significant barriers as they reenter the community. A criminal record, lack of job skills, and limited family or community support can make it difficult to make that fresh start. More than half of the offenders under our supervision have been diagnosed with substance use disorders and mental health needs, which can influence criminal behavior. Staying clean and obtaining needed treatment, therefore, is a constant challenge.

We’ve learned that individuals have a greater chance of success, and a lower likelihood of committing new crimes, when they receive treatment, training and other support while serving their sentences. During Governor Markell’s administration, more than 3,000 incarcerated men and women have received reentry assistance, such as access to social services, housing and healthcare, and job search assistance through our innovative I-ADAPT Reentry Process. This process brings state agencies and community service providers into our prisons to assist inmates who are preparing to transition back into the community. Thousands of individuals have received educational and vocational skills training so that after release they can find employment, care for their families and contribute to the communities they live in. And many more are receiving specialized behavioral health treatment, counseling and addiction treatment while in the custody of the DOC. Together, these efforts are giving individuals a better chance to achieve personal success and break the cycle of recidivism. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.


Reforms Will Broaden Opportunity for Licensed Professionals

Additional changes proposed to state licensing regulations

Dover, DE – Continuing the efforts directed by Gov. Jack Markell to modernize and streamline rules and regulations for professional licensure, the Department of State released a new list of recommendations crafted to cut red tape and expand career opportunities for thousands of Delawareans.

Recommendations from the Delaware Professional Licensing Review Committee include changes to criminal history rules that currently stand in the way of employment and career advancement for professionals who have paid their debts to society. The proposed changes also seek to expand reciprocity for professionals licensed in neighboring states who wish to practice in Delaware, and broaden the authority of the Division of Professional Regulation to review and reject rules that don’t serve the public interest.

“Every Delawarean deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Governor Markell said. “Licensing requirements are important for public safety, but inappropriate rules can also create barriers to employment. We believe that government should encourage all those who wish to be contributing members of our community and that’s why we’ve worked to support individuals on their path to enter careers in skilled professions. I appreciate the members of my cabinet, legislators, and the business community who came together to identify common sense recommendations that remove unnecessary barriers to entry, and support an open and welcoming environment for businesses and licensed professionals, while meeting our obligation to protect the public.”

The review committee was established by Executive Order 60, issued by Gov. Markell in April for the purpose of identifying certain barriers facing Delawareans who are seeking to enter licensed professions, and proposing ideas to appropriately dismantle those barriers.

“This committee took a hard look at the rules and regulations that govern how the state issues licenses for all kinds of professional fields, and we found plenty of room for changes,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, who chaired the panel. “With the help of the next General Assembly, we can make some common-sense adjustments that will open up a whole new level of opportunity for so many people across the state who want to start or advance their careers.”

The review committee is the latest in a series of efforts from the Markell administration to ease regulatory burden on both individuals and small businesses. In 2012, Markell signed executive order 36 which required each department and agency in the Executive Branch to conduct a thorough review of all regulations in an effort to eliminate or streamline ones that were overly burdensome. This practice was made permanent when the Governor signed House Bill 147 in 2015.

While several of the changes proposed by the committee can be implemented by the Division of Professional Regulation and the various licensing boards and commissions it oversees, some of the recommendations will require legislative action to take effect.

“Government red tape should never prevent people from getting a job. The paramount goal should always be full, gainful employment,” said Rep. Gerald Brady, who served on the review committee. “Extending the stigmatization that accompanies a criminal conviction beyond the time and terms of the prescribed sentence is unjust, unwise, and uneconomical. Lack of full gainful employment often leads to criminal activity in the first place. I’m pleased with the results of the committee’s work, and I hope these changes make a real difference in people’s lives.”

“All of these reform efforts are about one thing: increasing opportunity,” said Senate Majority Whip Nicole Poore, also a member of the committee. “Whether it’s making sure Delawareans with unique skills have a better chance to earn a living or that consumers have more options for the services they rely on, expanding opportunity will have a tremendous impact on our state’s economy.”

“There’s a thin line between ‘oversight’ and ‘overstepping’ and it’s critical that as a state, we’re on the right side of that line,” said retired Sen. Karen Peterson, who fought for an initial round of professional licensing reforms early in her Senate career. “Good people who do good work shouldn’t be prohibited from earning an honest living because of a mistake they made earlier in their life or because they got their formal training somewhere else. We now have a better balance between safety and sensibility thanks to the work of this committee and buy-in from the Governor’s Office.”

In addition to state officials and legislators, the Professional Licensing Review Committee also included members from regulated professions and community organizations.

“Under the leadership of Gov. Markell, Delaware has made enormous progress towards removing debilitating systemic barriers for individuals returning from incarceration,” said committee member Charles A. Madden, executive director of the Wilmington HOPE Commission. “These recommendations represent yet another significant act by the Markell administration to allow Delawareans the opportunity to rebuild their lives and pursue fulfilling careers – careers that help to restore their personal dignity, the opportunity to provide for their families, and their ability to contribute to the rebuilding of their communities.”

“We want Delaware to be in the business of granting people opportunities to pursue their career goals, not limiting them with onerous rules and regulations,” said committee member Nello Paoli Jr., president of Preferred Electric Inc. in New Castle. “Better standards lead to better education, which leads to better economic opportunities.”