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Dear Friend,
Welcome to a special holiday edition of Let Me Be Blunt. I want to start by expressing my deepest condolences to the loved ones of Corporal Grade One Matthew T. “Ty” Snook, the officer killed in the shooting at the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Hessler Boulevard. Corporal Snook, a 10-year veteran of the Delaware State Police, was taken from our community far too soon. His courage and sacrifice undoubtedly saved many lives, and his service to our state will not be forgotten. This week, our Delaware family will be honoring him, and lifting his loved ones up with vigils, from Georgetown to Hockessin.
My deepest prayers are with the Snook family, his colleagues in law enforcement, and all who mourn his loss.
With January 1, 2026, around the corner, I’ve been reflecting on my first year representing you in the Senate and the many stories you've shared. It's truly been a year filled with both joys and hardships for so many.
For that reason, in this edition, I wanted to close 2025 with a glimpse of season’s greetings. So, as Delawareans of different backgrounds and faiths have been gathering to celebrate the holidays – whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, or simply joy itself – I wish you and your loved ones peace and abundant bright hope.
I’ve recently had the opportunity to travel across our state, making stops in all three counties. There were plenty of opportunities to connect with Delawareans on our most pressing issues, all while joining them as they took part in holiday festivities and traditions.
I feel blessed to represent you in the Senate, especially in this moment, and look forward to continuing to work alongside you in 2026. Stay tuned in the new year for more legislation, more events, more constituent services, and more editions of Let Me Be Blunt.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Spreading (and Receiving) Holiday Cheer
There was no shortage of cheer up and down our state this year. Here’s a sampling of places we visited over the last week.
Lunch with Santa Celebration hosted by I Am My Sister’s Keeper (IAMMSK) and Unity Perspective in Milford ~ Both organizations empower and uplift kids and families across our state, and I’m glad they hosted this event for the community. Thanks to community partners like the Milford Rotary, there were plenty of games and activities for everyone to enjoy – and Santa!
ABOVE: Excited to be with kids (top left), IAMMSK (top right), representatives of the Milford Rotary (bottom left), and the Milford High School Interact Club (bottom right).
Stopped by the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Railroad Station to thank the hardworking staff ~ These folks do amazing work helping Delawareans get where they need to go daily, whether on Amtrak or SEPTA. They deserve our gratitude (and some coffee and doughnuts), especially around the bustling holiday season.
ABOVE: Thank you to the entire Amtrak Team!
Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club’s Christmas celebration ~ For over 90 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware have been providing a safe place for kids to learn, play, and grow. It was great to take a tour of this club, which opened in 2016, and celebrate the holidays with so many of my “kid constituents.”
Thank you to IAMMSK, Unity Perspective, the Milford Rotary, the folks at the train station, and the Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club for all you do. We appreciate you!
ABOVE: There’s nothing like seeing holiday joy and excitement in our youth.
Celebrating Hanukkah
I joined the congregation of Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth (AKSE) – Delaware’s first synagogue – to celebrate the eighth night of Hanukkah. This year, AKSE is also celebrating 140 years of faith and service.
Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights, symbolizing how even a small light can overcome darkness. This year’s holiday came at a dark time, following the recent horrific shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia.
I was heartened by the outpouring of community at this Celebration of Light because, in the words of Dr. King, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.”
ABOVE: Thank you to AKSE, led by Rabbi Abe Rabinovich (photo on the left), for welcoming me to their Hanukkah celebration.
Affordable Housing in Sussex County
If you’re a frequent reader, you know that combating our housing affordability crisis is one of my top priorities in the Senate. I was glad to be downstate on Monday to meet with two major housing organizations.
The Milford Housing Development Corporation (MHDC) is Delaware’s leading nonprofit provider of affordable housing. MHDC makes homeownership possible through a continuum of services, including programs that empower and engage new homeowners – from helping them become credit worthy to sweat equity, with some building upwards of 65 percent of their own homes. In fact, I was told that the new owners do everything but plumbing, heating, and electric. This not only creates a “special feeling of pride,” but it also equips the new owners with useful skills that could benefit them personally and professionally.
We toured two new developments to see the fruits of this labor firsthand: Knoll Acres in Lincoln and Riverwalk Villas back in Milford.
ABOVE: Joining MHDC at one of their new developments in Lincoln (left). More to come in Milford (right)!
Another housing partner we’re working with is Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. Habitat’s work is well known to many Delawareans, and it continues to be critical for many families in our state. Out of roughly 700 clients served by their homeownership program, approximately 500 are kids. These new homes will have an impact today and for generations to come.
We had the chance to tour two construction sites – one where homes are currently being built in Milford, and a Future Habitat Home Site in Seaford. These projects, among many others throughout Sussex County, were funded using federal grants our delegation secured in Congress. I can’t wait to come back and see these projects completed.
ABOVE: Visiting in-progress construction with volunteers in Milford (left) and a Future Habitat Home Site in Seaford (right).
Touring Kent-Sussex Industries
I visited Kent-Sussex Industries (KSI), an organization that provides skills training and career support to individuals with disabilities throughout Kent and Sussex Counties. KSI is embedded in the community, leveraging relationships with local employers to help provide work opportunities for its participants. As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor and someone who previously worked at a think tank focused on the inclusion of people with disabilities, KSI's mission hits close to home for me.
KSI was recently able to renovate its Milford Center with federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, so I was glad to take a tour and interact with participants and staff.
ABOVE: For decades, KSI has been focused on creating opportunities for Delawareans with disabilities to achieve their goals.
Supporting Local Businesses
A great way to support your community is to shop local. It’s especially important to do so around the holidays.
Market Street in Wilmington ~ I was glad to visit Huxley & Hiro Booksellers’ new location (where I purchased “Delaware-Opoly”), as well as the new Dueling Rabbits Coffee Shop in the back of the store. OMG, there were coffees from around the world, and I was able to drink a fantastic Ghanaian coffee made by a women-owned business.
From there to Pretty Eddie’s, Market Street’s new grocery store. Having opened just a few weeks ago, Pretty Eddie’s will fill a major need in our state’s largest city with great prepared foods (I recommend the Mediterranean Orzo salad and Chicken salad) as well as classic staples.
ABOVE L-R: Huxley & Hiro, Dueling Rabbits, Pretty Eddie’s
Next stop, Main Street Newark ~ I started at GrassRoots, a family-owned specialty gift shop and boutique. For five decades, this establishment has been a Newark institution. They will soon be closing their doors, so we took the opportunity to stop by and say thank you and congrats to Marilyn Dickey, the owner, for 50 years of business acumen, tenacity, and style!
From there, we grabbed lunch at The Greenhouse Gastropub with Newark city leaders. We enjoyed a great meal and discussed issues ranging from housing affordability and lowering costs to making sure the city can balance its budget and protect the environment and health of the residents. Looking forward to collaborating to benefit Newark in 2026.
Thank you to everyone at Huxley & Hiro, Dueling Rabbits, Pretty Eddie’s, GrassRoots, and The Greenhouse for your hospitality and for creating a strong economy in the First State!
ABOVE: From GrassRoots (left) to our lunch at The Greenhouse (right), it was a great day in Newark.
From L-R in the photo of our group at lunch: Travis McDermott, Newark Mayor; Ty Jones, Board President of The Newark Partnership; me; Tom Coleman, Newark City Manager; Renee Bensley, Newark Director of Planning and Development; Ali DeAngelis, Interim Executive Director of The Newark Partnership.
Below are some helpful resources for you:
- Lower Energy Costs: You can lower your energy costs thanks to tax credits and rebates made available by the Inflation Reduction Act. Learn more at energy.gov/save.
- Look Before You Book: Before you book your next international trip, make sure your passport is up to date! Visit travel.state.gov to check your passport expiration date, apply for a new passport, and more.
- Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): Before you go overseas, consider downloading STEP, a free service that will send you safety and security alerts from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Travel with peace of mind and enroll today at mytravel.state.gov/s/step.
- 988 National Suicide Prevention Helpline: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org, for the 24/7, free, and confidential National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
- Delaware 211: Delawareans in need of emergency housing, utility assistance, food assistance, and more should call 211, Delaware’s free, confidential resource hotline.
- U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Programs: The State Department sponsors several programs worldwide that offer Americans educational, cultural, and professional experiences. Find out more at exchanges.state.gov/us.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: Medicare Part D beneficiaries can spread out the cost of prescription drugs over the course of a year thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Payment plans have zero-interest installments and a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap. Learn more at medicare.gov/prescription-payment-plan.
This week’s Constituent Corner honors Felix O.C. Darley, a well-known illustrator who lived in Claymont in the 1800s. Darley is credited with the first depiction of Santa Claus, as has been popularized in modern times. This can only mean one thing: Santa Claus is a Delawarean!
Darley’s illustration, which first appeared in an 1862 printing of the beloved children’s poem, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” showed Santa with a big coat, a beard, a hat, a sleigh, and reindeer. In fact, Darley’s house still stands in Claymont and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. CLICK HERE for more from the Delaware Public Archives.
ABOVE: Felix O.C. Darley’s 1862 illustration of Santa Claus
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