Two weeks after naming the North Market Street bridge to honor the city's first African American mayor James Sills, Wilmington honored another former mayor with his own bridge.
The span crossing the Brandywine at east 16th Street was dedicated to Mayor James Baker Monday morning.
Baker, the first to serve three consecutive terms as mayor, was known for his straight talk and often fiery comments, but others, including Lt. Governor Matt Denn (D-Delaware), say he is also an idealist with big dreams for the the state’s largest city.
"He took it a long, long way when he was Mayor, and it is very fitting that this bridge be named after him," Denn said. "And obviously, he has not stopped, and the great vision that he has for this city as a center of business and center of culture survives and perceives still to this day."
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State Representative Stephanie Bolden (D-Wilmington East) says honoring public servants like Baker and Sills sends a positive message to the community.
“We’re not getting the message out about those that came before us," she said. "Whether they’re here now or gone – it’s still important to remember them, because nobody got here by themselves and every place that you are today, is because of those persons.”
The longest serving mayor in city history, Baker also made history with his election in 1984 as the first African American City Council president.
And Baker made good on his straight-talking reputation at Monday’s ceremony, taking critics of the city to task for their misplaced blame concerning the roots of and solutions to Wilmington’s issue with crime and economic health.
He insists the city’s problems are the same as others across the country. He adds city leaders or public safety officials work to solve them, but need help from a community often reticent to work together.
Baker says he hopes residents will cooperate to make neighborhoods safer – and help the city to become a major player in the global competition for jobs and industry.