A Black Lives Matter town hall Tuesday night focused on New Castle County port expansion proposals and employment opportunities they could present.
A few concerned community members – and those looking for jobs – showed up Tuesday night at the International Longshoreman hall.
Crystal Edwards was among them. She says she currently works from 4 a.m. to noon as a corporal officer at Gander Hill prison, but that job just barely pays the bills: and she’s only supporting herself.
She’s planning to apply for a second job at the port to make extra money.
“Anything that I’m able to make 40 hours a week and pay the bills, whether it be car, transportation, latching cars, on the boats…anything honestly," Edwards said.
Black Lives Matter leader Mahkeib Booker says his No. 1 agenda item now is job creation, particularly through port expansion. He says it will give a chance for the playing field to be evened for African Americans in Wilmington who may not have education but want to work with their hands.
“Whichever project would take the least amount of time," Booker said. "Because the longer the period of time: to my, from my eyes, there would be more death. So when they look at time, I look at death."
The International Longshoreman’s Association’s Kimoko Harris was on hand and says the union has backed for port expansion for over two years, especially at the Riveredge location.
“This port facility would create 10s of thousands of jobs," Harris said. "The blue collar job base has been devastated in Delaware. This is the last of the blue collar good paying, family-sustaining jobs left for the state of Delaware is shipping.”
New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon and Wilmington City Council President Theo Gregory agree port expansion is a no-brainer.
Gordon adds that the Port of Wilmington Expansion Task Force’s endorsement of the Riveredge project last week is a step in the right direction, though he thinks all projects are feasible.
The City of Wilmington and New Castle County have each allocated $150,000 for an environmental study of the Riveredge location.
New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon says the Riveredge expansion would only take 1.5 to 2 years, with the Edge Moor site taking 5-10 years. There are also plans on the table for expansion at the current Port of Wilmington.
New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon and Wilmington City Council President Theo Gregory agree port expansion is a no-brainer.
The City of Wilmington and New Castle County have each allocated $150,000 for an environmental study of the Riveredge location.
Gordon adds that the Port of Wilmington Expansion Task Force’s endorsement of the Riveredge project last week is a step in the right direction, though he thinks all three major projects - at Riveredge, Edge Moor and Port of Wilmington - are feasible.
A strategic draft master plan of the different expansion options is currently under review.
