In 1998, New Castle County’s economy stopped growing. The simplest example is shown by looking at employment change in the chart below (NB: I could have shown similar numbers for net migration (people fleeing the county for better opportunity elsewhere)). Coincidentally, the Unified Development Code (or UDC) became law in 1998. How many of our current County elected officials were in office during this period? I’d say about half of them. Furthermore, it is clear that none of them have made any effective effort to make New Castle County more attractive for employers.

So, you can see that New Castle County has been going to the dogs for a long time. Now comes the final confirmation from the General Assembly. House Bill 419 has just been introduced by Rep. Mulrooney. The bill’s long title: “AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO COUNTIES AND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DOGS”

Basically, the State is transferring dog regulation activity to the Counties. I don’t have a particular problem with the bill. It just confirms what I have long observed: We’re going to the dogs.