There was broad agreement on the need to increase the number of housing units in the state, but achieving that long term goal requires a set of shorter term objectives. Rachel Strucker, executive director of the Housing Alliance Delaware, shared her expertise and expressed her support for some of Rieman’s legislative proposals.

“Short term, we can take action to address land use issues, make sure that our local municipalities, counties and at the state level, that folks are educated about what can be done to relieve some of the pressure on the market, [and] make building more quick,” she said. “Make sure more units can be built that can be at the affordable level and something we can do pretty quickly is just infuse more state funding into affordable housing development, which will help bring these projects online more quickly at a lower cost.”

Even those with good-paying jobs often find their hourly wages insufficient. She stated that individuals need to earn $25 an hour to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. According to her presentation, that’s often challenging for those employed as secretaries, clerks, construction workers and education professionals, all of whom struggle to afford such housing.

As the cost of living rises, many are forced into couch surfing and sharing living space, or facing the risk of homelessness.

“Over the last couple of years, at the same time that we’ve seen rents increase dramatically since 2020, we’re seeing homelessness also increase dramatically,” she added. “Those things are connected. They’re not an accident. They just don’t happen to be happening at the same time. And so that’s what we’re really concerned about.”

Last month, a comprehensive housing assessment got underway to generate recommendations to improve the housing situation.

“One big piece of the solution is our Delaware Housing Task Force,” said Cynthia Karnai, executive director of the Delaware State Housing Authority. That group “is bringing together the experts in the field to come up with recommendations that we can perhaps put into action in the next couple years to make sure that we’re meeting the need.”

Those recommendations are scheduled to be delivered in March 2025.

Do you love the Philadelphia Eagles and McDonald’s? 

Well, we have good news: Swoop, the mascot of the Eagles, will be in Delaware on Friday, Oct. 4, for a meet and greet.  

McDonald’s at 1401 Governors Place in Bear will host Swoop from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. as he greets fans and works the drive-thru to promote the Eagles Bundle Box and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ronald McDonald House Charities, which was founded in Philadelphia. 

The Eagles Bundle Box comes with two Big Mac sandwiches, an order of 10-piece chicken nuggets, two cheeseburgers and two medium fries. Each box includes one of three limited-edition commemorative magnets, a collab between the restaurant and the football team.  

McDonald’s and the Eagles will be donating $1 from every Eagles Bundle Box sold to Ronald McDonald House locations in Delaware, Philadelphia and New Jersey.  

New: Ranking Eagles’ top 100 of all time: Our list from No. 50 to 26. Where Jalen Hurts ranks

Throughout October, both organizations will continue commemorating the milestone with various promotions and activities.

McDonald’s near me in Delaware

• 1401 Governors Place, Bear
• 1 Addy Road, Bethany Beach
• 18733 Sussex Highway, Bridgeville
• 60 East St., Camden
•  2702 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont
• 38667 Sussex Highway, Delmar
• 1788N N. Dupont Highway, Dover
• 879 N. Dupont Highway, Dover
• 915 S. Dupont Highway, Dover
• 1424 Forrest Ave., Dover
• 1704 E. Lebanon Road
• 101 New Road, Elsmere
• 20817 Dupont Blvd., Georgetown
• 16758 S. Dupont Highway, Harrington
• 580 Middletown Warwick Road, Middletown
• 653 N. Dupont Blvd., Milford
• 30255 Commerce Drive, Millsboro
• 24943 John J. Williams Highway, Millsboro
• 4625 Kirkwood Highway, Milltown
• 374 E. Main St., Newark
• 815 S. College Ave., Newark
• 3010 New Castle Ave., New Castle
• 101 S. Dupont Highway, New Castle
• 700 N. Dupont Highway, New Castle
• 4160 Ogletown Stanton Road, Ogletown
• 18878 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach
• 36218 Lighthouse Road, Selbyville
• 38215 Dupont Blvd., Selbyville
• 333 N. Dupont Blvd., Smyrna
• 1790 W. Newport Pike, Stanton
• 700 W. Fourth St., Wilmington

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.       

PHILADELPHIA – It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and FOX29 News is showcasing a first generation American who is giving people a unique view of the Philadelphia Skyline from the Delaware River. 

Along Penn’s Landing is a business that may be literally tough to see, but just a stroll over the walking dock and you’ll find G’s pandemic brain child, Sea Philly.  

“We were taking friends out on our classic wood boat during Covid, a safe way to kind of interact and be social with people. Everyone was really excited mostly because they have never seen Philadelphia’s waterfront from the actual water,” said Luna. 

Which Luna says frankly, not many people have, especially on the Delaware River. 

“We do have this amazing resource here, everyone forgets Philadelphia, it’s literally a peninsula, it has water on both sides of it,” said Luna.

For the last three years Luna and her husband Chris have been trying to remind people about it, setting sail on a voyage along the Delaware River. 

“Our first season sold out in less than 48 hours our second season sold out in less than a month,” said Luna.

One ride at a time, they are changing the stigma of the Delaware River. 

“People are still stuck in the 50s and the 60s, everyone still considers this water as the dirty Del, wouldn’t want to touch it with a ten foot pole, when it’s far from that,” said Luna. 

Thanks to the pair, it’s turned into one of the premier spots to pop the question. 

“In 22 we won best of Philly best places to propose. I love to say that our little boat carries so much love in it so, it’s great,” said Luna. 

Luna is not only changing the narrative of the River, but also the boating industry as a first generation American of Chilean parents, now excelling as a business and helping put Philly’s uncharted waters on the map. 

“I take every single one of these days that I’m out here with huge pride. I’m proof of their hard work, I’m proof of the things that they sacrificed, family that they sacrificed,” said Luna. 

It’s also proof that the American Dream is possible for everyone. 

Luna says, “The more that you can interact in different places, the more that you can really open up your horizons. Just because you don’t see someone that looks like you doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be there”.