Statements by Andre M. Boggerty
755 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
Machine transcript. Statements are matched to this official by machine and can be wrong. Check the recording.
Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. Is there, uh What is the pleasure of the committee? We can defer this, we can we can vote on How about either of the two recommendations? What is the pleasure of the committee? Dr. Sudler?
Play from 3:51:03Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
All right. It's been moved, uh, to defer this by Dr. Sudler for 30 to 60 days, uh, and, uh, it's been properly seconded by Councilwoman Hall. Discussion? Councilman Rocha?
Play from 3:52:11Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Does the seconder agree?
Play from 3:52:32Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
All right. Discussion? Yes. Uh, Council President.
Play from 3:52:35Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. Sounds good. Um, Chief, did you have anything you wanted to add?
Play from 4:05:48Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. That's, that's definitely fair. I appreciate that, and uh I would also uh like members to uh look at uh that they have uh literally um a couple hundred people, mostly from Dover, not from Wilmington, etc. That's that's uh that are there. So we have this right there, and there's um more coming. So, thank you. Uh now at this time, we're going to uh recognize members for questions. Councilman Lewis, and then Council President Neil.
Play from 4:06:57Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Council. I mean thank you, uh Chair. I said on the onset of my tenure on Council, and I said on the onset on this ordinance, that I agree with the safety aspect, but in no way uh I am supportive of fining anyone, um uh uh fining anyone, especially individual
Play from 4:28:24Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
duals, we find ourselves in conditions such as having to panhandle. I'm not the judge and jury of who's legit legitimately in need versus those who may be panhandling for other needs. That's not that's not my moral ground to stand on. My my primary concern is safety. I was last night driving home from Council, there was an individual panhandling in all black, and uh I was able to see him and and it does cause a concern. My my challenge is, again, while I want what uh I I echo I didn't know she was uh Councilwoman Arndt was going to say that, I echo the the intent for safety. The other [laughter] banter, I I don't I don't want to get involved in that. So with the fine and knowing that it's kind of moot at best, I I I can't support. What I will do is ask that the community does its best to, no pun intended, police each other. Um it is dangerous. Um it's not safe. And I just hope, as I said, that I or you are not the ones who have to be a part of or witness an unfortunate incident involving someone standing in a median. I don't have an issue and can't have an issue with the with panhandling. I just pray that it's done in a safe place. For those who find themselves in unfortunate sister- situations, I'm praying for you.
Play from 4:28:41Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
But on the grounds of me not believing that everything should be subjected to a fine, with the reality is that fine is not really going to be enforced and bog down our already challenged-staff police department um who essentially would have to park their car and impede traffic to enforce the issue, [laughter] I I just I just hope we can find another way. Unfortunately, Councilman Anderson, I applaud what your intent is, but I we we I am in agreement that we may not this this is probably not the path for for for me. I yield.
Play from 4:30:15Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
as um trying to go after panhandlers. But really, when I brought this to Councilman Anderson, I brought it as this is a safety issue. Everyone has their challenges in life that they're dealing with. Okay? So let's get them the resources, let's usher them off the median and get them the resources. I didn't know that an ordinance would be drafted so quickly, um, and the reason why I offered the friendly amendment was because it was vague initially, but I concur with the spirit, the initial spirit, because the initial spirit derived from me as well as as Councilman Anderson, in conjunction with um conversations from the community and concerns from Michelle Paul as well. People have to be safe. This is about safety. I can I'm always 100, safety for me. Um however, ticketing uh you know, we have to have some kind of enforcement. So, I think that we need to work on how would we properly enforce this whereas you know I think the sign is a great idea. Maybe we can start off with the signage, seeing if the sign is will help deter them. And then with um grassroots initiative like support, like our Opioid Use Disorder Task Force is going to um have an outreach and we're going to go to the median as we're talking about, and we're going to say, "Hey, this is not a safe space. But let's usher you to a safe space and get you the resources that you need so that we can help you become a more productive citizen, or help you with whatever you're dealing with." I think everyone can resonate with the fact of safety first. You have to That that that is right there. And when And when you're driving, no matter if you're in a F-350 or or or or a Porsche, when someone is in the median, that 1 second that they've obstruct your view, you can get in an accident. So let's put some signs there. Let's even put a QR code that for those who want to donate money, you can pull out your phone, hit the little QR code and later donate money to the organization which whether it's for whether it's the food bank, whether it's mental health, whether it's physical health, and you'll know that the money is going to go there, right? And it's safe. But this is about safety and I concur that we need to do something about getting these individuals off the median. I don't care if you're if you're asking for money or just walking up and down the median cuz that's what you want to do. But it's not safe. And I'm going to take a stand on this as well. It's not safe. I don't agree with everything uh about the finding, but I do agree with the fact that it's not safe to be walking up and down the median, you are obstructing the view of traffic, and not only obstructing the view of traffic, but when individuals go to manually go into their pock-
Play from 4:41:48Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
to retrieve money is a potential to delay traffic in conjunction with create road rage. Cuz you know people want to go beep, beep, beep, you know, light's already turned. I've been guilty of it myself, you know, I count my little six seconds, "Okay, you took too long, let's go." Right? So, bottom line is we had to we had to take safety um a little bit more serious when it comes to medians and we have to and we have to be good stewards for the pedestrians. So, the ticketing may not be the way, but the core root of the issue is correct. People have cannot be on the median. It's unsafe not only for them, but it's unsafe for the driver. And I don't want to hit someone and have that on my mind. You know, it's enough stuff that was on my mind, I don't want that on my mind. And I don't think anyone else, I don't think your grandma wants to or your grandfather. I mean come on, I mean when is when is enough enough? There's a time and place for every everything, and there's a time to give, just like there's a time to receive, and there's also a time where you know things are done properly. So, I I don't agree with allowing people being on the median. I do agree with the signs. Let's start maybe with the signs and see where that takes us. And then and then go from there. But I'm not going to support, even though I made the amendment, cuz I made the amendment cuz it was too vague, I'm not going to support the ordinance, but I do support what Councilwoman Arndt, I mean Councilwoman um Hall has brought forth and and with that said, I like to make a motion that we start with putting a a sign that no stopping, no standing on the median and start there cuz that's low cost.
Play from 4:45:04Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Let's see let's see what kind of response we get, and at the same time we as the community who's out here saying that, you know, um you know, ticketed the poor, or you you know, all that, let's let's see y'all out there helping us when we start to do these uh um provide resources and and usher them off the median. I need y'all there helping us as well helping us well, which I know a lot of people are. So, I'm just letting people know. I think that's the way to go. So, with that said, I I move that we provide a no stopping, no standing um with no penalty at this time like a pilot program, right? We have pilot programs all the time, and then uh and and and that's it.
Play from 4:46:39Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
No stopping, no standing on the median.
Play from 4:47:39Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And no penalty.
Play from 4:47:42Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay, we could do that. I mean I like that. There you go.
Play from 4:48:15Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I I'm in agreement with that, but strictly enforce that at
Play from 4:48:23Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Is the second amenable to that? I mean, cause cause I'm going to do these in order.
Play from 4:48:31Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
A later date. Let's let's see how this works and see how the community can help us rally to, so we don't need it to be enforceable with with with um you know penalties. There's other ways, I think, to get to change behavior and get compliance.
Play from 4:48:49Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
We have the community, I don't mean to drop you, but we do have the community that want to be heard.
Play from 4:50:14Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And by the way, it does not fine people for helping people, nor for people for asking for money. That's a myth.
Play from 5:04:50Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Now, that's a now. See what's happening online.
Play from 5:04:56Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Good evening.
Play from 5:05:09Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you.
Play from 5:05:49Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Uh, next on the list, please?
Play from 5:05:53Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you.
Play from 5:05:57Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Hold on. Don't leave. Mr. Mayor.
Play from 5:07:22Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I'll give you my number now.
Play from 5:10:30Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
302- 465-
Play from 5:10:32Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
302-465-6975. And that's for whoever is listening, they need it, can contact me.
Play from 5:10:37Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
The Veterans Multi-Service Center, which is, right over here, you know um that, yes, the Treadway Tower, just like, you have the library here, and then the next building right here that goes to, right there, VMC. They will they will also help you find your um your form because they can search your name and and they can help you out, okay?
Play from 5:10:41Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And they do and they can also help you with a job and housing. Because I deal with them all the time. I'm in housing, as well, so that's a that's a that's a uh source you should utilize and it's right here, okay?
Play from 5:11:01Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! Fall back! No disrespect to Republicans, but, no, seriously, though.
Play from 5:25:47Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
No.
Play from 5:36:50Nov 25, 2025, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
No.
Play from 5:39:39Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Boggerty second.
Play from 00:08Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 01:03Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 08:55Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
I'll I'll second so we can go forward with the discussion.
Play from 11:26Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
I'll second it so we can yield to discussion.
Play from 11:31Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 44:38