Page 24 - Delaware Lawyer - Summer 2021

FEATURE
Policymaking
Bryan Townsend
Post-Pandemic
Opportunities and imperatives in a state of neighbors
The coronavirus pandemic indelibly impacted the lives of thousands of Dela- wareans. Many neighbors lost loved ones without the opportunity to say goodbye or to grieve alongside family and friends. Amidst the disruption and lockdowns, others suffered the permanent trauma of domestic violence, child abuse or gaps in educational enrichment at their most critical stages of development. After years of tireless efforts and admirable risk-taking, still others lost their small businesses, livelihoods and lives’ work.
22 DELAWARE LAWYER SUMMER 2021
We often hear that we live in a “state of neighbors.” With so many neighbors suffering incal- culable tolls from a historic pandemic, Delawareans deserve swift, effective and long-lasting responses from public policymakers. They deserve new priori- ties that respond to the harm from the pandemic and that strengthen our resil- iency and preparedness before the next crisis arrives.
These responses should build on the intense, laudable work of Gov. John Carney and his staff to guide us through the pandemic. Unlike other states, prior to the pandemic, Delaware already had implemented a robust legal framework for the exercise of emergency powers.
This framework enabled our governor to quickly channel resources and per- sonnel into streamlined decision-mak- ing processes. Thankfully, and unlike in other states, our governor embraced scientific data and subject-matter ex- perts as he accepted the responsibility of making life-and-death or high-stakes decisions during a once-in-a-century emergency.
The details of what decisions Gov. Carney made — and when, how and why he made them — are stories for other pages. As a state senator, I do not know all the details. I do know that he frequently solicited input from a wide array of political leaders and broader community stakeholders prior to exer-