WILMINGTON, DE — Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki announced on Monday that he would let the recently approved residency ordinance become law without his signature. The ordinance, passed by the City Council on November 16, mandates new city employees to reside in the city for at least five years.
According to the Mayor, the conduct of some council members during public sessions about the residency reform was “an embarrassment to City government.” He criticized them for allowing and encouraging irate crowds to dominate the discussion, which he believes suppressed meaningful dialogue about the residency requirement’s impact on city governance efficiency.
Mayor Purzycki also accused specific council members of intimidating their colleagues who supported reform. This behavior, he says, has led him to allow the ordinance to become law without his approval to prevent further harassment of reform-supporting council members.
The Mayor asserted his administration’s preference for lifting the residency requirement altogether or expanding the residency boundary to include all of New Castle County. He argued this expansion is crucial to enhance city governance efficiency, deliver essential services, and broaden the applicant pool for city jobs, some of which have remained vacant for over a year.
Despite his reservations, the Mayor is allowing the ordinance to become law, effective immediately. This decision highlights the ongoing tensions within Wilmington’s city government over the controversial residency issue.
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