The Delaware County Council, amidst the manicured lawns of Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, delivered the annual State of the County address on June 5, presenting a panorama of recent triumphs, ongoing initiatives, and forward-looking goals. As reported by the Delaware County website, this year's gathering, under the theme "Building a Stronger County," was a testament to the Council’s endeavors in fostering progress across Delaware County.

Statistics delineate a community on the upswing, with over 576,000 residents, a lower unemployment rate compared to the state's average, and a rise in per capita income. In the realm of public safety, the county cites a staggering 72% reduction in shootings in Chester since 2019. Additionally, there has been a 68% plummet in gun violence homicides, "the fewest in 20 years," as praised by council members and attributed to the efforts of District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and his team.

Interventions across the county are multifaceted, aiming at alleviating societal woes from various fronts. The freshly minted Delaware County Health Department has rolled out a spectrum of health services, including vaccination programs and public health emergency readiness. Their Planning Department is diligently crafting a safer, more connected community through significant infrastructure grants and the Vision Zero Delco Plan, designed to annihilate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries. The county is simultaneously hammering away at infrastructure challenges with a proposed investment of $150 million, largely allocated through bonds, to modernize and repair its aging bridges and buildings.

Community initiatives don't wane there—the county has inaugurated a food bank to combat food insecurity and is bolstering resources for Veterans, including the launch of the Delaware County Veteran Discount Program. A partnership with Habitat for Humanity has breathed life into the Whole Home Repair Program and other affordable housing projects. In an effort to preserve the environment, the county's Solid Waste Authority is backing away from the incineration of trash in favor of an improved recycling pipeline. The Office of Workforce Development is honing in on employment enhancement, training, and upskilling programs to invigorate the county's labor market, which boasts a svelte 3% unemployment rate as of April 2024, according to the council's showcase.

Barbara O’Malley, the County’s Executive Director, extolled the Council's strides in her update. “Since joining the County in January, I have learned about the tremendous strides this Council has made in a short period of time,” O'Malley recounted. She hailed the Council's resolute initiatives, which include the launch of a health department in what was the largest county in the U.S. without one and the deprivatization of prison, setting a distinctive precedent within the state.