Dover 2023 City Council candidate April Richer
Name: April Richer
Education: Commonwealth Honors Scholar - Northern Essex Community College - associates degree and current fourth-year student at the University of Iowa.
Occupation: Package handler at UPS
Political or civic experience highlights: Engaged Teamster, coat drive for Rochester Childcare Center, Dover Festival of Trees and Lighting Committee - Member (approx. 2010-2013).
What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: I work in Dover, I live in Dover, and I have intentionally established my life as a member of the Dover Community. So with that, my greatest concern for this community is the need for affordable housing, led by the desire for all community members to have that opportunity as well. Housing and food insecurity is a crisis in our community, often going unseen. As a member of the labor force at UPS I have been witness to the hardships of my colleagues and their families. This was why it was so important to stand “strike-ready” in the negotiations with UPS this year, as my colleagues deserve a wage that will allow them to put food on the table in a home. This is also why I feel compelled to run for City Council, I want to be a force for those who are suffering in my community due to lack of access to basic needs. Food, housing, and substance abuse services are in great demand and we as community members need to work toward viable solutions.
What is the biggest problem Dover is facing and how you would solve it?: The housing shortage is our greatest problem in Dover. As I stated before, I have worked closely with people who are in need of housing and I see it firsthand, it is devastating. The housing issue is not eliminated by income alone, it is difficult for anyone wanting or needing to move in Dover. However, like many issues, housing shortage and affordability is not limited to Dover. We see this playing out in many communities in our state and in the country. Although I am not naive to think I can solve the issue alone, I do support innovative ideas such as the Randolph development. We need to look at the housing crisis as a community concern, pioneering innovative solutions.
Should the city work to create below market rate housing, and where is the best site?: In my experience there is a difference between “market rate” and “affordable” housing, both are predicated on external factors that may not touch on the actual needs or finances of those lacking housing. After watching the City Council Workshop “Addressing Dover’s Housing Needs,” I met with Ryan Pope the city housing navigator. In speaking to Ryan, it was clear the most important way to think about the housing market in Dover is to make available attainable housing. It is essential that Dover has opportunities for first-time home buyers and renters that will establish roots in our great city without burdening them with unsurmountable debt. This will allow residents to not only live in Dover but to shop local, entertain local, and eat local. This will allow residents to truly live Dover.
Should the council address the pace and type of development in the city? If yes, how?: Development can be positive and has many benefits, though it is essential that development is strategic, deliberate, and intentional. Growth and development for its' sake alone is not my goal; providing opportunities that enhance the economic, cultural, and residential opportunities are my goals. A deliberate and intentional plan for development will mitigate stresses on infrastructure and environmental concerns that may be associated with growth.
Does the city need to make changes to its approach to parking as development increases?: Growth and economic development likely necessitate parking, and there are also opportunities to maintain a vibrant, active downtown by increasing access to it through bike lanes and even shuttles. In a community such as ours where we have access to the ocean, the lakes, and the mountains in close proximity, it is easy to believe that residents would embrace more public options for commuting, reducing the need for parking and their carbon footprint.
What is the city doing well and where is there room for improvement?: Dover as a city has amazing, informed, and engaged residents who are focused on the desire to be Distinctly Dover. Something that I find encouraging is that the engagement is not specific to an age or generation, it is not limited by background or profession, nor is it connected to affluence. As a candidate for City Council, I have experienced this through encouragement and thanks, as well as vested residents reaching out to talk about their concerns or ask for mine. In preparation for the task of City Councilor I have reached out and met with City Officials who are willing to discuss city projects, plans, and department responsibilities. The city, as a business is focused on the future of Dover, how to maintain the “Dover consciousness” while progressing into the future in a sustainable and attainable direction.
What is the city’s responsibility to its homeless population, both this winter and long term?: The homeless population in Dover is a concern for all community members on some level. Dover is not unlike many other communities across this state and this country. My position, like the housing shortage, is that we need to be concerned members of this community are suffering. I am empathetic to the struggles because of my small-town upbringing. I was once asked by a friend in San Diego how it was that I didn’t experience homelessness growing up, I explained to her that in my hometown if there was someone in need, the community stepped up. Even those who didn’t have much to offer offered what they could. That lesson was the reason that I returned to New Hampshire after years of looking for a comparable community, and the reason that I moved to Dover specifically. It is a naturally New Hampshire thing to do, to donate our time and our resources to charitable needs. A study out of UNH’s Carsey School for Public Policy states that New Hampshire is the second-most charitable state and volunteers at 5% above the national average. In addition, I recall a 2006 article that was produced by Seacoastonline in which it was estimated 20% of donations go unreported by New Hampshire residents.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Dover 2023 City Council candidate April Richer
