Making State St. in Portsmouth 2-way will do much more harm than good: Letters
Making State St. in Portsmouth 2-way will do much more harm than good
Oct. 10 – To The Editor:
Regarding State Street as a proposed two-way traffic street, I strongly believe that there will be far too much confusion, a loss of parking spaces and an overwhelming increase of traffic on State Street by converting it. Another negative result will be the back-up of bridge traffic, both coming and going as well.
Most sadly, a most troubling result due to the newly suggested traffic plan, al fresco dining along both sides of State Street during the many good weather months, will no longer be available to diners, not only the residents of our community, but also the many visitors and tourists who look forward each year to the special and pleasing experience of dining outdoors here in our beautiful city by the sea.
I, and many others, also feel deep concern and regret regarding the negative effect on the lovely space where American flags are flying encircling the sculpture monument made of granite and saved from the original Memorial Bridge. This special and meaningful place is situated close to the approach of the bridge on the Portsmouth side and dedicated to all those from Portsmouth who served in World War One. Special bricks, also encircle the monument, each one named by the families of those who served and made sacrifices in any of the wars in which these veterans fought and died.
Our original Memorial Bridge was inaugurated in 1923 by Mayor Mary Carey Dondero, along with her five year-old daughter, Eileen, who later became our most beloved Mayor Eileen Dondero Foley. (One may see Mayor Foley’s portrait on the wall of our Portsmouth City Council Chamber)
I would request, that our City Councilors and others in our City of Portsmouth involved in the decision-making regarding the proposed plan of two-way traffic on State Street, seriously consider the scenario which I have presented as well as the concerns of others who have shared their thoughts and opinions regarding the various problems which would be caused by this proposed plan for State Street. My warmest thanks for your attention to my comments.
Lee Roberts
Portsmouth
NH Republicans are responsible for soaring energy costs
Oct. 9 – To the Editor:
New Hampshire annually sends $6 billion out of state for energy, derived from fossil fuels. Renewables are now less expensive than fossil fuels, and our five New England neighbors all have plans to get 80% or more of their energy from cheaper renewable sources. “New Hampshire is the only New England state without a statutory mandate for greenhouse gas reductions, and has the lowest renewable energy requirements in the region” (NHPR 6/9/22). Year after year, legislation to put more NH-made renewable energy sources into our energy mix has been defeated by Republican legislators and vetoed by Governor Sununu.
If NH produced more of our own energy from wind or sun, we might be paying a scant 12.05 cents per Kilowatt hour for electricity, like Connecticut’s Eversource customers.
Sununu, his appointees to the Department of Energy and the Public Utilities Committee, and the Republican-led Executive Committee have slow-walked attempts to develop offshore wind and EV charging stations, even as our New England neighbors are procuring equipment for both. Why is every attempt to move forward on renewables in NH blocked by Sununu and his Republican legislators?
NHSaves made NH homes, businesses and municipal buildings more energy efficient, cutting fuel costs by $578 million in 2018-2020 alone. But in 2020 a group of Republican legislators objected to expanding the program, claiming NHSaves would “shift costs” to those not directly served. Republicans missed the fact that all customers get lower electricity rates when transmission wires carry less load. Worse still, Sununu’s newly appointed director to the Public Utilities Commission froze NHSaves at 2020 levels, decided to phase out funding, and restricted NHSaves to electric services (no heating or appliances using gas or oil). For each dollar spent on energy efficiency we get $3-$4 back in savings.
Sununu claims concern for our cost of living, but he halts every action that would lower energy costs. For lower energy prices, vote for Democratic leadership – Governor Tom Sherman, a Democratic Executive Council and legislators – who will advance renewable fuels and lower energy bills.
Susan Richman
Durham
Our leaders are making America weak and poor
Oct. 9 – To the Editor:
As I sit here looking at my diminishing 401K and a crumbling stock market, it personalizes the adverse impact of record high inflation, increasing interest rates, and a general economic malaise. When you couple these realities with the economic impact of millions of illegal immigrants invading our country along with the explosion of fentanyl deaths, it raises serious questions about the competence and policies of our political leaders.
Our open border is not only making the drug cartels rich, this policy is exposing American citizens to terrorists, criminals, and potential virus carriers (with close to 900,000 “gotaways” we don’t know anything about these invaders).
It appears that those with the political power seriously reject the idea of making America great (again) and instead are pursuing a policy of Making America Weak And Poor (MAWAP). Also, in concert with our politicians, our military leaders seem more intent on enforcing the appropriate gender pronouns and racial sensitivity than producing competent, tough, and fearless soldiers able to adequately confront both expected and unexpected adversity. As a former Naval officer, I can tell you we valued competence and bravery over any other personal characteristic
Finally, many of our major cities are experiencing an epidemic of criminal behavior (including murders) due to weak AG’s not incarcerating criminals as well as the underfunding police departments. Our political leaders seem to be following policies that care more for criminals than victims and are allowing gender and race to overshadow competence and ability. This has got to change for the sake of our future generations.
Folks, it’s time to say no to those following and implementing these MAWAP policies.
Tom Steele
Rye
The reality is Democrats make life better for the lower and middle classes
Oct. 9 – To the Editor:
The first President Bush left office with an unemployment rate of 7.5%. President Bill Clinton raised taxes, cut the rate to 4% and managed to balance the budget. The second President Bush cut taxes and left with the unemployment rate at 7.8%. President Obama raised taxes and left with the unemployment rate at 4.7%.
President Trump cut taxes and left the unemployment rate at 6.7% . Trump’s first three years produced fewer new jobs than Obama’s last three years. Clearly raising taxes by Democrats does not cost jobs and cutting taxes by Republicans does not create them.
In less than two years President Biden has reduced the unemployment rate to 3.5% or nearly half the rate it was when Trump left office. Child poverty was reduced by 30%.
People who claim Biden, or Democrats in general, are bad for the economy are not looking at reality. The reality is Democrats make life better for the lower and middle classes. When Republicans are in office that giant sucking sound you hear is the top 1% siphoning the wealth from those below them.
Walter Hamilton
Portsmouth
If you agree America is heading in the wrong direction, vote Republican
Oct. 9 – To the Editor:
Incumbent Democrats are running one-issue campaigns: abortion. It’s all that’s on the ballot. They don’t want you thinking about the economy, the fentanyl epidemic, the southern border crisis, food shortages, draining our Strategic Petroleum Reserves, rising crime and suicide rates, floundering schools, or global threats.
For many of us, however, “It’s the economy, stupid”.
Inflation is crushing New Hampshire residents. Gas prices fluctuate, but groceries are going steadily up, electric rates have doubled, and this home heating season will be the most expensive ever. Retirees are seeing their IRAs shrink when they’re needed the most. Even as the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to curb soaring inflation the Biden administration continues its reckless spending spree. The “Inflation Reduction Act” is a lie. Government can’t spend its way out of inflation but its policies could lead to a recession. Government can’t cancel student debt either; it can just transfer it to people who didn’t assume the debt in a blatant attempt to buy votes. That debt will get added to the national debt, which just topped $31 trillion. It’s a drag on our economy and a huge burden on future generations.
If you agree that America is heading in the wrong direction, get out and vote Republican in November. End the Biden administration’s stranglehold on America or we all lose.
William DeGrandpre
Dover
Residents of Rye, Greenland and North Hampton vote Balboni for State Rep
Oct. 9 – To the Editor:
The mid-term elections are weeks away and still many voters don’t feel this election is important enough to make the time to go and vote. Elections matter; especially when we are voting for our local officials who will be representing us in Concord.
This election cycle, I am pleased to personally know the qualifications of the candidate running for District # 38: Rye, Greenland, and North Hampton.
Peggy Balboni, from Rye, has stepped forward and is willing to take on these responsibilities. I have known Peggy as a friend and colleague for over 15 years. In our school community we worked together to address areas in our schools which had been identified as needing improvement. Peggy is tireless in researching ways to solve issues. She understands solutions can be complex but she has the skills for inquiry and fact-finding not just talking points. Studying an issue may result in additional resources, doing more with less or working collaboratively with the stakeholders; but she is always building consensus and working toward the goal. Additionally, her considerable knowledge and experience with budgeting, for both municipal and multiple school districts, will be invaluable at the state level.
We are extremely fortunate that someone of Peggy’s intelligence, honesty, integrity and commitment is willing to devote the time and energy necessary to make a difference in Concord. If you are part of the “ Exhausted Majority “ join us in voting for some pragmatic solutions to the issues we face locally. I urge all of you to vote. Vote on Tuesday ,November 8th. Vote for Peggy Balboni as your local state representative for Greenland, Rye, and North Hampton.
Ann F. Mayer
Greenland School Board (24 yrs)
Chair School Administrative Unit 50 (17 yrs)
Columnist is wrong: Bolduc would be a much better senator than Hassan
Oct. 10 – To the Editor:
D. Allan Kerr, a resident of Kittery Maine, summed-up in a recent article about General Don Bolduc: “Around this time each election year, we hear a lot of empty rhetoric and buzzwords selected to incite rather than inspire. Maybe we should take a look at what people have actually accomplished in their respective roles and base our decisions on that.”
So, Mr. Kerr, you don’t think the General will make a good Senator. HA! What has Maggie Hassan done for us in NH. Nothing! She was an inept governor and has been an inept senator. We don’t hear from her through 2021, and now all we hear is how wonderful she is. Not even close to the truth!
We have high food prices, high fuel prices, record illegal immigration with more drugs entering New Hampshire. Here are a few of her votes:
· FOR the Build Back Better bill to create large entitlements and blow-up the deficit.
· AGAINST securing the Southern border
· AGAINST removing illegal immigrants with felony criminal convictions.
· AGAINST the measure to increase domestic oil production.
· AGAINST the measure to strike $45 million in climate spending.
· AGAINST the measure to prioritize hiring Border Patrol agents over IRS auditors.
· AGAINST the measure to strike $80 billion that will double the size of the IRS.
· AGAINST the measure to protect patients from higher drug prices.
· AGAINST the measure to prohibit more reckless spending until prices come down.
· AGAINST energy exploration in ANWR.
· AGAINST advancing the Keystone XL Pipeline, killing roughly 11,000 good-paying jobs.
Maggie claims to be independent, but she will always vote with Joe Biden.
Maggie stays hidden in her office, not meeting with NH residents, except in commercials.
We are struggling to stay within our family budget. NH deserves someone better than Maggie, someone who fights for us in DC, and not a lackey who rubber-stamps Joe’s inflation-inducing agenda.
Roseanna Spizzirri
Hampton
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Making State Street in Portsmouth NH 2-way traffic a bad idea: Letters
