Here are some people I'd like to see run for Portsmouth City Council: Letters

Here are some people I'd like to see run for Portsmouth City Council

Aug. 28 − To the Editor:

I echo the sentiments of columnist and former Assistant Mayor Jim Splaine in urging civic minded individuals to run for the next Portsmouth City Council.  In particular, I would love to see attorneys Charles A. Griffin and T. Stephen McCarthy plus resident Bill Bowen consider running. Their letters to the Herald indicate that they have some very good ideas to offer our city.  I have observed Mr. Griffin speaking before the council in past years and have always been impressed with the thoroughness of his research.

Another run by some of the members of our previous council could also be beneficial. They were very strong in constituent service and in preserving our historic architecture. Although they weren't perfect, they did, in their first year, give us the lowest rate of tax increase in a decade. This is in stark contrast to the current council, who, I believe, in their first year, gave us the highest rate of tax increase in a decade.

This could be a pivotal year for our city for preserving our quality of life and for trying to throw a life line to the overburdened Portsmouth taxpayer, so let's hope that we'll have a plethora of qualified candidates from which to choose.

Christina Lusky

Portsmouth

Did you know there's not a single Republican election official in Portsmouth?

Aug. 28 − To the Editor

This letter is specifically directed to registered Republicans in Portsmouth.

Want to make a difference in our local elections?  Then, volunteer to work at the polls on Election Day, many of these positions are just for that day only.

Additionally, did you know there isn't a single Republican election official on any of the wards in Portsmouth?   We need candidates for Moderator – oversees/runs the polling location and is responsible for reporting results, and Clerk – Assists the Moderator and Select-persons for all the wards in the city.

Please consider running for any of these positions in your ward. The enrollment period to get your name of the ballot for the November municipal election starts on August 28th and ends on September 12th.  Our democratic process requires representation for both parties in the elections, so consider getting involved.

Sue Polidura 

Portsmouth

Will the arc of history bend toward justice or tyranny?

Aug. 28 − To the Editor:

Do my teenage granddaughters know that today, August 28th, marks 60 years since Dr. King gave his "I Have A Dream: speech?  They know the speech; they respect the legacy.  I know that, but what will they & their generation do to move the needle away from racial animus & criminal acts of HATE?

For me that is the defining question−not those queries inherent in the endless political chatter.  In the 1960's−an era of tumultuous social divisions − the needle moved toward Civil Rights.  If it does not move again, I think America and its experiment in representative democracy is doomed; and as a grandparent, that is an unbearable thought.

Ronnie Flaschner

Rye

6 GOP candidates raised their hands against rule of law

Aug. 29 − To the Editor:

I keep hearing from Trump supporters that he is being persecuted by Democrats. It is true that the prosecutors are Democrats. But they’re not the ones who handed down 91 indictments in four different cases.

Grand juries—a group of ordinary citizens—who, based on the evidence presented, found that there was enough proof that it was likely crimes were committed (in fact, 91 crimes) and a trial was warranted.

Trumpians also claim that his right to free speech is being violated, particularly in the January 6th indictments. Wrong. Speech used in the commission of a crime is not protected. For example, if a robber goes into a bank and says to the cashier, “give me all your money, this is a stick up.” That is not protected speech.

At the recent Republican presidential debate, the eight participating contenders for the presidency were asked: If Trump were convicted but was still the candidate, would you still support him? Six raised their hand!

So, 6 major Republican presidential candidates apparently have no respect for jury trials or the law of the land.

Jury trials were declared long ago to be the bedrock of American democracy by the likes of Madison, Jefferson, and Hamilton. But, as the 6 Republican candidates made clear, they are ready to trash democracy and freedom and would support a convicted felon if that’s what it takes for them to get ahead.

Their “bedrock” seems to be made of marshmallow.

Michael Frandzel

Portsmouth

Require background checks for all gun purchases

Aug. 29 − To the Editor:

I continually read about gun violence and the confiscation of guns! Statements are made that the weapons (gun) was legally purchased or the minor used a family gun!

I feel very sad for each of these families who have lost a member to the gun violence and my prayers go out to each of those families.

I personally believe that the control of all guns are not being properly reviewed, I do not mean by the Federal Government, this is how dictatorships are established in once democratic countries and I would not our country go this route.

No guns or ammunitions should be allowed to be purchased without a complete background investigation being accomplished by the local police and then the sheriffs offices. If the requester is not a lifetime resident then a further check should be made where they previously resided! When this is completed then the persons medical doctor should be questioned if the applicants mental status is justified! If the applicant refuses to have this done, then they should not be allowed to purchase a gun!

Once a weapon is purchased it should be registered with the local police just like cars and a review of the registration should be required after a certain period of time to ensure that no physical or mental changes have occurred!

These are my thoughts on this issue, My one question is that a statement is made many times that the gun was legally purchased!  By whom? How did this person or youth get the gun? Some gun purchaser is responsible for this! Who? They are the responsible one!

Roy W. Helsel

Portsmouth

I'm beyond sick of the idiotic antics of climate change activists

Aug. 29 − To the Editor:

First, let me state that, yes, the climate is warming and it has been doing so for a millennia. I also won’t get into a debate here about whether it is partially, entirely or not at all due to manmade emissions of greenhouse gases.

But, I am fed up with climate activists and alarmists with their stunts and hysteria. The latest such idiocy was played out on TV on a highway leading to the Burning Man Festival. Several so-called activists chained themselves to a trailer placed across the highway, blocking traffic that stretched back for miles. Did any of these people calculate the carbon emissions of all those vehicles idling for hours? They certainly didn’t consider that such protesting on tribal land was enforced by tribal police who weren’t having any of it.

These fools and others like them around the world who focus on fossil fuel emissions in this country and Europe are misguided and show their ignorance of scientific facts.

Climate warming is a worldwide phenomenon and the U.S. is not, I repeat, not the primary emitter of greenhouse gases; nor is Europe. China passed the U.S. in greenhouse emissions in 2006 and currently emits more than twice the carbon emissions of the U.S. Since 2006, we have reduced our emissions by 20% while China has increased its emissions by 45%. India, having also grown its emissions by 45%, will soon surpass the U.S.

According to reports, China is building the equivalent of one new coal-fired power plant every two weeks. The Paris Climate Agreement, much touted by climate zealots, allows China to continue to grow its emissions until 2030. Even then, can we trust China to actually stop growing their emissions and start reducing them?

While we spend billions of dollars and endure brownouts to limit carbon emissions, China overwhelms all those efforts in just a few months of construction.

So, spare me all the antics of gluing yourself to paintings, banning fossil fuel production, blocking highways, using tax dollars to promote electric vehicles, and other hand-wringing actions. When activists start gluing their hands to Tiananmen Square or blocking traffic on China’s highways, then I might start being interested in their message.

Frank Ferraro

North Hampton

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Here are people who should run for Portsmouth NH City Council: Letters