Point of View - Manchester Ink Link

The Soapbox: Why I’m voting for June Trisciani for State Senate

Monday, September 23, 2024Monday, October 31, 2022

There are many important issues the State legislature will be asked to address in the next few years, primary among them are education, affordable housing, and health care. To do this, we need fresh perspectives and legislators who can foster productive and civil dialogue and who act in the best interest not only of their constituents, but for all of New Hampshire’s citizens. For this reason, I will vote for June Trisciani for State Senate.

Manchester: A city of changes

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Monday, October 31, 2022

I want to focus on some of the good things that have come from the growth of our city, because I understand that city living is a balance of the good and the bad and because I’m confident that good will overtake the bad.

Take a few minutes to look into us down-ballot candidates before Election Day

Monday, September 23, 2024Saturday, October 29, 2022

Election Day is coming up and when you head into the voting booth on November 8 the names at the top of the ballot will be very familiar to you, mostly because of the barrage of TV ads and mailings you have seen over the past few weeks.

Politicians don’t hear the voices of those who don’t speak

Sunday, June 16, 2024Tuesday, October 25, 2022

When you’ve lost rights, even due to your own actions, you tend to wonder what the actual ramifications are, especially as you mature and become a contributing member of society. Yes, some ex-felons have actually learned their lesson, paid their debt to society, and now want to participate in the law-abiding and tax-paying ecosystem. As a taxpayer, maybe I’m wondering why there are so many potholes on my street and which elected officials can help fix them.

An Existential Pug contemplates his Halloween costume

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Friday, October 21, 2022

For starters, there’s nothing worse than being trite, or predictable. I understand that it makes the costume arrangements easier for The Blonde Woman and The Gray-Haired Man: They can simply wear black suits and ties and sunglasses, then use me as the centerpiece for their ridiculous couple’s costume.

Early retirement feels right on time

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Thursday, October 20, 2022

The new position did raise a few eyebrows at home. Most of the kids that I work with at the course, two I nicknamed “The Pope” and “The Pilot,” are about 35 years younger than me and in high school. They’re also classmates of my son at Pembroke Academy. “That’s just weird, Dadda,” my boy would say to me. “You work with kids from my school. You’re like 50-something. I bet they think we’re broke. Do you really make $8 an hour?” I really do, son, I told him.

For first time in a decade, access to a critical Amoskeag Health program for youth is at risk

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Tuesday, October 18, 2022

We are extremely concerned that a failure to fund PREP would have an immeasurable harmful impact on our organization, our community, and – most of all – the 975 adolescents this program would serve for the next three years.

The Soapbox: Clearly, the city is intent on moving the homeless from parks – but where should they go?

Monday, September 23, 2024Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Let’s be clear in saying that there is absolutely no harm done at all to anyone when someone goes into a park with a shopping cart, a tarp, a large umbrella, or a pair of bicycles. Nobody is being harmed from the use of these items, even when they’re used to create some form of temporary “privacy barriers,” for the people who have absolutely no private places of their own.

A ratepayer and taxpayer success story in Durham school

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Sunday, October 16, 2022

What we have here is a moral and civic good. The humans who learn and work in this bright new building cannot help but absorb the message that their community respects and values what happens there.

A request for ‘Leaf Peepers’

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Sunday, October 16, 2022

I have a simple request for the Leaf Peepers inundating New Hampshire and clogging every road and highway in the state like plaque in an artery.

Common Ground: Media should be a mirror to the real New Hampshire

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Monday, October 10, 2022

With media setting popular narratives, representation matters.

Letter to the Editor: In total agreement with Dan O’Neil’s Soapbox on the homeless issue

Monday, September 23, 2024Monday, October 10, 2022

The readily apparent solution is also a three-part remedy: house, counsel, fund. Unfortunately, there has been historic highly effective community pushback: NIMBY, complete misunderstanding and fear, and “tax payer” opposition. It is ironic that the word “revolting” pertains to that of people resisting change, and also of the public attitude towards the homeless.

Building ADUs in Manchester: An open letter request to the city for a building code amendment

Tuesday, December 30, 2025Saturday, October 8, 2022

If just 10 percent of homeowners in the city built an ADU tomorrow, it would virtually eliminate the housing shortage in the city. Your action on this can make a dramatic impact is housing for years to come.

The Soapbox: My frustration with how the community deals with the homeless population

Monday, September 23, 2024Thursday, October 6, 2022

I was very disappointed and sad that Schonna Green left working for the city. During my time in elected office, I found Schonna to be hard-working, dedicated to her efforts and innovative, such as the HOPE program she had presented back in 2021. What I didn’t expect during my time working with her was the amount of pushback she received in the community on trying to bring positive change.

The Soapbox: New Hampshire’s broken bail system

Monday, September 23, 2024Tuesday, October 4, 2022

The horror stories around PR bail are so outlandish that they seem made up. There are instances of people robbing the same store twice on the same day and domestic violence offenders being let out hours after being picked up just to go home and do it all again. The most tragic event happened in my State Representative district of wards 8 and 9.

Stop standing on the sidelines and get involved

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Tuesday, October 4, 2022

One thing that prevents people from getting involved is that they don’t know where to go. So I have listed a few organizations that are involved with the major issues of our city. This list is a good starting point for people to get involved.

Breath of melancholy

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Sunday, October 2, 2022

“I can’t do it!” My daughter is shouting from the playground. I look up to discover her hanging nearly upside down from one of the metal spider web domes, vainly trying to right herself. But before I can leap up, two other kids come over and boost her up. Crisis averted. My services, unneeded.

‘The Longest Game’ celebrates the unsung hero

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Saturday, October 1, 2022

Recently, I came across an ESPN “30 for 30 Podcast” titled “The Longest Game,” which was about said game that began at McCoy Stadium on April 18, 1981—a windy, frigid night on the Saturday before Easter. The game was suspended in the top of the 33rd inning at 4 a.m. then resumed on June 23.

The Soapbox: Call to action for responsible media and election integrity

Monday, September 23, 2024Saturday, October 1, 2022

The voters of New Hampshire deserve to be presented with debates that include all candidates qualified to appear on the general election ballot, regardless of their party affiliation, fundraising totals, or poll numbers.

The Soapbox: All are welcome here

Monday, September 23, 2024Saturday, October 1, 2022

Therefore, those of us in New Hampshire working closely with immigrant families are incensed and sickened by the inhumane and anti-immigrant policies of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other governors of southern states who have rejected frightened families and sent them off to other communities.

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