I was walking Amherst St. yesterday with my wife, and at least two different households said that to me: "Wow!  No one running for state rep has ever come to my house before!" 

I've been hearing versions of that on every street in the ward: "I had never seen my reps before you!" or "Wow, no politician ever comes down here!" 

And that's half the reason I'm running.  People should know their reps- that's why we have so many.  We're your last line of defense against the government.    

The other half is to reduce the size of government responsibly.  If you agree with those two ideas, let me know!  We need people to take a stand, put signs in their yard, and to talk to their neighbors!  Any bit will help!    

-Shuvom

I just finished walking Lowell St. tonight, and E. High St. on Wednesday, talking to voters, and it's time to rest my feet!  Why did the western part of the ward decide to make its streets so long?  I'm just kidding. 

If you live on those streets and I missed you, don't worry, I'll swing by at least once more before the election!  And as always, the comments and e-mail sections are open to make your voice heard! 

-Shuvom

I talked to a concerned mother today near the north part of the Ward, and she was having the hardest time with the middle school her child went to.  And as she listed problem after problem she was having, the stonewall after stonewall she was hitting with the school officials, I was wondering, "What can either of us do- I haven't even gotten past a primary yet, and she's just a parent, not a high-ranking city official."  

But then it came to me- what any Manchester resident can do when the city government is not acting for you, but against you.  When you think there's no one who will listen.  City Council Meetings. 

Each month, ANY resident of Manchester can talk for 3 minutes on any topic that concerns them, and the Mayor and Aldermen HAVE TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN.  They can't ignore your e-mail, can't delete your voice mail, they have to listen.  And that's the first, and usually biggest, step in getting your problem addressed. 

I looked it up for her, and the next City Council meeting where the public can speak is: Tuesday September 7th, from 7-7:30 PM.  It's at City Hall, Third Floor, in the Aldermanic Chambers (big room, looks like a church).  No appointment is required, although I would get there a few minutes early to make sure you get a chance to talk.  Be respectful, but be firm- the Aldermen exist to give YOU a voice when the City government stonewalls you.  Make it clear that you need them to do their job-represent you!

Oddly enough, Mayor Gatas is also doing an "open door" thing tomorrow night (Tuesday the 10th) in the Mayor's Office, called "Mayor's Night In".  I don't know what it's about, but that would also be a way to bend the Mayor's ear.  That's from 6-8 PM, City Hall, Third Floor.  It says no appointment needed, and you can talk about anything that concerns you about the city.  If I've talked to enough voters tomorrow, I'll attend this just to see what the deal is.  (Other Mayor's Night In's are scheduled for Sept. 15th, Oct. 26th, Nov. 10th, and Dec. 14th)

Of course, go to the appropriate city office first and deal as politely as you can with the folks there, they're just trying to do their jobs and help out.  But if you feel you have NO other recourse, you've exhausted all normal avenues, if you feel helpless against the huge City government, use one of these methods to get your voice back! 

And if elected, I promise to do the same for your voice in Concord! 

More info on City Council meetings and Mayor's Nights at:
http://www.manchesternh.gov/website/Home/tabid/72/Default.aspx
(Why does our city have so many weird words at the end of their web page?  Was www.manchesternh.gov taken?)  Anyway, look for the "Official Meetings" calendar on the right for dates and times. 

-Shuvom

My palmcards arrived on Friday, so I've started walking Ward 4 in the last few days, talking to concerned voters.  I'm working generally East to West, and if there's enough interest in the comments, I'll even post where I'm going a few days in advance. 

Knocking on doors today, I met a nice woman (I'll withhold her name) who had been going through some tough times, unemployed like a lot of other people out there.  She told me something I didn't know- that NH just recently got disqualified from receiving some extra Federal unemployment stimulus because our unemployment rate is so 'low' compared to other states.  It's the classic big government response- punish those groups doing well to give more to those doing poorly. 

She didn't want welfare, she is going back to school to train for another job, but she had paid into the system for many years and just wanted, in her words, "my fair share back." 

I'm 32 years old, so I have no illusions that I'll get ANYTHING back from the system when I'm older (there may not even be a system then at this rate), but talking to this woman, we both agreed on one thing: New Hampshire has to look after itself.  All the Federal aid will go to the states that fail first, and fail the biggest.  That means California, New York, and Illinois as a start.  Maybe others.  By the time New Hampshire needs help (and if we don't cut our future budget liabilities, we will), there won't be any money left over to save little old NH or her citizens.  So what does that mean?

We need to save- put money away for the future.  We need to make a list of priorities that reflect who we are and what we stand for, and fund the most important first, not fund them all equally.  And we need to get to know our neighbors, because in hard times, we will have to help each other.

So I'll keep walking the Ward until Primary Day, Sept. 14th., to meet more people like this woman and hear what you have to say. 

Have a good day, and stay safe!
-Shuvom