McNabb's co-living could attract 'unsavory characters'
Sept. 21 − To the Editor:
From my experience as someone who, in my youth, lived in various types of living situations including a college dorm, a rooming house, and a couple women's residences, I would recommend that developer Mark McNabb should provide daily maid service in his downtown co-living project. Otherwise with a transient population sharing bathrooms and kitchens with strangers, there are likely to be health and sanitation problems as well as arguments over whose turn it is to do the dishes or clean the toilets.
Even with this added amenity, this kind of housing could be conducive to fights over who stole someone else's food from the communal refrigerator. This plan is almost certain to exacerbate downtown parking problems, and if not carefully executed, it could attract unsavory characters and activities.
People pay a lot of money to live in downtown Portsmouth or to run a business there. Developer McNabb would be more respectful of their interests if he took the more conventional route of building micro apartments.
Christina Lusky
Portsmouth
Cyanobacteria is a serious health hazard in New Hampshire
Sept. 22 − To the Editor:
The state monitors and publishes the results of cyanobacteria testing at recreational swimming locations in New Hampshire. Public warning signs are posted when results exceed recommended exposure limits for children, adults, and animals. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are free-floating microscopic organisms that release toxins as they degrade. Increased fertilizer use and climate warming trends contribute to the growth of these toxic blue-green algae.
When humans come into contact with cyanotoxins while swimming or boating, the United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that these toxins may “cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, respiratory symptoms, gastroenteritis, and liver and kidney failure or death.” People can be exposed by inhaling aerosolized toxins, consuming contaminated fish, or drinking contaminated water. Additionally, these toxins can be harmful to dogs and other animals.
Cyanotoxin exposure has also been linked to debilitating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to the gradual loss of muscle control and ultimately impacting the ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe. ALS is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, named after the famous baseball player who was diagnosed with the condition. Cyanotoxin exposure is suspected to have contributed clusters of ALS cases in Enfield, New Hampshire, as well as in areas near Lake Champlain in Vermont and Northern Italy.
Given the overwhelming scientific evidence regarding the dangers of exposure to cyanotoxins, it is disheartening that Governor Sununu criticized the state environmental agency’s precautionary public health notices concerning cyanobacteria blooms on Lake Winnipesaukee. The governor claimed during a public meeting that cyanobacteria are not toxic and described the agency's messaging as “needlessly scaring people.” The cyanobacteria warnings have now been removed from the Department of Environmental Services website.
However, the science is clear: the public deserves to be informed about the risks associated with elevated levels of toxic blue-green algae, which can pose a threat to vulnerable individuals, including children, adults, and animals. Concealing this information undermines public trust and contradicts the expectations people have of the institutions tasked with protecting them.
Mindi Messmer
Rye
I support paid parking at C&J lots at Pease
Sept. 20 − To the Editor:
I would like to offer my support to C&J for having paid parking. Yes, it's a state lot, but from what I've heard, C&J has to foot the bill for keeping it plowed, clean, and maintained. The lots are always full, and perhaps making them paid would help keep people from using them for reasons other than bus transportation. C&J is a great local company, one who has always given back. I would like to see them continue to be successful.
That said, I hope there's a plan for allowing very short term parking for free. I drop my child off there to pick up the bus every morning and get him again in the afternoon. Will I have to pay $8 per day so that I can wait with him in the overflow lot for a few minutes those two times? I hope not. Similarly, if I'm dropping or picking up my elderly parent off at the terminal, will I have to pay $4 so that I can wait for his bus to arrive? I think public sentiment would turn very quickly if we had to pay for a full day's parking just so we can wait for a bit and help loved ones to and from the bus.
These are unanswered questions and I would hope they will be transparent about this moving forward. A simple way to do this would be to allow the first hour to be free so you can enter the lot and leave shortly thereafter without having to pay. But until C&J tells us there's a plan like that in place, I remain optimistic but concerned.
James Stephens
Portsmouth
Columnist fails in effort to 'both sides' political rhetoric
Sept. 22 − To the Editor:
Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos’s column in the Sunday Seacoast newspapers is an admirable call for everyone to stop the hateful political rhetoric in this election cycle. It is un-American, she says, and it is dangerous and it must stop. Agreed.
Then, however, Ms. Xanthopoulos goes on to hold both sides equally responsible for all this hateful rhetoric. Seriously? Would Ms. Xanthopoulos call Harris’s “an existential threat to democracy” and Trump’s “they’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats” as equally hateful and dangerous? Please. Trump himself boasted that he would be a dictator on day one of his next presidency and that he would be his followers’ retribution for all the wrongs that have been done to them and pardon all of those “patriots” now serving time for what they did on January 6 th . He said he would use “his” justice department to accomplish all of this. He also told his followers that if they voted for him one more time, they would never have to vote again. Calling Trump an existential threat to democracy is not hateful rhetoric, Ms. Xanthopoulos, it is simply a summary of what Trump himself said he would do if reelected.
I have some suggested reading for Ms. Xanthopoulos: 1. David French’s column in the Sunday NY Times in which he says “a coalition of decency will have to set aside profound differences for a larger purpose: defending the American Republic against Maga’s nihilistic rage. 2. Cassidy Hutchinson’s book ENOUGH in which she tells us what another Trump trip to the Oval Office would be like. She doesn’t say enough with the rhetoric, she says enough with what Donald Trump tried to do to America.
The rhetoric on both sides is not equal. Trump IS an existential threat to everything we hold dear about our country. He and his cohorts could care less about us. They would do anything to divide and tear us apart in order to satisfy their thirst for power.
Did you feel what I felt on January 6 th Ms. Xanthopoulos? I had tears in my eyes as I watched what that vainglorious, characterless man had done to our country with his un-American and hateful rhetoric. Please, Ms. Xanthopoulos, never forget that feeling and that day.
Carl Vancelette
Barrington
Exploding pagers are an act of terrorism
Sept. 21 − To the Editor:
How deranged that so many people think Israel’s use of boobytrapped devices in Lebanon was sophisticated and worthy of praise. The lack of sympathy for people—civilians and otherwise who were killed, maimed, blinded and terrorized is a reflection of the demise of morality in our country.
There was another very sophisticated attack which involved flying airplanes into the two World Trade buildings and Pentagon on 9/11–in addition to the crash in Pennsylvania. People in our country did not celebrate the sophistication of that attack but instead rightly viewed it as a terrorist act.
The same holds true for the sabotaged devices that killed civilians, politicians and military personnel in Lebanon. Many in our country celebrate this act which broke international humanitarian laws.
Israel with its ongoing slaughter of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank breaks international humanitarian laws daily but our government continues to supply the military support to enable these acts. Our government does not speak out re: the abuses occurring to Palestinians held in the military prisons in Israel.
We can’t complain where the “new acts of war” are used against our citizens as we continue to be complicit re: these crimes.
Donna Pare
Stratham
The incomprehensible and incoherent fabrications of candidate Harris
Sept. 21 -- To the Editor:
Example: A reporter asks the following question: "One of the primary concerns of voters is the economy. How do you propose to improve it?"
Harris's answer: "Well I grew up in a middle class family...people in our neighborhood cared for each other...they were proud of their lawns..."
WHAT?
Example: During the debate with Trump she said the following (this is a verbatim quote): "As of today there is not one member of the United States military who is on active duty in a combat zone or war zone around the world for the first time in this century."
WHAT?
Tell that to the troops stationed on bases in Syria (some of whom were recently injured by Islamic rockets), or the Navy crews fending off missiles fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen, or those stationed at many other global bases in dangerous territories.
Of course this response is not surprising coming from a person who works for a boss who during his debate with Trump failed to remember that 13 Marines were killed in Afghanistan during his Presidency.
And when questioned about that Afghanistan evacuation, all she could say that it was a "courageous decision" when in fact it was one of the most poorly planned (and even more poorly executed) missions ever attempted by a US administration- not only resulting in our dead Marines, but also in hundreds of Americans (and thousands of Afghan allies) left behind as well as a billion dollars of modern military equipment.
Whether it's being unduly influenced by staffers, or succumbing to a personal tendency towards solipsism, the limited quality of thought evidenced by her statements indicate that this is not a person to be entrusted with the leadership of our military or our country.
Tom Steele
Rye
Vote Jon Morgan for Executive Councilor District 3
Sept. 23 − To the Editor:
This November, we have many elections to consider statewide. One of the most important but one that does not get as much attention is that of Executive Council for the State of NH. There are 5 Councilors who perform important roles in checking the power of the Governor and legislature in a number of areas. Among them are approving the expenditure of state and federal funds, approving the Governor’s nominations in the appointment of judges and Commissioners, (INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION!) monitoring the appointment of countless officials to the Executive branch of NH government and representing the people in being their eyes and ears in Concord.
It is, therefore, crucial that we make the right selection for the Executive Councilor in District 3 – that candidate is Jonathan Morgan! I have known Jon for over 25 years and his background, both personally and professionally, is beyond reproach. He is a lifelong resident of NH and lives in Brentwood with his wife, Katie and their three sons. He is highly respected by all who know him as being an intelligent and respectful man of high values who loves his community and New Hampshire. His professional and political backgrounds lend themselves to making him the perfect Executive Councilor at the Statehouse
Jon worked locally for several years, serving as a dedicated member of the Selectboard in Brentwood. As a NH State Senator for District 23 from 2018-2020, he is well-versed in the governmental process in Concord. In that role, Jon Vice-Chaired the Commerce Committee. He was also a member of the Senate Education & Workforce Development and the Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committees, all of which provided him with crucial background in light of the responsibilities he will have as a Councilor. In addition, Jon wrote New Hampshire’s first Veterans’ Bill of Rights.
His support of public education and thwarting the attempts on the part of some in Concord to undermine our schools is one of his major goals as Councilor. Jon has fought to lower property taxes and is committed to keeping seniors in their homes and reducing the costs of food, fuel, housing, and healthcare. In the Legislature, Jon fought to keep harmful contaminants out of our drinking water and will hold corporate polluters accountable. He is also dedicated to protecting reproductive freedoms for women in our state.
I can think of no better candidate to represent the residents of Executive Council District 3 than Jon. As his Dad, Michael Morgan taught him, he will “leave the wood pile a little higher” as he continues to work for a better New Hampshire! Please vote for him on November 5th!
Helen Joyce
Exeter
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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: McNabb's co-living project could attract 'unsavory characters' to Portsmouth: Letters
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