It was a bright cold day on November 7 in (Portsmouth, New Hampshire) and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
George Orwell, 1984
The recent city council election does not bode well for our fair city by the sea, which we all love and wish to protect its character and affordability. A new progressive liberal wave has descended upon our city which features a denial of fiscally sound government by a newly re-elected city council.
Gone is the rich tradition of non-partisan Portsmouth.
The next two years will be more focused on national social issues instead of the nuts and bolts of a well-managed New Hampshire local government. The residents may not realize it yet, but they lost on election day.
Elected city council candidates were supported and owe allegiance to statewide/national Political Action Committee’s or PACs: The Forward Foundation, Young Democrats, Run for Something, 603 Forward, and Progress Portsmouth which cannot figure out if it is a PAC or just a political organization collecting money for its founder. It is not a 501 (c)3.
Good local nonpartisan government, a rich tradition in New Hampshire, should feature low taxes and controlled spending while delivering world class services.
The new/old council and the City Manager are fresh off an $18.6 million budget increase over two years and 36 new employees, coupled with a 2.5-million-dollar payout to Redgate Kane while losing the McIntyre Property.
The election featured zero discussion on the spending and the policy decisions of this council.
The Council and City Manager are in denial and trying to rewrite reality for all of us.
It’s going to be a tough two years for the residents as the bills will be coming due for all this government hubris both past and upcoming. Clearly this council has yet to figure out “wants and needs” while sending the city of Portsmouth catapulting into a mountain of debt and resident tax pain.
The upcoming revaluation of residential and commercial real estate in the next year will be the ground zero full stop for this council.
The next election will feature a taxpayers’ revolt if history tells us anything in Portsmouth Politics.
Not too long ago a downtown bank meter maid rose to be mayor because of out-of-control spending. Middle-class working residents and fixed income retirees risked the loss of their homes and lifestyles because of City taxes and spending, along with a looming statewide property tax.
Evelyn Sirrell a former mayor was the founder of The Portsmouth Taxpayers Association which wielded power for 10 years in Portsmouth. The electorate was motivated for change, it was all about nonpartisan good government a tradition in New Hampshire.
A casual observer on the outside would think that the city councilors that were reelected won a school-wide popularity contest.
It certainly was not because of their business acumen or what they accomplished in their two-year term. No diversity of thought or questioning of the city manager. No representation of the residents, just lots of 9-0 votes with little debate of the issues.
Yes, the clocks struck thirteen in Portsmouth on November 7. The PR wizard is alive and well in Portsmouth, nothing to see behind the curtain.
The next two years will be interesting times for Portsmouth residents. History does have a way of repeating itself.
Tomorrow was created yesterday…….And by the day before yesterday, too. TO IGNORE HISTORY IS TO IGNORE THE WOLF AT THE DOOR. “
John le Carré, A Most Wanted Man
Peter A. Whelan
Portsmouth New Hampshire
