Back in 2005 I loved the idea that a group of people were organizing to move to NH because NH was already one of the healthiest, most prosperous and freest states in the nation. Their goal was to help keep it that way. But lately, not so much.
I made, and still have, a lot of good friends and colleagues who are part the ‘Free State Project’. They used to support conservative values. But lately they have gone so far off the mark they are proposing goals which are quite frankly, socialist and even anarchist.
We can all agree that good government is small, efficient and solvent. But devolving into chaos by completely dismantling government is not desirable.
Find out what's happening in Bedfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Witness the push to eradicate car inspections. I personally can afford to keep my cars in tip-top shape. But what of those who cannot? Will I be a victim of a wheel that suddenly flies off on the highway? I have seen this happen where someone was killed.
They are attempting to abolish the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. I’m not a fan of vaccines myself, and never took the COVID jab. I have been careful otherwise and still wear a mask in crowded places because viruses still pose a risk to people my age. I do support the choice of not having to take a vaccine. But not all vaccines are bad. The New Hampshire Vaccine Association buys vaccines in bulk to lower costs and ensure universal access to vaccines for those who want them. Why remove this choice?
Find out what's happening in Bedfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
On schools, I’m a veteran teacher who worked in the public schools for 35 years and I well know what the problems are, most notably curriculum mandates which did not allow me to teach academics. I recommend home schooling where possible. I also support choice because there are still many families who cannot afford to home school or have the time or talent to rectify the problems that exist in the public schools. Public schools are supposed to educate and in many cases they are not doing this. Working with parents and teachers to fix this would be an honorable goal. (By the way, unions have no say whatsoever on curriculum or methodologies)
Lately I hear there are some who are trying to reverse the kickback to towns from the meals and rooms tax, something promised, and which helps keep your property taxes at bay. The original agreement was to return 40% of the proceeds to the towns. This was not being honored for two decades. The towns were lucky if they got 10% - 15% of the money. A bill was passed that required 30% but now they want to reduce that number.
The biggest mystery is why these folks seek to eradicate all zoning by placing state mandates on all towns. The urbanization of our towns simply downshifts the added costs to the single-family homeowners, eradicates the choice of single-family neighborhoods, and does not help increase the supply of housing. It may even actually raise the costs while lowering the availability of housing. Just look at California!
“Indeed, studies in Vancouver, Canada and several other locations have linked densification with higher land prices and diminished housing affordability. California already has the highest urban density of any US state and suffers from some of the highest rental and housing costs in the country. The densification agenda is already being implemented in places like California, with policies aimed at destroying single-family home ownership at a time when the market has shifted even more towards suburbia.”
https://patch.com/new-hampshir...
https://bedfordresidents.com/b...
Speaking of housing, HB577 is a bill that will have a PUBLIC HEARING in SENATE COMMERCE on March 25, 2025.
VOTERS NEED TO "FLOOD THE ZONE" ON THIS ONE.
HB577 - This bill expands accessory dwelling units by right to include detached units, adds definitions related to accessory dwelling units, and increases the maximum square footage.
https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/pdf.aspx?id=6714&q=billVersion
Senate Commerce: Public Hearing on 03/25/2025.
Show up if you can and speak against this bill!
Or at least use the Senate Portal to ask them to "ITL" this bill.
https://gc.nh.gov/remotecommittee/senate.aspx
Maybe some of our 'unapologetic' Republican Reps will go speak against it at the hearing.
We want to thank Union Leader reporter Kevin Landrigan* for exposing the GOP Senators who should be primaried in 2026 for voting for these bills. They are pushing a socialistic, one-size-fits-all mandates for our towns. We like to call it "Housing DEI".
They are Murphy, Sullivan, McGough, McConkey, Pearl, Innis and Carson.
So, once again, on March 25th, Senate Commerce Committee will hear testimony on HB 577, a bill that could fundamentally change your single family neighborhood into a rental nightmare.
Every town official, including every town manager, planning and zoning board member, town councilor and selectman, along with every one of the 60%-70% of citizens who live in single family zones need to show up in person and demand this bill be killed.
This is but one of 20+ bills that are an egregious attack on our single family neighborhoods in NH. The push to urbanize NH is relentless and must be stopped.
Governor Kelly Ayotte needs to pay better attention to any bills she signs or risk "Massing Up NH" as her legacy! Let her know!
KELLY.A.AYOTTE@GOVERNOR.NH.GOV (not sure if this works)
Contact form: https://new-hampshire.my.sales...
*Full Landrigan article HERE if you could not open the web version.
https://bedfordresidents.com/bra/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Landrigan.pdf
