How Super-Lobbies And NGOs Are Setting NH's Agenda

In October of 2017, Executive Councilors Volinsky and Pappas held a little-publicized forum on commuter rail hosted by United Progressives of New Hampshire

NH had already spoken out against this project.

But Councilor Volinsky announced he, Councilor Pappas, and Councilor Prescott (3 of the 5) voted to take $4M in federal dollars to plan for it anyway.

It's time the public knew.

On September 7, 2017 an NGO (special interest super-lobby) called "Smart Growth America" announced it would ‘help’ Depts of Transportation of six states with their “Accelerating Practical Solutions Program”, a training seminar intended to "guide their investment in public transportation". NH was one of the states.

NH's DoT was quoted:

“The workshop will be especially timely as the New Hampshire Department of Transportation develops new pedestrian and bicycle design criteria that considers safety and access for all modes of travel. The department extends a warm welcome to the Governors’ Institute on Community Design.” (another NGO)

Program description:

“Americans’ transportation habits continue to move away from the exclusively car-centric travel of the interstate era and toward the multi-modal options needed to serve an increasingly urban nation.”

You have to wonder, just who decided NH is "increasingly urban" and against cars? Certainly the EPA, along with these unofficial special interest groups, and unofficial "governors" groups would love to see us ditch our cars. But they shouldn't assume we all agree. These folks and their co-conspirators would love to “urbanize” everyone. Does NH want to be urbanized?

From SGA's website we learn: “This program is made possible by the Governors’ Institute on Community Design (another NGO), run in partnership between Smart Growth America (NGO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency”.

Seems these NGO groups, which are not part of government despite sporting such official-sounding names, are running the show. Where do the taxpayers' views count? Why do the feds (EPA) think they can interfere?

Who at NH DoT applies for this nonsense, and by whose permission? Did any one of NH's subjects vote for this?

This is only the tip of the iceberg — did you know that just about every lofty idea included in your town's 'master plan' is concocted by these cryptic agencies, then handed to your town boards for implementation?

Millennials (are you listening Gov Sununu?) hope they do not have to fight another taxpayer boondoggle aka commuter rail. People move to NH for its rural and semi-rural character. Commuter Rail is NOT part of the vision.

Write to your Councilors. Tell them to stop allowing unelected outsiders to drive NH's agenda.

And tell them New Hampshire should learn from, and avoid, the mistakes made in other states.

Read about those mistakes here: Orange County's Abandoned Train Station and $2M Deficit

Image Credit: Gary Gileno, Annaheim, CA.