YOUR COMMENTS

Interesting to note that 6 out of the 7 members of the gang of eight who sought re-election as aldermen won, even thought the tax cap they opposed won:

Mike Lopez - reelected
Dan O'Neil - reelected
Bill Shea - reelected
Betsi DeVries - reelected
George Smith - defeated
Russ Ouellette - reelected unopposed
Mark Roy - defeated for mayor
Jim Roy - reelected
- Jim, Manchester Ward 9

Mike F.

I am a tax payer here in Manchester and just voted YES for the tax cap. How is keeping spending in line with the rate of inflation a ”gimmick”? Lets not forget that the Alderman can override the tax cap but will have to answer their constituents on why they needed to spend the tax payer’s money. People need to get out and vote and vote yes for the tax cap.
- Jeff, Manchester

The Unions are what screws the tax payers! A spending cap will only hurt the citizens. Face it the city unions are going to get their money any way they can! They will threaten strike or make it hard for government to function, which then will cause cuts on needed services for the citizens. Teachers and city Employees should be paid on merit or for outstanding service NOT for seniority! Cut out the dead wait and perform! Maybe our schools would not be failing, maybe our streets would be safe and maybe we can count on people moving here instead of vacating!!
- TW, Manchester

If I were a real estate agent I would lobby against the tax cap. If I were a parent I would lobby against the tax cap. If I were a city resident that required garbage pickup, plowed streets, maintained roads, education for my children, library services, protection by police, help during a fire and all the basics that this city requires to maintain what little dignity it has left......I would vote against the tax cap. In fact, I am going to vote against the tax cap and hope that this city changes the downhill road it is on today by voting out the garbage that has led us to this place. New Mayor, New Aldermen, New Schoolboard and no tax cap - I have a dream.
- joco, manchester, NH

I was a Manchester resident during the petitioning phase and collected a lot of petitions for the cap. It never occurred to me that the political bosses would delay the vote so far into the future...that I would have moved away by the time I had a chance to vote. Now I am registered here in Grafton and will not be able to vote on the issue we spent so much time bringing forward.

But win or lose it was worth the effort just to see so many of you speak out in opposition to city misbehavior.
- Dave Ridley, Grafton NH

MO in Plymouth, where is the pork spending in Manchester?
- Maria, Manchester, NH

Mike F,
Every single one of those people you mentioned gets payed by tax dollars. Of course they want their paycheck to increase faster than the rate of inflation. And it still can, even with the t&s cap, as long as departments replace some high pay rate inefficient employees who retire or are let go, with young, dynamic, low-wage rate employees, and not expensive union hacks.
- Jim, Manchester

I just voted .. and I voted YES, to cap the city spending I have waited for this vote for a long long time. Meanwhile my alderman, mr kinda overweight red face, is standing out front, looking like a christmas tree bulb. When did he have his info meeting? I must have missed it. Hacks.. the hacks are trying to keep the hackorama going. Vote YES, stop the hacks. Save our city.
- Thomas, Manchester, NH

Pete Sorrentino,
Change your adderman sounds like a great idea but the democrats are running uncontested for 4 seats on the board this year... Not happening. This is probably due to the power of union based fundraising for democrats and the civil war between rhinos and conservatives on the other hand.

There is nothing wrong with having an appropriate safeguard with an appropriate override provision enacted throught the democratic process. The only thing anti-democratic here is the gang of eights attempts to keep this off the ballot.
- Jim, Manchester

Vote Yes for Tax Cap. Lets keep these 'spend baby spend' politicians in line with manchester's interest...not unions. I do believe in slashing the cost of social services but i disagree with giving it to the school system if it is dominated by unions. Unions dont want whats best for our children only what is best for their benefits. I'm still waiting for the headcount of teachers that actually live in manchester.
- Hughan, Manchester

After the likes of Guinta and Gatsas we need this cap to keep out of control spending under wraps.
- Maria, Manchester, NH

Economists, Bond Counsel, the Airport Director, the Finance Director, teachers, firefighters, police and homeowners have all made it very clear this gimmick would be a disaster for Manchester. Proponents have NO FACTS, and NO EXPERTS. They couldn't even put on a public forum, because they could get nobody of consequence to support their position! They are making an illogical and emotional argument against the motives of activists, and have said nothing that would indicate such a gimmick is good. There's the debate folks! Vote smart - Vote NO!
- Mike F, Manchester

Given the Union Leader's recent record with endorsements, the UL should have editorialized AGAINST the cap if they want it to pass. I almost always vote against UL-endorsed candidates and positions and this year will be no different. There are many reasons to vote against the cap and the UL's endorsement is one of them.
- Dan, Manchester

The few that are fighting for the tax cap seem to have lost faith in democracy in Manchester. I have to admit, that at times I have too. Nonetheless, I stand firm on my belief that the best way to change Manchester is by which elected officials you vote into office.

If you don’t like what is going on, vote out your aldermen, aldermen at large and school board members. If you like what’s going on, reelect them. If you consistently don’t like who the majority votes into office, and it’s important enough to you, then it might be time for you to seek another town. Plenty have.

Trying to get the charter amended in order to achieve a goal is second guessing democracy. The charter should be amended when it prevents the town from legally achieving a common goal. Not to instill the will of the minority on the majority. Change your aldermen, and stop being in denial.
- Peter Sorrentino, Manchester

Manchester is upside down on it's spending. It spends more for city services than it does for schools. When compared with other cities in NH of approximately the same size, it is upside down. The services side of the budget should be what we are spending on schools and vice-versa. With a board of alderman beholden to the city unions, this is what we get. With the tax cap and the hope of electing some responsible people to city government, maybe we can change this. The BMA has shown they cannot and will not do it on their own, we need the cap to restrain them.
- Wayne S, Manchester

Cap is not the answer. But what is the answer is cut taxes,balance the budget and stop pork spending.
- mo, plymouth

DO NOT LET THIS PASS! It does not work. Not having money to fulfill emergency services, Police, fire and schools. Who wants to live in that city ?
This city has been going downhill for years because decent families do not want to move here! They are smart not to!
- AJ, Manchester

No question on my ballot - where the heck did they put it? On the back? This will not pass if no one knows where to answer the question!
- Bill, Manchester

There's no question that this comment board will be filled with the rantings of city union employees today. Doom and gloom from the folks who are more concerned with their next raise the the taxpayers or the city itself.

One question. How come the charter amendment didn't include the elimination of the two "alderman at large" positions? I didn't know that union employees were a "ward". Lopez and O'Neil are nothing more than shills for the municipal employees.
- Ron, Manchester

GREAT EDITORIAL! The taxpayers of Claremont will be heard as well.We will no longer be treated as an bottomless money trough.The next step will be to reign in inflated salaries and benefits of local goverment.VOTE NO TO SOS.
- Gerry, Claremont

Get out and vote today people! Please vote YES on the amendment on the back of your ballot. We need to show the "Gang of Eight" that we are smart enough to know that in these times we need to control spending, whether it is in our personal budget, or our city budget. We the people, need to take back control!
- GJP, Manchester

I am voting yes to give cowardly aldermen a crutch to use to finally stand up to greedy city unions. Greedy city workers got a raise for the next 2 years when everybody else is losing jobs. That's what happens when they don't live here. Our tax money gives them raises! Then it was the city unions that helped pay for all the mailbox and phone lies. Vote yes to say no to greedy city unions.
- Syl, Manchester

City of Manchester has been spending our Dollars very foolishly! Look around and you can see the waste??

Time for a tax cap!!
- David Karam, Manchester

Perfect editorial. Thank you, Union Leader!

Manchester residents who care about fiscal responsibility: Go out and vote YES today, take control of your government from the special interests.
- Glen, Manchester, NH

I vote to make responsible people the "BOSS". The cap destroys cities. Just google it and find out the truth!!!
- jon, manchvegas

We're going to defeat the charter amendment today because we care about our city and schools. No way are we going to let something as dangerous as this pass.
- J. Lyman, Manchester