Bruno: Another Manchester Election, Oh Hum

By George Bruno, InDepth NH

We are now in the city’s election season and the perennial issues being floated by our candidates seem like déjà vu: more money for schools and police, lower property taxes, the need for more affordable housing. Really, is that the best our candidates can repeat every two years? Yes, those are important but what about quality of life?

Recently, Manchester Ward One Alderman Chris Morgan extolled his success in securing a city appropriation to construct a basketball court in the North Ward’s Livingston Park. He said he worked on this effort over three years. By his exuberant comments after the vote, no doubt the alderman considered the ball court a milestone in his political career.

It did make me curious though why it is so difficult for our Mayor and Board of Alderman to initiate projects that enhance Manchester’s quality of life. I have lived in Manchester for over 40 years. I have seen the city go through good times and bad times, most often the latter. Over the years we have seen vacant store fronts, the flight of retail, sidewalk tree holes where there once were trees, cars on Elm Street that don't stop for pedestrians at crosswalks, the graffiti and the overgrown grass on our byways. And it is never hard to miss the huge gray electrical boxes that dot our downtown street corners and stand out like ugly urban scars, courtesy of our Planning Board, and Eversource.

Periodically, Manchester residents are invited to offer ideas on how to improve our city. Many ideas flow: create small destination street signs to Manchester attractions, install a tourist booth for visitors, create several information kiosks for residents and nonprofits to post upcoming events, reimagine a city bus system that works for all people, not just the poor, enliven the riverfront with a municipal wharf and water events, establish a multi-modal transportation center so residents do not have to travel to North Londonderry to catch a bus to Boston and elsewhere. Yes, repair the streets that have been chewed up by our utility companies.

I keep looking for Manchester’s farmer’s market. There used to be one. Now I go to the one in Concord. Is the problem leadership? And what ever happened to the plan for commuter train service to Boston. At some point we cannot keep adding more concrete lanes to I-93 and DW Highway. A city with a light rail would truly be a destination.

We like the post-covid sidewalk restaurant sitting, but do the tables have to be enclosed by an uninviting plastic black chain or yellow tape that resembles a crime scene? Let’s see some attractive barriers. There’s more: what about public toilets, a library lecture series, occasional street performers, or a few sidewalk benches. These are things that elevate a city and provide a vibrant downtown.

Some quality-of-life improvements would cost money, but others would not break the bank, and offer great volunteer opportunities. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Chamber of Commerce would step up to move the ball, the way it once did with the construction of the civic center and the airport. Our city non-profits and civic organizations could also weigh in to promote improvement.

Frankly, it is a mystery to me why some candidates run for office. Is it just to guarantee a vote for union proposals or a desire for power? As our candidates stump the City, you would be hard pressed to hear them offer an imaginative idea or even a vision for the City as something as simple as more trees or urban art. Many candidates seem to be place holders content with the status quo. Once in office, they don’t seem to do much. Voters need to press for answers.

Could an activist mayor or enlightened Board of Alderman harness some of the City’s energy and resources to provide a path? Where is the City’s political leadership striving to move Manchester to new heights? Are voters consigned to hearing about the same old tired issues that never get solved? It’s time to move on. We need to demand our candidates explain their vision for the city. Truly, Manchester is not Portland or Providence. But why can’t it have the vision of Portsmouth or Concord? Note to candidates: I challenge you. Tell us your ideas that will inspire, raise Manchester to a new level, and improve our quality of life.

George Bruno is a long time Manchester resident and voter.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.