What Individuality?

"Live Free or Die: For Death is not the worst of evils." From the lips of General John Stark, immortalized as our state motto "Live Free or Die," personally means a lot to me. It's something I have believed in whole-heartidly, since I could perform the funcion of reason. As it happened, we will never know the absolute truth about the birth of this fine nation, but one thing is certain, Live Free or Die was the backbone of that American Dream. . . and it breaks my heart to see the state that took on the mantre, slowly let it disipate into nothing.

Slowly but Surely New Hampshire is transitioning into New Massachusettes. Being born and raised in Portsmouth, I see it every day first hand. I don't blame the bean-towners for migrating north to our fair state, becaasue it trully is an amazing place to live. I've tried to venture out, and alwasy find my way back home. I'm greatful that our town is getting the recognition it deserves . . .but at exactly what cost? With every new developer that comes in with a new project, the the quaintness that makes this town; the seclution that makes this state so hospitable dies a little bit.

I used to be on board. I mean, the Hotel business is my business, and I love it. It's so much fun to meet the travelers and visitors, and show them a good time, and what makes my town so much fun (even with a last call of 1:00 a.m.). When the Port Walk was announced, I thought it was great . . . and still do. . . at least the original idea. I was working for that company at the time of the announcement. Not only would the project create more jobs, but it was a project that went so far beyond just a new hote, not that we NEED another hotel in this town, and the project would have been cheaper without it, but hey, what do I know? I was just born and raised here. Though, it was an excuse to get rid of the parade mall, which I'm sorry, just had to go.

Most importantly you felt like these people actually cared about the people of this town, and not just the tourists. But business is business, and with it comes dirty politics, and now the parade mall is becoming a corporate monster that no one will be able to control. It's all about numbers, and profit, when before it was about making portsmouth a better place to live, it is now making portsmouth a cool place to visit. But guess what . . . We, the people who still have to live here when the tourists all flock back to their nests still exist!

We're the ones who suffer when we talk about cutting $4million from our school budget. WE suffer when you tax us. Most LLC's wouldn't suffer from this this new tax . . . because most of them are the big Boston names, but the small local business owners WOULD still take a hit. and a big one. We have 98 Police officer's on the city pay roll . . . who will all be taking pay cuts. I used to think that number was too large, and still do really, but in an over populated town of over 20,000, a strong police force is necessary. Spend, Spend, Spend . . . it seems that's what we do best in this town. Market Square artwork, Childrens day, Market Square Day, those god-forsaken parking meters which almost everyone I know absolutely hates! (and I know a lot of people). Sometimes I feel like we, the townsmen and women, have no say about what happens here. Like the Boston Businessmen are running the show.

I welcome all visitors with open arms. I welcome all new-comers as well. . . but when you move here to start a new life, you must be ready to leave the old life behind. Don't tell a bar-owner his establishment HAS TO be non-smoking. Don't shoo the musician out of the square because he doesn't look like a backstreet boy. The only right it seems we have left, is that we don't HAVE TO buckle our seat-belts when we drive our cars. You all want to re-make Portsmouth into your own vision. . . . but what you don't realize is that Portsmouth was great before you got wind of it, and will continue to be great long after you leave. These developers, their projects were supposed to bring balance to the city's budget, and bring people in to ultimately spend their money. So why, with all these corporations paying in all these taxes to the city, are we talking about slashing budgets, and laying off our teachers, police officers, and other city-workers?

We don't need cell towers, and wirless access points, or malfunctioning parking-meters. We need teachers to guide our youth. We need a better education system so that parents aren't shipping their kids off to private schools, out of fear of a poor education. We need to give our fellow Puddledockers an even chance at starting their own American Dream. We need to propperly fund our public works, to keep the quality of life we hold so near and dear. We, the people, need to take back our town. . . before the Bean-town Takeover gets any worse. New Hampshire tends to pride itself on its individuality . . . well I pose this question to you granite staters: What Individuality?