The Soapbox | Manchester Ink Link

NCAA Women’s Tournament: It’s time for equal access to facilities, equal attention to marketing and branding

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Sen. Lou D'Allesandro 0

There is absolutely no reason that in 2021 the NCAA should be giving preferential treatment to one tournament over the other when both are played by dedicated athletes at the top of their game. READ MORE

Another mass shooting: Time is now for the art of compromise – conflict resolution and sensible gun laws

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Rik Cornell 1

Whenever a mass shooting takes place everyone quickly races to make some sense of the horrific display of carnage. Why would a person or persons inflict such pain on others? Why now? Why them? Just why? READ MORE

New Hampshire needs a budget that works for its public schools

Monday, April 5, 2021 Mary Heath 2

All told, because of the expiration of those new forms of assistance and because of the pandemic, cities and towns are expected to lose nearly $90 million in state education aid in FY 2022. In response, many localities have already begun to approve school budgets that feature substantial spending reductions, sizable property tax increases, or both. READ MORE

HB 544: Effort to shut down conversations on race and gender in government an abdication of responsibility

Monday, April 5, 2021 Asma Elhuni 4

We know for this country to live up to its promise of a multiracial democracy where Black, Brown and White communities can thrive together, we are going to have to talk together about racial justice, gender justice and what justice for all really means, in particular within government. Against the wishes of the majority of Americans and its employees, some don’t want those conversations to happen. READ MORE

The Soapbox: Recovery from COVID will be a long road

Saturday, April 3, 2021 Rep. Nicole Klein-Knight 0

One COVID relief program I’ve been shouting to the rooftops of Manchester about is the Emergency Rental Relief Program – which is still available for anyone experiencing difficulty paying rent due to COVID. READ MORE

The Soapbox: Preserve the American Dream, no Financial Transaction Tax

Saturday, April 3, 2021 Kevin Cavanaugh 2

With retirement becoming increasingly out of reach, the last thing we should be doing is introducing new taxes on the retirement savings of Americans. Unfortunately, a new proposed tax in the Senate—the financial transaction tax—would do exactly that. READ MORE

What’s it going to take to end youth homelessness in NH?

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Ariel Hayes, Chelsea Gomes, Amy Malone 0

Youth stay under the radar, they couch surf, work regular jobs, may even attend classes at school, and in many ways look like your average young adult.  They are resourceful and resilient, and they are often experiencing homelessness for the first time– which makes them especially vulnerable. Most Granite Staters aren’t aware of their existence. But we are. READ MORE

NH Council of Churches: We stand with new Hampshire’s working people and oppose ‘right to work’

Sunday, March 21, 2021 NH Council of Churches 3

As we prepare for these holidays and observances, it is time for people of faith to stand with all working people and oppose NH S.B. 61, this year’s version of the so-called “right to work” bill in New Hampshire which, despite its deceptive name, it not about providing access to work for anyone. READ MORE

The Soapbox: NH’s U.S. Senators – thanks for doing what is right for NH

Monday, March 15, 2021 Bill Grenier and Tom Boucher 1

In NH fashion, Senators Shaheen and Hassan listened to those who would be most impacted by eliminating the tip wage and made the difficult political decision to break with leadership and party to vote against the bill. Tipped restaurant employees in NH were not asking for this; in fact, most are against it as they make more in tips than the minimum wage, including the proposed hike to $15 per hour. READ MORE

If you haven’t filed your tax return yet, read this first

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 Mica M. Coleman 1

The IRS accepted our return on February 10, 2021. I thought I hade done everything right. That is, until the IRS2Go app version of “Wheres my refund” website, finally updated to “Approved” on March 1. But instead of saying a date that our refund would be deposited by, it stated our refund check would be MAILED. With no additional information as to why. READ MORE