MANCHESTER, NH – It was the usual Thursday morning breakfast crowd at Chez Vachon, with another dozen or so who had come especially to help launch Sen. Lou D’Allesandro’s bid for the NH Senate.
If successful this election cycle, it will be his 10th term serving Manchester constituents in Concord, adding to his legacy of public service.
D’Allesandro, 77, mingled with the diners and, before the first round of coffee was finished, had already secured 34 signatures – more than enough to make his candidacy official and file paperwork in Concord by the June 10 deadline.
But D’Allesandro said he would continue to make stops around the city anyway, with another campaign swing planned early in the afternoon at Jerome’s Deli on Bridge Street.
Circulating around the city he loves is one of the best parts of the job, he says.
If re-elected, D’Allesandro said he will continue to focus his energy on getting education funding “squared away” and gird the city’s efforts to stem the opioid crisis, through legislation and advocacy.
“It’s become pervasive – the violence has become pervasive – we had that terrible shooting in Manchester yesterday, and we’ve had shootings in my area day after day after day. We’ve got to get a handle on that, and support law enforcement,” D’Allesandro said.
“It’s important to get more treatment facilities for those who’ve become addicted, and do all we can to make Manchester a better place,” he said.
He understands the critical need – for treatment services and more affordable housing for those seeking “sober living” arrangements, post-drug treatment. The key to increasing services means working closely with the Department of Health and Human Services.
“It’s really up to Health and Human Services – the opening of 12 beds at NH Hospital will help – we have to keep things going in the right direction,” D’Allesandro said.
He said he believes Mayor Ted Gatsas should be focused right now on the task at hand, which is the city’s needs, regardless of his active campaign for governor.
“He needs to focus on the fact that Manchester isn’t the place it used to be. It’s changing – dramatically – and it’s not for the better. Look at what’s happened here just in the last month,” D’Allesandro said. “There’s more criminal activity because we’re not doing enough educationally, and with other services, to prevent this from happening. That’s our job.”
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