Letter: How convoluted the path of legislation can be

A bill (HB 452) to deny asylum seekers the right to a driver’s license was passed by the NH House of Representatives. When it arrived in the NH Senate Transportation Committee for a hearing, Chair Ricciardi commented she had never received so many contacts from NH citizens to oppose a bill. It was clear that Senator Ricciardi, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, “gets it.” She understands that asylum seekers are here in the US with the permission of our government and are not lawless people invading our country. She recognizes asylum seekers as hard working people, who are supporting their families, and contributing to our communities.

Letter: Opinion: Is it time to rethink Concord’s city manager system?

The city manager system was introduced in 1908 to curb party corruption by managing cities like businesses – emphasizing efficiency over public input. But business models aren’t democratic. In practice, this approach stripped voters of their voice while burdening them with the salaries of unelected officials who are not required to listen to the public.

Letter: Is something missing

Regarding letter to the Monitor titled “No defense of actions in Gaza” (May 28), if I woke up from a coma after 600 days, I would wonder what Israel was doing in Gaza. The writer omitted a very simple fact – Hamas and the people of Gaza are holding Israeli hostages. One may find this difficult to believe but it is a fact. A very simple but important fact that the writer failed to mention.

Letter: Listen to the people

It’s disheartening to see some lawmakers express frustration with constituents simply for speaking up. Representative Weyler recently said he’s “tired” of hearing from the public. But isn’t that the job? Our elected officials are public servants – accountable to the people they represent.

Letter: Pass a state budget that supports public education

I’m calling on lawmakers to pass a state budget that truly supports public education, lifts the burden off local property taxpayers, and stops funneling public dollars into private voucher programs.

Opinion: All of us will feel pain from cuts to Medicaid

By MICHAEL J. COHEN

Michael J. Cohen is a principal consultant at MJC Health Solutions, LLC. He previously served as the executive director of the New Hampshire chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He lives in Amherst.

Opinion: The plausibility of the impossible

By JOHN BUTTRICK

John Buttrick writes from his Vermont Folk Rocker in his Concord home, Minds Crossing. He can be reached at johndbuttrick@gmail.com.

Opinion: Looking to history for courage in 2025

By JEAN LEWANDOWSKI

Jean Lewandowski is a retired special needs teacher. She lives in Nashua.

Opinion: War devastates lives — and the environment, too

By SCOTT DICKMAN

Scott Dickman is a board member of New Hampshire Peace Action and belongs to the Compassionate Listening Project. He lives in Concord.

Letter: New Hampshire does not support school vouchers, but we are getting them anyway.

When will our Legislature stop ignoring its constituents?

Letter: The price tag on the Beav

Anyone who knows me knows that golf has been a large part of my life. The Clubhouse at Beaver Meadow Golf Course certainly needs replacement, but I have to ask… if I can build a 5000-square-foot, high-end home in Concord for $2 million, why does it cost $6-8 million for a new golf clubhouse? In all of the articles on this issue, I have not seen a good explanation.

Letter: No defense

In Gaza, Israel keeps 2.1 million people caged, bombing the entire population continually with huge (2,000 lbs) “bunker-buster” bombs. Gazans have no defense. No anti-aircraft guns, no fighter jets, no missile defense shield. Look around you right now and imagine bombed out buildings, schools, hospitals, roads and water systems, devastation everywhere. Lives reduced to rubble.

Opinion: The criminalization of health care providers

By NICK PERENCEVICH

Nick Perencevich, MD is a semi-retired surgeon from Concord who served for 17 years on the New Hampshire Board of Medicine.

Opinion: How dark can it get?

By JONATHAN P. BAIRD

Jonathan P. Baird lives in Wilmot.

Opinion: Hopkinton students speak out on youth sports and poverty

By CHLOE MAHEU and PARKER JOHNSON

Chloe Maheu and Parker Johnson are middle school students in Hopkinton.

Opinion: Early childhood education should be funded — not the first item on the chopping block

By SHANNON TREMBLAY, MARIANNE BARTER, LYNN OUELLETTE and JACKIE FIRMIN

Shannon Tremblay, Marianne Barter, Lynn Ouellette and Jackie Firmin are respectively director, chair, vice chair and secretary of the New Hampshire Child Care Advisory Council. The Council is a legislatively enacted body that advises state and local leaders on issues impacting child care.

Opinion: Beaver Meadow could be managed better. The new proposal might work.

By ROBERT C. WASHBURN

Robert C. Washburn lives in Concord.

Opinion: Confronting the rubbish that clutters our minds

By JEAN STIMMELL

Jean Stimmell, retired stone mason and psychotherapist, lives in Northwood and blogs at jeanstimmell.blogspot.com and jstim.substack.com.

Opinion: Non-opioid pain management options exist. Why aren’t they covered by Medicaid?

By AMY O’DELL WILSON

Amy O’Dell Wilson is the vice president of the New Hampshire Acupuncture & Asian Medicine Association and an acupuncturist member of the New Hampshire Integrative Pain Care Committee. She lives in Harrisville and practices in Peterborough.

Opinion: The plight of medical/psychiatric patients in New Hampshire

By JERROLD POLLAK

Jerrold Pollak, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. He lives in Portsmouth.