From 2013–2022, the Manchester Transit Authority (MTA) increased spending by more than a third and rapidly expanded service offerings to try to increase ridership. It was a colossal failure, as we highlighted in April. Instead of acknowledging the failure and changing course, the federal government this week announced a massive infusion of additional resources. Washington […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/bus-driver-cropped-scaled.jpg21182560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-07-12 17:11:242024-07-12 18:17:17Feds devote another $19 million to save declining Manchester bus service
Speaking at an event in Portsmouth this month, economist Ali Wolf dropped a stunning statistic. Rents in the United States have risen by an average of 25% since the pandemic—but in New Hampshire they’ve risen by 45%. Consider the news a follow-up to last July’s revelation that New Hampshire rents rose at double the rate […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1887387904-scaled.jpg17072560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2024-06-28 14:34:102024-06-28 14:34:10New Hampshire can’t thrive as a Hallmark movie set
With a growing housing shortage and skyrocketing home prices as a result, the issue of housing is top of mind for Granite Staters. A June UNH Survey Center poll found that Granite Staters overwhelmingly say housing is the most important problem facing the state. Unsurprisingly, the issue was also a top priority for legislators in […]
Congratulations to the Boston Celtics, the 2024 NBA champions! Sixteen years to the date of their last championship, the Celtics became the winningest basketball franchise in history. Now the players can spend the offseason celebrating—and paying their taxes. Aside from the players and Celtics staff, probably no one is celebrating the title more than the […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_2452299939-scaled.jpg17072560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-06-18 18:26:062024-06-18 18:26:06Massachusetts punishes NBA champs by taking extra half million in taxes
Kay is a 63-year-old single mom in Manchester who would love to be able to retire in the next five years. But as things stand, she doesn’t think she’ll be able to. Her adopted son needs the kind of high school environment they haven’t found among area public schools. And she needs to find the […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_604851029-1-scaled.jpg17072560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-06-13 07:10:062024-06-13 07:47:13How $90 has put EFAs out of reach for a Manchester single mom
After continuing negotiations into a second day, Committee of Conference members agreed this week to expand eligibility for the popular Education Freedom Account (EFA) program. The agreement reached on House Bill 1665 would raise the income threshold from 350% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 425%. That figure is closer to the Senate’s position […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1950449110-scaled.jpg17072560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-06-08 09:55:152024-06-08 10:55:57Prospect of compromise EFA expansion raises hopes of families on edge of eligibility
When the House passed House Bill 1400, the bill prevented municipalities from requiring more than one residential parking space per housing unit in their local zoning regulations. Requiring 1.5 or two parking spaces per unit, as many zoning districts do, is often a prohibitive hurdle for housing developers and owners of multifamily properties to overcome, […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_312052721-scaled.jpg16242560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-06-01 10:05:062024-06-02 10:10:41Senate takes a stand on squatting
Though a housing shortage amid rising demand continues to push prices up in most of the country, some cities in Florida and Texas are seeing housing prices fall. How? They’ve built a lot more housing, The Wall Street Journal reports. In most of the U.S., the limited number of homes for sale is pushing prices […]
Sarah Breisch knew she could do better for her six children than send them to their government-assigned district public schools. The public schools in their city, Claremont, are low-performing. “I don’t have anything necessarily philosophically against public schools,” Breisch told us, “but just being very honest and frank, Claremont’s public schools rank very, very low […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1836024769.jpg55048256Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-05-21 14:35:432024-05-21 14:35:43Education freedom meant better education outcomes for this New Hampshire family
As part of their doctorate-level education, optometrists learn how to perform minor surgeries, including some laser eye surgeries. Yet New Hampshire law prohibits optometrists from doing any surgeries, even ones they’re trained to do. Only ophthalmologists (physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care) are permitted by law to perform laser procedures in New […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_364476659-scaled.jpg17962560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-05-16 20:34:572024-05-17 18:07:15The state says optometrists can’t do surgeries, including ones they’re trained to do
Feds devote another $19 million to save declining Manchester bus service
FEATURED, TRANSPORTATIONFrom 2013–2022, the Manchester Transit Authority (MTA) increased spending by more than a third and rapidly expanded service offerings to try to increase ridership. It was a colossal failure, as we highlighted in April. Instead of acknowledging the failure and changing course, the federal government this week announced a massive infusion of additional resources. Washington […]
New Hampshire can’t thrive as a Hallmark movie set
BLOG, ECONOMY, FEATUREDSpeaking at an event in Portsmouth this month, economist Ali Wolf dropped a stunning statistic. Rents in the United States have risen by an average of 25% since the pandemic—but in New Hampshire they’ve risen by 45%. Consider the news a follow-up to last July’s revelation that New Hampshire rents rose at double the rate […]
On housing, New Hampshire’s No. 1 issue, 2024 offers few big reforms
FEATURED, HOUSING, REGULATIONWith a growing housing shortage and skyrocketing home prices as a result, the issue of housing is top of mind for Granite Staters. A June UNH Survey Center poll found that Granite Staters overwhelmingly say housing is the most important problem facing the state. Unsurprisingly, the issue was also a top priority for legislators in […]
Massachusetts punishes NBA champs by taking extra half million in taxes
BLOG, FEATURED, TAXATIONCongratulations to the Boston Celtics, the 2024 NBA champions! Sixteen years to the date of their last championship, the Celtics became the winningest basketball franchise in history. Now the players can spend the offseason celebrating—and paying their taxes. Aside from the players and Celtics staff, probably no one is celebrating the title more than the […]
How $90 has put EFAs out of reach for a Manchester single mom
BLOG, EDUCATION, FEATUREDKay is a 63-year-old single mom in Manchester who would love to be able to retire in the next five years. But as things stand, she doesn’t think she’ll be able to. Her adopted son needs the kind of high school environment they haven’t found among area public schools. And she needs to find the […]
Prospect of compromise EFA expansion raises hopes of families on edge of eligibility
EDUCATION, FEATUREDAfter continuing negotiations into a second day, Committee of Conference members agreed this week to expand eligibility for the popular Education Freedom Account (EFA) program. The agreement reached on House Bill 1665 would raise the income threshold from 350% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 425%. That figure is closer to the Senate’s position […]
Senate takes a stand on squatting
BLOG, HOUSINGWhen the House passed House Bill 1400, the bill prevented municipalities from requiring more than one residential parking space per housing unit in their local zoning regulations. Requiring 1.5 or two parking spaces per unit, as many zoning districts do, is often a prohibitive hurdle for housing developers and owners of multifamily properties to overcome, […]
Surprise: when housing supply meets demand, prices stabilize
BLOG, HOUSING, REGULATIONThough a housing shortage amid rising demand continues to push prices up in most of the country, some cities in Florida and Texas are seeing housing prices fall. How? They’ve built a lot more housing, The Wall Street Journal reports. In most of the U.S., the limited number of homes for sale is pushing prices […]
Education freedom meant better education outcomes for this New Hampshire family
EDUCATION, FEATUREDSarah Breisch knew she could do better for her six children than send them to their government-assigned district public schools. The public schools in their city, Claremont, are low-performing. “I don’t have anything necessarily philosophically against public schools,” Breisch told us, “but just being very honest and frank, Claremont’s public schools rank very, very low […]
The state says optometrists can’t do surgeries, including ones they’re trained to do
FEATURED, HEALTH CARE, REGULATIONAs part of their doctorate-level education, optometrists learn how to perform minor surgeries, including some laser eye surgeries. Yet New Hampshire law prohibits optometrists from doing any surgeries, even ones they’re trained to do. Only ophthalmologists (physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care) are permitted by law to perform laser procedures in New […]