Energy shortages in California and Europe have prompted a revival of interest in Nuclear power. And who gets the credit? Environmental activists, naturally. “Why even environmental activists are supporting nuclear power today,” National Public Radio gushed last week. The few environmentalists highlighted in the story deserve credit for taking such an unpopular position within the […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1958702797-scaled.jpg17092560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-09-06 20:02:582022-09-06 20:04:05Nuclear power is having a moment despite, not because of, environmental activists
Hanover could be the canary in the coal mine for housing-induced labor shortages in New Hampshire. The town has canceled its annual Fall Fest and its after-school program for grades three through five because it can’t find enough staff, the Valley News reported. Why can’t the town find enough staff? The town manager cited the […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1199063533-scaled.jpg17062560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-08-29 15:43:132022-08-29 15:43:13Is Hanover the canary in the coal mine for N.H. housing?
Students are heading back to school, and based on media reports you might expect them to be sitting in classrooms without a teacher. News organizations nationwide have published stories raising alarms about dire school staffing shortages. So why do hiring and staffing data tell a completely different story? The New Hampshire Department of Education announced […]
By Jason Sorens Gov. Chris Sununu and his opponent, Sen. Tom Sherman, have proposed reforms to alleviate New Hampshire’s severe housing shortage. How do those proposals compare, and how effective would they be? A brief overview of each suggests that neither would solve New Hampshire’s housing shortage, but Gov. Sununu’s initiative would be likely to […]
On August 23, a handful of state laws crafted to address New Hampshire’s housing shortage take effect. Though the big reforms were left on the Legislature’s cutting room floor, these modest changes might prove helpful. The splashiest change, which might prompt some warrant articles next spring, applies zoning exemptions carved out for 55+ communities to […]
I have nothing further to recommend at this time but the cultivation of a Spirit of Unanimity and Harmony, of Candor and liberality of Sentiments among ourselves and the people at large, that while (as I trust) we are all aiming to promote the general welfare, the different Sentiments that may be Entertained of the […]
New Hampshire collected a record $430.1 million budget surplus in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended June 30th. Most of it is already gone. From January to June, legislators spent $261.7 million — or 60% — of the surplus. For context, the amount of new spending in 2022 was just a bit larger than the […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_2141393497.jpg476847Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-08-08 18:30:022022-08-08 18:30:02Legislators have spent (at least) 60% of the state’s record budget surplus
If you planned to start a new enterprise and hire someone to run it, you’d probably avoid applicants who racked up disastrous safety records and massive financial deficits on their way to being investigated and placed under remedial safety orders by the feds. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation, though, has tapped an operator with […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_146136107.jpg317523Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-08-02 15:22:232022-08-02 15:22:23New Hampshire’s chosen commuter rail partner has a dismal safety record
Government energy plans too often focus on replacing consumers’ choices with those of government planners, regardless of the impact on consumers. New Hampshire’s 10 Year Energy Strategy goes in the other direction. It puts consumers first. The new strategy is little changed from the 2018 version. Its top priorities are shrunk from 11 to 10, […]
New Hampshire has the top two hottest housing markets in the country, as rated by real estate search website realtor.com. These ratings should be taken with a grain of salt, as they’re based in part on search queries on a single listings website. But even if the rankings are an accurate representation of the market, […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_508556.jpg500752Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-07-19 16:28:282022-07-19 16:28:28Having the ‘hottest housing market’ means you don’t have enough houses
Nuclear power is having a moment despite, not because of, environmental activists
BLOG, ENERGY, FEATUREDEnergy shortages in California and Europe have prompted a revival of interest in Nuclear power. And who gets the credit? Environmental activists, naturally. “Why even environmental activists are supporting nuclear power today,” National Public Radio gushed last week. The few environmentalists highlighted in the story deserve credit for taking such an unpopular position within the […]
Is Hanover the canary in the coal mine for N.H. housing?
BLOG, HOUSINGHanover could be the canary in the coal mine for housing-induced labor shortages in New Hampshire. The town has canceled its annual Fall Fest and its after-school program for grades three through five because it can’t find enough staff, the Valley News reported. Why can’t the town find enough staff? The town manager cited the […]
What teacher shortage?
BLOG, EDUCATIONStudents are heading back to school, and based on media reports you might expect them to be sitting in classrooms without a teacher. News organizations nationwide have published stories raising alarms about dire school staffing shortages. So why do hiring and staffing data tell a completely different story? The New Hampshire Department of Education announced […]
The gubernatorial candidates’ housing plans: An assessment
FEATURED, HOUSING, REGULATIONBy Jason Sorens Gov. Chris Sununu and his opponent, Sen. Tom Sherman, have proposed reforms to alleviate New Hampshire’s severe housing shortage. How do those proposals compare, and how effective would they be? A brief overview of each suggests that neither would solve New Hampshire’s housing shortage, but Gov. Sununu’s initiative would be likely to […]
Modest changes to housing regulations take effect
FEATURED, HOUSING, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REGULATIONOn August 23, a handful of state laws crafted to address New Hampshire’s housing shortage take effect. Though the big reforms were left on the Legislature’s cutting room floor, these modest changes might prove helpful. The splashiest change, which might prompt some warrant articles next spring, applies zoning exemptions carved out for 55+ communities to […]
Josiah Bartlett (the original) urges spirit of goodwill
BLOGI have nothing further to recommend at this time but the cultivation of a Spirit of Unanimity and Harmony, of Candor and liberality of Sentiments among ourselves and the people at large, that while (as I trust) we are all aiming to promote the general welfare, the different Sentiments that may be Entertained of the […]
Legislators have spent (at least) 60% of the state’s record budget surplus
BUDGET, FEATUREDNew Hampshire collected a record $430.1 million budget surplus in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended June 30th. Most of it is already gone. From January to June, legislators spent $261.7 million — or 60% — of the surplus. For context, the amount of new spending in 2022 was just a bit larger than the […]
New Hampshire’s chosen commuter rail partner has a dismal safety record
BLOG, FEATURED, TRANSPORTATIONIf you planned to start a new enterprise and hire someone to run it, you’d probably avoid applicants who racked up disastrous safety records and massive financial deficits on their way to being investigated and placed under remedial safety orders by the feds. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation, though, has tapped an operator with […]
New Hampshire’s 10-year energy strategy puts consumers first
ENERGY, FEATUREDGovernment energy plans too often focus on replacing consumers’ choices with those of government planners, regardless of the impact on consumers. New Hampshire’s 10 Year Energy Strategy goes in the other direction. It puts consumers first. The new strategy is little changed from the 2018 version. Its top priorities are shrunk from 11 to 10, […]
Having the ‘hottest housing market’ means you don’t have enough houses
BLOG, FEATURED, HOUSING, LOCAL GOVERNMENTNew Hampshire has the top two hottest housing markets in the country, as rated by real estate search website realtor.com. These ratings should be taken with a grain of salt, as they’re based in part on search queries on a single listings website. But even if the rankings are an accurate representation of the market, […]