Tonight, the Rochester City Council voted against joining The Granite State Futures program, which is New Hampshire’s implementation of Barack Obama’s Sustainable Communities Initiative.
A few weeks ago, about 50 people (from Rochester and many surrounding communities) showed up at a City Council workshop to voice their opinion against this program, which includes an approximate $30,000 planning grant. It wasn’t until tonight’s vote that someone showed up to speak in favor of the program – Regional HUD representative (and Republican), Greg Carson, who was ill during the night of the workshop.
At least 70 people showed up tonight for the vote.
In these economic times, grant money like this is tempting for cities and towns that are likely in financial straits. But Rochester has accepted Federal grant money in the past and got burned; they apparently heard the warnings from the public, and gave sufficient weight to prior experience.
One of the key issues with joining this program is the lack of local control regarding the use of the grant money. The Granite State Futures contract with HUD (signed and executed by the Nashua Regional Planning Commission), makes it very clear that HUD is to have “substantial involvement” in the program, and has final authority over plans and execution of all grant spending. It is also clear that the end-game for the Nashua RPC is to develop a state-wide, comprehensive master plan – not the regional plans they advertise, much less allowing local communities to think and act for themselves.
Lastly, there is the overarching threat of lawsuits, for taking federal money and not complying with HUD “fair housing” constraints, the likes of the $51.6M settlement that Westchester County, NY suffered through a few years ago.
Score one for private property rights, state sovereignty, and New Hampshire’s nasty habit of independence and thirst for self-government.