Republicans Oppose Youth Programing

Last week Mike Farina posted a detailed and thoughtful story about the Republicans precieved willingness to sacrifice youth programing for … well, I really don’t know why they wouldn’t be supportive of doing anything and everything to ensure that youth programing is not reduced or eliminated.  Providing youth with positive and constructive outlets is a proven strategy to reduce gang activity and youth crime.  Last week’s events might have seemed like posturing; a flexing of new political muscles intended to demonstrate their magnificent power in the majority.  It was presumed that they would bend and ultimately agree to station a temporary trailer adjacent to the teen center to provide the town with the space they require to continue the level of programming they presently offer.  After all, who’d vote against kids?

I, and many like me, were wrong.  At last nights Zoning Board of Appeals meeting the proposal was defeated along party lines, the first partisan vote in 18 years!  I understand the need for partisan posturing on the Board of Directors, but on the Zoning Board of Appeals?  This trailer is essential to youth programming and helping to keep idle youth off the streets. 

The Republican “Covenant” was filled with promises about accountability and quality-of-life issues, how can they justify their stonewalling of this proposal, which was not initiated by the Democrats (though it is supported by them), and cutting productive programing for Manchester’s youth? 

Is that being accountable?  Is that dedicating yourself to being a champion of quality-of-life issues? 

The Democrats have always – and will continue to – stand in support of Manchester’s children, and will never play politics when the right decision is obvious.

Democratic Directors Announce February Resolutions

The entry is cross-posted at www.manchesterdemocrats.blogspot.com

The Democratic Directors recently released their February resolutions, which will be heard and considered by the entire Board of Directors later next month. There are four (4) resolutions in total; addressing the Bennet Leisure Center, hiring a library consultant, filming and broadcasting the Directors’ budget workshops and the institution of all-day kindergarten at all 10 elementary schools.

The Bennet Leisure Center resolution calls for the full implementation of the town’s recent proposal for after-school and weekend programing once the facility comes back on line later this fall. It is a comprehensive plan that will provide a variety of activities to provide creative outlets for Manchester’s youth.

During the last election, the Democratic candidates for the Board of Directors made Mary Cheney Library a chief issue in that the demand for – and success of – the programs offered has forced town staff to consider other space alternatives simply due to the existing size limitations of the structure. The Democratic Directors’ resolutions calls for the town to release an RFP (request for proposal) or RFQ (request for quotation) to hire a consultant to study future space needs and whether the existing facility is capable of supporting same.

As past budget workshops have not been documented to any great extent, the Democratic Directors believe that transparency is critical and have thus submitted a resolution that calls for the videotaping of all workshop sessions and subsequent broadcasting on Channel 16, Silk City Television.

The most ambitious resolution in the recent set of submissions is the request to institute all-day kindergarten in all 10 elementary schools prior to the state of the ‘09-’10 school year. Countless studies have demonstrated that young students who attend all-day kindergarten have more advanced social skills, fully-developed independent study skills and are better prepared for academic success later in their academic careers. The resolution calls for the Board of Directors to provide “all necessary funding” to assist the Board of Education in ensuring that that this goal is accomplished.