There have been four – count ‘em, FOUR – Republican Supreme Court Justices implicated in various scandals over the past few weeks. 

• Clarence Thomas has been accepting lavish and undisclosed vacations from a GOP megadonor who collects Hitler memorabilia, and who also purchased Thomas’ boyhood home for his collection, while letting Thomas’ mom stay there for free.
• Neil Gorsuch kept it a secret that the buyer of a 40-acre property he co-owned was the CEO of a law firm with business before the Court.
• John Roberts hid the fact that his wife made well over $10 million for their family in a head-hunting business that she built to take advantage of the connections available to her as the wife of the Chief Justice of the United States.
• Brett Kavanaugh’s cover story for a sexual assault that he almost certainly committed while at Yale fell apart a little more, as it was revealed that the person who Republicans falsely accused of that incident was not even in college at the time. This is a fact that Donald Trump’s FBI didn’t even bother to find out prior to Kavanaugh’s Senate confirmation vote.

These are four of the most powerful people in America, and they sit at the head of a broader American judicial system that is highly corrupt, and not currently worthy of the respect it once commanded.

Judicial reform is desperately needed, but not actually an option given the Republican stranglehold over checks and balances in this country. The only tool available to the rest of us is scorn.

Did you know that New Hampshire is the only New England state that does not have a comprehensive, updated climate action plan? Or that NH is the only New England state that does not have a mandated requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

According to the NH Dept. of Environmental Services (DES), NH will most likely continue to emit the same amount of greenhouse gases for the next decade under its current policies, (if we even have any). The NHDES found in 2019 that cars and trucks were responsible for nearly half (47%) of emissions.

As far as renewables go, well, NH is behind our neighbor states in generating electricity from renewables. This inaction towards climate change only continues to endanger the health and well-being of NH residents and people nationwide.

Last week, 7 states, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont came together and submitted a proposal to the federal government of $3.62 billion hoping to secure a position as a regional clean hydrogen hub. Notice who was missing? This is a part of Pres. Biden’s “Investment and Jobs Act” looking to bring about 6 to 10 similar hubs nationwide, in an attempt to address clean energy.

While some of the participating governors of the aforementioned states commented on and praised this opportunity for economic growth and promotion of their climate goals, it leads one to wonder if NH has any climate goals or even any interest in addressing the issues of clean energy, climate and extreme weather. Not to mention, it was an opportunity to secure federal money. Sadly, NH joins Florida, Idaho and South Dakota by not participating in, at the very least, one hub proposal.

However, NH does have a hydrogen project in Coos County. A former paper mill in Groveton is being used by Q Hydrogen. The plan is to redevelop the mill into “the world’s first power plant completely fueled by clean, affordable clear hydrogen” according to the company which is based out of Utah.

A little bit about hydrogen: it can be obtained from renewable energy or fossil fuels. It can be burned to provide power, stored or transported. Electrolysis and thermal processes are the most common way of producing hydrogen fuel. On the flip side, there are critics who claim hydrogen is not the perfect solution, citing it can cause pollution in other ways. Leaks can release methane (greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere and when burned, it can emit nitrogen oxide, another form of air pollution. However, if used safely and properly, hydrogen can go a long way in helping combat what is a global concern.

In early April, Sen. David Watters (D-Barrington, Dover, Rollinsford, and Somersworth.) testified to the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee on behalf of a bill he introduced to support the development of green hydrogen in NH. “I don’t want New Hampshire to be the black hole where industry says don’t go there because you can’t get anything built,” Watters said. “… I want that investment to come here, both federal money and private dollars to come in, and I think we have huge potential here.”

Gov. Sununu took office in 2017 and has since then vetoed the following:
increases to the state’s net-metering cap,
expansion of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard,
and a bill that would have had the state study renewable energy procurements. 

Let’s hope the bill being brought forth by Sen. Watters, should it make the governor’s desk, not suffer the same fate. 

On the plus side, NH does participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative along with 10 other states whose goal is to reduce CO2 emissions. 

There’s an organization in New Hampshire dedicated to educating and mobilizing voters about climate change along with getting voters to elect candidates who themselves are serious about the topic. That organization is called “350 NH Action” and was launched here in NH in 2012.

This group focuses on getting rid of fossil fuel money in politics, putting an end to fossil fuel dependence and holding our elected officials to account for their votes and actions on this issue.

350 NH Action fully supports candidates who themselves are in favor of progressive climate policies which includes investing in renewable energy. Additionally, 350 NH Action supports candidates who work for economic, gender, immigrant and racial justice.

As an example, they ran a campaign fighting to stop the proposed Granite Bridge gas pipeline. How? They scheduled information sessions in order to educate the public, got volunteers trained and out canvassing. They organized climate strikes, got local ordinances passed and swayed elected officials to oppose the pipeline. In July 2020, the Liberty Utilities Granite Bridge pipeline project was defeated!

Another example is the Green New Deal, a plan that has been championed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). These are the five goals:

1. Reach net-zero in greenhouse gas emissions through a just transition for all workers and communities
2. Create millions of good, livable-wage jobs and ensure economic security for all people in the United States
3. Invest in infrastructure and industry in the US to sustainably meet future challenges
4. Secure clean air and water, climate and community resilience, access to nature, food security, and a sustainable environment for all
5. Promote justice and equity by stopping, preventing, and/or repairing the historic oppression of frontline and vulnerable communities

350 NH Action keeps the pressure on our elected officials, Reps. Annie Kuster, Chris Pappas, Sens. Jeannne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan. Unfortunately, Sen. Hassan has taken money from the fossil fuel industry in the past which makes any support from her questionable and possibly less likely to be in favor of climate policy. Pressure needs to be kept up on her! They made sure every major Democrat candidate for president pledged to support the Green New Deal in 2020 and intend to keep that pressure on, going forward into 2024. This would include the NH elected officials.

350 NH Action is working in conjunction with a new campaign called “NH Renews”. This campaign is addressing not only climate change but also racial injustice and unemployment, by establishing grassroots networks and electing those dedicated to positive climate policies. They are also working with environmental advocates, racial justice groups and labor unions. 

To learn more about this organization: 350NH Action

To make a donation: 350 New Hampshire Action — Donate via ActBlue

After years of litigation, settlements have finally been reached in the multitude of lawsuits that were filed by states and municipalities against the companies involved with creating and exacerbating the opioid overdose crisis.

The state of New Hampshire should be receiving about $310 million over the next 20 years, which it is doling out through various grants to municipalities and organizations working to reduce the damage caused by substance use disorder (SUD). As a party to the lawsuits, City of Keene has itself received $113,000 so far, with a bit more to come in subsequent years. 

Keene’s City Manager and Police Chief have proposed spending the money on a social worker position within the Police Department, to focus on issues related to substance use and mental health. While having a social worker on city staff is an idea that certainly has a lot of merit, many are concerned that having that position be a part of the Police Department will limit the effectiveness of the role. 

This is because, as I explained in my recent letter to the editor of the Keene Sentinel, many substance users have a deep-rooted distrust of police, and will be unlikely to engage positively with any public official who they perceive to be a cop. Instead of creating this barrier that will prevent people from getting the help they need, I would prefer to see the social worker position be a part of the city’s Emergency Medical Services. Make it a healthcare role, not a criminal justice role.

My friend and ally, State Representative Jodi Newell, has been raising broader concerns about the process through which decisions are being made about how this money is to be spent. She feels strongly – and I agree with her – that more voices need to be part of the conversation.

As Jodi wrote in a 2020 research paper entitled “Substance Use Disorder in New Hampshire”:

An impacted community should have a significant role in designing solutions to the issues they’ve experienced…. Unfortunately, in regard to SUD treatment and recovery, there are few seats at the table held for leaders in that community, most of whom have struggled with SUD themselves and spent decades in recovery helping others.  Instead, there seems to be a preference given to members of law enforcement and well-liked legislators, who tend to err on the side of abstinence under threat of punitive action. Nowhere in my research or in my conversations have I found any evidence that this approach is helpful. 

Jodi herself is a leader in that community, having lost the father of her two children to an overdose 14 years ago. The pain of that loss has been compounded by the stigma that she and her children have had to face as family members of an overdose victim. While it would be easy for Jodi to cave to the stigma and not speak publicly about her experience, she has instead devoted herself to advocacy for people, like her, who have had their lives shattered by the opioid epidemic. 

Jodi has been quite effective in this endeavor. During the last Congressional session, she was a major force in lobbying federal legislators to pass the MAT Act – creating options to enable broader Medically Assisted Treatment for opioid use. And when she’s not at her job working in a homeless shelter, or at her job working on the floor of the State House in Concord, she’s at her job working for Rights and Democracy as a statewide organizer focused on the overdose crisis. 

All of this is to say that Jodi knows what she is talking about when it comes to the topic of substance use disorder, and that her views are well-founded, deeply researched, and built on a foundation of lived experience. When she speaks about harm reduction and overdose prevention, the rest of us really ought to listen.

In a recent letter to the editor of the Keene Sentinel, Jodi called for a broad public discussion of how the opioid settlement money can best be used to help people affected by substance use disorder. She wrote:

Our challenge now is to use this money to stem the tide of overdose deaths. We must address the humanitarian disaster that big pharma and its network so callously created, which was exacerbated by policies that focus on criminalizing addiction at the expense of harm reduction… with that in mind, I am asking our city leaders to facilitate public listening session where the vast knowledge and experiences of those directly impacted by the overdose crisis may be heard and incorporated into the broader plan concerning the use of opioid settlement resources.

Wise thoughts. As a member of the Keene City Council, I’m certainly paying attention, and I’m ready to do whatever is needed to make sure that conversation happens.

A twenty-five year-old man named Kyle Hendrickson of Berwick, Maine was arrested in Maine on Thursday, April 13, 2023 for allegedly threatening to “shoot up” Portsmouth High School. He posted a video which was taken just outside the school to his Snapchat account while waving around a handgun and making threats. Police also confiscated from his vehicle an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun, and tactical gear. He is currently being held at the Dover jail. 

The next day, April 14, school officials in Rochester received a bomb threat email, resulting in the school superintendent shutting down Rochester Middle School for the day and immediately contacting local police. Luckily, the threat was later determined to be a hoax.

In the meantime, while the bomb threat in Rochester was playing out, and a young man with a gun threatening a high school the day before, Gov. Sununu was at the annual NRA convention in Indianapolis giving what could be construed as a “testing the waters for a presidential run” speech. The following are excerpts taken from his roughly ten minute speech:

“Indianapolis, back for the first time in a few years. This is awesome. We have a full crowd. We have a full room. I was walking on the floor and seeing incredible manufacturers. Walking around, getting excited about not just the 2nd Amendment, but at the politics and all that. We’ll get to that, but first the freedom. The opportunity to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. That is what America is all about. A lot of you may know or not know that I am from the Live Free or Die state. As we are very proud in New Hampshire to remind ourselves and the rest of the country. And I always told folks, it is not some cute motto on our license plates. It is the essence of what we do. How we live. . . 

The heart of live free or die is limited government. Low taxes, local control and individual responsibility. All of these fundamentals, and I try to remind my other fellow Republicans, but the Founding Fathers had it right, as we say in New Hampshire, they were wicked smart. The last thing this country should have been about is the federal government. I am from the government. I am the governor. It ain’t about us. I am not here to solve your problems. The government is not here to solve your problems. What are we here to do? Create doors of opportunity. For you. Your family, your school. Whatever. You do you. That is what you do. That’s what live free or die is. You walk through the door of opportunity that best fits your needs. Not the door of opportunity that the government forces you through, that’s the old way of doing things. . .

I’m looking at thousands of people in front of me. It is about you. It ain’t about us. We have to appreciate this job and responsibility when we represent the citizens we represent. An opportunity that is so much bigger than ourselves. We have to walk into these situations, with our neighbors that are running for the planning board or the school board. We all have to have a little bit of that live free or die in us to remember what is the essence that makes this country great. I don’t mind saying this, but I see a lot of Republicans that I respect very much, but man, do they cave under pressure when it comes to the 2nd Amendment. What is that about? Politics get involved and they get all this pressure on them, and at the end of the day, you’ve got to pull yourselves out of these politics. You’ve got to ignore it. You have to say what is best for my citizens in this this country, and what is best is their opportunity. And look. Let’s face it. I remember a prominent Republican a couple years ago, and I think he said, we need to take the guns away first. Take them away early he said.What is that about? I am always going to hold folks accountable. Not just the left wing, but those in our party. At the end of the day, when we share those ideas of individual responsibility, the team gets bigger. That’s what I want. A bigger team. You want more members of the NRA? You want more members of the Republican party? You want more Independents on board? You want the next generation  saying, you know what, those are the guys I want to be associated with. . .

We can yell and scream all we want, but we want winners for tomorrow. So we’ve got to be inspirational and we have to be big again. Bigger than ourselves. Now obviously, we talk about leadership, we talk about what happens, we talk about the issue of the day. Tragedies. Mass shootings. It’s real. It’s at an unprecedented level. And every time there’s a mass shooting, or a tragedy, what do they do, they blame you. (POINTS FINGER INTO CROWD). They blame politics and they make a political story out of it. As opposed to saying what is the crux of the issue. We know that. It is undiagnosed mental health. It is a lack of opportunity in schools. It is not supporting law enforcement. It’s not supporting SROS or the hardening of the school. All these things we do, we don’t sit back. Well. We passed a law. They gave me a red flag law and I gave them a red veto pen. That is what you have to do. I saw someone getting excited because they were going to sign constitutional carry in four years. I signed it in four weeks because that is what is right. . .

We passed a law in New Hampshire that says you’re the federal government, we are the states. We go first. Shove it. We are not doing it. We are not doing it. Look, my closing message is think big. Think big. Think positive. How do you grow or inspire? I get back to how do we grow the NRA. How do we get excited about the opportunity to create for tomorrow. Not the law, not the imposing regulation, not the penalty on businesses and all that kind of crap. How do we get excited about opportunities. I am from New Hampshire. We are very pro-business. We’ve got Sig.  I’m sure our guys are here somewhere.  There are a lot of people, a lot of folks out there. We’ve got Ruger. The Redhawk, if you can handle that, the super Redhawk, the 9 inch barrel. That is pretty impressive, by the way. We have a lot of manufacturers. We’re creating a lot of opportunities for them. I want this team bigger. I want to make sure we are fighting for the finish line in 2024 when it comes to a presidential race or the Senator races or what I think are the important things, the governor races, or we are down to the school board with the most impactful decisions being made for your family and community.. .

We have to influence. We have to use all of the tools as our needs because lemme tell ya, as bad as the Democrats are, they’re good at influencing. They’re good at messaging. Look what they’ve done with young people. Look what they’ve done with academia. That is real and happening. We can complain about that, we can complain about the left-wing media, or we can do something about it and talk to our families and co-workers. We can inspire folks in our community to get back on this team.. . .”

Christopher Sununu, tone-deaf Governor of New Hampshire!

While the majority of the speech is in this article, you can click on the link below for the entire speech.

Chris Sununu Remarks to NRA Leadership Forum | C-SPAN.org

It’s been more than 30 years since the NH Supreme Court issued a significant decision in the Claremont School District v Governor of New Hampshire court case.  

In 1992, the NH Supreme Court found the state’s constitution “imposes a duty on the State to provide a constitutionally adequate education to every educable child in the public schools in New Hampshire and to guarantee adequate funding.”

In 1993, the NH Supreme Court construed that Part II, Article 83 of the NH Constitution guaranteed students a right to a public education. Four years later the school funding system was found to be unconstitutional. The governor and legislature were thereby required by the court to define the elements of a constitutionally adequate education, figure out the costs and pay for it with equal taxation statewide. 

In Sept., 2006, after four governors and their legislatures did not comply, the NH Supreme Court again found the school funding system to be unconstitutional. Sixty percent of local property taxes goes towards funding public schools. After so many years and so many lawsuits, there remain districts who are still challenged by insufficient funding from property taxes. One problem is property values, they can vary quite a bit from one school district to the next. The taxes are levied at dissimilar rates, imposing unequal and unfair tax burdens on statewide property owners. 

As most education funding is on a per-student basis, school districts, mostly in rural communities impacted by statewide decline in enrollment, receive “stabilization” grants. This gives extra funding per student and helps school districts to preserve education standards. Unfortunately, these grants don’t help the large discrepancy in property tax rates between the poorest and wealthiest communities in the state. Even with the extra money from these grants, some districts with lower property taxes are still struggling with paying for public education. In other words, even though aid is targeted where it is needed throughout the state, property-poor towns have a tough time fulfilling their requirements.

In 2019, a lawsuit was brought by the ConVal School District again challenging what the state ought to be contributing to school budgets along with the formula for disbursing this funding. Judge David Ruoff ruled the state’s formula for funding was unconstitutional. The state then appealed the case to the NH Supreme Court who sent it back to superior court instructing them to specifically determine what school districts need to supply in order to provide an “adequate” education.

In the meantime, Frank Edleblut, Gov. Sununu’s Dept. of Education Commissioner, successfully got his school voucher program passed in the legislature in 2021, rerouting some taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools. Further burdening property owners.

On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, a lawsuit was filed in Grafton County Superior Court. Three plaintiffs from Penacook and Plymouth argue the state has failed (again) to comply with the constitutional requirement that property taxes (which pay for public school education) be equal statewide. This latest lawsuit asserts a dependance on property taxes (to pay for public school education) is in violation of NH Supreme Court’s 1997 decision in Claremont School District v Governor II. This case will probably last through the beginning of May with Judge David Ruoff presiding. 

Something to keep an eye on . . .

For those who are interested in what NH defines as an “adequate” education:

193-E:2 Criteria for an Adequate Education. –
An adequate education shall provide all students with the opportunity to acquire:
I. Skill in reading, writing, and speaking English to enable them to communicate effectively and think creatively and critically.
II. Skill in mathematics and familiarity with methods of science to enable them to analyze information, solve problems, and make rational decisions.
III. Knowledge of the biological, physical, and earth sciences, including environmental sciences that investigate the complex interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes that take place on the earth, to enable them to understand and appreciate the world and the engineering, socio-economic, and geopolitical challenges around them.
IV. Knowledge of civics and government, economics, geography, history, and Holocaust and genocide education to enable them to participate in the democratic process and to make informed choices as responsible citizens.
V. Grounding in the arts, languages, and literature to enable them to appreciate our cultural heritage and develop lifelong interests and involvement in these areas.
VI. Sound wellness and environmental practices, including outdoor recreation, to enable them to enhance their own well-being, as well as that of others.
VII. Skills for lifelong learning, including interpersonal, environmental education, and technological skills, to enable them to learn, work, com

In this country we have allowed, for some reason, the most xenophobic demagogues among us to take the lead on writing the terms of our immigration policy. A country that once welcomed immigrants as foundational to its identity now closes its borders and heaps abuse on vulnerable people for the crime of wanting to become an American. 

This country used to have reasonable entry requirements, guest worker programs, and pathways to citizenship. Our industrial strength – and our agricultural strength – was built on the labor of immigrants who came to this country to work hard and make good, and we have all benefited greatly from their efforts. 

But all my life, for no other reason than to satisfy the complaints of loud, angry bigots, we’ve been putting up walls and building cages and making it harder and harder for people to come to America and prosper.

Republicans have insisted on this, and Democrats have abetted them with bipartisan solutions have not appeased anyone. For all that’s been done to make the border a harsher place, the loud, angry bigots have only gotten louder and angrier. But there will never be a way to satisfy a movement that think it’s funny to trick Venezuelan asylum seekers into being dumped off on Martha’s Vineyard so GOP politicians can get air time on Fox News. 

Ron DeSantis. Greg Abbot. Ted Cruz. Donald Trump. Mike Pompeo. Tucker Carlson. 

These are some of the most hateful pukes in America – genuinely bad people working in bad faith to attack the least-empowered among us. These are demagogues who delight in targeting vulnerable groups for political gain, and yet they are the ones whose lead we follow on border policy. 

Even politicians who should be better get turned to the dark side, like Keene Mayor George Hansel, who worked with a libertarian PAC to put out a shameful-ass anti-immigrant commercial when he was running for Congress. 

It seems funny to me the way libertarians’ conception of liberty does not encompass the right of free people to move across borders. Maybe funny isn’t the word for it.

Meanwhile, George’s friend, Governor Chris Sununu (R), sent the New Hampshire National Guard down to the southern border for some godforsaken reason. 

This was announced in October 2022, right before the midterm elections. Not that I’m suggesting that sending our well-regulated militia out of state was politically motivated and in bad faith except that IT TOTALLY WAS, and also it affects the lives and families of 44 NH National Guardsmen who don’t even need to be down there now that the election is over.

More recently Sununu proposed spending $1.4 million in state money on sealing up the border with Canada, because he wants to remind the Republican base that he too is an angry man who can perform ritual hostility targeting disfavored groups. 

And they are at it again. The current anti-immigrant effort in New Hampshire is focused on attacking sanctuary cities, which are communities that have recognized that it is not the role of local government to be the enforcer of federal immigration laws.

The anti-sanctuary city bill, S.B. 132, has passed the Senate and will be discussed before the House Municipal and County Government Committee on Thursday, April 20 at 3 PM. You can sign in against the bill here and write to the members of the Committee here. Please let your legislators know that you oppose this unconscionable bill.

Keene is a sanctuary city, and this bill is an attack on us for our humanity.

It seems funny to me that the same party that passed a law preventing state and local police from having any involvement in enforcing federal gun laws also thinks that local municipalities do need to be drafted against their will into supporting federal immigration enforcement. 

Again, maybe funny isn’t the word for it.

Tonight is predicted to be a "big night." A big night is a warm, rainy night in the spring, which means thousands of salamanders and frogs across the state of New Hampshire will be out and about, heading from forests to vernal pools for their annual breeding fiesta. 

Many will be crossing the road, which makes it important for drivers to be careful this time of year. Special care must be taken when driving through rural, low lying areas that are likely spots for amphibians to be crossing the street.

Here in Keene, we actually close a couple of our roads on those few nights in spring to ensure the safety and stability of our local amphibian population, in recognition of the vital role they play in our local ecology as a key link in the food web. This initiative has been spearheaded by the Harris Center for Conservation Education in support of their “Salamander Crossing Brigade” program. 

We had another big night around here a couple weeks ago, where, after years of helping peepers and wood frogs cross the street, I found my first yellow spotted salamander - as show in the attached picture.

Finally, here are some notes from Keene Public Works to those considering a visit to the North Lincoln Street Salamander Crossing tonight:

• Amphibian migrations take place after dark, in wet weather only.
• If you are planning to visit the North Lincoln Street site to observe the migration, please dress for the weather and bring a flashlight for every member of your group. 
• Families are welcome to come to North Lincoln Street when that road is closed for amphibians, but we ask that only trained Salamander Crossing Brigade volunteers in proper safety attire visit the Jordan Road crossing due to safety and lack of parking in this area.
• When North Lincoln Street is closed to traffic, a Harris Center naturalist will be on site from shortly after sunset until 10:00 PM.

We’ve all heard about the “parental bill of rights” or SB 272. This is a bill that would require school staff and teachers to report to parents, if asked, as to whether their child is or might be LGBTQ. To be clear, these students have broken no school rules or have harmed other students. They are just behaving in a manner their parents might not understand, be aware of or approve of. 

To require school staff and teachers to do, what amounts to, spying for parents is not right. Not only that, it is a form of discrimination against any student who is perceived as “different.” Or in this case, as LGBTQ. To do so would only foment a feeling of mistrust for the student. To do so could also send a child, unknowingly, back to a home where he or she could be harmed.

There is an upcoming hearing at 10:00 am of the House Education Committee on Tuesday, April 18th. The committee will then vote on SB 272 on April 25th. We urge you to contact the members of this committee and let them know you OPPOSE SB 272.

There is an ordinance coming through the City Council process that would roll back restrictions on consumer use of fireworks in Keene. I think fireworks cause a lot of environmental damage and other harm, and would like to keep the restrictions where they are.

First off, note that we are talking about allowing fireworks for consumer use , not commercial displays like at the college graduation or a baseball game. Commercial displays are already allowed through a city permitting process. But all the growth in the fireworks industry is in consumer fireworks.

I would note that the above chart ends in 2020, which was a bumper year for fireworks, when consumer fireworks flooded the market for pandemic supply-chain-related reasons. I recall people around the neighborhood setting off fireworks every night, to the endless annoyance of my beloved wife. Flashing lights and loud noises give her a headache.

That was in my neighborhood in East Keene, which is pretty densely populated. The new rules would not allow fireworks in neighborhoods like mine – they are to be restricted to the rural and agricultural zones. While I am deeply skeptical of how well that restriction would be honored in practice, launching fireworks in rural areas comes with its own problems. 

Noise pollution is high among them. That loud report – BANG BANG BANG snap snap snap snap snap – freaks out all animals in a surprisingly large radius. The effect on dogs is well known, but also consider the effect on wildlife – especially as our ordinance pushes these displays into the rural zone. Many species will simply desert areas where such disruptive human activity is present, retreating deeper into the woods or disappearing altogether. 

Fireworks noise can also be a triggering factor for some veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). People on the autistic spectrum can also be affected by the combination of loud noises and flashing lights. These concerns can be mitigated somewhat, in the case of commercial displays, by prior announcement and notification to neighbors in the area – but there will be no such mitigation for consumer fireworks, which people might launch off at any time without prior warning to those who may be affected.

Fireworks also cause a lot of air pollution. Keene should also be specially attuned to air quality issues given its geographic setting, on the floor of a glacial valley that is subject to atmospheric inversions. If fireworks are launched during an inversion, the smoke – high in particulate matter and laced with toxic metals - can be expected to linger in the city for an extended time.

In addition to these toxic metals – potentially including lead - residue from fireworks includes perchlorate. Perchlorate is an oxidizer used in fireworks that makes the rocket burn, and is also a thyroid disruptor, posing a risk to human health as well as to the local ecology. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently running studies on how perchlorate from fireworks is affecting local watersheds, soils, and sources of drinking water.

And of course there is the litter. Fireworks create so much litter. Don’t get me started.

Also fireworks contribute significantly to the risk of, you know, fire.

If you live in Keene and, like me, you aren't a big fan of this change, your best bet is to get in touch with your City Councilors and let them know - their contact details can be found on this page.

The topic will also be up for discussion at the meeting of the Planning, Licenses, and Development Committee at 6:00 in City Hall on Wednesday, April 12. Be there if you can!