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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Improve Downtown Via Job Creation
Nashua Telegraph Published:
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Dan Moriarty | To attract new businesses we need a cooperative city hall with fewer impediments.
The best thing we can do to help downtown is to help the entire city. Jobs will be my focus as mayor. Jobs based on trades. The era of advanced manufacturing is upon us. New Hampshire is ranked in the top in the country for high tech and we will soon be ranked top in the country for advanced manufacturing - if I have anything to do with it.
I have taken action and already made progress. As chairman of the aldermanic Planning and Economic Development Committee, I have made this an item of study and have invited a steady stream of guests to educate us about topics beneficial to Nashua.
As mayor I will continue to visit managers of local manufacturers to learn what skills they need so we can teach those skills in our high school career and technical education programs and at the community college. Our trained workforce will become Nashua's greatest asset, allowing new companies to start and others to relocate here.
Entrepreneurs and the arts
At the other end of the spectrum we need high-paying jobs. At Planning and Economic Development Committee meetings we learned that, to attract youth and entrepreneurs, Nashua needs an identity of arts and culture and community.
We have great potential for a thriving arts community. Here and in surrounding towns there are countless people, like myself, who are hobbyists in arts, music, dance and theater. We have an energetic and talented urban youth culture growing in Nashua. As mayor I will bring my project management skills to lead those who care to build our arts community. I will strive to give Nashua an identity, a buzz, a culture to rival those of the cities to our south.
Grow your own
Everyone seems to agree that more downtown residents would mean more business for our shops and restaurants. The key is for those residents to work where they live, otherwise they will eat and shop where they work - elsewhere. Our downtown needs less expensive space for start-ups and niche enterprises. To attract businesses we need a cooperative city hall with fewer regulatory impediments administered in an easy to understand and to comply manner.
Our downtown is not just Main Street. People need to feel comfortable taking advantage of surrounding streets. It's not about the number of spaces on Main Street, it's about accessing all streets easily, safely and comfortably through better design, better lighting and better security.
Actions louder than words
Yes, these are exciting plans. As mayor I will employ the same patience and determination I used to earn a doctorate of science, to qualify for the world championships in triathlon, and get promoted at my most recent jobs. My career requires interpersonal skills for team leading and business development - meeting customers, identifying their needs and matching our skills to those needs.
The recent branding campaign of "Dare to Begin" is example of words failing to achieve any actions. I began a long time ago and I will continue to take action.
It is my nature to identify actionable, achievable, goals. Early in my life my mother applied for food stamps; but, we persevered and eventually I was accepted to MIT. Later in life I learned how to be a team leader. The group can accomplish much more than I can as an individual. So please join me as we lead Nashua to a future of opportunity and success.
Dan Moriarty works in business development at BAE Systems, is an Alderman-at-Large, a triathlete and a father of four.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/print/?sid=3120961
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Dan Moriarty | To attract new businesses we need a cooperative city hall with fewer impediments.
The best thing we can do to help downtown is to help the entire city. Jobs will be my focus as mayor. Jobs based on trades. The era of advanced manufacturing is upon us. New Hampshire is ranked in the top in the country for high tech and we will soon be ranked top in the country for advanced manufacturing - if I have anything to do with it.
I have taken action and already made progress. As chairman of the aldermanic Planning and Economic Development Committee, I have made this an item of study and have invited a steady stream of guests to educate us about topics beneficial to Nashua.
As mayor I will continue to visit managers of local manufacturers to learn what skills they need so we can teach those skills in our high school career and technical education programs and at the community college. Our trained workforce will become Nashua's greatest asset, allowing new companies to start and others to relocate here.
Entrepreneurs and the arts
At the other end of the spectrum we need high-paying jobs. At Planning and Economic Development Committee meetings we learned that, to attract youth and entrepreneurs, Nashua needs an identity of arts and culture and community.
We have great potential for a thriving arts community. Here and in surrounding towns there are countless people, like myself, who are hobbyists in arts, music, dance and theater. We have an energetic and talented urban youth culture growing in Nashua. As mayor I will bring my project management skills to lead those who care to build our arts community. I will strive to give Nashua an identity, a buzz, a culture to rival those of the cities to our south.
Grow your own
Everyone seems to agree that more downtown residents would mean more business for our shops and restaurants. The key is for those residents to work where they live, otherwise they will eat and shop where they work - elsewhere. Our downtown needs less expensive space for start-ups and niche enterprises. To attract businesses we need a cooperative city hall with fewer regulatory impediments administered in an easy to understand and to comply manner.
Our downtown is not just Main Street. People need to feel comfortable taking advantage of surrounding streets. It's not about the number of spaces on Main Street, it's about accessing all streets easily, safely and comfortably through better design, better lighting and better security.
Actions louder than words
Yes, these are exciting plans. As mayor I will employ the same patience and determination I used to earn a doctorate of science, to qualify for the world championships in triathlon, and get promoted at my most recent jobs. My career requires interpersonal skills for team leading and business development - meeting customers, identifying their needs and matching our skills to those needs.
The recent branding campaign of "Dare to Begin" is example of words failing to achieve any actions. I began a long time ago and I will continue to take action.
It is my nature to identify actionable, achievable, goals. Early in my life my mother applied for food stamps; but, we persevered and eventually I was accepted to MIT. Later in life I learned how to be a team leader. The group can accomplish much more than I can as an individual. So please join me as we lead Nashua to a future of opportunity and success.
Dan Moriarty works in business development at BAE Systems, is an Alderman-at-Large, a triathlete and a father of four.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/print/?sid=3120961
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Balancing between spending for services needed while limiting tax growth
In today's Telegraph I discuss my views on the spending cap and as Mayor how I will balance between spending for services needed while limiting tax growth.
Published:
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Dan Moriarty | I’ve been willing to make the difficult votes that others have not
For the past 30 years, our nation's household incomes just barely track inflation. Our community's ability to fund city services is dependent on individual incomes to pay taxes. Therefore, for life in Nashua to be sustainable, city spending must not grow faster than individual's incomes, i.e. the city budget must not grow faster than inflation.
Thank goodness we have a spending cap! Not every alderman is willing to make the difficult vote against spending that exceeds our community's ability to pay. In fact, I am among a small minority of aldermen (none of whom are running for mayor) who steadfastly vote to defend Nashua's taxpayers against excessive spending.
It is easy for a politician to say they will spend carefully. It is a different matter to vote that way when the gallery is packed with people who benefit from the spending. One salary contract which I was the lone vote against (14-to-1) costs the taxpayers almost 20 percent increase over three years.
Because I have met most of you at your doorstep, I know I'm doing the right thing when I vote to protect your pocketbook.
Exceeding the cap not necessary
Meanwhile, it is not necessary to exceed the spending cap to provide excellent city services. Our employee salaries are above average. Our crime rate is essentially as low as it has ever been; and our schools are better than most in the country. As a result of all this, our property tax rates are already above average for our region.
Our employee attrition is practically zero. We get a hundred applicants for every open position. We do not need to provide excessive increases in salary to maintain a great staff of city employees.
Any complaints about budget cuts are exaggerated because, in reality, the budgets are increasing; but the salary contracts are growing faster than the budgets. Departments thus have to eliminate staff or because salaries (and benefits and pension) are 75 percent of the city budget, they take money that could be used for other services - paving our roads, building maintenance, school sports.
I recognized all this and make the hard decision to vote accordingly - often alone.
Supporting workers
The most important thing I can do as mayor is support contracts that provide pay raises that track inflation. To build the trust needed for the unions to agree to this I must listen to our city employees and do all that I can to do improve their life in the classroom or life on the streets.
To do that, I aim to attract jobs based on the trades. This will improve life in the classroom by motivating students to learn a skill and inspire parents to take responsibility for their children's studies; and this will reduce crime - all at no cost to the taxpayer.
Honorable work
I know what it's like to have a mother who once had to apply for food stamps. I learned how to stretch a dollar and live within my household budget. Still, I am willing to take a pay cut to become mayor. Most importantly I know that we don't choose to become teachers or policemen or firemen or mayor to get rich. We must appreciate our community's limited ability to pay for salaries and benefits and they will appreciate the honorable hard work we do.
Dan Moriarty manages multimillion-dollar projects at BAE Systems, is an alderman-at-large, triathlete and a father of four.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinion/commentary/1068218-474/dan-moriarty--ive-been-willing-to.html
Published:
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Dan Moriarty | I’ve been willing to make the difficult votes that others have not
For the past 30 years, our nation's household incomes just barely track inflation. Our community's ability to fund city services is dependent on individual incomes to pay taxes. Therefore, for life in Nashua to be sustainable, city spending must not grow faster than individual's incomes, i.e. the city budget must not grow faster than inflation.
Thank goodness we have a spending cap! Not every alderman is willing to make the difficult vote against spending that exceeds our community's ability to pay. In fact, I am among a small minority of aldermen (none of whom are running for mayor) who steadfastly vote to defend Nashua's taxpayers against excessive spending.
It is easy for a politician to say they will spend carefully. It is a different matter to vote that way when the gallery is packed with people who benefit from the spending. One salary contract which I was the lone vote against (14-to-1) costs the taxpayers almost 20 percent increase over three years.
Because I have met most of you at your doorstep, I know I'm doing the right thing when I vote to protect your pocketbook.
Exceeding the cap not necessary
Meanwhile, it is not necessary to exceed the spending cap to provide excellent city services. Our employee salaries are above average. Our crime rate is essentially as low as it has ever been; and our schools are better than most in the country. As a result of all this, our property tax rates are already above average for our region.
Our employee attrition is practically zero. We get a hundred applicants for every open position. We do not need to provide excessive increases in salary to maintain a great staff of city employees.
Any complaints about budget cuts are exaggerated because, in reality, the budgets are increasing; but the salary contracts are growing faster than the budgets. Departments thus have to eliminate staff or because salaries (and benefits and pension) are 75 percent of the city budget, they take money that could be used for other services - paving our roads, building maintenance, school sports.
I recognized all this and make the hard decision to vote accordingly - often alone.
Supporting workers
The most important thing I can do as mayor is support contracts that provide pay raises that track inflation. To build the trust needed for the unions to agree to this I must listen to our city employees and do all that I can to do improve their life in the classroom or life on the streets.
To do that, I aim to attract jobs based on the trades. This will improve life in the classroom by motivating students to learn a skill and inspire parents to take responsibility for their children's studies; and this will reduce crime - all at no cost to the taxpayer.
Honorable work
I know what it's like to have a mother who once had to apply for food stamps. I learned how to stretch a dollar and live within my household budget. Still, I am willing to take a pay cut to become mayor. Most importantly I know that we don't choose to become teachers or policemen or firemen or mayor to get rich. We must appreciate our community's limited ability to pay for salaries and benefits and they will appreciate the honorable hard work we do.
Dan Moriarty manages multimillion-dollar projects at BAE Systems, is an alderman-at-large, triathlete and a father of four.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinion/commentary/1068218-474/dan-moriarty--ive-been-willing-to.html
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Addressing the current heroin problem in Nashua
In today's Nashua Telegraph I provide my approach as Mayor to address the current heroin problem.
Dan Moriarty: Stress prevention, treatment to get citizens the help they need
EDITOR'S NOTE: This week begins a series of Sunday columns written by the six announced candidates for mayor of Nashua. The series will feature two candidates per week, culminating the Sunday prior to the September primary election with some final thoughts from each candidate.
Not long ago, New Hampshire averaged 30 drug overdose deaths per year. Last year, there were about 300. The wave of heroin use is real, but we can stop it if we focus our efforts in the right direction - prevention and recovery.
I wanted to know what is causing this, so I asked a friend, Evan (not his real name), who is a recovering heroin addict. He said the stigma that used to be attached to heroin is now gone. His views were echoed by a man I met during recent door-to-door visits whose daughter is hooked on heroin after trying it at a party - socially, like it was "no big deal."
People often steal narcotics from their parents' medicine cabinets. Once hooked, they turn to the streets. Heroin has always been a cheaper alternative, but there used to be a huge stigma barrier. Now, that stigma is gone and usage has skyrocketed.
The most important step in stemming this tidal wave of drug overdoses is prevention based on information. We must resocialize the stigma of heroin usage and educate the public on its enormous risks.
It is paramount for the heroin-curious to learn that, like a deadly virus with no cure, once heroin gets into your veins and takes hold of you it never lets go - not ever - until you either recover or die. And, heroin doesn't loosen its grip easily. That message is best delivered from someone like Evan who once literally lived on the streets and turned to crime for money to get a fix but has since managed to clean up, is now married, back in school and gets his high running long miles.
As mayor I will commission a team of volunteers, aiding our substance-misuse prevention efforts at our Division of Public Health, to resocialize the stigma of heroin and educate our youth on its grim realities. Similar efforts like "Keepin' it Real" have succeeded. The key is not to lecture from a position of purity, but to engage at a peer level.
The second important step is recovery. But it's a long way from addiction to recovery. There are countless people who have wanted to get sober but couldn't escape heroin's grip. Sometimes it only takes a couple hours in jail to straighten a person out; others require the threat of years behind bars. For the person who has finally hit bottom and is truly ready to do anything to get sober, our state's drug courts have the right approach.
Still, heroin detox is a whole different animal than alcoholism recovery. Imagine your worst stomach flu ever and ask yourself what you would have done to make it go away. Someone trying to kick the habit alone, enduring that misery times 10, has little chance of success. Another recovering addict told me of how he tried to go clean several times and simply didn't know how. Accessible drug treatment facilities are a must. As mayor, I will personally help local treatment facilities fundraise and will advocate on their behalf at the state and federal level.
There are many like Evan who stay sober by carrying the message to those who still suffer. By taking ownership through community efforts and socializing the solution, we can eliminate the problem and unload this burden from our police and the taxpayers who pay their salaries.
As mayor, I will continue to learn about prevention and recovery so that I can help others overcome challenges and help all of Nashua enjoy a future of opportunity and success.
Dan Moriarty is an alderman-at-large, triathlete and father of four.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/…/dan-moriarty-stress-preven…
Dan Moriarty: Stress prevention, treatment to get citizens the help they need
EDITOR'S NOTE: This week begins a series of Sunday columns written by the six announced candidates for mayor of Nashua. The series will feature two candidates per week, culminating the Sunday prior to the September primary election with some final thoughts from each candidate.
Not long ago, New Hampshire averaged 30 drug overdose deaths per year. Last year, there were about 300. The wave of heroin use is real, but we can stop it if we focus our efforts in the right direction - prevention and recovery.
I wanted to know what is causing this, so I asked a friend, Evan (not his real name), who is a recovering heroin addict. He said the stigma that used to be attached to heroin is now gone. His views were echoed by a man I met during recent door-to-door visits whose daughter is hooked on heroin after trying it at a party - socially, like it was "no big deal."
People often steal narcotics from their parents' medicine cabinets. Once hooked, they turn to the streets. Heroin has always been a cheaper alternative, but there used to be a huge stigma barrier. Now, that stigma is gone and usage has skyrocketed.
The most important step in stemming this tidal wave of drug overdoses is prevention based on information. We must resocialize the stigma of heroin usage and educate the public on its enormous risks.
It is paramount for the heroin-curious to learn that, like a deadly virus with no cure, once heroin gets into your veins and takes hold of you it never lets go - not ever - until you either recover or die. And, heroin doesn't loosen its grip easily. That message is best delivered from someone like Evan who once literally lived on the streets and turned to crime for money to get a fix but has since managed to clean up, is now married, back in school and gets his high running long miles.
As mayor I will commission a team of volunteers, aiding our substance-misuse prevention efforts at our Division of Public Health, to resocialize the stigma of heroin and educate our youth on its grim realities. Similar efforts like "Keepin' it Real" have succeeded. The key is not to lecture from a position of purity, but to engage at a peer level.
The second important step is recovery. But it's a long way from addiction to recovery. There are countless people who have wanted to get sober but couldn't escape heroin's grip. Sometimes it only takes a couple hours in jail to straighten a person out; others require the threat of years behind bars. For the person who has finally hit bottom and is truly ready to do anything to get sober, our state's drug courts have the right approach.
Still, heroin detox is a whole different animal than alcoholism recovery. Imagine your worst stomach flu ever and ask yourself what you would have done to make it go away. Someone trying to kick the habit alone, enduring that misery times 10, has little chance of success. Another recovering addict told me of how he tried to go clean several times and simply didn't know how. Accessible drug treatment facilities are a must. As mayor, I will personally help local treatment facilities fundraise and will advocate on their behalf at the state and federal level.
There are many like Evan who stay sober by carrying the message to those who still suffer. By taking ownership through community efforts and socializing the solution, we can eliminate the problem and unload this burden from our police and the taxpayers who pay their salaries.
As mayor, I will continue to learn about prevention and recovery so that I can help others overcome challenges and help all of Nashua enjoy a future of opportunity and success.
Dan Moriarty is an alderman-at-large, triathlete and father of four.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/…/dan-moriarty-stress-preven…
Monday, June 8, 2015
Petition Nomination Forms Submitted - Ballot for Mayor of Nashua
Filed this morning at Nashua City Hall to be on the ballot for Mayor of Nashua. 50 required, but submitted1097 nomination petition forms which represents over a thousand one on one conversations with Nashua voters listening to and understanding their concerns.
Prospective Nashua mayoral candidates eager to file paperwork
By KIMBERLY HOUGHTON
Union Leader Correspondent...
- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150609/NEWS0606/150609139/0/SEARCH#sthash.KmWj4tET.dpuf
Prospective Nashua mayoral candidates eager to file paperwork
By KIMBERLY HOUGHTON
Union Leader Correspondent...
- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150609/NEWS0606/150609139/0/SEARCH#sthash.KmWj4tET.dpuf
Monday, May 18, 2015
Alderman-At-Large Dan Moriarty declares mayoral candidacy in Nashua
Union Leader May 18. 2015 7:19AM
NASHUA — Alderman-at-Large Dan Moriarty has announced his official candidacy for mayor, saying he if elected he will focus on limited taxes and employment growth.
“Nashua deserves a mayor who cares passionately enough about its hard-working families to personally visit every neighborhood of our city, and who has the qualifications to bring opportunities for everyone to our great city,” Moriarty said in a statement.
Moriarty, an electro-optics engineer for BAE Systems, has been an alderman for three years, and has lived in southern New Hampshire for 11 years.
Since exploring a mayoral candidacy, Moriarty, a Republican, has made hundreds of phone calls and traveled around the city knocking on doors and speaking one-on-one with residents. “Since I began talking to people in Nashua about a potential run, the response has been very supportive,” he said in a release. “I enjoy making personal connections with so many Nashuans at their doorsteps and in the streets.”
Moriarty is the fifth person to officially announce a mayoral candidacy. Two early-bird candidates — Mike Broderick and Doug Carroll — announced last year that they will be running. Since then, Alderman-at-Large Jim Donchess, a former Nashua mayor, and Alderman-at-Large David Deane, president of the Board of Aldermen, have announced their candidacies as well.
In addition, Chris Williams, president of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, has already announced his pending resignation from the organization as he considers a run for mayor.
Mayor Donnalee Lozeau announced earlier this year that she will not seek reelection.
“As mayor, I plan to focus on the essentials — bringing jobs to Nashua, limiting taxes and getting our roads paved,” said Moriarty, adding Nashua needs to have an identity of arts, culture and community if it wants to attract entrepreneurs and younger residents.
As the Gate City continues to become more urban, Moriarty said local families need more mid-skilled jobs available in the area.
If elected, Moriarty said he will continue to listen to concerns from the public, advocate on behalf of local citizens and attempt to connect with them personally.
“I have the experience, qualifications and temperament that are necessary to be mayor,” he added.
Moriarty has four children, and previously represented the United States at the Age Group Triathlon World Championships.
He recently launched a 70-person exploratory committee including local business leaders, volunteers, conservationists and veterans. Some members of his exploratory committee include former mayor Bernie Streeter, Sen. Gary Lambert, former U.S. Congressman Charlie Bass, Gov. James Douglas (R-Vt.) and former aldermen Fred Teeboom and Dave MacLaughlin, among others.
khoughton@newstote.com
- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150518/NEWS0606/150519159/-1/services01&template=printart#sthash.mdzJiyTz.dpuf
Moriarty declares mayoral candidacy in Nashua
NASHUA — Alderman-at-Large Dan Moriarty has announced his official candidacy for mayor, saying he if elected he will focus on limited taxes and employment growth.
“Nashua deserves a mayor who cares passionately enough about its hard-working families to personally visit every neighborhood of our city, and who has the qualifications to bring opportunities for everyone to our great city,” Moriarty said in a statement.
Moriarty, an electro-optics engineer for BAE Systems, has been an alderman for three years, and has lived in southern New Hampshire for 11 years.
Since exploring a mayoral candidacy, Moriarty, a Republican, has made hundreds of phone calls and traveled around the city knocking on doors and speaking one-on-one with residents. “Since I began talking to people in Nashua about a potential run, the response has been very supportive,” he said in a release. “I enjoy making personal connections with so many Nashuans at their doorsteps and in the streets.”
Moriarty is the fifth person to officially announce a mayoral candidacy. Two early-bird candidates — Mike Broderick and Doug Carroll — announced last year that they will be running. Since then, Alderman-at-Large Jim Donchess, a former Nashua mayor, and Alderman-at-Large David Deane, president of the Board of Aldermen, have announced their candidacies as well.
In addition, Chris Williams, president of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, has already announced his pending resignation from the organization as he considers a run for mayor.
Mayor Donnalee Lozeau announced earlier this year that she will not seek reelection.
“As mayor, I plan to focus on the essentials — bringing jobs to Nashua, limiting taxes and getting our roads paved,” said Moriarty, adding Nashua needs to have an identity of arts, culture and community if it wants to attract entrepreneurs and younger residents.
As the Gate City continues to become more urban, Moriarty said local families need more mid-skilled jobs available in the area.
If elected, Moriarty said he will continue to listen to concerns from the public, advocate on behalf of local citizens and attempt to connect with them personally.
“I have the experience, qualifications and temperament that are necessary to be mayor,” he added.
Moriarty has four children, and previously represented the United States at the Age Group Triathlon World Championships.
He recently launched a 70-person exploratory committee including local business leaders, volunteers, conservationists and veterans. Some members of his exploratory committee include former mayor Bernie Streeter, Sen. Gary Lambert, former U.S. Congressman Charlie Bass, Gov. James Douglas (R-Vt.) and former aldermen Fred Teeboom and Dave MacLaughlin, among others.
khoughton@newstote.com
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Happy Mother's Day
When I was a toddler my mother’s application for food stamps
was turned down. They told her she earned too much – working two jobs, as a
single mother, to support her and her five kids. I didn’t know this until very
recently when my oldest sister told me, and life at the time seemed great. The
house was always clean, we had hot meals. (I still love tuna casserole), I went
to a great public school, and I spent my summers at the town pool - swimming
competitively of course. But behind the scenes, the economy of the early 1970s
was not doing well. My dad’s sales business struggled and he had a hard time
paying child support on top of two mortgages.
Despite all that, on graduating high school, I was accepted
to MIT to study engineering. Through loans and scholarships, I was able to pay
my way and eventually found a position at BAE Systems here in the Gate City. But
none of that would have been possible without the support of my mom.
Now, nearly forty years later, I’m considering running for
Mayor of Nashua. My biggest consideration is how I can help others overcome
their own challenges so they can enjoy the same success I have. There are so
many perspectives from people with their own needs that I can’t possibly draw
only on my own experiences. Fortunately, I can seek advice from some of the
women in my life.
To understand the challenges of a teenage mother – what it takes to persevere with two young boys – I can just ask my youngest sister, Bonnie. Seeing her today, blessed with a loving husband and a home on a farm. I realize that hard work and sacrifice will pay off.
Today, Nashua’s people are facing similar kinds of
challenges as our city becomes increasingly urban. Half the students in
Nashua’s school system come from families who qualify for free or reduced
meals. Many of those families have a single mother as the head of the
household.
To understand the challenges of raising a special needs
child – I would call my oldest sister, Jackie.
For years she dug in her heels with schools to do the best for her
learning-impaired daughter and even tutored her at home when necessary. My niece is now a successful and award
winning school teacher.
This is also an increasingly important issue for Nashua. Roughly
one third of our school budget goes towards helping students with special
needs. It is almost a requirement that the next mayor of Nashua appreciate the
challenges presented to a mother of a child with a learning disability.
For parents in similar situations, I don’t have all the
answers for them to get through the next day, but what I can confidently tell
them is that it won’t always be a struggle. As my mom and sisters demonstrated,
hard work will pay off.
But it’s not enough to simply struggle through life. We have
to know that we are working for a better tomorrow. And I know that the gate city can be the
gateway to a better life for hardworking families.
To get us there, Nashua needs a mayor who can lead by
example, someone who not only has life experiences to empathize with the
challenges we face, but who has also demonstrated that patience and
determination actually pays off with success.
The same patience and determination that got me to the
Triathlon World Championships, I have applied to a long and successful career
in the technology business. If I decide
to run for mayor, then all the moms of Nashua will be able to count on me to be
their champion as I draw on the experiences of my own family in order to help
theirs.
These skills I got from my parents. I wouldn’t be the man I
am today if it weren’t for my mom. I’m
sure many of you feel the same way. So, stop what you are doing right now and
if you haven’t already, call your mother.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
It's Simple Math - balancing contracts and budgets
Let me ask you a question – which three people, aside from your parents, had the greatest impact on your life? In my case, they are all teachers: the late Joan Ruhlman, my 4th grade math teacher; Mr. Rich Andra, my high school physics teacher; and Dr. Min-chang Lee, my thesis advisor at MIT. I’m sure many of you can also think of a teacher or two who greatly improved your life.
Let me ask another question – how does the NH median household income for 2013 compare to that of 2001 or 1989? In inflation adjusted dollars they are all equal, meaning that for at least 30 years the nation’s median household income has tracked inflation almost identically. In other words, salary increases have matched the rising cost of living.
And finally, a third question – what percentage of the Nashua city budget is spent on salaries and benefits? In some departments it’s a little higher, in others it’s lower but, depending on what items you include, it is approximately 75%.
How are these three things related? They all come together when we have to strike the right balance between budget pressures and city employee contracts.
The Nashua School Department is currently faced with a budget challenge. The challenge this year is more difficult than past years because the salary contracts, for which the teachers’ union lobbied, cost more year-over-year than inflation – by about 150%. Sadly, this budget challenge has already resulted in the elimination of ice hockey and skiing as varsity sports. In New England, this is a huge missed opportunity for our young students.
I believe we need to fully fund all aspects of our school system and I also believe that our city budget should be managed so that it does not grow faster than inflation. That way our community’s ability to pay can keep up with our expenditures. The logic is this: our community’s ability to pay is derived from families’ household incomes, and families’ household incomes track inflation. This is why the City Charter has a provision which attempts to limit our budget growth to be no faster than inflation. (This year the law was changed to allow it to grow faster than inflation.)
The salary contracts of the city’s employee unions tend to come up for a vote in the fall, but the budget which pays for these contracts gets voted on in the summer. This six month separation of these two events causes a combination of memory loss and disbelief of claims of future financial challenges. The consequence is salary contracts that grow faster than inflation, which inevitably force cuts in important budget items – like varsity sports and infrastructure investment. The math describing this problem is quite simple. If you have $3,000,000 to spend but you approve $3,000,000 in salary increases there will be nothing left for building maintenance, books, or sports programs.
Some people would rather we raise the school budget faster than we already are; but, that would require us to raise property taxes even more to support that budget. This is not a sustainable approach. As elected officials, we have a duty to ensure that our hard working public servants are rewarded for the important job they do. Yet we also have a duty to protect hard working families from onerous property tax increases. As much as I would like to give every city employee a big salary increase, I also recognize that it is not in our power to give every resident an equally large salary increase to pay for the property tax burden.
I support salary increases for individuals because I know the value of good, well rewarded teachers. But I supported a 2.5% increase, rather than the inflation-busting 3.5% that’s currently in place, because I also know the value of properly funding our school system and keeping property taxes down. I believe most taxpayers and most teachers would agree that a pay raise to match increases in the cost of living is reasonable, even if union bosses don’t see it that way.
I remember well those three teachers who were most impactful on my life and I want every young person in our community to benefit from educators as great as them. The single most important thing those three teachers taught me was how to add. Keeping our budget balanced and our school system well funded isn’t only a case of responsible policy making, it’s just simple math.
Dan Moriarty is a Nashua Alderman-at-Large, triathlete, father of four, and is considering a run for Mayor of Nashua
Let me ask another question – how does the NH median household income for 2013 compare to that of 2001 or 1989? In inflation adjusted dollars they are all equal, meaning that for at least 30 years the nation’s median household income has tracked inflation almost identically. In other words, salary increases have matched the rising cost of living.
And finally, a third question – what percentage of the Nashua city budget is spent on salaries and benefits? In some departments it’s a little higher, in others it’s lower but, depending on what items you include, it is approximately 75%.
How are these three things related? They all come together when we have to strike the right balance between budget pressures and city employee contracts.
The Nashua School Department is currently faced with a budget challenge. The challenge this year is more difficult than past years because the salary contracts, for which the teachers’ union lobbied, cost more year-over-year than inflation – by about 150%. Sadly, this budget challenge has already resulted in the elimination of ice hockey and skiing as varsity sports. In New England, this is a huge missed opportunity for our young students.
I believe we need to fully fund all aspects of our school system and I also believe that our city budget should be managed so that it does not grow faster than inflation. That way our community’s ability to pay can keep up with our expenditures. The logic is this: our community’s ability to pay is derived from families’ household incomes, and families’ household incomes track inflation. This is why the City Charter has a provision which attempts to limit our budget growth to be no faster than inflation. (This year the law was changed to allow it to grow faster than inflation.)
The salary contracts of the city’s employee unions tend to come up for a vote in the fall, but the budget which pays for these contracts gets voted on in the summer. This six month separation of these two events causes a combination of memory loss and disbelief of claims of future financial challenges. The consequence is salary contracts that grow faster than inflation, which inevitably force cuts in important budget items – like varsity sports and infrastructure investment. The math describing this problem is quite simple. If you have $3,000,000 to spend but you approve $3,000,000 in salary increases there will be nothing left for building maintenance, books, or sports programs.
Some people would rather we raise the school budget faster than we already are; but, that would require us to raise property taxes even more to support that budget. This is not a sustainable approach. As elected officials, we have a duty to ensure that our hard working public servants are rewarded for the important job they do. Yet we also have a duty to protect hard working families from onerous property tax increases. As much as I would like to give every city employee a big salary increase, I also recognize that it is not in our power to give every resident an equally large salary increase to pay for the property tax burden.
I support salary increases for individuals because I know the value of good, well rewarded teachers. But I supported a 2.5% increase, rather than the inflation-busting 3.5% that’s currently in place, because I also know the value of properly funding our school system and keeping property taxes down. I believe most taxpayers and most teachers would agree that a pay raise to match increases in the cost of living is reasonable, even if union bosses don’t see it that way.
I remember well those three teachers who were most impactful on my life and I want every young person in our community to benefit from educators as great as them. The single most important thing those three teachers taught me was how to add. Keeping our budget balanced and our school system well funded isn’t only a case of responsible policy making, it’s just simple math.
Dan Moriarty is a Nashua Alderman-at-Large, triathlete, father of four, and is considering a run for Mayor of Nashua
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Dan Moriarty
Launches Exploratory Committee
Moriarty: Nashua
deserves a Mayor who can deliver
Nashua, NH – Alderman-at-Large Dan Moriarty has launched a 70
person committee to explore his potential run for Mayor of Nashua.
The committee unites the efforts of Republicans, Democrats and
Independents, from all walks of life across the city of Nashua. Members include
local business leaders, volunteers at local public service agencies, local
activists and grass roots volunteers, conservationists and veterans.
Members also include experienced public servants, such as seven
term Congressman Charlie Bass, Mayor Bernie Streeter, Rep
Bill Ohm, former Reps Randy Whitehead and Kevin Brown and Fire Commissioner
Kevin Gage.
The committee is especially honored to have the support of Reina
Flynn, to represent the fiscal prudence of her late husband.
Speaking about the committee, Dan said:
“I’m delighted to announce the formation of this exploratory
committee. Since I began talking to
people in Nashua about a potential run, the response has been overwhelmingly supportive.
“Nashua deserves a Mayor who cares passionately about its hard
working families and who will bring opportunities for everyone to our great
city.
“The most important question for me right now is how I can best
serve the people of Nashua, be that as Alderman-at-Large, as Mayor or in
another capacity.”
A formal decision on the run for Mayor is expected by the end of
March.
The full list
of endorsers is as follow:
| Mayor Bernie Streeter |
| Sen. Gary Lambert |
| Henry Goodwin |
| Fmr US Congressman Charlie Bass |
| NFR Commissioner Kevin Gage |
| Gov. James Douglas (R-VT) |
| Fmr Alderman Fred Teeboom |
| Fmr Alderman Dave MacLaughlin |
| Rosemary Russell |
| Mrs. Reina Flynn |
| Phil Stylianos |
| Tom Jenkins |
| Jack Currier |
| David Gleneck |
| Rep Bill Ohm |
| Rep Tim Twombly |
| Linda Twombly |
| Ann Bannister |
| Barbara Beierl |
| Fmr Rep Kevin Brown |
| Fmr Rep Randy Whitehead |
| Fmr Rep Lawrence Artz |
| Lt Col Richard Attardo |
| Col Terry Negron |
| Steven Negron |
| Capt William Joransen |
| Cmdr Charles Ringleben |
| Dani Podvojski |
| Rock Standish |
| Laura Standish |
| Jeff Foster |
| Nancy Foster |
| Bill Sutton |
| Laurie Sutton |
| Tom Forrest |
| Cheryl Forrest |
| George Stergion |
| Barry Warhola |
| Sharon Bubar |
| Jay Clair |
| Charles Michaud |
| Dan Kelly |
| Thomas White |
| William Machell |
| Karen Thoman |
| Kathy Snyder |
| Don Winn |
| Gary Henkel |
| Robert Duffy |
| Matthew Moroney |
| Andrew Iucci |
| Natalie Iucci |
| Peter Temperino |
| Linda Temperino |
| Dave Duprat |
| Ed Lopez |
| Marie Lopez |
| Deborah Foster |
| Lynn L'Heureux |
| Daniel Burk |
| Kevin Murray |
| Joshua Reynolds |
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1055484-469/alderman-moritary-is-semi-officially-running-for-nashua.html |
Monday, January 12, 2015
City of Nashua Strategic Plan
The City of Nashua needs a Strategic Plan. In fact there is an ordinance which requires our strategic plan be updated at least once per two-year term and that the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) meet in order to do that.
As the Chairman of PEDC (the Planning and Economic Development Committee) I am also the chairman of the SPC. We met about a month ago and decided to delegate the task of updating the strategic plan back to PEDC. I welcome the opportunity to lead the discussion, to collect data, and to compile a document that may sometime in the future become a point of reference for policy decisions.
One challenge in creating the strategic plan is that of finding time and people to accomplish the task. For example, the city has a Master Plan which focuses on land use. In principle it is generated by the Planning Board while in practice it is written by full-time paid staff of the city’s development office. For the strategic plan we don’t have any paid staff. One main reason the strategic planning committee adjourned was because the mayor was hesitant to have her staff (members of the SPC by ordinance) dedicating their time to the project.
The Plan: We shall begin by inviting the members of the various commissions who already have been meeting – in some cases for decades – to summarize their findings and present them to PEDC. Already we have met with the Arts Commission and have received their 80 page document. I’ve extended invitations to the chairmen of the Board of Education, the Cultural Connections Committee (formerly the Ethnic Awareness Committee), and the Conservation Commission.
This is a work in progress so please tune in from time to time to see our progress on PEDC. Of course, if you would like to participate feel free to contact me @ (603) 891-1020 or at aldermanmoriarty@gmail.com.
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