By Dana Wormald | Editor
Good morning, New Hampshire, and welcome to Tuesday. Today, Ethan DeWitt reports on the tension between local communities and the state when it comes to mixed-use housing. Also, in the Tuesday commentary, UNH political science professor Dante Scala looks at New Hampshire’s crumbling presidential primary position and why the state’s first-in-the-nation law has lost its edge. And, from States Newsroom’s Jennifer Shutt, President Donald Trump tries to place new pressures on the U.S. Senate over the SAVE America Act. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the day. — Dana
The commercial zones of Kingston, shown in purple. House Bill 631 and House Bill 1588 require the town to allow multi-family housing developments in those zones “by right.” (Screenshot/New Hampshire Zoning Atlas)
By Ethan DeWitt
New state laws seek to accelerate an approach to housing growth that polls suggest is broadly popular: using existing downtown infrastructure to build new apartments. “I really see these two bills as a win for the clearly stated goals of trying to get more housing options where there’s existing jobs, existing infrastructure, and existing buildings,” said Nick Taylor, director of Housing Action New Hampshire. But the New Hampshire Municipal Association, which represents cities and towns, is concerned that the changes will be confusing for local governments.
"In a nationalized nomination process, New Hampshire was still important to candidates, but not as indispensable as it once was." (Photo by Kate Brindley/New Hampshire Bulletin)
COMMENTARY
By Dante J. Scala
“New Hampshire’s political elites quickly pointed fingers after a Democratic National Committee panel voted Friday to strip the Granite State of its first-in-the-nation status on the presidential nomination calendar. Republican elites blamed Democrats for the Rules and Bylaws Committee decision. Democratic elites blamed their national party leadership. What neither side did, but should, is consider the following: On their watch, New Hampshire has become much less capable of defending its role in the process.”
By Jennifer Shutt
President Donald Trump on Monday called on the U.S. Senate to cancel its five-week August break, keeping lawmakers in session to advance several of his priorities, despite not having the votes. Trump wrote in a social media post that he wanted Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to keep the chamber open, preventing vulnerable Republicans facing reelection from the campaign trail, to pass a voter identification bill, among other measures.
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