Statement From the Mayor Regarding Recent Heavy Rains

MANCHESTER (April 16, 2007) – Mayor Frank C. Guinta made the following statement regarding the Nor’Easter that hit the city during the past two days:

"My office has been in constant contact with Fire Chief Joe Kane, Public Works Director Frank Thomas and Police Chief John Jaskolka in regards to the heavy rains that have hit our area since Sunday. With any major rainstorm, there tends to be some localized flooding, and city departments have addressed these issues as they’ve occurred.

"We are keeping an eye on the Merrimack and Piscataquog Rivers. As of 2:35 p.m., we are not at flood stage in Manchester, but forecasts from the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service predict the rivers will reach flood stage later today."

"As a precaution, my office authorized opening the Emergency Operations Center at 1:28 p.m. Monday, and will stay open as long as is necessary. My office met with numerous department heads and other stakeholders to get a sense of what was happening citywide, and we will be keeping in constant contact with these departments throughout the next couple of days."

According to the Fire Department, there were about 160 units that lost power in the city (as of 2:00 p.m.). In addition, they have responded to 29 water-related events as of 1:35 p.m., which mostly involve leaky roofs and flooded basements.

The Red Cross reports that they have opened a shelter at Bartlett School in Pinardville, which will be available for displaced Goffstown and Manchester residents.

Manchester Water Works report that Massabesic Lake is about 11 inches above the dam as of 2:00 p.m., and they report that they believe it will peak at about 18 inches tomorrow night. As a result, there is some localized flooding on the Auburn side of the lake.

Public Works report that its biggest problems have been the major brooks and ponds in the city, which all crested at some point in the past two days and led to the closing of some streets. As of 2:35 p.m., Front Street is closed from the Amoskeag Rotary to Dunbarton Road. Dunbarton Road, east of Straw Road, is also closed.

If people need sandbags, people should call the Highway Department at (603) 624-6444. The State Armory on Canal Street also has sandbags available.

If anyone has any flooding or other weather-related problems, please contact the Emergency Operations Center is (603) 669.2256.

HILLARY CLINTON REPORTS $31 MILLION IN CASH-ON-HAND

Over 60,000 donors in all – 48,000 gave $100 or less

Hillary Clinton’s FEC report today reveals that the campaign has raised the highest amount of money in its first quarter of any presidential candidate ever – and has by far the most cash-on-hand to spend in the both the primary and general elections of any in the ’08 field.

“These numbers indicate the tremendous support for Senator Clinton from every walk of life and every part of America, and assure that we will have the resources needed to compete and win,” Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle said today.

Following are key details of the FEC report being filed today:

Total receipts in the first quarter : $36 million

· $26 million was raised in the ten weeks between the campaign’s launch in late January and March 31.

· An additional $10 million was transferred from the senator’s successful reelection campaign of 2006.

Cash on hand : $31 million

· $24 million for the primary

POLICY BRIEFING: Protecting American Taxpayers

PROTECTING AMERICAN TAXPAYERS

Governor Romney's Initiative To Protect AmericanTaxpayers:

To Protect American Taxpayers, Governor Mitt Romney Calls On Congress To Re-Impose A Three-Fifths (60%)Supermajority Requirement To Raise Taxes. While Governor Romney is committed to lowering taxes, and as President will fight any proposed tax increase, he recognizes that all steps must be taken to prevent tax hikes. Congress should not be able to increase taxes on a political whim and with a simple majority.

· Democrats In Congress Have Made It Easier To Raise Taxes. When Republicans took control of Congress in 1995, they enacted a House rule requiring a three-fifths vote to impose an income tax hike. After the Democrats took control in 2007, their first vote setting House rules rendered the three-fifths vote requirement ineffective. House Democrats now allow a simple majority vote to waive the three-fifths majority, making it easier to raise taxes and damage the economy.

Governor Romney's Lower Taxes Agenda:

To Ensure America's Continued Economic Growth, Governor Romney Will Fight To Cut Taxes For All Americans. Lower taxes are a key to ensuring continued economic growth and job creation.

· Governor Romney Was The First Potential 2008 Presidential Candidate To Sign The "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" Promising To Oppose Any Effort To Increase Taxes.

· Governor Romney Will Make The Bush Tax Cuts Permanent.

· Governor Romney Proposes Lower Tax Rates For All Americans. This approach is fair, simple and extends the pro-growth benefits of tax rate cuts to all Americans.

· Governor Romney Will Fight To Abolish The Death Tax. It is unfair to tax the American people three times: once when they earn it; second when they invest and receive income from those investments; and third when they die.

· Governor Romney Proposes A Savings Incentive Plan. Middle-class Americans will be able to save and earn interest, dividends and capital gains tax free. We need to end tax penalties on savings and investments for middle class families.

· Governor Romney Believes Our Corporate Tax Rate Must Be Competitive With The Rest Of The World. The United States has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. We simply cannot afford for future economic growth to have a tax rate that is out of alignment with the other major economies of the world.

· Governor Romney Has A Record Of Fighting For Lower Taxes. As Governor of Massachusetts, he turned a $250 million retroactive capital gains tax increase into a $250 million refund, made the investment tax credit permanent, passed sales tax holidays, gave property tax breaks to seniors, and in each of his last three years in office, submitted a budget that cut the income tax.

Three scoops for Team Romney

From the Romney for President Campaign

TECH PR E SIDENT

By David All, 04/13/2007 -11:06am

Mitt Romney is having a pretty good week in the online sphere. (Good that is if you consider reaching out to " us " and connecting with " us " on our terms for the first time a good thing - which I do.)

Let's dig in...

1. This morning, Team Romney launched an official campaign blog, “Five Brothers,” which will be authored by Romney's five sons. The brothers – Tagg, Ben, Josh, Craig and Matt – will write posts and share video and photos from the campaign trail on a daily basis. The blog already features introductory posts from all the brothers and a YouTubeintroduction by oldest bro, Tagg. Additionally, they each have their own RSS feed and a link to their MySpace page.The concept is unique and interesting, but I don't really want to read analysis by Mitt's five sons ALL the time. They won't really be able to say what always needs to be said and they could take some of the comments more personally then they should.My hope (and I've left a comment on the blog saying as such) is that they include senior advisers who can dig in to the data of polls credibly, crunch fundraising numbers, and talk tech. After all, former tech President contributor Mindy Finn and rising star Stephen Smith are together, manning the modern media guns at Team Romney, so it should make sense that we see their personalities wade in to the pool with their commentary.are together, manning the modern media guns at Team Romney, so it should make sense that we see their personalities wade in to the pool with their commentary.Perhaps expecting my concern, Smith notes in an email:Importantly,while the five brothers will provide the voice of the blog and the bulk of the regular content, Governor Romney and his campaign will have a developed platform for communication with the blogosphere (and the conservative grassroots who read the blogosphere) unlike that available to the other major contenders for the Republican nomination.Regardless,if you can believe this, Mitt is the first top-tier Republican candidate to have a blog. Finally.2. Mitt is also the first candidate -- Republican or Democrat-- to take advantage of the YouTube You Choose"Spotlight" feature with this video. Mitt's video is solid. It was made for the medium, it's authentic, Mitt's talking with us (on our level), and they didn't try and "flash" it up with snappy edits, or brand it with their website. He has set the standard and I hope his experience will send a signal to Republicans throughout the nation that they need to get on YouTube asap.The video is so good, in fact, that James Kotecki, a.k.a. EmergencyCheese, awarded Romney the "second halfof his YouTube Savvy Award." And I was sopumped to see Romney engaging us that I made a response video asking Mitt how he plans to reach out to Gen Next voters. (Ed. note: this response is extremely partisan and I'm only posting to show the inspiration to post a response -- not make you mad.)(Random Thought: To my surprise, I found it's much, much, much harder to make an authentic YouTube video response without being able to edit out the pauses and the uncomfortable "ums." In fact, I think it's more difficult than doing live TV. I have a new respect for guys who have been Tubing for a while. And, by the way,it's quite fun if you've never Tubed.)3. Last but not least, Governor Romney posted a question on Yahoo!Answers, "How can we change the tax code to ease the burden on our families and promote growth and innovation?" As of this post, he's received about 10,000 responses.I don't personally, Yahoo!, but it's cool. I get it. This is a great pool to jump in to to engage "us."

Conclusion

Mitt's taking the steps this week that I would have deployed months ago -- and certainly before money was spent on TV buys. But,we can't let the perfect stand in the way of the good (especially with Republicans), so I'm going to dish out three scoops of

Mayor Frank Guinta's Public Schedule (April 15 - April 21, 2007)

 

Monday, April 16, 2007

4:00 p.m. – Special Meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman (budget discussions with department heads); Aldermanic Chambers; One City Hall Plaza; Manchester

6:00 p.m. – Special Meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman (public hearing on the proposed budget); Aldermanic Chambers; One City Hall Plaza; Manchester

– Special Meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman (public hearing on the proposed budget); Aldermanic Chambers; One City Hall Plaza; Manchester

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

12:00 p.m. – "Start! Walking at Work" press conference (walking press conference from City Hall – One City Hall Plaza; Manchester, to Health Department – 1528 Elm St.; Manchester)

– "Start! Walking at Work" press conference (walking press conference from City Hall – One City Hall Plaza; Manchester, to Health Department – 1528 Elm St.; Manchester)

7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman; Aldermanic Chambers; One City Hall Plaza; Manchester

– Regular Meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman; Aldermanic Chambers; One City Hall Plaza; Manchester

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

5:30 p.m. – YMCA’s Reach Out for Youth and Families dinner; Radisson Hotel at the Center of New Hampshire; 700 Elm St.; Manchester

– YMCA’s Reach Out for Youth and Families dinner; Radisson Hotel at the Center of New Hampshire; 700 Elm St.; Manchester

Thursday, April 19, 2007

6:30 p.m. – Ward 7 meeting at St. Anthony’s Community Center; 148 Belmont St.; Manchester

– Ward 7 meeting at St. Anthony’s Community Center; 148 Belmont St.; Manchester

Saturday, April 21, 2007

9:30 a.m. – Marine Corps League of New Hampshire’s Quad State Convention (Mayor will give opening address); Radisson Hotel at the Center of New Hampshire; 700 Elm St.; Manchester

– Marine Corps League of New Hampshire’s Quad State Convention (Mayor will give opening address); Radisson Hotel at the Center of New Hampshire; 700 Elm St.; Manchester

7:00 p.m. – Coin toss at the Manchester Wolves (af2 football) home opener; Verizon Wireless Arena; 555 Elm St., Manchester

– Coin toss at the Manchester Wolves (af2 football) home opener; Verizon Wireless Arena; 555 Elm St., Manchester