1 week Ago
Is it time for Manchester officials to send an unpaid bill from a Donald Trump rally at SNHU Arena to a collection agency? At least one city aldermen sure thinks so. During the Oct. 15 meeting of the aldermanic Committee on Accounts, Enrollment and Revenue, Alderman Tony Sapienza of Ward 5 sounded the alarm over money owed to Manchester by the Donald J.
Trump for President Campaign. The bill, which totals $32,475.84, relates to a campaign rally held at the SNHU Arena back in January and involves security provided by the Manchester Police Department.
“I want the voters to know,” Sapienza said in pointing out the line item, included in a handout to aldermen. “I think it’s important that people know that. That’s money we spent on his security.
He owes that, he’s been billed for that, and he’s ignored the bill for over five months.” A Trump campaign spokesperson said Friday they have paid the venue “in full” for the Jan. 20 rally, saying questions about law enforcement costs should be directed to the Secret Service.
As Sapienza spoke, a member of the board could be heard saying, “What a jerk.” Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur confirmed on Thursday he made the comment. “I only said that because he laughed after he made the statement, so it was obviously done for political effect,” Levasseur said.
“He never publicly calls out anyone else who owes money, and the list is long of others that do.” Levasseur has been a vocal supporter of the former president, running on a pro-Trump platform in the recent Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District. NBC News recently reported that four cities and a county confirmed to them the Trump campaign owes more than $750,000 to the five jurisdictions, with some of the unpaid bills going back eight years.
Sapienza said he’s concerned about getting the bill paid after Election Day, asking it be sent immediately to collections. “The election's coming up soon, that organization may disappear,” Sapienza said. “I say we go to court and get a collection order.
Can we get him to pay for his last visit before we allow him to make another visit?” Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said should Trump plan another trip to Manchester between now and Election Day on Nov. 5, “we'll have that conversation with the campaign, see if we can gain compliance.” “The issue is when, if it's a sitting president or candidate for presidency, they kind of have us in terms of security,” Aldenberg said.
“We have to do the right things and make sure that we don't have an incident under our watch.” “I'd like to find out if there's some kind of way we can attach the assets of this organization, Donald J. Trump, the president, while they still have money before they spend it all on other things,” Sapienza said.
No action was taken by aldermen on the matter. The William B. Cashin Senior Center on the West Side was the place to be Thursday, as more than 100 people and nearly 50 organizations took part in an open house celebrating the center’s 20th anniversary.
In 2004, thanks to a city bond, a vote by aldermen and funds raised by "The Friends of The William B. Cashin Senior Center," crews broke ground on a new senior center for the Queen City. Today the 15,000-square-foot facility has 1000 active members enjoying a wide variety of programs and activities.
Emily Conrad, manager for center, was thrilled with the turnout. “People seem to get excited for us having this kind of event here,” Conrad said. “We have about 170 people on average that come in here every single day.
We have pretty good reputation and we’re growing constantly. I just had 40 new members.” City aldermen have approved a request to rename a portion of Grove Street after a millworker was recognized as the first Black female landowner in Manchester.
Stan Garrity, chairman of the Manchester Heritage Commission, sent a memo to aldermen on July 29 pointing out that Grove Street from Elm to Willow streets is being resurfaced and the old cobblestones taken out. “We will be losing some of history by doing that,” Garrity wrote. “However we can make it better by introducing some of our new history.
” Garrity says he and the commission would like to see that portion of Grove Street renamed Samantha Plantin Way. Samantha Plantin came to Manchester from New Boston in 1844 at age 18. She lived at the Stark Corp.
and worked in the Stark Mills. At night she worked as a washer woman and later as a dressmaker. “She saved her money frantically and was able to buy two pieces of property,” Garrity wrote.
“On the second property she built a home that still stands today.” Plantin died in 1899. In her will, she requested that all her assets be sold and the profits go to support Black education.
The money went to Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, Haines Institute in Georgia and two women’s missions in Manchester. “We feel it is past due time to honor this amazing woman with having Grove Street changed to Samantha Plantin Way,” Garrity urged. Plantin is buried in Valley Cemetery behind Grove Street.
The New Hampshire Food Bank is supporting a Mobile Food Pantry with truckloads of food for individuals and families on Friday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at the Comcast Parking Lot, 676 Island Pond Road.
Enter on East Industrial Park Drive. The Food Bank will bring truckloads of food to distribute to families and individuals. No proof of income or residence is needed.
This is a drive-thru event, and all items will be distributed to people in their vehicles. The Department of Public Works has begun sidewalk renovations at Oak Park. Work is scheduled to take place weekdays from 8 a.
m. to 4 p.m.
, with an estimated completion date of Friday, Nov. 1. Public works has announced the new playground at Wolfe Park on the West Side is open and ready for use.
“With vibrant colors matching the Brickley basketball courts, bonded rubber safety surfacing pathways, and unique play structures, our playground is designed to provide a fun and welcoming space for everyone,” a post at the city website reads. The park features a Mighty Descent Slide, PlayCube Climber, Cozy Cocoon, varied spring steppers, and a dual-sided garden sensory board — something for every child ages 2-12 to enjoy..
