Checking Back On The News

For my news intake today I decided to check back in on the Clinton coming to UNH. It’s not of utmost interest to me because I couldn't help but run out and get a ticket to see him yesterday after I read the article about it on the Portsmouth Herald.

                So back I went to where I started, SeacoastOnline.com and scanned for anything with UNH in the title. Found it! A tweet from UNH Media Relations (@UNHNEWS), “Tickets still available to hear Bill Clinton speak at UNH Wednesday. Pick them up in the MUB beginning at 10 a.m.” (Retweeted by Charles J McMahon).

                I couldn't help but think, seriously? Still tickets available? For a campus with such an air of political interest and awareness, and this is going off the Romney buttons going around and students for Obama tables that are stationed around campus, I thought the tickets would have gone in a flash. Even I felt the urge to go pick one up, they’re free after all, and how often do we get an opportunity like this?

                After I stopped fixating on that I moved onto and article titled, “Tiered parking rates advance in Portsmouth”. This drew me in because as a student here, I share a special love for the quaint shops and restaurants that line the streets of Portsmouth. That and the Starbucks. As a frequent customer, I was interested to find out what I might have to change about my visits.

                This article focused on a proposal that was made to reduce the hourly parking rate throughout the “low-occupancy” streets in the downtown area. The proposal was passed after the second reading and will be considered on its third and final reading on Oct. 22. If the proposal fully passes, “high-occupancy” streets will charge $1.50 an hour, and “low-occupancy” streets will charge only $1.  This will mean the lower occupancy streets will be exempt from the 50-cent increase.

                Resident Ron Zolla said, “These higher rates are coming out of local’s pockets,” Zolla said. “It makes a visit to downtown Portsmouth less attractive”. And I couldn't agree more. Paying to part in Portsmouth can really put a damper on your trip there. I always feel obligated to stay and walk around until my meter or ticket has expired, after all, I did pay for it. But with every swipe of my debit card, or quarter I feed into a meter, a bad taste is left in my mouth. I think that keeping the lower occupancy streets at a lower hourly rate is a great idea for Portsmouth and will leave the residents and visitors happier.