-As the cost of living in Portsmouth rises, what can be done to provide affordable housing for working families and people with moderate incomes?

All communities compete for high-priced housing because it generates the tax revenue needed to balance the annual budget. Affordable housing is really a regional, state and national issue. A few years ago, the N.H. Legislature attempted to pass a law that would have required all communities in the state to enact a local ordinance to guarantee a fixed percentage of workforce housing for all new housing construction permits issued. Certainly, a regional approach through the Rockingham Regional Planning Commission should be considered, because as long as all communities compete for all available tax dollars, workforce housing will not be developed at a pace that would be needed to allow our residents to live and work in the same city or town. Every community needs to move forward on this issue, like York, Maine, which is considering a workforce housing ordinance. Federal tax credit incentives should also be proposed to entice developers to build density bonus units, and the federal government should reorder its spending priorities by canceling at least one space shuttle mission per year and scaling back its military interventions around the world to spend the money on what our country really needs, including a decent and affordable home for every American.

-What would you do to manage growth in the city’s Northern Tier?

Redevelopment of the Northern Tier is contained in the area bordered by the pond, Market Street, Maplewood Avenue and Hanover Street. I see it as our flagship hospitality sector, and it will be redeveloped as such over time with input from downtown merchants, the Chamber of Commerce, residents in adjacent neighborhoods and the community as a whole as to its final design. This redevelopment will occur in phases, contribute significantly to city tax revenues, provide hundreds of jobs for our residents and attract thousands of visitors who will spend a lot of money in Portsmouth. The council will provide oversight to guarantee that all phases stick to the long-range plan, benefit our city in all respects and complement the best downtown area in the region.

-What kinds of new businesses would you like to see opening in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth is a regional tourist hub, medical center, high-tech center and service industry magnet. To that list, I would add professional office parks, museums, theaters, small shopping projects to service the neighborhoods, as well as specialty shops and the kinds of light commercial businesses that we already have along our main thoroughfares. Our image is very important, so I would not endorse additional big-box enterprises, heavy industry or any project that would jeopardize our sustainability. It took a long time to get to where we are today, and I believe that we should keep it that way.

-What would you do to promote sustainable practices and green building in the city?

The 2005 Master Plan and the sustainability initiatives of 2006 identified short-term and long-term goals to maximize the benefits of recycling, energy efficiency, preservation of open space, reduction of pesticides, water conservation, affordable housing, building restoration, pollution reduction and public transportation. Those goals should be incorporated into the six-year capital budget plan with benchmarks to monitor progress and with the cost spread over several years. The city can also leverage government and foundation grants as additional resources. While sustainability is really a global issue, every community needs to take the first steps and participate in regional efforts through organizations like the Rockingham Regional Planning Commission. It’s a quality of life issue, and our efforts will define us as a livable city.

-What was the last cultural or artistic event you attended in Portsmouth?

My last event was “West Side Story” at the Seacoast Rep. just before the campaign started.

-It was, in large part, the artistic community that made Portsmouth a popular destination, but now many artists will tell you that they cannot afford to live or work here. Have we killed the goose that laid the golden egg?

You hit the nail right on the head! Look at my answer to #1 above. There is a lot of potential along the entire Islington Street corridor with all the turn of the century buildings that are ready to be redeveloped. Look at what Manchester, N.H. and Lowell, Mass. have done with their old mills buildings. There is no need to reinvent the wheel, but there is a need to create a vision for transforming that neighborhood into an artist colony in conjunction with the neighborhood association and City Hall. It’s conveniently located close to downtown, essential services in the shopping plaza and major roadways. The people who created the dream should now share in that dream. I value their contribution, and I would like to have them live in town.