YOUR COMMENTS

No surprise that the Mayor and Alderman handed over a big chunk of Manchester's fiscal future to a criminal.

Maybe they should put up signs on roads leading into the City: "If you don't want to get screwed, don't live here. Just commute to the fun like all the other bums and stick the Manchester taxpayers with the bill."
- Jon, Manchester

Mr. Sanborn needs to be held accountable for his actions which are deplorable

His actions, however, have no bearing on viability and the tremendous economic and aesthetic benefit the ballpark has brought to downtown Manchester. You naysayers need to open your eyes and walk around downtown - the arena and ballpark have been great for the City. Wake up.
- Mike, Manchester, NH

No sympathy for thieves. Put him away, let him pay the tab for his room and board.
- JAC, Manchester

Do people really think that the ballpark and the arena are bad for Manchester? Do you really think that the economic benefit of these facilities does not make up for any potential debt shortfalls? Do you remember what Manchester looked like 10 short years ago? Argue the details, believe me, there were many that were missed. But the overall impact to the City and the region is substantial.

Regarding private investment, the hotel was built on time and has met 100% of its obligations. The baseball operator pays 100% of his bills and the residential developer's biggest problem is the market. IF, the private sector was able to start their developments at the same time the ballpark did (in 2004) the residential would have worked perfectly. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

Both these deals were complex and included the public and private sectors. Certainly, mistakes were made, but to say the City made bad investment decisions is very short sighted. Personally speaking, one of the reasons the City is positioned favorably to other locations is due to these projects and the ancillary private investments they made possible.
- Shane, Manchester

Bob, Manchester

If you do not vote for good people when they run, the wrong people keep getting elected.

Sometimes, good people do run for elective office. They often do not win because of non-voters like you.

Do you have kids in the schools? If you do, do you think who gets elected to School Board, Aldermen, and Mayor impacts the quality of schools? It amazes me how many parents say they care about the quality of education and then do not vote.

I do not have kids.

If you do not vote, you are the main part of the problem. People should learn some about the issues and the candidates and then vote. Sometimes, I vote for the best person. Sometimes, I vote for the least bad.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

This is an example of the prevailing "me first", private sector and personal greed philosophies at work. The political influences were the catalyst, but the personal greed factor was the cause. Glad he was caught, but unfortunately now the rest of us are stuck with paying for his room and board for the next 30 months. Perhaps he should be required to repay the federal government for the costs of his incarceration.
- Gary L. Kerr, Chichester

Why am I not surpirised about this. This is another reason why that ballpark and arena should have never been built to begin with. This is the end result of greed in ManchVegas. Just remember people, YOU voted for these aldermen to begin with. That;s why I don't vote to begin with simply because I don't trust state of federal government. And no if those of you who think "love it or leave it" then remember it's mine and only my opinion on this.
- Bob, Manchester

Is there anybody from Manchester making money on this deal yet? Or are we just paying for it?
- JSF, Manch

That whole deal smelled bad. Drew Webber walked out of Manchester with 1 million bucks in his pocket (a gift from our alderman and mayor). Who else was dirty in this deal?
- Mike Bodruk, Manchester