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Gatsas, Lynch see bright future for NH
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GOFFSTOWN — Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas spoke alongside Gov. John Lynch in a joint State of the State and State of the City event at Saint Anselm College Wednesday.
“I can tell you that the city is in great shape,” Gatsas said. “There's a buzz, there's a happening, people are enthusiastic about seeing the city and moving throughout the community, and that's a good thing.”
Accentuating the importance of cooperation, Gatsas lamented that the city laid off 12 firefighters, but said negotiations have helped in preventing from it happening again.
“I can tell you that this year (Fire Chief James Burkush) has worked with his unions to come forward with concessions,” the mayor said.
Gatsas, who took office in January 2010, said during negotiations he met with the chief and unions twice a week. He then thanked Chief Burkush, who was present along with a large number of city officials, aldermen and businessmen at the event, which was sponsored by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
Gatsas pointed to the city's low unemployment rate, saying it's an honor to go to ribbon-cuttings for new businesses on a weekly basis.
“That means people are looking to start a business here in this community, and they're looking to hire,” he said.
He praised the city's restaurateurs: “It used to be you ask people in Manchester where you can eat in Portsmouth. And now people in Portsmouth are asking where can you eat in Manchester.”
Gatsas also highlighted Manchester's business incubators, describing them as the cradle of the state's next great businesses, and said the designation of Manchester's airport as international could mean millions for the city.
In July, the mayor made headlines when he called for a two-year moratorium on refugee resettlement to Manchester, a position he reaffirmed Wednesday.
“I've had refugees come up to me and say, ‘Mayor you're right. We don't have a job. We need to get a job first.'”
Gatsas said he believes in families, but when unemployed refugees are receiving family members here, “how are they going to support them once they get here?”
In his speech, Gov. Lynch put education at the top of his agenda.
“Education drives jobs, and that's why we need to continue to support education here in New Hampshire, both K through 12, as well as public higher education,” he said.
Lynch said New Hampshire has lowered its dropout rate to 1.16 percent. But the state must continue supporting the programs that motivate kids to stay in school, “like career technical education.”
He said he was “appalled at the 50 percent budget cut to the university system of New Hampshire.”
“As I travel around New Hampshire and meet with businesspeople, they continue to tell me that even though we have over 30,000 people who aren't working today, they still need workers with the skills and talents and qualifications necessary to fill the jobs,” Lynch said.
“I can tell you that the city is in great shape,” Gatsas said. “There's a buzz, there's a happening, people are enthusiastic about seeing the city and moving throughout the community, and that's a good thing.”
Accentuating the importance of cooperation, Gatsas lamented that the city laid off 12 firefighters, but said negotiations have helped in preventing from it happening again.
“I can tell you that this year (Fire Chief James Burkush) has worked with his unions to come forward with concessions,” the mayor said.
Gatsas, who took office in January 2010, said during negotiations he met with the chief and unions twice a week. He then thanked Chief Burkush, who was present along with a large number of city officials, aldermen and businessmen at the event, which was sponsored by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
Gatsas pointed to the city's low unemployment rate, saying it's an honor to go to ribbon-cuttings for new businesses on a weekly basis.
“That means people are looking to start a business here in this community, and they're looking to hire,” he said.
He praised the city's restaurateurs: “It used to be you ask people in Manchester where you can eat in Portsmouth. And now people in Portsmouth are asking where can you eat in Manchester.”
Gatsas also highlighted Manchester's business incubators, describing them as the cradle of the state's next great businesses, and said the designation of Manchester's airport as international could mean millions for the city.
In July, the mayor made headlines when he called for a two-year moratorium on refugee resettlement to Manchester, a position he reaffirmed Wednesday.
“I've had refugees come up to me and say, ‘Mayor you're right. We don't have a job. We need to get a job first.'”
Gatsas said he believes in families, but when unemployed refugees are receiving family members here, “how are they going to support them once they get here?”
In his speech, Gov. Lynch put education at the top of his agenda.
“Education drives jobs, and that's why we need to continue to support education here in New Hampshire, both K through 12, as well as public higher education,” he said.
Lynch said New Hampshire has lowered its dropout rate to 1.16 percent. But the state must continue supporting the programs that motivate kids to stay in school, “like career technical education.”
He said he was “appalled at the 50 percent budget cut to the university system of New Hampshire.”
“As I travel around New Hampshire and meet with businesspeople, they continue to tell me that even though we have over 30,000 people who aren't working today, they still need workers with the skills and talents and qualifications necessary to fill the jobs,” Lynch said.