This My Turn was originally presented as testimony at a city council hearing.

I’ve spent most of my adult life in Concord, and when I chose to buy a home years ago, I chose to stay in Concord.

It was one of three houses under half a million dollars in the state at the time. It’s got character, and it needs some updates.

I had a pretty stressful year in 2024. Memorial Day weekend found me in the hospital for emergency spine surgery, followed by 8 weeks out of work recovering. I returned to work in late July, and was laid off in September after my company was acquired. I am incredibly fortunate not to have lost my home through these experiences, but I recognize that I am not immune to homelessness. Sometimes, all it takes is one bad day.

I’ve only recently started paying attention to local politics, and it’s been quite eye-opening.

Something I heard recently resonated with me: What we want is for these things to be run like a household, like a home. A household still has a budget and an income and resources to manage; all the moving parts are the same, but the focus is different.

A business will let every person in it die a terrible death as long as it makes the business profit. A household will spend its last dollar to keep the people in it safe and healthy.

A household will use money as a resource to add value to the lives of the people in the household. A business will use people as a resource to add monetary value to the business.

We don’t want a government run like a business, we want a city run like a household. Because we live here.

With that in mind — and given that we’ve elected this council to represent us and that a community is only as strong as its weakest link — it’s been quite disappointing to see that those leading Concord want to run this city like a business, sometimes prioritizing their desires over the needs of our most vulnerable.

Our homeless population is growing faster than anywhere in the country, we have vigils honoring those who have died on our streets, many of whom were senior citizens, yet our Mayor is quoted as saying that we need to let this problem be resolved by the nonprofits. I’ve seen a lot of frustration here around $100k going to social services for hotel expenses and keeping people off the streets, yet no one bats an eye when we pay a golf pro $120k plus golf lessons fees, a rate that is 50% higher than the average pro pay on municipal courses.

One councilor says they’re being fiscally responsible when they ask questions about $400k lights in the poor side of town that will make it safer for kids to play at night, yet they have no concerns regarding a $6 million clubhouse for golfers. One councilor told me with disdain that the homeless population is ruining their hiking experiences. Another is so deeply invested in the golf course as to have bought their house to be near it, and they are unable to see the issue objectively, to the point that they get enraged when questioned on its logistics.

And our city manager, Concord’s first employee to make over $200k, now $235k, compares the golf course to facilities like our pools and libraries, which can be life saving when those who can’t afford air conditioning need to cool off or need a free way to educate themselves with books or apply for jobs on the internet.

While I understand that Concord has a lot of unique challenges as the state capital, I’ve observed a lot of performative hand wringing and lamenting about what holds us back from serving our community and hardly any collaboration for solutions that serve the people who live here, or dissemination to the larger public of the good things being done.

I didn’t even know the Beav was municipal until 2023 and the budget conversation that started then. I understand the value that the Beav brings to those who use it, and I appreciate that — but is it necessary for the taxpayers to subsidize it? With a household budget? And a litany of capital improvement needs? Are are those who use it, especially those who come from other towns, truly put out to pay a fair rate?

I know you all are here in your roles because you care about your community, but I wonder if you’ve lost perspective on the experience of the ever-growing lower middle class.

As of 2021, New Hampshire was comprised of over 8% millionaires.

I urge this council to consider the other 92% of us. Remember, a rising tide lifts all boats.

If we can’t see that from this panel and this budget, I hope we see fresh faces around this table come November.

Jenn Chase is a tech professional turned tailor who enjoys gardening at her Concord home and spending time on the many trails and waterways the city offers.