Primary Election Survey Results In early August, NHCRN published the resultsof a survey sent to NH's state primary candidates running for Governor, Executive Council, and for State Representative or Senator. The survey asked them for their positions on local choice, including whether or not they will support the people of NH’s call for the NH Community Rights People's Amendment, which in 2018’s legislative season earned support from one third of NH’s House. Of the candidates who responded to the survey on local choice and the amendment, 71% said they would support the amendment, 29% that they would not. See full primary survey results.
General Election Survey General election survey results are in! 77% of those taking the Local Choice survey said they would support the NH Community Rights Amendment, 23% that they would not. See full general election survey results.
Be on the look out for 2019's reintroduction of the NH Community Rights People's AmendmentWe hope to see your engagement with it at the State House and in letters to the editor!
What The Amendment Would Do The NH Community Rights People's Amendment seeks to codify in our NH Constitution's Bill of Rights the community right to local decision-making authority regarding social and environmental issues that affect the health, safety, and well-being of individuals, communities, and ecosystems. While this right and authority is already affirmed in Articles 1, 2, 8, 10, and 32 of our NH State Constitution’s Bill of Rights, it is not yet specifically recognized.
Enumerating this right to local self-government in our Bill of Rights would address an underlying NH civil rights problem in two main ways. Firstly, it would recognize that local self-determination is an inherent and unalienable right. Secondly, it would nullify corporate use of ceiling preemption and permitting bodies to override the collective will of a community to adopt local laws that expand and protect rights of people and ecosystems. Importantly, the amendment could not be used to protect local laws that restrict or weaken existing local, state, or federal rights and protections for people and natural environments.
This amendment is an ongoing topic of NHCRN educational outreach to help secure and protect the inherent and unalienable rights of all NH inhabitants to economic, social, and environmental justice—including securing the rights of nature. WELCOME! As we usher in 2019's legislative season, please join us in welcoming NHCRN's new Legislative Coordinator, Jennifer Dube! Jennifer is a NH native who grew up in Concord, NH's state capital. Passionate about social and environmental justice, Jennifer will assist NHCRN in the mission of advancing the NH Community Rights People's Amendment to secure the inalienable right to local self-government for all NH inhabitants.
Thank you for your continued part in NH's Community Rights Movement.
In gratitude, Michelle, Diane, Doug, Monica, Peter, and Sue
