Manchester’s new mayor said Tuesday that he’s putting himself on the clock and getting right to work on some of the city’s biggest problems.In his inaugural address, Mayor Jay Ruais said he wants to hit the ground running at City Hall, saying he just wants to “get things done,” starting with a new approach on the issue of homelessness.”For those that want and need help, we will be there for you,” he said. “For those that wish to take advantage of us or break our laws or defile our streets, understand that we will have no tolerance for that level of lawlessness.”In addition to strengthening the anti-camping ordinance, Ruais wants to fast-track changes to the zoning process to help build more housing.”Everyone talks about the need for more housing,” he said. “Manchester is going to show how it’s done.”The mayor said he’s also going to be a vocal advocate for changing the state’s 2018 bail law, which made it much easier for those charged with a crime to avoid jail after an arrest.”Nothing would have a more transformative impact on our safety than removing nearly 1,000 criminals from our streets,” he said. “The fight for our security will continue today. It will continue tomorrow. And it will continue until everyone in our community feels safe.”Ruais said he wants to help English language learners improve their fluency, and on the municipal budget, he’s calling for a freeze on nonessential spending and putting a stop to nonemergency hiring.Ruais is a Republican, but newly elected Democrats on the Board of Aldermen, such as former Fire Chief Dan Goonan, said they’re ready to work with the new mayor. “I think there’s a lot we can do as a city to make a dent in the homelessness issue,” Goonan said.Like many other elected officials in New Hampshire, Ruais only has two years before he has to answer to voters again, but he said he’s setting a high bar for himself and Manchester.”There’s zero reason why we shouldn’t be the best midsize city in the United States,” he said.
Manchester’s new mayor said Tuesday that he’s putting himself on the clock and getting right to work on some of the city’s biggest problems.
In his inaugural address, Mayor Jay Ruais said he wants to hit the ground running at City Hall, saying he just wants to “get things done,” starting with a new approach on the issue of homelessness.
“For those that want and need help, we will be there for you,” he said. “For those that wish to take advantage of us or break our laws or defile our streets, understand that we will have no tolerance for that level of lawlessness.”
In addition to strengthening the anti-camping ordinance, Ruais wants to fast-track changes to the zoning process to help build more housing.
“Everyone talks about the need for more housing,” he said. “Manchester is going to show how it’s done.”
The mayor said he’s also going to be a vocal advocate for changing the state’s 2018 bail law, which made it much easier for those charged with a crime to avoid jail after an arrest.
“Nothing would have a more transformative impact on our safety than removing nearly 1,000 criminals from our streets,” he said. “The fight for our security will continue today. It will continue tomorrow. And it will continue until everyone in our community feels safe.”
Ruais said he wants to help English language learners improve their fluency, and on the municipal budget, he’s calling for a freeze on nonessential spending and putting a stop to nonemergency hiring.
Ruais is a Republican, but newly elected Democrats on the Board of Aldermen, such as former Fire Chief Dan Goonan, said they’re ready to work with the new mayor.
“I think there’s a lot we can do as a city to make a dent in the homelessness issue,” Goonan said.
Like many other elected officials in New Hampshire, Ruais only has two years before he has to answer to voters again, but he said he’s setting a high bar for himself and Manchester.
“There’s zero reason why we shouldn’t be the best midsize city in the United States,” he said.
