Citizens, if you don't participate in these discussions, others will make the decisions for you.
One of the greatest dangers of citizen apathy in the area of regional planning is that far-right, radical groups have begun to influence the process disproportianately. The John Birch Society has reared its' ugly head, and this is one of the areas they have targeted.
Be informed, stick with the facts, and don't allow your community to be hijacked by these extreme groups.

Granite State Futures is a social re-engineering program, quietly bent on redistributing wealth by forcing "fair housing" (what they call "sustainability"), funded by HUD, DOT, and the EPA.

If you want these groups influencing our planning, zoning, water rights, transportation, housing, and private property - get behind Granite State Futures; otherwise, be very, very cautious.

Note the following wording, from the Nashua RPC application for this Federal "Planning" grant: http://tinyurl.com/bdl42ga (Page 17)

"Strategy to Address Barriers and Incorporate Existing Plans"
"Identifying and Overcoming Barriers - One of the steps in the visioning and planning process to be used by each region will be to identify existing and potential barriers to ensuring sustainable communities and to articulate the strategies the regions will use to mitigate or overcome each barrier."
"Anticipated barriers include NH‟s strong tradition of individual property rights and resultant resistance to planning and zoning; and a currently strained State budget that will limit State Agencies capacity to conduct future planning efforts. Key to overcoming these barriers will first be the detailed community engagement and communication strategy identified above."

So, YOU and your private property "traditions" are "barriers" to their agenda.
This comes from our Federal Government (which is broke), directly to the RPCs, bypassing what they call "traditional government" in Concord.

Good stuff.

The Planning Commissions do not want your input. I sat in on several of the RPC meetings where they spent quite a bit of time discussing amongst themselves how they can get "public input". Then, after they were done with their agenda, several people from the public wanted to ask questions. Their reply was that they are too busy. When asked to put time on their agenda for public questions/comments at their next meeting, they again said they had very busy schedules. After some pressure and pushback, they agreed to place 10 minutes on the agenda for public comment. Not very generous considering how many people had showed up to each of the meetings I was at.

In addition, they are very disingenuous. They promote the program as a "bottom up", "grass roots" program. They also say that HUD's involvement is minimal... until you point out in the legally binding contract that the program comes with "Substantial Involvement" from HUD. Then they change their tune and say things like "well, HUD expects something for their money".

They also love to say the Regional Planning Commissions are "advisory only. That is absolutely true, but the other Granite State Future partners include Federal and State Agencies that have agreed to "cross integrate" the Granite State Future plans with their own policies. These agencies are NOT advisory only, and they can impose their policies on all of us via regulations with the force of law.

If you are interested in reading more, check out these links. They represent over 1,000 hours of research by several people, covering 1,000s of pages of "legally binding" documents that define the scope of the program.

http://southernnh912.com/content/nothing-life-free-neither-sustainable-communities-initiative

http://southernnh912.com/content/dismantling-our-founding-principles

The proponents of the GSF/SCI program would also like for the state to assume control of all well water. Check out these articles on the Water Sustainabilities Commission, which was created by Gov. Lynch via Executive Order. The proponents of the Granite State Future program will counter with statements that indicate the work of the Water Sustainabilities Commission is also "advisory only" and you don't need to be concerned with their findings. What they don't tell you is that the WSC falls under the auspices of the NH DES, and the commission's Report to the Governor SHALL (must) be incorporated into final GSF plans that are produced by the GSF program. NH DES is NOT advisory only.

http://southernnh912.com/content/nh-water-sustainability-commissions-request-public-comment

http://southernnh912.com/content/nh-state-rep-judith-spang-justifies-taking-water-rights-property-owners

I attended one meeting and when one of the citizens raised legitimate concerns over this entire agenda, the Chair responded in a hostile manner. I then decided to speak up telling him that it would be helpful to listen to the public and not react in such a hostile way. Many people attending the meeting left before public comments because the meeting started VERY late and the discussion was mainly among those sitting on the Commission.

I'm still trying to figure out why this is needed? I'm not seeing a water shortage in this state.

This is reminiscent of the old soviet-style top down planning. They will attempt to override your legislature and convince your town's selectmen to put things in place that you do not want or need -- rails systems, bike paths, low-income housing, mixed use developments, smart electric and water meters, etc etc etc. YOU DO NOT want this, YOU DID NOT ASK FOR THIS.

Property Owner NH
From what I have seen overall the RPC's have an agenda which will incrementally restrict property rights, including the right to the water wells on our property. Oregon fined and sentenced a man to 30 days in jail for collecting rainwater. Does NH want the RPC agenda? I don't.

The best way to stop the takeover of NH's resources by the wealthy corporations, companies making money of government's green hoax, and their "foundations" by implementing 'public private partnerships' between government and chosen ones, is to tell the RPCs and WSC NO THANKS in no uncertain terms.

Unrequested,uneeded, federally sponsored, plan to take away states rights and conform to left wing Washington desires of creating centers of easily controlled centers of population. Tell me how urban areas are more "sustainable" ! Obama wants those fleeing dysfunctional urban areas to the suburbs financially responsible for the unproductive citizens "abandoned" in the ghettos. After all, it would only be "fair" and that is what makes it "sustainable", taking from those that have and supporting those that don't. It is those pesky people that live in rural and suburban areas that must be controlled by the central government and their unelected bureaucratic lackeys.

Their ideas have failed everywhere, including in American cities. So now, they are going to rob the suburbs to pay for the cities as revenge to those who embrace local self-government. They are covetous sociopaths who will stop at nothing. They covet the forest, the wild areas and the water. They resent your love of liberty and will seek to rob you of that as well. Tocqueville said if America's spirit of free self-government were ever to be killed off, massive cities desperate for a centralized welfare state would strike the deadly blow. They intend for that to happen.

This program takes all decision making out the hands of locals and puts it into the hands of federal government. I am very suspicious of a program that seems to make plans, collectively, across the state. Who asked for this? Each community should have input into what each community needs. This program is supposedly for green initiatives. It seems like someone came up with a plan for that and it will be forcefully implemented or done in such a way that people, if not aware and involved, have no say in. I urge all who read this to do some research and get involved. Private property and liberty is at stake. -Carla Mora, Plaistow

This process is DECEITFUL and MANIPULATIVE. It is called the Delphi Technique.
These types of visioning sessions to get "public input" are a farce. Say they want to hear from you but they severely limit the choices that you are allowed to pick from. There is never an option for "none of the above" or something different from what they present to you. They discourage/marginalize any opposition. They do not answer questions. They tell you to write your questions down and they will be answered later. They do not answer. That is just a way to shut you up. How do I know all this? I have experienced it in California. Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9FphF5sJwQ

Yes Mimi is correct. The PR firms train 'faciliators' who are present at these input meetings, and the few people that hear about them who show up are in the minority and are led to the 'proper' decisions. The American people are so sick and tired of this stuff, they are awake and will not be duped.

As I said, if it comes from the people why do the RPCs need facilitators from PR firms who guaranteed results will swing 'their' way???

"Planned Future" = can you say George Orwell's nightmare? Which means planned economy, planned jobs, planned living space, planned travel, planned work, planned society, for all of you!

Why would we hand over local decisions to our DC Overlords? This smacks of a federal takeover of issues better solved on the state and local level. I, for one, prefer plans made by me and my neighbors, my community, rather than far-off faceless bureaucrats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfUIWMQ92RU Here is a link to a short video on the subject of Agenda 21. This will help folks to understand the reason for the existence of Granite State Future and Plan NH. The idea that folks shape their own future is nonsense. Plan NH holds these "charettes" that use to be called visionary sessions. It gives the illusion that local folks have some say. The only local folks that have any say are those pushing this agenda and those making money from the projects. If you want to see why is making money from the projects, see the private companies that are sponsors of Plan NH.

I have conducted numerous presentation exposing Agenda 21 around the region and would be more than happy to do so in Milford. If interested. please contact me (857) 498-1309 shurtleffhal@aol.com

http://www.scribd.com/doc/106642535/New-Hampshire-Sustainable-Communities-Initiative Here is a link to the 27 page document.

New Hampshire Futures is nothing more than another federal grab designed to take away our rights, freedoms, and eventually liberty. It starts with a federal government takeover which then puts us in line with the UN Agenda 21. We don't need it and we certainly don't want it. We encourage our fellow citizens to attend ANY town meetings pertaining to sustainable developement but expect to be "delphied." DO NOT let them intimidate you. Sustainable housing and workforce housing would be designed to look like East Berlin during the cold war. These people think social justice is stealing from one group of people and giving to another, sponsored with YOUR tax dollars. Live Free or Die
Phil and Chris

Your private property and current property rights are very much at risk with these non elected commissions intruding on your individual rights.Do not think that this is some conspiracy theory gone amuck. If a person in the western region of the US can (and was) be arrested for collecting rain water from his roof downspouts then the conspiracy has suddenly become reality.

3.37 million taken from the citizens of this country to funnel through some Kafka-like committees that aim to restrict the property rights of those same citizens. That's in NH alone. How much of our money that could have gone to good causes has been wasted on this sort of government gone wild?

Follow the MONEY! Where is it coming from? Who is it going to? Making rules for us to live by, taking our rights to our water,land and housing, I DON'T THINK SO! These groups must be monitored and sent packing!

"Behind the Green Mask" is an excellent book describing this "rail roading" process used to seize control of private property and to force citizens, or perhaps subjects is a better description, off their land.

It's a sad day for America when people accuse ordinary homeowners, who are merely trying to keep control of their surroundings, as being 'extremist' groups, while the real extremists are the ones like ICLEI and the American Planning Association who are trying to commandeer all resources in the states.

We as a nation borrow or print 43 cents for every dollar we spend. We have a national debt of $16.2 trillion. In August 2011 we increased the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion. I now read that we will have blown through all that money by the end of this year and Washington wants to raise it another $2.4 trillion.

We are broke! So when I read that the Regional Planning Commissions in NH got a $3.7 million grant I have to shake my head. Folks, we simply don’t have the money!

We need to prioritize our spending. Let’s start by doing away with the Regional Planning Commissions so there will be money left over for our most needy citizens.

One of the major problems is that people see grant money as "free" money. They don't realize that the money comes from ultimately from taxes. It's time to stop accepting money from the Federal government. Too many strings attached.

Page 15 of the New Hampshire Sustainable Communities Initiative Paragraph 2:

Strategy to Address Barriers and Incorporate Existing Plans:

Identifying and Overcoming Barriers-Anticipated barriers include NH's strong tradition of individual property rights..."

The philosophy of the Regional Planners is contrary to John Locke's theory of rights which influenced our Founding Fathers when they wrote the US Constitution. Locke believed that property precedes government. The government therefore cannot dispose citizens of their property arbitrarily. Yet this is what the Regional Planners intend. They are after your property rights, your private wells, the forests, the wilderness, the water. Democracy is an impediment to them. It's too messy dealing with the unwashed masses, so they seek to circumvent our tradition governmental processes throught top-down schemes. The Sustainable Communities Initiative is backed by collectivists who have an authoritarian, top-down view of society which is completely contrary to traditional America and the Live Free or Die State of NH. If we follow the Regional Planners, the individual person will be subsumed into the concept of the "general will" which they will interpret to suit their own selfish interests.... Under their system, the political elites, the crony investors and crony well-connected big business interests will crowd out true free enterprise. Your tax dollars will pay for crony well-connected big business interests. There is no fair play. The deck is stacked against the little guy and small businesses. These big shots will interpret the "general will" to suit their own selfish interests. Their schemes have failed in the cities so they are knocking on the door of suburbia and you will pay.

Alexis de Tocqueville (who knew nothing about Regional Planners or Sustainable Communities Initiative or Regional Equity Teams) warned America that if its spirit of free self-government were ever to be killed off, massive cities desperate for a centralized welfare state would strike the final blow. The ethic of individual free enterprise is key to our civil society where everyone regardless of ethnicity, religion or social status has the same rights to pursue self-improvement. This message is suppressed by the schemes of the Regional top-down planners.
Locke and our Founding Fathers believed that property precedes government. Therefore, government cannot deprive citizens of their property arbitrarily. The Sustainable Communities Initiative crowd is after your property rights, your private wells, and public areas (they call collective or common). Democracy is an impediment to them.
If they convince enough elected representatives in Towns and Cities to surrender sovereignty, they will call the shots instead of our elected representatives. The individual person will be subsumed under the concept of the "general will".
The cities they planned have failed due to their insidious schemes, so they focus on suburbs.
The ultimate goals of the Regional Planners/Sustainable Communities Initiative are the deprivation of your liberty and destruction of self-government so that you will be silenced while the already wealthy and well-connected get richer picking your pocket.

Thank you Ken Eyring for staying on top of this unconstitutional agenda. With the reelection of President Obama, you can expect more push on his "White House Rural Council" and more executive orders implementing Agenda 21. For more information and actions to take go to http://americanpolicy.org/agenda21/

In reply to Mr. Keith F. Thompson who stated "others will make the decisions for you". That is absolutely correct. The Non Government Organizations use the "Delphi" Method, which allows everyone's input...to give the IMPRESSION and ILLUSION that they will be considered. The outcome has been planned from the beginning. All those who object or ask too many common sense questions are ignored or pressured into submission. A great advocate is Rosa Koire a commercial forensic real estate appraiser who has written "Behind the Green Mask" available at amazon or at your local library. Rosa is a DEMOCRAT! Wake up and see how the hand that is feeding you is reaching to strangle...

UN’s Agenda 21 program's in city’s membership in ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability. 4 NH towns pay in! Agenda 21 seeks government to stop your freedom to own a car, live in rural area, eliminate your property rights. Agenda 21 must be stopped- inform locals to end membership in ICLEI & repeal Agenda 21 sustainable development laws. Agenda 21 hides behind environmentalism & sustainability. It wins unwitting supporters of a U.N.-globalist land & power grab ends private property rights. Agenda 21 is the plan to control all resources, human and natural.” Officials note controls are by a self-appointed oligarchy. Do mass foreclosures with displaced millions, factor into this plan? Note that The Bankers' Manifesto of 1892, http://www.heyokamagazine.com/heyoka_magazine.27.bankersmanifesto.htm revealed to Congress "When, through the process of law the common people have lost their homes, they will be more tractable and easily governed through the influence of the strong arm of government applied to a central power of imperial wealth under control of leading financiers. People without homes will not quarrel with leaders. check Internet Agenda 21 future map "U.N. Wildlands Project" http://www.channelingreality.com/images/wildlands_map_full.jpg, Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Resolution Blasting Agenda 21
http://thenewamerican.com/tech-mainmenu-30/environment/11224-tennessee-lawmakers-pass-resolution-blasting-un-agenda-21
(communities dumping Agenda 21 ~ E.A.N.

To answer a question about where this money goes, it seems to go to favored 'green' companies to build things we don't need or want. That's how the greenies line their own pockets with your federal tax dollars.. a waste and a racket too! (Then you'll get an invite to their grand openings, like LaBelle Winery, built by Fulcrum Associates)

This program is being strongly rejected by a growing number of communities and states all over the nation and for good reason. It means a loss of local sovereignty, top down government control and ultimately a loss of individual freedoms and property rights. Non-elected commissions with increasing powers are a bad idea. Tell your friends and neighbors to oppose this!
-Peter Walker