Lawyers need to stand up to Trump; don't release balloons and more: Letters
As an aspiring lawyer, I commit to equity, diversity, justice and the rule of law
March 25 − To the Editor:
As a third-year law student, I have little power to sway the legal industry’s titans. But I have a vested interest in the profession’s integrity and the least to lose in speaking out against shameful behavior. That includes the recent surrender by law firm Paul, Weiss to the Trump administration’s retaliatory Executive Order, which targeted the firm for its diversity initiatives and for advocating against the interests of Donald Trump.
Perhaps we shouldn’t expect any better from big law firms. But the fact is, big law depends on the rule of law for its business and annual bonuses. The rule of law means you appeal decisions you don’t like; you don’t threaten judges who rule against you or retaliate against attorneys who represent your opponents. As the past has shown, Trump does not respect the rule of law. The deal with Paul, Weiss makes a mockery of it. And now other firms are vulnerable to similar intimidation and the dismantling of a precious American principle continues.
So, as an aspiring lawyer, I commit to equity, diversity, justice and the rule of law. I commit to the representation of all, not the defense of the politically favored. I draw the line in the sand now, as my career commences, so that I know where I stand when hard decisions come to pass. If this new regime retaliates against me for the positions I take, so be it. It is not because I am wrong; it is because they are too weak to offer a good faith counter argument.
I won’t sit silent during an authoritarian coup of this nation I call home, however flawed it may be. I encourage my colleagues—new and veteran—to offer the same resistance. Our profession, our ideals, our very way of life depends on it.
William Simpson
Kittery Point, Maine
If you care about wildlife, don't release balloons
March 25 -- To the Editor:
On March 20, the NH House passed bill HB 387 making balloon releases of 20 or more balloons into the air a violation offense. First time offenders face a charge of $250 and increases to $500 for subsequent offenses. Any deterrent to releasing balloons is welcome, but 20 is still 20 too many for marine animals, and for humans.
The bill itself states that “the General court declares that the release into the atmosphere of balloons inflated with lighter-than-air-gases constitutes littering, because the balloons eventually return to the earth’s surface. Deflated balloons pose a serious threat to the life and well-being of wildlife and marine animals via ingestion or entanglement with attached ribbons.”
Since 2001 we have conducted beach cleanups from York, Maine to Salisbury, Massachusetts and in 2024 alone we recorded 388 balloons. Balloons are among the top types of litter we observe offshore. On 478 whale watch trips from 2022-2024, we spotted 558 balloons (single balloons or bunches). Marine life and other wildlife can become entangled in a balloon or their strings/ribbon or mistake them for food and ingest them. In 2014, Marine Mammals of Maine reported a balloon inside the stomach of a stranded Atlantic white-sided dolphin in York.
Non-consumed balloons eventually break down into smaller plastic pieces that are eaten by plankton, filter feeders (mussels, clams, oysters), crabs, lobsters, fish etc. This plastic and associated chemicals are absorbed into the tissues of these animals, many of which we eat.
Limiting releases to 20 balloons is a start, but each set of 20 balloons, utilizing the NH House’s own words, is no less life-threatening for our wildlife. Balloons may be a fun way to celebrate an event but we there are many readily-available environmentally supportive alternatives, like planting trees or scattering flower petals for celebrations and memorials.
Jennifer Kennedy
Executive Director
Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation
Portsmouth
To Trump voters: You were wrong. Admit it.
March 25 -- To the Editor:
To Trump voters: You were wrong. Admit it. Now get to work and try to help fix this mess. Call your Representatives and Senators, demand impeachment of our President Imposter, and utilize every opportunity to speak out against this dangerous Administration that threatens our national security, undermines our future generations, and destroys our belief in America. You failed an open book test when you reelected Trump, and now it is time to step up and pull this monster back before the damage that he is doing is irreversible in our lifetimes.
Tess Holom Schneier
Kittery, Maine
The world doesn't need billionaires
March 26 -- To the Editor:
Howard Lutnick, Trump’s billionaire Secretary of Commerce, said that if Social Security “didn’t send out their checks this month,” his “mother-in-law, who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain. She’d think something got messed up, and she’ll get it next month.”
Must be nice to have a son-in-law worth several billion dollars that you can rely on in a pinch when your Social eScurity check does not come through this month. How many billionaires rely on Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid? On the other hand, how many billionaires worry they'll be taxed to support social safety net programs?
No one needs a billion dollars. The world doesn't need billionaires. This is not lost on billionaires. I guess that's why they want to control the process.
James T. Lalos
Portsmouth
Support public radio and public television
March 26 − To the Editor:
In an era when nonstop lies are the backbone of our presidency, the truth tellers are again under brutal attack.
Marjorie Taylor Green, known across America for endless falsehoods, has her talons out for NPR and PBS—long known in our heartland for balanced, unbiased reporting on the truth.
NPR and PBS, long praised for top calibre children’s, environmental, and public affairs programming—have won countless awards for excellence and artistic talent. NH PBS NewsHour is my favorite after a day hearing another stream of Trump distortions of truth.
When will the truth tellers be rewarded with increased funding while the liars, like Trump and Green, endlessly avoiding real justice, go to prison?
Malcolm Odell
Exeter
Keep NH dollars in NH to help White Mountains and ski resorts
March 26 − To the Editor:
New Hampshire’s White Mountains and renowned ski resorts are essential to our state’s economy, attracting millions of visitors each year and supporting local businesses, hotels, and restaurants. Winter tourism sustains our communities and preserves the charm that makes our state a premier destination.
That’s why I’m pleased that Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen have reintroduced the Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act, to reinvest in our ski areas and strengthen our outdoor recreation economy.
Currently, ski areas operating within National Forests, including those in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, pay fees to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). These fees are pooled into the agency’s national budget and then redistributed across all national forests. As a result, funds generated in New Hampshire do not necessarily stay in New Hampshire. The SHRED Act changes this system by requiring 80% of ski area fees to remain within the White Mountain National Forest, funding local projects instead of being diverted elsewhere. This means better-maintained trails, ski areas, and visitor facilities, all of which directly benefit our state’s tourism industry and outdoor economy.
This bill is another step toward reinforcing our state’s winter tourism industry, supporting our local economies, and preserving the beautiful landscapes. Senators Hassan and Shaheen are ensuring that our communities remain vibrant, our economy stays strong, and our outdoor spaces are well-maintained for generations to come.
Larry Drake
Portsmouth
Medicaid keeps my family together at home
March 26 − To the Editor:
In 2014, my son was diagnosed in utero with significant medical conditions that would greatly impact his life. From that moment, I not only became a mother of two children, but also a full-time medical caregiver. My career was put on hold as we were forced to navigate hundreds of doctor’s appointments, medical interventions, and 14 surgeries over the last 10 years. Today, our son is thriving in his community, supported by us as his caregivers and his school staff.
We rely on full disability Medicaid to cover the astronomical costs that our primary insurance does not— feeding tubes, formula, a feeding pump, medical supplies, diapers, and essential equipment. Medicaid also offsets the loss of income our family has endured since I became his full-time caregiver, allowing me to be compensated when acting as his medical provider. Without Medicaid, our son’s only option might be institutional care, which would cost taxpayers significantly more while limiting his quality of life.
Medicaid allows children like my son to remain at home, be a part of their communities, and receive the care they need to live fulfilling lives. Protecting this program is not just about health care—it’s about providing dignity, opportunity, and doing what’s right for families. I urge policymakers to ensure Medicaid remains strong in New Hampshire for those who need it most.
Anastacia Barr
Newmarket
The new Rye Select Board has already covered itself in shame
March 26 -- To the Editor:
The new Rye Select Board has already covered itself in shame. At the March 24, 2025 meeting the board rejected the applications of three longtime Rye Conservation Commissioners who applied for renewed terms (one of whom is the current chair) and instead appointed three new commissioners to replace them. This was done despite the recommendation of the current commissioners. This was done despite the testimony from a 30-year resident (who spent 10 years on the commission) which outlined the significant accomplishments of the three (during their tenure the Rye Conservation Commission conserved over 400 acres of land using state and federal grants in addition to taxpayer funds).
Anyone who has worked successfully in an organization understands the value of institutional knowledge. The Rye Conservation Commission has lost 49 years of memory and experience and the people of Rye have been ill served.
Cathleen Hodson
Rye
Granite State seniors count on Medicare Advantage
March 25 -- To the Editor:
For retirees like me, access to quality, affordable health care is one the most important things to have, especially as our health care needs grow and become more complex. For that reason alone, I’m thankful to have the coverage I get through Medicare Advantage—and hopeful lawmakers will do everything they can to help keep this program strong and able to meet the needs of its beneficiaries.
Medicare Advantage is the increasingly popular alternative to traditional, “fee-for-service” Medicare that more than half of the entire Medicare-eligible population is now enrolled in. That’s over 34 million Americans—including more than 120,000 Granite Staters—who rely on Medicare Advantage to access the integrated health care benefits and supplemental services that help them live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
As an enrollee in Medicare Advantage, I have access to benefits not covered by traditional, FFS Medicare, including vision, dental, and hearing coverage, as well as comprehensive prescription drug benefits. I am particularly pleased with the latter as, without Medicare Advantage, I could never afford the prescriptions I need to help treat my heart disease on my own.
In addition, Medicare Advantage plans also cover transportation to and from doctors’ appointments, which is a game-changer for seniors and patients with disabilities or mobility limitations, especially in a state like ours.
I even know folks on a Medicare Advantage plan who have signed up to receive pre-made meals following medical procedures and overnight hospital visits. That is an especially nice touch that makes a world of difference for patients. It’s also just nice to know that that kind of support and care is available if I ever need it.
Medicare Advantage is a lifeline for tens of millions of seniors and patients with disabilities nationwide, covering an incredibly diverse group of patients. Nearly two-thirds of African American seniors and nearly seven in 10 Latino seniors choose Medicare Advantage over traditional Medicare, making this program an important tool in advancing health equity for traditionally underserved patient groups.
Understandably, lawmakers in Washington have a lot on their plate as a new administration and Congress get to work on a range of policy priorities. Hopefully, one of those priorities will be to protect Medicare Advantage from funding cuts that could undermine the program and weaken the benefits that I and tens of millions of other Americans count on to help us stay our healthiest.
Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan have built solid reputations of working across the aisle to advance policies and protect programs that benefit New Hampshire residents, businesses, and communities. I hope and trust that they will do the same thing when it comes to Medicare Advantage, and work with their fellow legislators to properly fund and keep this program strong in 2026 and well into the future.
This program serves too important of a role in our health care system and for tens of millions of Americans for lawmakers to allow it to go underfunded and fall by the wayside.
Mike Castaldo
Dover
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