Board of Aldermen — 2/21/16 Page 6
Nashua has a long history of immigration. Waves of French Canadian, Irish, Lithuanian, Jewish, Polish,
German, Greek and other immigrants worked in our mills and built our city in the 19'" and 20" centuries.
In the 21* century new immigrants have been arriving and helping us build our community — people from
India, Mexico, Brazil and other countries. Nashua is the most diverse city in New Hampshire, and we are
proud of our diversity. A recent study by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine
found that immigration has a positive impact on the long term economic growth of the United States. The
study also found that second generation Americans, the children of immigrants, are among the strongest
contributors to the US economy.
The Nashua Chamber of Commerce has found that over recent years Nashua’s population would have
dropped by 4-5,000 people but for immigrants coming from outside of the US. We have many successful
new Americans here in Nashua. There are many examples, but | will mention particularly John
Olapurath who immigrated from India and who founded Zco Corporation, a successful software and app
developer that employs 25 people right in our Millyard. Nashua is extending a hand of welcome to new
Americans. During 2016, with the support of the Nashua Chamber, United Way, and many citizens, we
Officially became a Welcoming City — signifying that we welcome new Americans who wish to move here
and contribute and that we remember the contribution of past immigrants.
In 2016 we also established a Sister City relationship with Mysore, India. Mysore is a cultured, university
city in southern India, a region from which may of our Indian-American citizens have come. Mysore has
a highly educated population and is today one of the IT centers of the world. We hope to build upon this
relationship to strengthen our economy and enrich our city. We are working with our legislative
delegation to help Nashua, and | want to thank our delegation for taking up the city’s cause. A major
goal is to halt the downshifting by which year by year the State of New Hampshire pushes more costs
onto local government and raises property taxes while crowing about “no new taxes” and about a “budget
surplus.”
The largest of these downshifts right now is the imposition of another $2 million in pension costs on the
city and our taxpayers. Our legislative delegation has advanced three bills to address this problem and
we are fighting to get at least one of these bills passed. There are other state actions which would
increase property taxes, one is the reduction in state education aid. Nashua’s school aid was reduced by
$479,000 last year while aid to Bedford and Windham almost doubled.
A major legislative objective for us is extending commuter rail to Nashua. During its last session, the
legislature cut the funds necessary to accomplish the final planning steps for commuter rail even though
the funds required were all federal, not a dime of state money was needed. Our delegation support rail.
This session | have testified in favor of including rail funds in the capital budget and against eliminating
the state Rail Authority.
During the past year, | have been inspired by many Nashuans. | want to single out our Nashua’s Safe
Stations team: Nashua Fire Rescue, Chris Stawasz of AMR and Harbor Homes. As | have visited our
firehouses, like the Amherst Street Fire Station, and as | have talked with our team about the shattered
families who are coming to a Safe Station, | have seen their total commitment to the mission of rescuing
Nashua from opioids. Our Safe Stations team are showing the character that is part of Nashua’s history
and fabric. | am thankful to every one of them.
So let’s continue pulling together, working together, and showing the heart that is evident in every
neighborhood of our city. Together we can accomplish great things. God bless the great city of Nashua.
Thank you very much.
