Board of Aldermen Page 25
April 26, 2016
Alderman Lopez
| just wanted to use my public comment time to explain why on my Facebook page for Ward 4 alderman | have
been posting pictures of me doing 22 push-ups. There is a moved that is based on the VA’s report in 2012 that
the equivalent of 22 Veterans a day commits suicide annually. It occurred to me in one of our previous
meetings that while as somebody who works in the social work field | might be aware of movements or
concerns that are going on badly, the general public is not. | should be a better conduit for bringing those
issues to the surface. While anybody who has worked in social work would have told you that then heroin
epidemic was coming a few years ago, there was a blur of communication. | think the general public is only
aware of it within the last year and a half or so. Likewise, suicide is on the rise. It’s a tabooed that nobody
wants to talk about. The statistics are there. Tne CDC released a report just last week stating that suicide on
the national level was increasing. Especially with our veterans that is not something that we should be refusing
to talk about. Our veterans served our country; they put their lives on the line. Without them we really wouldn't
have the freedom that we have today. Doing 22 pushups isn’t necessarily going to save the world, but doing it
and announcing that the statistic exists and generating the conversation is all that I’m hoping to do. I’m hoping
more resourceful people or people with better resources will become aware of this issue so we don’t have
another epidemic moving forward. | just wanted to explain my behavior on social media to people.
President McCarthy
| wanted to thank City Arts Nashua for having organized the third annual Meri Goyette Art Lunch a week and a
half ago. It was another fascinating event.
Committee announcements:
Alderman Cookson
Infrastructure, tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. in these Chambers. | believe we are going to have a wonderful
presentation from our Downtown Specialist, Mr. Vayo. We have extended the invitation to our Planning &
Economic Development Committee to join us for that presentation. Post the presentation, we will continue with
our regular order of business on Infrastructure.
Alderman Clemons
The Personnel/Administrative Affairs Committee will meet here at 7:00 p.m. on May 2.
Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
The Planning & Economic Development Committee will hold their next meeting on Tuesday, May 3, at the City
Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. At that time, we will have a presentation on the Performing Arts Feasibility Study.
President McCarthy
As we pointed out before, we will also have on May 5 the meeting with the State Delegation here.
