City Hall: Manchester awaits Supreme Court ruling, courts potential Sister City

Apr. 26—IT'S NOT OFTEN the mayor of the state's largest city issues a statement urging the U.S. Supreme Court to vote one way or another.

On April 22, the High Court heard oral arguments in the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. The case concerns whether an ordinance allowing a municipality to fine or arrest people for camping in public areas when they have nowhere else to go violates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The amendment prohibits "cruel and unusual punishments."

Advocates say it is the most important Supreme Court case involving homelessness in 40 years, with the potential to affect policy across the country.

If justices side with officials in Grants Pass, a community in southwest Oregon with a population of about 40,000 people, their counterparts in Manchester or elsewhere conceivably could be allowed to fine and arrest homeless people sleeping outside.

The Supreme Court is expected to release a decision by the end of June.

This past week, Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais issued a statement urging the Supreme Court to decide in favor of allowing cities more latitude in enforcing anti-camping ordinances, calling for the court to allow local officials to strike a balance between compassion for those in need and "the maintenance of public order."

"We urge the Supreme Court to consider the needs of cities like Manchester and to affirm the vital role of enforcement in creating a safe and welcoming environment for all," Ruais said. "I eagerly await the ruling in June and am ready to take steps to strengthen our ordinances.

"The ability of a city to ordain and enforce ordinances pertaining to quality-of-life issues is a key component of a comprehensive response," Ruais said in his statement. "Encampments are not healthy or safe for those in them and they are certainly not good for the community.

"Manchester needs to possess the capability to uphold the integrity of our public spaces, guaranteeing safety, cleanliness, and an inviting atmosphere for all residents, visitors, and businesses alike."

Ruais noted that local leaders across the country from both parties filed amicus briefs in support of Grants Pass's case. "This is not a partisan issue," he said.

More than a decade ago Grants Pass officials tried to ban unhoused people from sleeping in public spaces. The town has an overnight shelter with 138 beds for adults, but the facility has rules against pets, drugs and alcohol and requires attendance at twice-daily religious services.

In 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided in Martin v. City of Boise that the Eighth Amendment prohibited local governments from criminalizing "sitting, sleeping, or lying outside on public property for homeless individuals who cannot obtain shelter."

Auditioning for sister act

Could the Queen City soon have a Canadian sister?

The Sister City Program was established in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to aid in the development of mutual understanding between U.S. cities and international cities.

One facet of the program entails furthering economic and cultural cooperation and interchange between the participating entities.

Official Sister City relationships are consummated by formal agreement between the governing body of a city in the United States and a city in another country. It's a protocol agreement, not a political agreement.

These relationships are recorded with the Town Affiliation Association (Sister Cities International), the national organization that maintains contact with the U.S. Department of State.

On March 5, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen asked the Manchester Economic Development Office to draft a policy concerning Sister City relationships for review by the Committee on Administration/Information Systems.

Economic Development Director Jodie Nazaka said the office has begun working to craft a policy that aligns with the city's vision statement: "To be a first-class city to live, work, and visit, built upon our rich history, culture, education, environment, and commerce."

Nazaka said her office has sought guidance from The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire on establishing a public-private partnership between Manchester and the Council to represent the city in official international activities.

"The success of a sister-city relationship hinges greatly on robust community support," Nazaka wrote in a memo to aldermen. "Therefore, it is imperative to garner support from individuals, corporations, civic leaders, and the local government to foster future relationships.

Nazaka said establishing a Protocol Committee will help ensure Manchester forges lasting relationships with foreign cities with strong economic and cultural ties.

"This opens up more exchange possibilities and fosters common ground and familiarity between the two cities."

Examples of economic ties mentioned by Nazaka include pairing with another manufacturing city or one with a heavy concentration in the biofabrication, medical, high technology and aerospace industries.

Nazaka reports as her department focuses on crafting a Sister City Policy for the future, her office also is collaborating with the mayor's office to advance a sister-city partnership with the city of Sherbrooke in southern Quebec, Canada.

Sherbrooke is the sixth-largest municipality in the Quebec province, with a population of approximately 174,000 people.

In December, state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro wrote to officials in Sherbrooke to initiate the idea of a sister city relationship with Manchester.

"We would be delighted to explore this idea further, and we are eager to know if the mayor of Manchester and Board of Aldermen are interested in such a relationship," wrote back Marilyne Berard-Fontaine, strategy advisor cabinet of the mayoress of Sherbrooke. "Like you, we strongly believe that the opportunities created by the biotech industry can bring our cities closer and can lay the foundations for future partnerships."

Memorial Day parade

The Manchester Veterans' Council is planning activities for the city's annual Memorial Day Parade. Step-off for the parade will be at 2 p.m. Monday, May 27.

Organizations interested in participating should send an email with the number of participants and number of vehicles to Army Maj. (ret.) Daniel Beliveau, commander of the Manchester Veterans Council, at danmbel74@gmail.com.

Paul Feely is the City Hall reporter for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. Reach him at pfeely@unionleader.com