What was supposed to be a small column item on cuts to federal funding turned into a front-page lead story about a congressman slashing funding for his home town. The idea to make it a full story came after a chat with a fellow reporter, which goes to show sometimes talking it out for 10 minutes can mean all the difference.

Former mayor votes to slash city funding

Feb. 23, 2010

Despite requests from Mayor Ted Gatsas and city officials to maintain funding for programs for some of the city’s poorest residents, New Hampshire’s congressional delegation has given little indication it intends to do so.

Recently approved House cuts would reduce the city’s $2 million Community Development Block Grant funding by more than half this year. President Obama proposed a 7.5 percent cut to CDBG funds in his recently released 2012 U.S. budget that would result in about $155,000 less for city programs next year. Continue reading →