NH Coalition article on HB 1675
Thank you for covering HB 1675, the bill to “investigate” the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, but the February 12th article did something very concerning. It legitimized wild, unproven allegations from a Hollywood resident who has a documented history of making paranoid claims against New Hampshire organizations, elected officials, and victims of crime.
There is a profound difference between transparency in nonprofit funding and weaponizing unverified conspiracy-style claims to gut essential services. This story leaves readers with the impression that these allegations are on equal footing with fact. They are not. Reprinting them without critical context legitimizes a fringe narrative and aids those who have engaged in harassment and intimidation tactics, including threats against families.
Good journalism should differentiate between genuine oversight concerns and opportunistic political theater fueled by people without any real credibility within the community. Sadly, this coverage failed to do that. It feels as if the voices of many weren’t heard at all. Our capitol paper should guard against amplifying misinformation and instead help readers understand which voices pushing legislation are credible, and which are rooted in grievance campaigns with no factual foundation.
There are victims in our state that have relied heavily on these services and I urge you to focus on elevating discourse in New Hampshire communities rather than validating dangerous rhetoric.