Speakers Express Support for Greater School Funding at Budget Hearing
Staff report At the annual City Council budget hearing, members of the city community expressed support for increasing funding for New Britain’s schools and advocated for a good quality of education for the city’s children. The hearing was on the Mayor’s Proposed Budget for the budget year that goes from this July 1st to June […]
Friends of New Britain Public Library Hosting Spring Book Sale
By the Friends of the New Britain Public Library, By the Friends of the New Britain Public Library, The Spring Book Sale sponsored by the Friends of the New Britain Public Library will be held from April 30 – May 2, 2026 in the Library’s Community Room at 20 High Street. The Sale opens on […]
Racial Justice Coalition Questions Sanchez Budget Proposal
By the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition, The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition (NBRJC) is raising serious concerns about Mayor Bobby Sanchez’s proposed FY27 budget, stating clearly that it reduces overall education funding while failing to meaningfully invest in libraries and community services. Despite public claims of increased support for schools, the full budget shows […]
Reception Held for NBMAA Exhibit “The Museum of the Old Colony” by Pablo Delano
Photojournalism by Dr Frank Gerratana. Cover photo by Dr Frank Gerratana. Article staff report. The New Britain Museum of American Art is hosting Pablo Delano’s “The Museum of the Old Colony” exhibit, which it says, ” is a conceptual, site-specific, and continually evolving project that confronts the complex legacies of U.S. colonial rule in Puerto […]
New Britain Honors 65th Infantry on National Borinqueneers Day
Photojournalism by Dr Frank Gerratana. Cover photo by Dr Frank Gerratana. Article staff report. Today, the City of New Britain held annual ceremonies for National Borinqueneers Day in honor of the Borinqueneers, the widely honored 65th Infantry Regiment from Puerto Rico, who served the United States with distinction in both World Wars and the Korean […]
Community Honors the Life and Work of Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights Movement
Photojournalism by Dr Frank Gerratana. Cover photo by Dr Frank Gerratana. Article staff report. On Saturday, community members and local leaders gathered under a clear spring sky to honor the life and work of the Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights Movement. The annual event has been held in the city […]
Mayor Bobby Sanchez Delivers First State-of-the-City Address
The following is the annual State-of-the-City address delivered by Mayor Bobby Sanchez (D) at the March 11, 2026 City Council meeting: Good evening. I want to begin by thanking the members of the Common Council, our state legislative delegation, city employees, community leaders, and the residents of New Britain who make this city such a […]
Reader: The last guardrail is gone—and the Iran war shows why that’s dangerous
By Joseph Wasserman, As the war involving Iran continues to widen, it’s clearer more than ever that the world has entered a new nuclear era. Yet at the very moment when we need guardrails the most, the last remaining US–Russia arms‑control treaty—New START—has expired. For the first time in decades, there are zero binding limits […]
Reader: Urge State Legislators to Support Climate Change Superfund Legislation
By Joe Wasserman If you agree that our future is threatened by catastrophic climate change urge your State Representative and State Senator to advocate for HB 5156, An Act Concerning a Climate Change Superfund. The oil company profits have been massive and it is the oil companies that should pay for the enormous damages created […]
Take It From a Hundred Year Old: Vote If You Don’t Want a Tyrant King
By Ida Cohen The United States uniquely defied thousands of years of governments led by kings, by creating a country of laws. The cry of the times, “No taxation without representation!” The people’s will would be reflected by their votes. No kings for us! How ironic, “All men are created equal…” when the fathers of […]
Reader: Doomsday is Not Inevitable – We Can Change Course
By Joseph Wasserman On January 27th the doomsday clock was set to 85 second before midnight. As we see confrontations between nuclear armed nations escalate, we can act by calling on our Senators, Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, to cosponsor S Res 323. S Res 323 calls for putting a halt and reversing the nuclear […]
New Britain Racial Justice Coalition Affirms Correction Ombuds’ Findings
By the the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition (NBRJC) affirms the findings of the Connecticut Correction Ombuds’ 2025 Conditions of Confinement Report and names the central truth it reveals: mass incarceration itself is the crisis. The documented conditions—black mold, rodent infestations, sewage backups, extreme heat, spoiled food, prolonged lockdowns, […]
Reader: Doomsday Clock is a Call to Action
By Joseph Wasserman On January 27th there will be a resetting of the doomsday clock,by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. We are currently at 89 seconds before midnight with the nuclear weapon powers having nuclear missiles pointed at each on hair trigger alert .It is now at the closest it has ever been to the […]
Happy New Year from the New Britain Progressive
Happy New Year from the New Britain Progressive. Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2026!
Top Stories of 2025
As we get ready to start 2026, the New Britain Progressive looks back at some of the important stories the New Britain Progressive covered in 2025. Many of these stories span multiple articles covered in the New Britain Progressive, so many of the larger stories are represented by one article, here. With that, here are […]
Happy Holidays from the New Britain Progressive
Merry Christmas from the New Britain Progressive! May the blessings of peace and goodwill be with you as you celebrate with family, loved ones and friends.
Mayor Bobby Sanchez’s Inaugural Address
Editor’s note: The following is the Inaugural Address delivered by New Britain Mayor Bobby Sanchez (D) on November 12, 2025 at New Britain High School. The cover photo is by Dr Frank Gerratana. Good afternoon, New Britain. Standing here today, being sworn in as the 41st Mayor of our great city, is one of the […]
CCSU’s Dancentral Presenting “Perspectives” Student Choreography Showcase
The Central Connecticut State University student dance company, Dancentral, is presenting its “Perspectives” showcase in November. CCSU says that, “‘Perspectives’ is a showcase of original student choreographed works created this fall semester under the mentorship of Dancentral director Erica Nelson, and other Dance faculty members and alumni.” “This showcase represents months of hard work, collaboration, […]
New Britain Legislators and Local Elected Officials to Host Community Meeting
Members of the New Britain legislative delegation and local leaders are planning to host a community meeting, “to discuss new state laws that took effect on October 1st, 2025, and what they mean for New Britain residents.” The meeting is to be hosted by Rep Dave DeFronzo (D-26), Rep Bobby Sanchez (D-25), the Council Majority […]