Former Alderman Adam Platosz’ Life of Service To City and Community
Funeral services for Former City Alderman Adam Platosz, who died March 12th at the age of 73, drew hundreds of individuals who came to mourn the passing of a public servant and a loyal and generous friend and leader in the city’s Ukrainian American community. Platosz, a longtime member of the Democratic Town Committee, served […]
Legislation Call For Clear Language On Charter Referendums
GAE Committee Favors ‘Precise’ Wording On Ballot Questions The Legislature’s Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE) has acted favorably on a bill that will “establish certain minimum requirements for presenting charter or home rule ordinance amendment ballot questions to voters.’” House Bill 7125, introduced by State Representative Gary Turco (D-27) and supported by New Britain’s […]
Making The New Britain Public Library A ‘Library of Human Connection’
Director Sjöberg Shares Plans To Build Infrastructure For Reading In New Britain by John McNamara Walk into the New Britain Public Library (NBPL) on High Street these days and you will notice physical changes to the main floor. The circulation and reference desks have been merged into one. The main floor’s makeover will include five […]
CCSU Offers Free Health Screenings
Free Community Health Clinic Open To City Residents Central Connecticut State University’s (CCSU) Nursing Department is offering health screenings for New Britain area residents as well as faculty and staff members of the University at the Community Health Education Clinic. The walk-in clinic, located on the ground floor of Nicolaus Copernicus Hall, 180 Paul Manafort, Sr. […]
Mayor Stewart Goes All In With MAGA In Bid For Statewide Office
By John McNamara Mayor Erin Stewart’s second bid for statewide office formally began on January 28th at an announcement about her exploratory committee. Standing outside her City Hall office with a throng of municipal employees and supporters looking on, the six-term Republican mayor said she needs to raise $350,000 this year to viably contend for […]
BOE Requests 12% Increase In Local Aid
Budget Forum January 30th, 6 p.m. At Smalley Elementary School The Board of Education (BOE) will hold a budget forum on Thursday, January 30th, to hear a presentation and give the public an opportunity to weigh in on the proposed school budget that will go to the Mayor and Common Council. The budget forum will […]
AG Tong Hosts Lunar New Year Event At Great Taste
Democrats Gather As Attorney General Pushes Back On Trump’s Unconstitutional Actions By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – Attorney General William Tong (D-CT) kicked off a series of Lunar New Year celebrations at Great Taste Restaurant on January 28th as he and 22 other state Attorneys General challenge the Trump White House on federal fund impoundments, […]
City Council Leaders, Legislators To Hold Constituent Meeting January 25th
Common Council leaders from New Britain’s Wards Four and Five will hold a constituent meeting on Saturday, January 25th, with the city’s state legislators to discuss municipal and state issues. The meeting will be held at Spottswood A.M.E. Church, 25 Crestwood Lane from 10 a.m. to noon. Common Council Majority Leader John McNamara (D-4) and […]
It’s Time For State To Address Stormwater Crisis In More Hard Hit Neighborhoods
State Aid Needed To Implement Allen Street Capital Improvements In New Britain By John McNamara The damage to homes and properties caused by intense rains has accelerated over the last two years in New Britain and other communities across Connecticut. Public stormwater and sewer systems built a century ago are routinely overwhelmed whenever a hard […]
Longest Night Service Remembers Lives Lost in 2024
Friendship Center’s Cold Weather Triage Program Is Open To Help Unhoused NEW BRITAIN – A “Longest Night Service” was held at South Church in the Downtown District December 20th to remember individuals who died here in 2024 after experiencing homelessness. The late afternoon service that is observed each year as the “homeless persons’ Memorial Day” was held […]
Vision Zero Task Force Sets Goals To Reduce Traffic Fatalities
Safety Plan Can Lead To Federal Implementation Grants By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – The Common Council approved a resolution on December 11th setting long-range goals to “reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by 50% by 2035 and to reach ‘Vision Zero’ by 2045.” A Vision Zero Task Force, announced by Mayor Stewart last May, […]
Post Election: Countering Fear and Exclusion Begins Here
By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – Campaign promises threatening “mass deportation”, use of the military and law enforcement to go after political opponents (“the enemy within”) and rollbacks of policies for the common good dominated Trump on the stump in the closing weeks of 2024’s campaign. And so the Trump victory on November 5th is […]
Claims For Flooding Damages Spiked in 2023
City Starts ‘Courtesy’ Response Service; Homeowner Flood Relief Is On Council Agenda By John McNamara More New Britain property owners are seeking compensation from the city for property damage caused by storm water flooding and sewage overflows, according to caseloads recorded by the city’s Corporation Counsel in recent years. The Corporation Counsel “handles claims and […]
Alderwoman Sanchez Condemns “Hate Rhetoric” At NYC Trump Rally
Council Democrats Deride GOP Campaign Of ‘Fear and Division’ NEW BRITAIN – City Alderwoman and Assistant Majority Leader Iris Noemi Sanchez (D-3) expressed deep indignation over offensive comments made at Donald Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden on Sunday nine days before the November 5th Election. A speaker insulted Puerto Rico, calling it a “floating […]
Council Democrats Call For Neighborhood Flood Relief Assistance
NEW BRITAIN – Common Council Democrats are proposing a neighborhood flood relief initiative to “provide immediate and direct relief to homeowners whose properties are damaged by storm water and sewage when extreme weather leads to flooding and damages.” A resolution, introduced by Common Council President Francisco Santiago (D-5), Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3) and […]
A Tale of Two Democratic Conventions
Finding A Common Thread of Racial and Social Justice in 1988 and 2024 By John McNamara The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) that nominated Kamala Harris for President last week brought many comparisons to conventions past. Not many delegates, however, were looking back. Delays in getting to the convention on chartered busses and through TSA-type […]
It’s a Unanimous CT Roll Call For Harris In Virtual Pre-Convention Vote
Voting early and online nomination stems from Republican obstruction over ballot access in Ohio “So I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That’s the best way to unite our nation. I know there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life, […]
CCAG Conducts Climate Change Survey In New Britain
Residents Share Views At Main Street Market On Renewable Energy Vs. Fossil Fuels Interns from Connecticut Citizen Action Group are taking in the views of Greater New Britain residents this summer on “how climate change and energy companies are impacting their lives.” CCAG is conducting on the street surveys asking “Are you concerned about climate […]
City Will Match State Bonding With $4.2 Million For Allen Street Flooding
Council To Review Recommendations On Late Audit Reports July 22 An infrastructure improvement plan to address longstanding stormwater and sewer main problems in the neighborhood between Allen Street and Roxbury Road near CCSU is taking shape in a cooperative effort by state legislators and the Stewart Administration. In recent months Common Council-approved engineering work has […]
Council Leader Supports DeFronzo for State Representative
To The Editor: David DeFronzo, the endorsed Democrat running for 26th State Representative in the August 13th Primary, will be an effective leader for the city and the district if he is elected to the Legislature this year. Mr. DeFronzo is listening and understands the needs of the community. He will bring energy and know […]