News Briefs: Make a Plan to Vote…City Recognizes Baseball Champs…Hispanic Art and History at City Hall
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 by John McNamara Make a Plan to Vote: Absentee ballots available Friday, October 2; early voting begins October 19 at two locations No excuse absentee ballots will be available on Friday, October 2 and early voting (EV) for the November 3 Election begins Monday, October 19 in Connecticut as voters will […]
Groundbreaking for Smith School Renovation
Holmes School Ribbon Cutting is set for Wednesday, September 30 By John McNamara – nbpoliticus.com Mayor Bobby Sanchez and Cong. Jahana Hayes (D-5) led local and state officials and educators in the groundbreaking for Smith Elementary School’s major renovation on September 23rd. Smith School Principal Melissa Rivera and Early Learning Center Principal Terry Turcotte welcomed […]
Common Council Recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month; Events Include CCSU Student Art and History Exhibit
By John McNamara nbpoliticus.com Latino and Hispanic residents are being recognized in a Common Council resolution for “Hispanic Heritage Month” at the September 23rd meeting. Honoring Latino culture and community includes the raising of a Hispanic Heritage flag at Central Park that occurred on September 16 and an Open House at New Britain City Hall […]
How to Form a Neighborhood Watch is Topic At Joint NRZ Meeting
By John McNamara http://nbpoliticus.com City officials and residents focused on forming neighborhood watches at a September 3rd joint meeting of Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) committees organized by leaders of the East Side and North Oak NRZs. Mayor Bobby Sanchez and Police Chief Matthew Marino fielded questions on traffic safety, homelessness, the use of red light/speed […]
New Britain Remembers 9/11
“More than 2,700 lives were lost in New York City on 9/11. Since then, more than 8,000 first responders and survivors suffering from illnesses related to toxic exposure — like lung cancer, blood cancer or respiratory illnesses — have died.” By John McNamara NBPoliticus A full contingent of New Britain’s first responders appeared at Central […]
New Ordinance Proposed on Regulating Tobacco Sales
City Would Require Local Permits and Inspections By John McNamara NBPoliticus.com The New Britain Health Department will strengthen its licensing and oversite of retail tobacco sales in the city in a resolution to be considered at the September 9th Common Council meeting. The new chapter in city ordinances will for the first time “create a […]
Remembering Nancy Wyman: A Local Legend in Connecticut Politics
By John McNamara – NBPoliticus.com Politics was always “local” to Nancy Wyman whether it was entering the fray to become a Tolland board of education member or running to become the first woman to win a state constitutional office that had been exclusively reserved for men since it was established in 1876. Her successful statewide […]
New Britain Set to Implement Traffic Enforcement Cameras Amid Statewide Concerns
Governor Lamont Calls For 30-Day Pause In Use of License Plate Readers Over Data Collection Issue by John McNamara New Britain became the 18th community approved for use of traffic enforcement cameras on August 7th on the same day Governor Lamont called for a 30-day pause on their use primarily because of opposition to “flock” […]
New Britain ‘Pop Up’ Rally Protests ICE Abuses, Killings in Maine and Texas
By John McNamara – nbpoliticus.com NEW BRITAIN – Thumbs up and honking of horns from motorists were frequent on Saturday afternoon, July 25th, at the corner of Corbin Avenue and West Main Street at a “pop up” protest organized by Indivisible Greater New Britain. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero were killed during Immigration […]
Soccer Forward Fest: New Britain Hosts Community Day on World Cup Weekend
By John McNamara – nbpoliticus.com New Britain’s Osgood Park was host to a “Soccer Forward Fest” on July 17th at the start of World Cup Finals Weekend “to celebrate the power of soccer to bring people together.” The event brought youth and young adult players, coaches, families and soccer fans together from Greater Hartford. The Community Day […]
Education Funding, Traffic/Safety Issues Raised at Mayor’s Ward 4 Meeting
Mayor Bobby Sanchez took his first-year listening tour to Ward 4 on June 27 where residents shared concerns on speeding, traffic enforcement, public safety and support for schools in a wide-ranging, two-hour discussion. The meeting held at Saint Francis Church Hall drew more than 30 persons with the mayor and other officials. Joining Sanchez were […]
City Updates Purchasing and Bid Policy for First Time in 11 Years
NEW BRITAIN COMMON COUNCIL UPDATES Municipal bidding procedures for the purchase of supplies and contractual services have been revised “for greater consistency and efficiency” for the first time in more than 11 years. The Common Council amended Chapter VIII of the ordinances at its June 10th meeting, increasing the threshold for competitive bidding from $7,500 to $25,000, The […]
Water Is Life: Citizen Opposition Nixes Another Threat to Wetlands and Watershed
Withdrawn Plan for Truck Stop Near Batterson Pond Echoes Past Fights Over New Britain Watershed by John McNamara http://nbpoliticus.com Residents of Farmington and New Britain rose up as one voice in recent weeks to oppose the plan of Noble Gas Real Estate Holdings to build a diesel-gas refueling facility and warehouse on about six acres […]
Batterson Park Reopens: Nature Awaits This Summer
By John McNamara – nbpoliticus.com FARMINGTON – Batterson Park, closed and unused for more than a decade, will be open to all visitors this summer as a place for picnicking, short hikes, birding, bald eagle watching, kayaking, fishing, splash padding or just communing with nature on the New Britain-Farmington line. Officials from Farmington, Hartford and […]
New Pavements Scheduled for 23 Streets This Summer
Roadwork Begins June 22 Using State Local Capital Improvement Funds from NBpoliticus.com NEW BRITAIN – All or portions of 23 streets in the city have been selected for the 2026 re-paving program this summer by the Department of Public Works. The work will be performed by contractors retained by the city and is scheduled to […]
Farmington Commission Hears Public Opposition to Travel Center Near Batterson Park and Slater Rd. Neighborhood
A Fourth Hearing Will Be Held on June 3 By John McNamara NBpoliticus.com FARMINGTON – The Inland Wetlands and Environment Commission heard residents from Farmington and New Britain on May 20th strongly oppose an application to build a Travel Center and a gas/diesel fueling station on the town line near Interstate 84 off ramps. In response […]
NB News Briefs: Dems discuss Absentee Vote Law…Council Hikes Fines for Blight, Code Violations…School District Recognizes Faculty, Staff at Awards Night
by John McNamara – NBpoliticus.com State Representative Matt Blumenthal on “No Excuse” Absentee Voting: “We Have Finally Caught Up with the Rest of Nation” State Rep. Matt Blumenthal (D-147), Co-Chair of the Government Administration and Elections (GAE), says Connecticut’s newly adopted election law allowing “no excuse” absentee voting and other provisions will promote more participation in […]
Council to Review Budget with Department Heads; May 15 is Deadline for Elderly Tax Relief
The Common Council will hold three meetings (May 5,6,7) to review the Mayor’s proposed budget for the July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027. City departments under the jurisdiction of the Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee (PZH) will be reviewed Tuesday, May 5. The Administration, Finance, Law and Public Services Committee (AFLPS) will continue the review on […]
Resource Fair Creates Access to Community Services for Spanish Speakers
by John McNamara Access to community and social services in a city as diverse as New Britain increases when language and cultural barriers decrease and awareness of those services spreads by word of mouth among residents who may need them most. Last winter first-term Alderwoman Jessica Vargas (D-1) hosted a constituent meeting in her ward […]
New Holmes Elementary Nears Completion
By John McNamara Renovations and expansion of the Stanley H. Holmes Elementary School on Stanley Street will be completed in the coming weeks. Members of the School Building Committee toured the K-5 school on April 22 with Kamil Musical , Newfield Construction’s project manager, and School District staff members. The Holmes School was built in 1956 and is undergoing […]