Council Democrats Question Use of $470K for Pickle Ball Courts In Budget Transfer
NEW BRITAIN – Common Council Democrats are questioning the use of $470,000 to fund construction of pickle ball courts at A.W. Stanley Park in a budget transfer resolution to be considered at the September 24th regular meeting of the Common Council. Common Council Democrats Update The resolution proposes to transfer accrued revenues from the 2024-2025 […]
Holmes School Renovation Is on Schedule for Fall 2026 Re-Opening
By John McNamara State Bonds Are Covering 95% Of $70 Million In Construction Costs A $70 million comprehensive renovation of the Stanley H. Holmes Elementary School on Stanley Street near A.W. Stanley Park is on schedule for re-opening in the fall of 2026. Members of the School Building Committee toured the school construction site on […]
Interfaith Group Addresses Council on “Due Process” Rights for Immigrants
Clergy and members of the New Britain Area Interfaith Conference (NewBAIC) attended the July 9th New Britain Common Council meeting to share their concerns about the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants and actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that are not in accordance with “due process under the law.” Rev. Dr. Jonathon D. Counts, […]
How Mamdani’s Message Trumped the Establishment in NYC
Back To The Future: “Affordability” Wins on the Lower East Side and Elsewhere by John McNamara Down on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on Grand Street the words of Sidney Hillman are inscribed in stone outside the coop complex named for the legendary labor leader. “We want a better America,” the quote goes, “an […]
Traffic Safety Plan Will Include Roundabouts, Camera Enforcement Options
Safe Streets Report and Recommendations to Be Released June 25 By John McNamara A final report of the city’s Vision Zero Task Force is expected to be released on June 25th with recommendations to reduce vehicular and pedestrian accidents throughout the city. The Common Council took the first step of the Vision Zero initiative last […]
Naming of Academic Center Honors Geraldine Brown-Springer
Staff Report Geraldine “Gerri” Brown-Springer, a beloved former Principal of Slade Middle School, was honored on June 3rd, with the re-naming of Brookside School adjacent to Pulaski Middle School in her honor. At the school naming ceremony Dean of Students Michael Peterson and Boys & Girls Club Executive Director James Jones recalled the support and […]
Council Update: Public Hearing On Budget To Be Held April 29th
Common Council Begins Review of Mayor’s Proposed Budget for New Fiscal Year The Common Council will hold a Public Hearing on the Mayor’s proposed Municipal Budget for the next fiscal year on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 27 West Main Street. Individuals seeking to join the public hearing and speak […]
Alderwoman Sanchez Is Panelist at UCONN’s Latina Campaign School Saturday, April 26
Common Council Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3) will participate in a panel discussion at the “Together United” conference sponsored by the University of Connecticut School of Social Work’s Puerto Rican/Latino Studies Project on Saturday, April 26th. The conference will be held at the Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Avenue in Hartford from 8:30 a.m. […]
‘Literacy for Justice’ Program Remembers Rev. King at Memorial Wreath Laying
“The rights he dedicated his life to are under threat” By John McNamara A wintry mix outside forced the organizers of the memorial wreath laying for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. inside on Saturday April 12th to mark the anniversary of the assassination of the civil rights leader on April 4, 1968. The “Literacy […]
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, […]