Banner
Community Thanksgiving Dinner Planned for Those in Need
A Community Thanksgiving Dinner for those in need is being planned by the Black Ministerial Alliance, the city Police and Fire departments and staff and students at EC Goodwin Technical High School. The event has become an annual tradition for Thanksgiving. Organizers invite people to share in, “Sit down meals served by community volunteers.” “For […]
City Spent $25,239 on “Beehive Bridge Festival” in 2024
In a report to the City Council, the city disclosed that it spent $25,239 on the “Beehive Bridge Festival” in September, 2024. The report was in response to a Council petition filed by Council Majority Leader, Ald John McNamara (D-4). In New Britain, Council petitions are a process by which individual Council members can require […]
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 […]
Democrats Win Big in New Britain in 2024 Elections
Democrats won by large margins in New Britain in the 2024 elections, as part of wins for Democrats in the major elections in Connecticut, according to unofficial vote totals published by the Secretary of the State. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (D) and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz (D), received more votes than Republicans Donald […]
New Britain Voters Support Expanded Absentee Voting
By an unofficial 9,454 to 6,148 New Britain voters have supported a state Constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to expand absentee balloting for voters in the state. Under interpretations of the state Constitution, voters have historicially only been able to vote by absentee ballot if they had certain limited “excuses”, such as illness or […]
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 Committees Vote Down Proposal on City Naming School Buildings and Oppose Taking Up Self Storage Rules
A proposal by Ald Sharon Beloin-Saavedra (R-1) to give the City Council control over the naming of schools, along with city buildings, was voted down Tuesday evening in the Council Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing. In speaking against the proposal, Ald Wilma Barbosa (D-3) asked, about Beloin-Saavedra, “wasn’t her name in the running for […]
Poetry From Carlos Ayala
By Carlos Ayala Hollow I lost his handHe disappeared into the crowd It’s not what I was trying to do to surviveIt’s what I was doing to die How long must we suffer The pain The lies How can we hideFrom these evil eyes The light shines But, I remain in the shadows Power All […]
New Britain Voter Registration Appears Down Compared to Close 5th CD Election in 2022; Democrats Lower And Republicans Higher
Recent New Britain voter registration figures may show troubling signs for Democrats and opportunity for Republicans in the closely contested Fifth Congressional District race between incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5) and Republican challenger George Logan. It appears that there could be nearly 2,000 fewer registered voters in New Britain than in 2022. Voter registration […]
Early Voting Set to Begin on Monday, October 21st
Voting in this year’s election is set to begin this coming Monday, October 21st, as Connecticut’s new early voting system will allow voters to cast ballots for two weeks prior to the Tuesday, November 5, 2024 election day. The election for President, United States Senate and House of Representatives, state Senate and House of Representatives […]
Council Clerk Takes Office Despite Stewart Veto
Shayne Livingston took office as the New Britain City Council’s Clerk of Committees, despite a veto of a resolution concerning his appointment by Mayor Erin Stewart (R) – a veto with key inaccuracies. The Council voted 8 to 7, on party lines, on a motion to override Stewart’s veto on Wednesday, but the motion required […]
League of Women Voters Informs About Early Voting Opportunity, Advocates “Yes” Votes for No Excuse Absentee Voting
The League of Women Voters of the New Britain Area wants to make sure people in New Britain know about their opportunity to vote in the 2024 election in early voting days – and is advocating a “yes” vote on a ballot question to allow voting by mail for everyone. The general election occurs on […]
Speakers at Forum Overwhelmingly Oppose Metal Detectors in Schools in New Britain
While the New Britain school district said most respondents to its recently completed survey supported metal detectors in schools, many speakers at the forum the school system called on the topic strongly opposed having metal detectors. The Consolidated School System of New Britain said that 87% of survey respondents supported metal detectors in the city’s […]
New Britain Racial Justice Coalition Asks “Do Metal Detectors Make Schools Safer?”
As the New Britain school system is considering using metal/weapon detectors in elementary, middle and high schools, the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition is asking, “do metal detectors make schools safer?” “Metal detectors are often seen as a solution to school violence, but research has questioned their effectiveness in truly keeping students safe,” the Coalition […]
Board of Education Considering Metal Detectors in Schools
The New Britain Board of Education says it, “is considering whether metal/weapons detection technology should be in place in our school buildings,” elementary, middle and high school. The Consolidated School District of New Britain is planning a Community Forum on the question. The school system is also conducting a survey asking parents, “Do you think […]
Lt Gov Bysiewicz Joins Local Democrats in Rally Ahead of November Elections
Editor’s Note: Journalism by Dr Frank Gerratana contributed to this article. Lt Gov Susan Bysiewicz (D) joined New Britain Democrats Tuesday at Five Churches Brewing in an election rally, as the autumn election season gets underway. Democratic Party Chair Chris Anderson welcomed the assembled activists and dignitaries to build excitement for the most active part […]
Stewart Announces She is Not Seeking Reelection
Mayor Erin Stewart (R) announced that she will not seek re-election in 2025, instead saying that she will decide in early 2025 whether to, again, run for governor. Stewart’s announcement comes at a time when she has been embroiled in another scandal involving her father, former Mayor Timothy Stewart (R) who, again, made bigoted comments […]
“Justice for Katherine” Demonstrators Again Call for New Britain Police Officer to be Fired
Editor’s Note: Olivine contributed to the reporting of this article. A year after the New Britain police officer Connor Reinsch struck and killed Katherine Colon with his police car as she was crossing West Main Street, family members were joined by other protesters calling for the firing of Reinsch and criticizing Mayor Erin Stewart (R) […]