Banner
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.
Rev. Dr. Crabtree, a Founder of Prudence Crandall Center, Honored With CCAG Award Named for Laddie Michalowski
Citizen Action Group Recognizes Third Act Leader; Celebrates 20 Years of Citizens Elections Program By John McNamara The Connecticut Citizen Action Group honored the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree on December 4 at its awards and campaign finance reform anniversary celebration in West Hartford. Rev. Dr. Crabtree, a United Church of Christ (UCC) minister, received the Laddie […]
New Britain Prof Pens Book on Eastern European Roots
Dr. Lisa Wisniewski’s Book Shares Oral Histories from Communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts So Migrants’ Culture and Heritage Will Not Be “Forgotten” By John McNamara The migration of Eastern Europeans to New Britain and other U.S. destinations after World War II is a story Professor Lisa Wisniewski, PhD, has wanted to tell from the beginning […]
Democrat Iris Sanchez and Republican Jamie Vaughan Running in Special Election for State Representative
Democratic City Council member, Ald Iris Noemi Sanchez (D-3) and city Constable Jamie Vaughan (R) are running for State Representative in the January 6th special election to fill the vacancy in the 25th Assembly District. The district is open after Mayor Bobby Sanchez (D) was elected to the city’s top office earlier this month. In […]
Gov Lamont Orders Special Election for New Britain House of Representatives District
Gov Ned Lamont has ordered a special election to be held to fill the vacancy in the 25th Assembly District. Mayor Bobby Sanchez (D) represented the district in the State House of Representatives until he took office as Mayor of the city. “Under state law,” Gov Lamont said, “the governor is required to issue a […]
New Britain City Council Chooses Leadership, Selects Reyes for Board of Education
The newly elected New Britain City Council held its first meeting with new Mayor Bobby Sanchez presiding over his first Council meeting after being elected. As the first meeting of the new term, this first item of business was the election and announcement of new Council leadership. Returning in his role as President Pro-Tempore of […]
Mayor Bobby Sanchez Takes Office, Announces Initiatives and Transition Team
Gov Lamont and Sen Blumenthal Speak in Ceremonies for New Mayor New Britain Mayor Bobby Sanchez (D) officially took office today – sworn in today at the New Britain High School Auditorium as the 41st Mayor of the City – and announced his goals and plans for beginning his administration. Along with Mayor Sanchez, the […]
New Britain Honors Its Veterans
New Britain honored its veterans in the annual observance of Veterans Day, with dignitaries and other community members joining with area veterans to honor their sacrifices and to especially honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. It has always been important to the people of New Britain to remember, honor and thank […]
Bobby Sanchez Wins Mayoral Election And New Britain Democrats Win Big
New Britain Democrats were celebrating at 5CB on Arch Street on election night as Democrat Bobby Sanchez was elected as Mayor of New Britain by huge margin – what appears to be more than 1,700 votes. Editor’s note: the cover photo is by Dr Frank Gerratana. Unofficial vote counts from the Office of the Secretary […]
City’s Future Decided on Election Day Tuesday
This Tuesday is the last day to vote in city elections for voters who have not voted yet. At stake is whether the Democratic candidate for mayor, State Rep Bobby Sanchez (D-25) will be able to turn back 20 years of rule by the local political machine of President Donald Trump’s Republicans, led by the […]
Stop & Shop Increases Aid to State College Students Facing Increased Food Insecurity
The Stop & Shop grocery store chain has announced that has donated $200,000 to campus food pantries on state university and college campuses, including CCSU, a 23% increase, as the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) reports a 40% increase in student monthly visits to campus food pantries. “Across our colleges and universities, so many […]
Area Residents Join Nationwide Protests Against the Fascism of Trump’s Republicans
Across the country, people of conscience stood up in protests against the fascism of the Republican Party and their President, Donald Trump (R).
Report Raises Questions About Mayoral Candidate Sharon Beloin-Saavedra’s Record on Special Education
As candidate Sharon Beloin-Saavedra (R) is seeking to become mayor of New Britain, she is running on her experience as school board member and president from 2005 until 2017. In her recent campaign leaflet, she list her school board accomplishments, including “supported key program creation & expansion for children with autism.” However, she neglected to […]
Candidates for Mayor Debate Ahead of City Elections
The major party candidates for Mayor of New Britain, the Democratic candidate, Rep Bobby Sanchez (D-25) and the Republican, Ald Sharon Beloin-Saavedra (R-1) debated ahead of the November city elections. The debate was held at the New Britain Public Library, and was moderated by Capitol Reporter Robert Storace of the CT Examiner, which sponsored the […]
Gov Lamont Appoints Elena Trueworthy State Commissioner of Office of Early Childhood
Gov Ned Lamont (D) announced that he has appointed prominent former New Britain resident Elena Trueworthy to be Commissioner of the Connecticut state Office of Early Childhood (OEC). Trueworthy is to succeed Commissioner Beth Bye who announced retirement from state service. Gov Lamont’s office said that, “Trueworthy has been with OEC since 2019, first as […]
US Rep Himes Comes to New Britain to Support Bobby Sanchez for Mayor
Photojournalism by Dr Frank Gerratana. US Rep Jim Himes (D-4) visited New Britain on Saturday to support the election of Rep Bobby Sanchez (D-25) as Mayor of New Britain. Editor’s note (9/20/2025): Rep Himes’ district number was corrected.
Advocacy Group Appeals to Donors to Press to Improve Conditions at Friendship Center Homeless Shelter
Dare to Struggle, an organization dedicated to resist and stop injustice and has been advocating for the homeless in New Britain for the past three years, held a press conference on Monday, September 15, 2025, in front of Thomaston Saving Bank’s branch, downtown New Britain. In its press release the group claimed that the Friendship […]
Connecticut Department of Transportation Holding Statewide Active Transportation Plan Open House
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced that it is holding an open house event on the new Statewide Active Transportation Plan (ATP) that it is in the process of developing. “The ATP will help CTDOT fulfill their mission of Improving lives through transportation,” the Department says on its website, adding, The ATP will serve […]
McNamara and Ortiz-Luna Win Democratic Nomination for Council in Ward 4 Primary
Incumbent Ald John McNamara (D-4) and former Ald Luz Ortiz-Luna have been nominated by Democratic voters in Ward 4 in today’s Democratic primary, a win that makes them the two candidates for Democrats for Council in Ward 4 in this November’s city election. According to unofficial vote totals from the Secretary of the State’s office, […]