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Aram Ayalon Announces Qualification for Clean Election Program
Former Democratic City Council leader, Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3), who is running for State Representative in the 26th District, has announced that he has qualified for the state’s Citizen Election Program, known commonly as the “Clean Election Program”. “I value the financial support for state candidates,” said Ayalon, “because it minimizes influence by corporations and […]
Festival Celebrates Painting the Puerto Rican Flag at Criollisimo Restaurant
Brenda Torres, owner of Criollisimo Restaurant on Arch Street exclaimed that, “it is the turn of the Criollisimo Restaurant in the city of New Britain,” to host artist “Hector PR“, the creator of the “78 Villages and 1 Flag” artistic painting of the Puerto Rican Flag. “It took me a while to visit 78 towns […]
Hampton-Eton Storm-Sewer Sub-Basin vs. Allen St. Storm-Sewer Basin
Former Public Works Director Carilli PE wrote the following to my neighbor. He indicates city engineers verified all of this: Late 1996 “We are aware that the storm-sewer system in the Hampton-Eton area fails to handle certain rainfall intensity storms. However, the situation is one that is not limited to those particular streets alone, but […]
New Britain Democrats Donate To Dr. Alton F. Brooks Scholarship Fund
The New Britain Democratic Party Chair Chris Anderson has announced that the New Britain Democrats have made a $250 donation to the Alton Brooks Scholarship, maintained at the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, in honor of the revered community leader, Dr. Alton F. Brooks. In a letter to David J. Obedzinski, President and Chief […]
Council Discusses Assumption of City Audit Oversight
At a meeting of its Committee on Administration, Finance, Law and Public Services, the New Britain City Council discussed plans for establishing Council oversight of the audit of the city’s finances. At the meeting on Monday, Council Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4) pointed to state law assigns to the local legislative body, the City […]
DeFronzo Calls for State Action to Address Housing Crisis
David DeFronzo, who is running for state representative in the open 26th Assembly District, has announced a series of initiatives for, “the state to play a more direct role in the financing and oversight of affordable housing statewide.” DeFronzo called for urgent action by the state, saying, “We need to address this issue now.” “People […]
HRA Welcomes Donation from New Britain Youth Leads for Local Food Center
Youth leaders from New Britain Youth Leads donated money they had fundraised to HRA of New Britain’s New Britain Food Resource Center. The donation of $225 was presented by Youth Leads to HRA at the Food Resource Center’s Farmington Avenue location, HRA said, “to recognize the Food Resource Center’s efforts to provide food to thousands […]
Dave DeFronzo Announces Citizen Election Qualification and AFL-CIO and CSU-AAUP Endorsements
Former City Council member Dave DeFronzo (D-AL) has announced he has successfully qualified for the state’s Citizen Election Program, known commonly as the “Clean Election Program,” in his run for the 26th District State Representative seat. At the same time he has announced endorsements for his candidacy from the Connecticut AFL-CIO and the Connecticut State […]
Council Plans Public Hearing and Meeting on Late City Audits
The New Britain City Council is set to hold a hearing and meeting on the city financial audit reports that were reported to the state late two years in a row by the administration of Mayor Erin Stewart (R). The report for the city budget year that was from July 1, 2022 to June 30, […]
Rev. Brian K. Riley Becomes Pastor of Redeemer’s A.M.E. Zion Church in Plainville
Rev. Brian K. Riley, a native of New Britain, has been named Pastor Redeemer’s A.M.E. Zion Church in Plainville, returning to the New Britain area after serving as Pastor of Clinton AME Zion Church in Ansonia for five years. Rev. Riley and his wife, Jill, were formally welcomed to the 122 year old historic African […]
Audit Report Says Stewart City Hall Failed to Fix Problems from Previous Year
The report from firm auditing the city of New Britain’s books found that three findings it identified from the previous year were still not remedied by the administration of Mayor Erin Stewart (R). The audit for the 2023 budget year was completed nearly six months late, according to state law. The six month late report […]
Late For Second Year In A Row, Stewart City Hall Reports Completion Of 2023 Audit
The administration of Mayor Stewart (R) is reporting that the audit for the 2023 budget year, nearly six months late, according to state law, is ready. The six month late report follows another, nearly year-late report from the previous budget year. A report from Stewart administration Finance Director Jonathan M. Perugini to the City Council […]
Happy 4th of July!
The New Britain Progressive wishes you, from our families to yours, a happy and safe celebration of the Independence of the United States of America! As we celebrate our nation, let us all reflect on the great ideals this country was built on – equality, democracy, justice and freedom for all – and continue our […]
Ronald Davis Presented CT NAACP President’s Award; Watson, Sanchez, Hayes and Nixon-Moore Named 100 Most Influential Blacks
The Connecticut NAACP held its annual awards ceremonies honoring its 2024 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut on Saturday evening. At the ceremonies, special honors were presented to the New Britain NAACP’s longtime President Ronald P. Davis. Scot X. Esdaile, President of the Connecticut NAACP, presented Davis with the Connecticut NAACP’s President’s Award for his twenty-five […]
Stewart Administration Proposes New Self-Storage Zoning Rules
Yet another raft of zoning proposal has been submitted by the administration of Mayor Erin Stewart (R), including new rules concerning self-storage businesses, proposed against a backdrop of an ongoing dispute between Stewart and former Republican Council member James Sanders, Jr. The new list of zoning proposals were introduced by Council Republican leader, Ald. Robert […]
Community Mourns and Thanks Dr. Alton Brooks, Revered Community Leader
By Tim O’Brien, with contributing research by John McNamara and from an interview with Dr. Brooks by Rev. Brian Riley and photography by Dr. Frank Gerratana People across New Britain and beyond are in mourning because of the passing of Dr. Alton Brooks, the legendary leader, who did so much for so many, organizing, inspiring […]
New Britain Celebrates Juneteenth
New Britain celebrated Juneteenth on Wednesday with the city’s 2024 Juneteenth Freedom Festival in downtown New Britain. The event was hosted by the city Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and Mayor Erin Stewart, and includes the raising of the Juneteenth flag in Central Park in front of city hall. The event included a free […]
Happy Juneteenth from the New Britain Progressive
From our families to yours, best wishes in celebration of Juneteenth. Let us celebrate true freedom as we remember the victory over the racist evil of slavery. It is a celebration for African Americans and all others, since the value of equality and justice for all is what defines us as a country and brings […]
City of New Britain Discloses Violation in Drinking Water Monitoring
The City of New Britain has disclosed that the State Department of Public Health notified the city that it, “violated drinking water monitoring and/or reporting requirements.” “During summer 2023,” the city disclosed about the violation, “we did not monitor for the presence of synthetic organic chemicals (IOCs) in our reservoirs.” The United States Environmental Protection […]
Juneteenth Celebrations Begin in New Britain
The celebration of Juneteenth in New Britain began on Saturday with the New Britain Museum of American Art’s 23rd Annual Juneteenth ”Access for All Community Day.” The event at the Museum is the first in the 2024 “Passport to Freedom” celebration in the city. Alongside numerous other community events, such as at the New Britain […]