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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 […]
HRA Celebrates 60 Years Of Community Action
By John McNamara The Human Resources Agency of New Britain (HRA) marked its anniversary at a “60 Years of Success” awards dinner held at Farmington Gardens on Thursday June 13th honoring individuals and partner organizations for their contributions to an organization born in the 1960s at the start of “the War on Poverty” and President […]
DeFronzo Proposes “Historic Investment in Municipal Infrastructure Improvements”
State Representative candidate Dave DeFronzo announced that he is calling, “for a $200 million state investment in aging, unsafe and inefficient municipal infrastructure systems across the state,” with his campaign noting, “long delayed sewer improvement projects have led to regularly recurring flood conditions in a residential neighborhood creating public health dangers and property damage.” “With […]
Ayalon Qualifies For Primary For State Representative
Former City Council and Board of Education member, Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) has qualified for an August 13th Democratic primary, challenging for the nomination for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District. Former Mayor and Democratic Registrar of Voters Lucian Pawlak confirmed that Ayalon received enough petition signatures to qualify to run today. Ayalon is […]
Caribbean Heritage Month Celebrated With Flag Raising
By Jessica Angelo-Julien, MBA, JP A handful of Caribbean nationals gathered in Central Park to support the sixth annual flag raising in the City of New Britain. The air was filled with steal pan music reminiscent of disembarkation of an island cruise or on the beach on an exotic island. A moco jumbie, a traditional […]
Tens of Thousands Visit 2024 Little Poland Festival
The Little Poland Festival again drew tens of thousands of people to New Britain to celebrate Polish culture, music and food. Morning rain did nothing to dampen the excitement for the massively popular event in New Britain’s vibrant Little Poland neighborhood. Under sun and blue skies in the afternoon, tens of thousands of people filled […]
Council Members Chastise City Hall Over Unimplemented $4 Million Allocation for Flooding Improvements
Members of the New Britain City Council chastised city officials over an unimplemented $4 million budget allocation for Allen Street flood control project, calling the actions of the Mayor Erin Stewart (R) and allies an election year trick to placate vocal community members calling for action to address neighborhood flooding. Last September, a month before […]
NBMAA Celebrating Juneteenth With Access for All Community Day
The New Britain Museum of American Art is hosting its 23rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration with an ” Access for All Community Day.” “Join us for this day-long event, featuring artistic performances, music, in-gallery experiences, and of course artmaking,” says the Museum. “Shop from local Black-owned businesses, support independent artists, and grab a bite from regional […]
City Report on Federal COVID Recovery Funding Does Not Show How Much Unspent
A report from the city on its use of federal COVID relief funds so far appears to leave out an important item requested by the City Council — what the balances are of the money provided to the city. The report from the city, provided to Council Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4), does not […]
2024 Little Poland Festival Coming Up
Editor’s Note (6/9/2024): Festival organizers have announced that the, “Little Poland Festival is rain or shine. Come on down! The rain will pass. Official opening is at 12:30.” The 2024 New Britain Little Poland Festival is planned for Sunday, June 9, celebrating the 11th time the widely popular cultural event has been held. “What began […]
DeFronzo, Endorsed With Democratic Slate, Emphasizes Grassroots Campaigning, Ayalon to Primary
Newly endorsed Democratic candidate for the 26th Assembly District, Dave DeFronzo, said that he is emphasizing a grassroots approach to campaigning in his run to succeed retiring State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26). “I have knocked on over two thousand doors so far,” DeFronzo said, “and the people of this district have said loud and clear […]
DeFronzo Endorsed By Democrats In 26th District For State Representative
Former City Council member, Ald. Dave DeFronzo (D-AL) has been endorsed by Democrats for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District, receiving more votes from the Democratic Town Committee than former Council and Board of Education member, Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3). The vote in the Democratic Town Committee was 7 votes for DeFronzo and 4 […]
Some Democratic Council Members Vote With Republicans to Defeat Democrats’ Own Proposal to Eliminate Stewart-Proposed Tax Increase
After the Democratic majority on the New Britain City Council had approved an amendment to the city budget that would have rejected a tax increase proposed by Mayor Erin Stewart (R), the budget plan was defeated when a number of Democratic Council members voted with Republicans to vote down the budget plan. At least Democratic […]
$4M Transfer Time Line Assigned To The Allen St. Project #2 Oak St. to Beacon St. – for City Council Meeting 5-22-24
To: All Past and Present City Officials and All Present Department DirectorsAll Long Suffering Flood Victims; Property Owners and Residents This updated record is being shared regarding the status of our neighborhood’s storm-sewer system and Federal-State-City responses. Our concerns need to be given the highest priority. Our quality of life is suffering and our property […]
Ayalon Announces Education Platform in State Legislative Campaign
Former City Council member Aram Ayalon (D-3) has announced an series of priorities for education, as part of his campaign for state representative. Ayalon is running for state legislature in the 26th Assembly District. Another former Council member, Dave DeFronzo (D-AL), has also announced that he is seeking the seat. Ayalon, who is a retired CCSU education […]
Council Member Wins Parking to Help Local Business
Third Ward City Council member, Ald. Candyce Scott (D-3) says she is celebrating a win that will help a small business in her district. “The owner of Express Pizza told me that his customers were being ticketed for parking outside the restaurant on Allen Street,” Ald. Scott said. So she pressed for a change for […]
State Increasing Education Aid by $8.6 Million Amid Low Schools Funding by Stewart
The State Educational Cost Sharing Grant for New Britain schools is to increase by an estimated $8,647,194, providing an apparent lifeline for the city’s school system, amid continuing low local funding for education under Mayor Erin Stewart (R). The grant, already at $107,212,343 in the current state budget year, is set to increase to an […]
State Legislators Secure $10 Million More in Aid For New Britain; $4 for More Aid for City Budget
New Britain’s state legislators have announced they have secured $4 million for the city budget in a one-time allocation of federal ARPA funds, as a part of a $10.1 million overall increase in aid to the city. State Senator Rick Lopes (D-6), Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), Rep. Manny Sanchez (D-24), Rep. Gary Turco (D-27) and […]
Council Gets Public Report on Developer Tax Breaks Despite Mayor’s Veto – Republicans Vote Down Further Review
Despite a veto by New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart (R) of local legislation to require public reporting of tax breaks for developers, City Council members devised a way to get them reported, anyway. But in a tie 7 to 7 vote, Council Republicans voted down an attempt by Council Democrats to refer the report to […]
Allen St. Problem-Project #2 Oak St. to Beacon St: Flooding Updates City Council Meeting 5-8-24
To: -All Past and Present City Officials and All Present Department Directors -All Long Suffering Flood Victims; Property Owners and Residents This updated record is being shared regarding the status of our neighborhood’s storm-sewer system and Federal-State-City responses. Our concerns need to be given the highest priority. Our quality of life is suffering and our […]