Banner
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 […]
Ayalon Proposes Property Tax and Rent Caps
Former New Britain City Council member Aram Ayalon (D-3), as part of his campaign for state representative, announced two proposals as a, “policy platform for affordable housing,” one on property taxes and the other on rents. “Far too many of our neighbors,” Ayalon said, “especially those on lower or fixed incomes are struggling to keep […]
Stewart Vetoes Transparency Ordinances For Developer Tax Breaks And City Purchasing
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart (R) has vetoed two new ordinance proposals approved by the City Council that would have provided that final versions of deals for tax breaks for developers and city contracts appear on the publicly-available Council agenda. One proposed ordinance approved by the Council and vetoed by Stewart would have required that […]
Biden Delegates Chosen Include New Britain Council Leader
Delegates to represent Connecticut at this summer’s Democratic National Convention were chosen on Wednesday, including a New Britain City Council member. Council Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4) was elected as one of the eight delegates representing the 5th Congressional District at the Democratic National Convention. All of the delegates are pledged to President Joe […]
Council Approves Transparency Ordinances for Developer Tax Breaks and City Purchasing
The City Council has approved two new ordinances providing that final versions of deals for tax breaks for developers and city contracts appear on the publicly-available Council agenda. Both new transparency ordinances are similar to an ordinance that was vetoed by Mayor Erin Stewart (R) earlier this month. Council Democrats strongly criticized the veto of […]
Council Refers Report on Unimplemented $4 Million For Flood Control to Committee for Review
The City Council has voted to examine in committee a report from New Britain city Finance Director Jonathan Perugini that appeared to imply that he did not implement a $4 million budget transfer approved by the City Council for Allen Street flood control project, saying that the resolution to approve it had, “deficiencies.” Council Majority […]
Dave DeFronzo Announces Qualifying for Citizen Election Program
Former City Council member Dave DeFronzo (D-AL) has announced that he has enough qualifying contributions to participate in the state’s Citizen Election Program, sometimes called the “clean election program,” in his run for the 26th District State Representative seat. “This program epitomizes a clean election process,” DeFronzo explained. “It bans dark money and emphasizes grassroots […]
New Britain Council Democrats Criticize Stewart Veto of Public Reports on Land Deals
Mayor Stewart, in Veto Message, Calls Use of Word “Transparency” Political, While Belittling Council Democrats Council Democrats are strongly criticizing the veto by New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart (R) of city legislation to provide for public reports to the City Council on final land deals, calling the mayor’s act, “a striking blow against the principles […]
Speedbumps and Speedhumps Work – Will New Britain make residents’ Safety a priority?
The Board of Public Works of the city of New Britain issued in June 2023 a policy banning the use of speed bumps and humps on city streets. While the policy statement claims to place “high priority on reducing accidents and injuries and increasing safety on its road network” it claims that, for many communities, […]
Resolution Allocating $4 Million for Flood Control Deemed Deficient by Finance Department
New Britain city Finance Director Jonathan Perugini appears to imply that he did not implement a $4 million budget transfer approved by the City Council for Allen Street flood control project, saying that the resolution to approve it had, “deficiencies.” The Council unanimously approved $4 million last September for improvements to address flooding experienced by residents of […]
New Britain Democrats Call for Cease Fire in Israel and Palestine, Release of Hostages and Humanitarian Relief
The New Britain Democratic Town Committee has approved a resolution calling for, “an immediate and permanent ceasefire and end to the hostilities,” in, “the armed violence in Israel and Palestine,” that, “has claimed the lives of innocent civilians with tens of thousands of lives lost.” In the unanimously approved resolution, Democrats affirmed, “solidarity with our […]
Council Members Call for Control of Traffic Speeds After Child Injured in Hit and Run
New Britain City Council President Pro-Tempore, Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5) and Ald. Candyce Scott (D-3) say they are, “deeply saddened and outraged,” about, “the recent hit-and-run incident that occurred on Monday at the intersection of Broad Street and High Street, resulting in the injury of a minor.” Ald. Santiago said that, “Quality of life for […]
Council Holds Hearing on HUD Funds Allocations
The New Britain City Council held a hearing ahead of decisions it will make on the allocation of funds from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The federal grants support an array of human services and community development programs in the city and are also used by the city government. Representatives of […]
Caribbean Play Comes to New Britain
By Jessica Angelo-Julien, MBA, JP Over two hundred nationals mostly from the island of St. Lucia descended on the City of New Britain to attend a play at Trinity on Main. This is the third year that this acting team of Ché Campeche, Inc has graced our city with their talents. This time they presented […]
Homeless Liberation Initiative and Dare to Struggle CT Plan “Rally Against Gentrification”
The organizations, Homeless Liberation Initiative and Dare to Struggle CT, are planning a, “Rally Against Gentrification” with a series of demands for a prominent downtown developer. The organizations say that the rally, on Monday, April 22, 2024 at 3:30pm in New Britain’s Central Park, is to, “to bring attention to the gentrification unfolding in New […]