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A Tale of Two Democratic Conventions
Finding A Common Thread of Racial and Social Justice in 1988 and 2024 By John McNamara The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) that nominated Kamala Harris for President last week brought many comparisons to conventions past. Not many delegates, however, were looking back. Delays in getting to the convention on chartered busses and through TSA-type […]
Stewart Administration Proposes $750 Tax Equivalent on Redeveloped Mt. Pleasant Affordable Housing
The administration of Mayor Erin Stewart (R) is proposing that $750 per unit per year be paid, equivalent to taxes, on Mt. Pleasant housing units, after the redevelopment of the current neighborhood there. Plans call for demolishing the existing Mt. Pleasant neighborhood and replacing it with new construction. The $750 payment proposal was introduced in […]
With Art Access: New Britain Exhibit, Gallery 66 to Spotlighting Artists with Lower Incomes
New Britain’s Gallery 66 is spotlighting artists in the community with lower incomes in the Art Access: New Britain juried exhibit. Exbibit organizers say that the, “show was made possible by an Artists Respond grant received from the Connecticut Office of the Arts by Eddie Hall and is meant to address economic disparity in arts […]
As Democratic National Convention Begins, McNamara Networks with Fellow Municipal Officials
New Britain’s Council Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4) is one of the 74 Connecticut delegates at the Democratic National Convention, which opened today in Chicago, and he says he is using the opportunity to network with fellow Democratic municipal officials from across the nation. “I am looking forward to hearing ideas and ways that […]
DeFronzo Wins Democratic Nomination for State Representative
Democratic former City Council member, Ald David DeFronzo (D-AL) is the Democratic Party nominee for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District, after winning today’s Democratic primary with fellow former Council member, Ald Aram Ayalon (D-3), apparently by a nearly two to one margin. The results were unofficially 484 for DeFronzo to 248 for Ayalon, […]
Resolution Honors California Congresswoman and New Britain Native Anna Eshoo
California U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo (CA-16) is to be honored with a City Council resolution from her birthplace, New Britain, Connecticut, thanking her for serving more than 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In February, Council Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4), who is also the sponsor of the Council resolution, wrote about […]
Bysiewicz and Hayes Visit Plainville to Support Rebecca Martinez for State Representative
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (D) and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5) visited Plainville on Saturday for the State Representative campaign kickoff of Plainville Board of Education member Rebecca Martinez (D). Martinez, who has been Vice-Chair of the Plainville Board of Education, is running for election in the 22nd State Assembly district, taking on incumbent State Representative […]
CCAG Conducts Climate Change Survey In New Britain
Residents Share Views At Main Street Market On Renewable Energy Vs. Fossil Fuels Interns from Connecticut Citizen Action Group are taking in the views of Greater New Britain residents this summer on “how climate change and energy companies are impacting their lives.” CCAG is conducting on the street surveys asking “Are you concerned about climate […]
Dave DeFronzo Advocates for Expanded Mental Health Care for High School Students
Saying, “I believe every high school student, regardless of their income level, should have access to mental health services at their high school,” David DeFronzo, who is running for state representative in the open 26th Assembly District, is pressing for more funding for staffing and other resources for mental health services in high schools in […]
Gloria House Provides Respite for Those Needing Help with Challenges with Mental Health, Substance Use or Trauma
Pastor Dana Smith and Pastor Evelyn Smith of New Life II Ministries are working to get the word out about an important new program to help people facing challenges from mental health, substance use and/or trauma. The program is the first in the state, peer-run respite house, “Gloria House.” Its website says that, “The Gloria House […]
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 […]