Featured
New Britain’s Blue Wave
Excitement and enthusiasm reverberated in New Britain after the results of the 2018 election showed a blue wave of Democratic wins locally.
Democratic Sweep in New Britain
On a rainy autumn election day, voters came out in unexpectedly high numbers to deliver a Democratic sweep in New Britain in the 2018 elections. The candidate driving the election more than anyone was not even on the ballot – Republican President Donald Trump. Trump has polarized the nation and motivated voters to the polls […]
Home at Last
After seven months of sanctuary at a church in Old Lyme, Malik bin Rehman and Zahida Altaf returned to New Britain on October 16th.
Working Together in North-Oak Clean-Up
About sixty volunteers of all ages came together for the North-Oak neighborhood’s Community Clean-Up organized by the North-Oak NRZ.
Council Republicans Vote to Block Department Head Residency Requirement
All six of the Republican City Council members voted to block approval a proposed ordinance that would have brought back the requirement that city department heads be residents of New Britain.
Stewart Watershed Mining Plan Slammed by State Commissions
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s proposal to allow the strip mining of New Britain’s protecting drinking watershed land was broadly slammed by two key state commissions, the Water Planning Council (WPC) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The two commissions were responding to a state law that required that they provide their recommendations on Stewart’s […]
North Oak Neighborhood Celebrates at Willow Street Park
Residents of the North Oak neighborhood enjoyed music, food and activities at the 2018 North Oak Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) Willow Street Park Celebration on August 19th. The NRZ invited residents to the event as, “a celebration of its recent accomplishments in improving the neighborhood and moving toward making it a more vibrant community.” The […]
Hayes Wins NB and Nomination, Stewart Loses Despite NB Votes
Waterbury educator Jahana Hayes won more votes from New Britain Democrats than former Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman, helping Hayes in her victory in the August 14, 2018 primary for the Democratic nomination for the Fifth Congressional District. Meanwhile Republican Mayor Erin Stewart was defeated in her campaign to be the Republican nominee for Lieutenant […]
$21.8 Million in State Grants to New Britain Organizations and Schools Announced
Four prominent New Britain organizations and two schools are receiving what totals millions of dollars in grants from funding allocated by the State Bond Commission at its July 25, 2018 meeting. The grants allow the organizations and schools to purchase, expand or renovate facilities used for the services that they provide. The grants, totaling $21.8 million, […]
City Council Petition to Be Introduced on Allen Street Stop Sign
Ald. Emmanuel Sanchez (D-AL) is introducing a City Council petition for the city to consider restoring stop signs at the corner of Allen and Carlton Street. Sanchez’ petition, in the draft as submitted, says, “Please reinstall the stop signs at the corner of Allen St. and Carlton St. as there have been several car accidents […]
Apparent Leaky Pipes Arise As Issue in Debate on Mining Plan – Council Considers Hiring Firm to Study.
The City Council is set to consider a resolution to study what the state Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) said is, “what appears to be an increasingly leak-prone water distribution system,” in New Britain. The consultant hired under the resolution would study and offer recommendations on this, “unaccounted water.” On May 25, 2018, the CEQ released their […]
Puerto Rican Society Honors Isabel Cancel
The Puerto Rican Society of New Britain dedicated its 2018 Puerto Rican Festival Banquet in honor of longtime community activist Isabelita Cancel. The Banquet was held on July 7th. The Banquet is held annually to support the New Britain Puerto Rican Festival. The 2018 Festival will be on July 21st. In addition to her active membership in […]
NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner to Be October 19th
The NAACP New Britain Branch has announced that its 2018 Freedom Fund Membership Dinner will be held on October 19th. The theme of the 2018 Freedom Fund event will be “Defeat Hate – Vote.” The annual membership dinner supports the mission of the NAACP New Britain Branch to organize in New Britain and empower its residents […]
Overwhelming Opposition to Stewart Drinking Watershed Mining Proposal
Huge opposition met Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s controversial plan to allow strip mining on New Britain drinking watershed land at the public hearing held on June 26, 2018 in front of the City Council and the Board of Water Commissioners. Speaker after speaker spoke in opposition to the plan at a packed hearing in the […]
New Britain Residents Join Rally Opposing Trump Child Separations
New Britain residents joined in a rally on June 21, 2018 in opposition to the actions of Republican President Donald Trump in which children have been taken from their parents at the U.S. border. U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) invited people, “to a rally demanding [an] end to inhumane separation of […]
Reported Stewart Veto Reverts Budget to Higher Taxes and Lower School Funding
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has reportedly vetoed the city budget approved by the Democrats on the City Council that would have lowered her proposed tax increase and increased school funding. Under the City Charter rules, Stewart’s veto means that her original proposed budget takes affect as the official city budget instead of the budget approved […]
Racist Political Leaflet Distributed in Arch Street Neighborhood
A racist political leaflet has been distributed in the Arch Street neighborhood, resulting in a referral to city police. The leaflet is composed as a “letter” that makes obscene and vulgar references to former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. “I believe this is more than what is on the surface,” said […]
Hearing on Stewart Watershed Strip Mining Plan Set for Jun 26th
The anticipated public hearing on Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s controversial plan to allow strip mining on New Britain drinking watershed land as been set for June 26, 2018. The hearing will be held at Gaffney Elementary School Auditorium at 322 Slater Road. The hearing is part of a process in state legislation approved at the request […]
Democrats’ Budget Lowers Stewart Tax Increase, Increases Education Funding
The City Council approved a city budget on June 9, 2018 that would lower the amount of the tax increase proposed by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart and increase education funding. The amendment to Stewart’s budget proposal that was made by the Democratic Council majority and opposed the Council’s Republicans, cut $1,745,844 from the City Hall budget […]
Sewer Rate Increase Proposed
The city Board of Public Works appointed by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has proposed that the city’s sewer use fee be increased to a rate of $4.30 per hundred cubic feet of water used for the upcoming budget year. The proposal is on the agenda of the June 13, 2018 City Council meeting. The proposed […]