Featured
Spreading the Word About Free Summer Meals Available for Children
The United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and End Hunger Connecticut! are hosting a “United Way Day of Action” on June 21, 2018 that, “will focus on helping families in New Britain access nutritious summer meals and engaging children in summer learning.” End Hunger Connecticut! says that, “Summer Meals are free, nutritious, meals and […]
Democrats Nominate Sanchez and Tercyak for Re-Election, Republicans Nominate Collins in 26th
The New Britain Democrats nominated State Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) and State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26th) for re-election in the two State Assembly districts that are entirely within New Britain. The Twenty-Fifth District and the Twenty-Sixth District are both entirely within New Britain. Each party’s town committee directly endorses candidates for those seats. Democrats met […]
Remembering Senator Joe Harper: “One Of A Kind”
By John McNamara Joe Harper, New Britain’s former state senator and a local Democratic Party leader for a generation, died May 20th at the age of 69. Harper’s public service — mayoral aide, state representative, state senator — is being remembered as “iconic” and legendary by former colleagues and state Capitol observers. Mark Pazniokas in […]
Democrats Nominate Gerratana for Re-Election
Democrats endorsed State Sen. Terry Bielinski Gerratana (D-6) for re-election to a fifth term in the State Senate. Democrats held their Sixth Senatorial District nominating convention on May 22, 2018 at Five Churches Brewing, at 193 Arch Street. Republicans, last week, announced that they have endorsed the City Council’s Republican leader, Ald. Robert Smedley (R-4), as […]
New Britain Democrats Help Bermúdez’s Lt. Governor Campaign Surge Forward
With the support of most of the delegates from New Britain, former Newtown Town Council member Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman quickly gained momentum at the Democratic State Convention to win nearly forty percent of the vote for lieutenant governor against former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz. Delegates at the Convention overwhelmingly selected businessperson Ned Lamont over […]
Republicans Re-Nominate Petit in 22nd District
Republican State Rep. William A. Petit, Jr. (R-22) has been nominated for re-election by the Republicans from Plainville and a portion of New Britain. “It continues to be an honor serving as your state representative,” Petit said. “I want to help CT’s economy thrive again and build a future that all of us can afford.” […]
Resolution Would Declare June as “Pride in the City” Month
City Council President Pro-Tempore Eva Magnuszewski (D-AL), Council Majority Leader Carlo Carlozzi, Jr. (D-5) and Council Minority Leader Robert Smedley (R-4) have introduced a resolution to, “declare the month of June as, ‘Pride in the City’ month,” and declare that, “LGBTQ rights are human rights.” The resolution declares that, “members of this Council support the rights, […]
Democrats Endorse Lopes for Re-Election
Democratic State Representative Rick Lopes (D-24) was unanimously endorsed by Democrats for re-election for a fourth term in the State House of Representatives. “I’m humbled and honored to continue to serve the 24th district in the state legislature,” said Lopes. “I will continue to fight for issues important to the people of Connecticut.” Lopes was […]
Glassman Wins Congressional Endorsement, While Sanchez and Hayes Qualify to Primary
New Britain delegates provided votes to help secure New Britain native Mary Glassman’s win in the Democratic endorsement for the Fifth Congressional District, while New Britain Alderman Manny Sanchez (D-AL) and Jahana Hayes of Waterbury won enough delegates to compete in a primary for the position. On the first ballot at the Fifth District Congressional nominating convention, […]
Council Votes to Cancel Ramanauskas Monument, But Republicans Oppose
The City Council has approved a resolution to revoke approval of the placement of a monument to Adolfas Ramanauskas on city parkland, but all five Council Republicans present voted in opposition of the revocation resolution. Concern was sparked about the planned monument to Ramanauskas when news about it began filtering into New Britain in 2018 from […]
Proposal to Sell 15 Acres of Watershed Land for $276,000
A resolution has been proposed by Ald. Jamie Giantonio (R-1) and Ald. Daniel Salerno (R-AL) to authorize Republican Mayor Erin Stewart to sell fifteen acres of Class 3 watershed land owned by the city of New Britain in Burlington. The resolution says that Stewart has already authorized the sale for $276,000 to the Town of Burlington. The fifteen acres on Covey […]
Stewart Vetoes Hiring Freeze Resolution
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has vetoed a resolution approved by the City Council to institute a hiring freeze all city positions except for public safety and temporary seasonal parks and recreation positions. The resolution had been introduced by all nine Council Democrats and all five Council Council Republicans in attendance voted against the hiring freeze. With the […]
New Britain Ald. Manny Sanchez Announces Candidacy for Congress
Democratic New Britain Alderman Emmanuel “Manny” Sanchez (D-AL) has announced that he is running as a candidate in for the Fifth Congressional District, saying, “This is a pivotal moment in our state and our country. We need leaders who are willing to champion issues that matter most to working families.” “I have earned their support […]
Monument Dedicated to Honor 65th Infantry Borinqueneers
New Britain is now home to the largest monument on the U.S. mainland to the highly decorated 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers. The new monument, at the corner of Washington and Beaver Streets, prominently graces the main route from the north into the city’s center. Governor Ricardo Rosselló. Frank Gerratana photo. The dedication ceremony was held on April […]
Council Approves Hiring Freeze, With Republicans Opposing
The City Council has approved a hiring freeze on all city positions except for public safety and temporary seasonal parks and recreation positions. All five Council Republicans in attendance voted against the hiring freeze. The resolution was approved, with nine votes in favor and five in opposition. With the exception of police, fire, emergency dispatch […]
Community Comes Together for North Oak Neighborhood Clean Up
An estimated two hundred neighborhood residents, other community members and elected and other officials volunteered in the North Oak neighborhood clean up on April 21st. The event began with a breakfast for volunteers, provided by Central Connecticut State University. Volunteers then divided into teams who cleaned up trash in different parts of the North Oak […]
North Oak NRZ: Moving the Neighborhood Forward
by Antonio C. Lavoy, Sr. Contributing Columnist The North Oak NRZ‘s newly-elected officers are moving the city of New Britain and Ward 3 forward. President Marie Bachand, along with Vice President-Pablo Rodriguez, Secretary Yvette Ghannam, Public Safety Chair Edgar Lopez, Economic Development Chair Lawrence Sanchez, Human Resources Chair Vicky Ramos, Housing Chair Manuel Sandovar, Jessica Hernandez from […]
Republican Accusations Thrown Out: Merrill Gay Vindicated
The State Elections Enforcement Commission has dismissed a complaint filed by New Britain Republicans against 2017 Democratic Mayoral candidate Merrill Gay, saying, “the facts do not support the allegations.” As the 2017 mayoral election was heating up, Republican Party Chair Anthony Cane filed a complaint with a series accusations that sought to tie Gay with […]
Stewart Proposes “Huge Tax Increase” Despite Claiming “No Tax Increase”
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s budget includes what is being called a “huge tax increase,” despite her own claims that her budget is a “no tax increase” budget. Stewart’s press release on her budget proposal says that she, “presented to the Common Council a $237.72 million budget for 2018-19 that calls for no tax increase and […]
Proposal Would Bring Back Department Head Local Residency Requirement
The Council Majority Leader, Ald. Carlo Carlozzi, Jr. (D-5) and Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) have introduced a proposal that would bring back the requirement that city department heads be residents of New Britain. The proposed ordinance (local law) would reinstate the requirement that city department heads be or become residents of New Britain within one year […]