Headlines
Happy New Year From The New Britain Progressive
From our families to yours, Happy New Year from the New Britain Progressive. Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2024!
Top Ten Stories of 2023: #1: Concerned Voices Confront New Britain City Council About Homelessness
As we get ready to start 2024, the New Britain Progressive looks back at some of the important stories we covered in 2023. This is among the articles we consider our Top Ten Stories of 2023. Best wishes for the New Year!
Top Ten Stories of 2023: #2: Neighborhood Near CCSU Hit By Flooding, Overflows Into Homes Multiple Times Since July
As we get ready to start 2024, the New Britain Progressive looks back at some of the important stories we covered in 2023. This is among the articles we consider our Top Ten Stories of 2023. Best wishes for the New Year!
Rev. Brian Riley to be Guest Preacher at 2024 Emancipation Proclamation Day Services, Pastor Gervais Barger of Peace Missionary Ministries to be Named Person of the Year
Rev. Brian Riley to be Guest Preacher at New Britain’s 2024 Emancipation Proclamation Day Services, where Pastor Gervais Barger is to be Named Person of the Year. The Emancipation Proclamation Service, in celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, is to be held on January 1, 2024 at 2:00pm at Peace Missionary Ministries. Organizers for the upcoming […]
A Narrative: Tax Payer Debt, Funding, Storm Drainage and Sanitary Systems
By Frank and Sharon Chase, 1) Tax Payer Debt Reaches $325M as reported in the NBP 12-23-23: Over time, New Britain mayors have tried to avoid mill rate increases and higher taxes in the belief it would be fatal to their re-election efforts… Meanwhile, they simply “kick the can down the road” disregarding future fiscal […]
There is a large Gap between New Britain municipality employee diversity and the diversity of the City’s Population
According to WalletHub report New Britain has the 30th most diverse population among all cities in the United States. The diversity measure includes ethnic diversity, ethno-racial diversity, linguistic diversity, and birthplace diversity. Within these categories, New Britain stands out as 12th in the nation in language diversity (https://wallethub.com/edu/cities-with-the-most-and-least-ethno-racial-and-linguistic-diversity/10264). According to the census, New Britain’s racial/ethnic […]
Top Ten Stories of 2023: #10: New Britain Nets $65,940 From “Nickel Per Nip” Anti-Litter Program
As we get ready to start 2024, the New Britain Progressive looks back at some of the important stories we covered in 2023. This is among the articles we consider our Top Ten Stories of 2023. Best wishes for the New Year!
New Britain’s Late Audit Filed, Not Given To Council, Shows Deficiencies And Greater Debt
The city of New Britain’s long-overdue audit report was dated as filed one day before the Council meeting at which Mayor Erin Stewart told the Council it would be “available” in January. The auditors’ report cites deficiencies and a jump in taxpayer debt. While the form filed by the city with the state Office of […]
Storm This Week Floods Critical Neighborhood Again
By Frank and Sharon Chase, The “critical neighborhood” of Allen-Stewart-Hampton-Eton-Newbury-Roxbury-Stanley Park flooded again yesterday December 18. The attached photos from December 18 tells the story. The Allen St. Basin and the Hampton-Eton Sub-Basin backs-up, flooding from Allen through Hampton-Eton-Newbury-Roxbury to the Stanley Park at the corner of Stanley and Roxbury. This is the sixth flooding […]
New Britain Racial Justice Coalition Demands Urgent Investigation of Water Safety at Osborn Correctional Institution
The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition (NBRJC) says it, “urgently calls upon unions and state leaders to demand an independent investigation into the alarming water safety crisis at Osborn Correctional Institution.” “On Thursday,” The Coalition says, “incarcerated individuals were abruptly deprived of access to clean drinking water, showers, and essential toilet facilities, triggering a dire […]
Pastor From New Britain Subjected To Apparently Threatening Comments Online In Ansonia
Rev. Brian Riley, who is Pastor of Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church in Ansonia was recently subjected to bizarre and apparently threatening comments directed against him on an Ansonia-oriented Facebook group. In the Facebook group, a neighbor of Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church’s Pastor said that he may, “start an all out war,” against Rev. Riley, and […]
Concerned Voices Confront New Britain City Council About Homelessness
Following a Monday rally organized by the Racial Justice coalition for housing justice, dozens of people experiencing homelessness and their advocates converged in significant and historical testimonial, at the City Council on Wednesday December 13th. They urged the city to take strong actions to help the homeless and renters who are experiencing substandard living conditions. […]
South Church Hosting Community Christmas Dinner
South Church is hosting a Community Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day. “Come to dinner on Christmas Day,” event organizers say. “Monday, December 25th at 12:00 noon,at South Church, 90 Main Street, New Britain. Enter at the Arch Street door.” The Christmas meal is to be ham dinner. Event organizers say that, “Dinner is free of […]
Mayor Stewart Says Late New Britain Audit Report Available In January
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart (R) says that the city’s long-overdue audit report from the budget year that ended a year and a half ago will be “available” in January. “The audit is due December 15th,” said Stewart. “We should have that document in January.” The city had previously told state officials that its “projected” […]
Roxbury Road Resident Speaks Out on Flooding
By Frank Chase, Roxbury Road We purchased 24 Roxbury in 1973 with a healthy, dry basement and a flood free property. Our property is not the same today. Our neighborhood is not the same today. Remember, we are not in a flood zone. As we all know, our weather is more severe and climate conditions […]
What’s in New Britain City Council Meeting Wednesday, December 13, 2023
The New Britain City Council will meet on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. The agenda for the meeting includes: Public participation: available in person at 7:00 pm or by phone calling begins 6:55 pm at 339-209-6176 Watch common council meeting live streaming at: https://www.newbritainct.gov/meetings or https://www.youtube.com/@CONBCT/streams Minutes: Every city council agenda usually includes minutes from the […]
Listro, Marino and Reyes Elected to Lead Board of Education
With its new term of office beginning, the New Britain Board of Education has elected Joseph Listro (D) as its President, Barbara Marino (R) as its Vice President and Diana Reyes (D) as its Secretary. The three are to lead the ten member Board of Education, after being elected at a special Board meeting held […]
Racial Justice Coalition Leads Call for Housing Action
The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition led an event, with City Council members and activists to call for action to address housing costs, unavailability and poor living conditions. Coalition Director Alicia Strong was joined by housing activists in calling for more action to make housing available and direct the community’s resources help city residents. Joining […]
Police Blotter Data Appears to Show Many Latinos as White
Police blotter lists published by the city appear show list most Latinos arrested as white, listing ‘race’ but not ethnicity. The police blotter lists published by the city that have this demographic information appear to show that 73% of the people arrested in the periods covered by these reports were white and 27% were Black. […]
Hearing On Batterson Park Study Set For Thursday (12/7) At NBPD Community Room
A public hearing on the feasibility of Batterson Park’s revitalization as a state park will be held Thursday, December 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the New Britain Police Department’s Community Room, 10 Chestnut Street. The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is taking public comments on the study at three separate meetings in Farmington (December 4), Hartford […]