News
Rep DeFronzo Appointed to Key Legislative Committees; Community Meeting to be Held with Council Members and Legislators
Newly elected State Rep David DeFronzo (D-26) has announced that he has been appointed to several key legislative committees in his first term. Rep DeFronzo is to serve on the legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee, as well as the Education Committee and the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee. “I am honored to be appointed to […]
Rep Dave DeFronzo Takes Office Representing New Britain’s 26th District
State Rep Dave DeFronzo (D-26) was sworn into office for his first term after being elected in last November’s election. “I am grateful to the voters of New Britain who supported my candidacy,” Rep DeFronzo said, “and I am eager to get started.” DeFronzo is the successor to former Rep Peter Tercyak (D-26), who retired […]
Rep Bobby Sanchez Announces Candidacy for Mayor
Surrounded by dignitaries and cheering supporters, New Britain Democratic State Rep Bobby Sanchez (D-25) announced that he is running to be Mayor of New Britain. Speaking to a crowd of 200 cheering Sanchez supporters, Lt Gov Susan Bysiewicz (D) introduced Sanchez, saying that she and Gov Ned Lamont (D) were endorsing his candidacy. She praised […]
New Britain Rep Bobby Sanchez to Announce Candidacy for Mayor
Rep Bobby Sanchez (D-25) is set to announce that he is running Mayor of New Britain this week. Sanchez, who has represented New Britain’s Twenty-Fifth Assembly District in the state House of Representatives since 2011, has organized a campaign committee to seek the highest office in the city. Retiring State Rep Peter Tercyak (D-26) is […]
Vision Zero Task Force Sets Goals To Reduce Traffic Fatalities
Safety Plan Can Lead To Federal Implementation Grants By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – The Common Council approved a resolution on December 11th setting long-range goals to “reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by 50% by 2035 and to reach ‘Vision Zero’ by 2045.” A Vision Zero Task Force, announced by Mayor Stewart last May, […]
Council Approves a Series of Zoning Changes, Refers One Item Back to Committee
The City Council approved a series of zoning ordinance changes and changes to the city’s zoning ordinance at its meeting on Wednesday. One change was to the zoning of some areas, along Burritt Street, to A-2 (multifamily, moderate density), rather than A-1 (multifamily, low density), and T, (single, two, and three-family dwelling), zones. Another change […]
CCSU names new O’Neill Chair in Public Policy and Practical Politics
CCSU announced Dec 4, 2024 Gabe Rosenberg, a distinguished state government official, has been appointed chief of staff and general counsel at the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State, as the next Governor William A. O’Neill Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Practical Politics. His appointment follows a national search by the Connecticut […]
“Justice for Katherine” Protesters Interrupt Stewart at Christmas Tree Lighting
With signs harshly criticizing Mayor Erin Stewart (R), “Justice for Katherine” protestors interrupted Stewart at the city’s official Christmas tree lighting Tuesday evening. The Justice for Katherine campaign has included a series of protests and advocacy since New Britain Police officer Connor Reinsch struck and killed Katherine Colon with the police car he was driving, […]
City Spent $25,239 on “Beehive Bridge Festival” in 2024
In a report to the City Council, the city disclosed that it spent $25,239 on the “Beehive Bridge Festival” in September, 2024. The report was in response to a Council petition filed by Council Majority Leader, Ald John McNamara (D-4). In New Britain, Council petitions are a process by which individual Council members can require […]
Council to Consider 25 Year Tax Exemption for Solar Installation at Ellis Street Building
The City Council is set to consider a proposal to exempt a solar installation benefitting 321 Ellis Street. The exemption would allow “zero (0) tax increase resulting from the solar improvements for a period of twenty-five (25) years.” The new exemption would be on top of a 25 year tax reduction approved in 2021, limiting […]
Democrats Win Big in New Britain in 2024 Elections
Democrats won by large margins in New Britain in the 2024 elections, as part of wins for Democrats in the major elections in Connecticut, according to unofficial vote totals published by the Secretary of the State. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (D) and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz (D), received more votes than Republicans Donald […]
New Britain Voters Support Expanded Absentee Voting
By an unofficial 9,454 to 6,148 New Britain voters have supported a state Constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to expand absentee balloting for voters in the state. Under interpretations of the state Constitution, voters have historicially only been able to vote by absentee ballot if they had certain limited “excuses”, such as illness or […]
Election Day 2024 Arrives!
Election Day 2024 has arrived, with elections today that include choices for President and Vice President, US Senator, US Representative, State Senator, State Representative and Registrars of Voters. For voters who have not yet taken advantage of early voting opportunities or voted by absentee ballot, polls are open on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 from 6:00pm […]
One More Day of Early Voting; At Least 4900 in New Britain Voted Already
At least 4900 people have voted already in New Britain under Connecticut’s new early voting process, with one more day for people to cast votes early. The general election occurs on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, but voters are permitted under state law to cast their votes before that in early voting days that, this year, […]
Alderwoman Sanchez Condemns “Hate Rhetoric” At NYC Trump Rally
Council Democrats Deride GOP Campaign Of ‘Fear and Division’ NEW BRITAIN – City Alderwoman and Assistant Majority Leader Iris Noemi Sanchez (D-3) expressed deep indignation over offensive comments made at Donald Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden on Sunday nine days before the November 5th Election. A speaker insulted Puerto Rico, calling it a “floating […]
Dare to Struggle Holds “National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality” Event
The organization, Dare to Struggle held a “National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality” demonstration in New Britain’s Central Park Tuesday. Dare to Struggle says that it, “is working to rebuild the movement against police brutality and the oppression of Black people on solid foundations.” The group says that it is pressing for, No […]
Council Committees Vote Down Proposal on City Naming School Buildings and Oppose Taking Up Self Storage Rules
A proposal by Ald Sharon Beloin-Saavedra (R-1) to give the City Council control over the naming of schools, along with city buildings, was voted down Tuesday evening in the Council Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing. In speaking against the proposal, Ald Wilma Barbosa (D-3) asked, about Beloin-Saavedra, “wasn’t her name in the running for […]
New Britain Voter Registration Appears Down Compared to Close 5th CD Election in 2022; Democrats Lower And Republicans Higher
Recent New Britain voter registration figures may show troubling signs for Democrats and opportunity for Republicans in the closely contested Fifth Congressional District race between incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5) and Republican challenger George Logan. It appears that there could be nearly 2,000 fewer registered voters in New Britain than in 2022. Voter registration […]
Early Voting Set to Begin on Monday, October 21st
Voting in this year’s election is set to begin this coming Monday, October 21st, as Connecticut’s new early voting system will allow voters to cast ballots for two weeks prior to the Tuesday, November 5, 2024 election day. The election for President, United States Senate and House of Representatives, state Senate and House of Representatives […]
Council Clerk Takes Office Despite Stewart Veto
Shayne Livingston took office as the New Britain City Council’s Clerk of Committees, despite a veto of a resolution concerning his appointment by Mayor Erin Stewart (R) – a veto with key inaccuracies. The Council voted 8 to 7, on party lines, on a motion to override Stewart’s veto on Wednesday, but the motion required […]