News
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 […]
League of Women Voters Informs About Early Voting Opportunity, Advocates “Yes” Votes for No Excuse Absentee Voting
The League of Women Voters of the New Britain Area wants to make sure people in New Britain know about their opportunity to vote in the 2024 election in early voting days – and is advocating a “yes” vote on a ballot question to allow voting by mail for everyone. The general election occurs on […]
Speakers at Forum Overwhelmingly Oppose Metal Detectors in Schools in New Britain
While the New Britain school district said most respondents to its recently completed survey supported metal detectors in schools, many speakers at the forum the school system called on the topic strongly opposed having metal detectors. The Consolidated School System of New Britain said that 87% of survey respondents supported metal detectors in the city’s […]
New Britain Racial Justice Coalition Asks “Do Metal Detectors Make Schools Safer?”
As the New Britain school system is considering using metal/weapon detectors in elementary, middle and high schools, the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition is asking, “do metal detectors make schools safer?” “Metal detectors are often seen as a solution to school violence, but research has questioned their effectiveness in truly keeping students safe,” the Coalition […]
Board of Education Considering Metal Detectors in Schools
The New Britain Board of Education says it, “is considering whether metal/weapons detection technology should be in place in our school buildings,” elementary, middle and high school. The Consolidated School District of New Britain is planning a Community Forum on the question. The school system is also conducting a survey asking parents, “Do you think […]
Council Reconsiders Contracting Award and Refers to Committee
The City Council voted to reconsider an item previously approved that would allow for contracting for, “On- Call Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Building Envelope, Masonry, and Interior Repairs,” of up to $100,000. The Council Majority Leader, Ald John McNamara (D-4) made the motion to reconsider the item, which was approved on a voice vote. The proposed […]
Lt Gov Bysiewicz Joins Local Democrats in Rally Ahead of November Elections
Editor’s Note: Journalism by Dr Frank Gerratana contributed to this article. Lt Gov Susan Bysiewicz (D) joined New Britain Democrats Tuesday at Five Churches Brewing in an election rally, as the autumn election season gets underway. Democratic Party Chair Chris Anderson welcomed the assembled activists and dignitaries to build excitement for the most active part […]
Stewart Announces She is Not Seeking Reelection
Mayor Erin Stewart (R) announced that she will not seek re-election in 2025, instead saying that she will decide in early 2025 whether to, again, run for governor. Stewart’s announcement comes at a time when she has been embroiled in another scandal involving her father, former Mayor Timothy Stewart (R) who, again, made bigoted comments […]
“Justice for Katherine” Demonstrators Again Call for New Britain Police Officer to be Fired
Editor’s Note: Olivine contributed to the reporting of this article. A year after the New Britain police officer Connor Reinsch struck and killed Katherine Colon with his police car as she was crossing West Main Street, family members were joined by other protesters calling for the firing of Reinsch and criticizing Mayor Erin Stewart (R) […]
Council Resolution Calls on Tim Stewart to be Removed from City Commission
Former Mayor Timothy Stewart (R) is facing a Council resolution calling for his removal from the city School Building Committee in the wake of yet another in a history of bigoted comments he has posted online. Stewart recently posed a racist comment online about Asian Americans, as he took part in a conversation apparently concerning […]
Asian Pacific American Community Speaks Out Against Former Mayor Tim Stewart Racist Comments
Former Mayor Timothy Stewart (R) is once again facing criticism for bigoted comments online, this time directed at Asian Americans. NBC Connecticut News reported today about an online discussion about, “a post about the Trump campaign’s allegations of Haitian immigrants eating house pets in Ohio.” Another person had made a comment that, “I have a […]
Overlook Avenue/McKinley Drive, Allen Street Project and “NB Flush” Resolutions Approved
In its meeting yesterday, the City Council approved a contract award of $2,147,633.75 to Colossale Siteworks Corporation of Berlin for the Overlook Avenue/McKinley Drive Drainage Improvements Phase 2. Before the Council approved the resolution, Public Works Director Mark Moriarty told the Council that the project should be complete by late spring to summer. The Council […]
Council to Consider Award of Contract for Overlook Avenue/McKinley Drive Drainage Project
The City Council will be asked, at its upcoming meeting, to approve a contract award of $2,147,633.75 to Colossale Siteworks Corporation of Berlin for the Overlook Avenue/McKinley Drive Drainage Improvements Phase 2. The project is being funded by the city’s use of $2 million from COVID relief funds that the federal government provided the city. […]
CCSU Announces Designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) by the National Security Agency
Central Connecticut State University has announced that the National Security Agency (NSA) has awarded the University for the second time as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). CCSU says that, “Central is one of only 22 institutions nationwide that hold the CAE-CO designation, and it is the only institution in New […]
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 […]
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 […]
State Sales Tax Free Week Set to Begin
The state’s annual Sales Tax-Free Week is set to begin ahead of the upcoming school year. State Rep Gary Turco (D-27) said, in a message to residents today, that, Connecticut’s annual Sales Tax-Free Week begins on Sunday and runs through Saturday, August 24. It provides a chance to save money, whether it is taking the […]
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, […]
In Primary Tuesday, Democrats to Choose Nominee for 26th District; Republicans to Nominate for U.S. Senate
Everyday Democrats in the 26th State Assembly District have their say on their nominee in the election to succeed longtime State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), who is retiring this year, while Republican voters, citywide will nominate in the upcoming election for U.S. Senate. Democratic former City Council member, Ald. David DeFronzo (D-AL) is the endorsed […]