News
Ayalon Announces Candidacy for State Representative
Former City Council member, Dr. Aram Ayalon (D-3), announced his candidacy for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District in a campaign statement. An open seat election in the district will occur this year after current State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), announced his retirement after serving the district for 21 years. Another former Council member, […]
In Party Line Votes, Council Committee Sends Proposals Reducing Homeless Fines and Restrictions Back to Full Council
On party-line votes Thursday evening, a New Britain City Council committee referred back to the full Council two proposals to change city ordinances that have been criticized for having onerous impacts on the homeless in the city. The proposals, on loitering and panhandling ordinances that its critics say criminalize being homeless, were introduced by the […]
New Britain Police Department Holds Citizen’s Police Academy
By Jessica Angelo-Julien, MBA, JP New Britain Police Department has held the citizens academy for years and, in this year fourteen, excited residents embarked on a six-week crash course on the ins and outs of being a police officer. This program is meant to encourage community engagement with officers. Since this class was held so […]
New Fed Grant Helps Friendship Center Enhance Shelter On Arch Street
A $1 million federal grant to New Britain’s Friendship Center (FSC) on Arch Street will support expansion of the facility, including the installation of private restrooms and other capital and maintenance improvements. U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-5) and FSC Executive Director Caitlin Rose announced the new funding on April 3rd which stems from approval of […]
Dave DeFronzo Announces Candidacy for State Representative
Former City Council member Dave DeFronzo (D-AL), announced his candidacy for the 26th Assembly District seat, after State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), announced his retirement after serving the district for 21 years. DeFronzo, the son of former state Commissioner, State Senator and Mayor Donald DeFronzo, was joined in the event by Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz […]
Federal Earmarks Bring New Funds For Housing, Emergency Shelter And Sewer System
by John McNamara New Britain is the beneficiary of specially appropriated federal funds to address needs for the unhoused, affordable housing development and a deteriorating storm water and sewer system under the recently adopted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. Funded with $2,134,752 are three projects for two nonprofit agencies and municipal government submitted by U.S. […]
Rep. Gary Turco Advocates for Children’s Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program
Rep. Gary Turco (D-27), whose district includes the southeastern corner of New Britain, is advocating for legislation to provide funding for free or reduced-price lunch for children in schools. Rep. Turco advocated for legislation and for the legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee to provide funding to support the school lunch program. “Funding school meals is an […]
Council And Board Of Education Discuss Schools Budget
The New Britain City Council and Board of Education met to discuss the city schools budget in the budget to be considered for the budget year that is to begin July 1, 2024 and continue to June 30, 2025. Superintendent Tony Gasper presented to the Council and Board on the school district budget proposal for […]
Rep. Tercyak Discusses Legacy, Hopes for Country’s Future
State Representative Peter Tercyak (D-26) spoke about his father’s and his legacy, and his hopes and concerns about the future in the country, as he announced that he will retire at the end of his current term of office. Tercyak, who succeeded his father, Rep. Anthony J Tercyak, in representing New Britain’s 26th Assembly District, […]
State Representative Tercyak Announces Retirement
New Britain State Representative Peter Tercyak (D-26) has announced that he will not seek re-election this year, retiring after serving the city in the state House of Representatives for almost twenty-one years. Rep. Tercyak, a Democrat, made the announcement at the New Britain Democratic Town Committee Thursday evening at City Hall. The announcement was widely […]
Council And Board Of Education Leaders Announce Joint Meeting On Schools Budget
New Britain City Council President Pro-Tempore Francisco Santiago (D-5) and Board of Education President Joseph Listro (D) have announced, “a special joint meeting dedicated to discussing the crucial topic of the school budget process for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-2025.” Santiago and Listro said, in a statement, that, “this collaborative gathering underscores the commitment of […]
CCSU Police Department Seeking Accreditation Comments
Central Connecticut State University has announced that its campus police department is seeking public comments, as part of its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA). CCSU says that its police, “department was first awarded accreditation through CALEA in 1999,” adding that, CALEA invites the public to comment and provide […]
New Britain Residents Complain about Chronic Speeding Problems
On the New Britain City Council February 28th, 2024 public participation session, several residents expressed their concerns over car speeding issues in the city which are causing fatalities, property damage, and a general feeling of insecurity on city streets. These complaints come at the same time as family and friends of Katherine Colon expressed their […]
‘The Janes’ Creators To Speak at CCSU Luncheon for Women’s History Month
With women’s reproductive rights under attack at the United States Supreme Court and across the nation, CCSU is to host a luncheon for Women’s History Month featuring Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes, creators of the award-winning documentary, “The Janes.” “In the spring of 1972, police raided an apartment on the South Side of Chicago where […]
Sanders Calls on Council to Open Formal Investigation of Stewart
New Britain business owner and former Republican Council member James Sanders, Jr. has asked the City Council to formally investigate the actions of Mayor Erin Stewart (R) and a number of key city hall officials in a matter involving a dispute over property development in the city’s East Side neighborhood. Sanders says, I am asking […]
Community Police Review Board Creation Re-Emerges Amid “Justice for Katherine Colon” Protests in New Britain
Family members and community activists organized a wave of protest comments at Wednesday’s New Britain City Council meeting calling for “Justice for Katherine Colon”. And they called for renewal of consideration of creating a community review board for the New Britain police that a previous Republican-controlled Council defeated in 2020. In response, several Council members, […]
Council and Board of Education to Meet on Schools Budget
The New Britain City Council and Board of Education are to meet together in a special meeting to review the school budget process and for the upcoming 2024 to 2025 budget year. The meeting is to be on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 6:00pm, according to the meeting warrant, or announcement, issued by Council President […]
Council Proposal Would Require Public Reports of Business Tax Breaks, Contracts and Land Deals
The New Britain City Council is set to consider a series of proposals that would require the mayor and other city officials to report the terms of various kinds of business tax breaks, contracts and land deals. The Council is often asked to authorize the mayor and other officials to enter into agreements. The proposals […]
Chris Anderson Re-Elected as Democratic Party Chair
As was widely expected, Chris Anderson had been re-elected to lead the New Britain Democratic Party for the upcoming two-year term of office. Anderson’s win was assured following the victory of the Row B team, of which Anderson was a part, in the recent primary for the Democratic Town Committee members representing Democratic voters in […]
With Primary Decided, Democrats Announce Special Meeting to Elect Leaders
The New Britain Democratic Party has announced that it will hold a special meeting to elect leaders for the upcoming two-year term of office. The meeting is planned for Monday, March 11, 2024 at 7:00pm at City Hall room 504. “All registered Democrats are welcome to attend” the party says. The meeting is held after […]