News
Stewart Water Fee Increase Debate Deepens
In the debate around Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s plan to increase water rates, despite her promise not to increase taxes, Democratic Ald. Manny Sanchez (D-3) has responded to the Republican mayor’s defense of her proposal. Stewart has cited ongoing water infrastructure projects, decreasing revenues and that water rates have not increased recently as reasons for […]
Ald. Sanchez Advocates Against Stewart Water Rate Increase
Democratic Ald. Manny Sanchez (D-3) is pressing Republican Mayor Erin Stewart and the Republican dominated City Council to not to increase water rates. “As locally elected officials, we have a duty to act in a fiscally responsible manner,” Sanchez said in a letter to Stewart. “This includes ensuring that our constituents do not incur unnecessary […]
Vance School Educator, Patricia Cintorino, Named Teacher of the Year
Patricia Cintorino, a teacher at Vance Elementary School, has been named 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year by the Consolidated School District of New Britain. Cintorino, a teacher in the New Britain schools for twenty-eight years, is hailed as an inspiration for her students as well as for fellow teachers. Cintorino is a graduate of Central Connecticut State […]
$15.5 Million Deficit Appears Hidden in Stewart’s Budget
The city budget proposed by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has what appears to have a hidden $15,541,294 deficit built into it, a deficit that could continue to re-appear into future budget years. Stewart’s budget contains two substantial budget lines that are based on short-term assumptions. The first, as the New Britain Progressive reported in April, […]
Increases in Water and Sewer Charges Planned
The Republican-dominated City Council will consider two separate plans on May 24th, submitted by the administration of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart, to increase the amount city residents will pay in water and sewer fees. The proposal for water charges would increase the fee for city water from $27.82 per thousand cubic foot of water used in […]
Gerratana Leads the Way on Prohibiting “Conversion Therapy”
Democratic State Senator Terry Gerratana led the approval of a bill in the Senate that prohibits the practice of so-called “conversion therapy”, a widely discredited practice aimed at changing a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The legislation, House Bill 6695, received unanimous, bipartisan support in the State Senate. It was previously approved by a vote of 141-8 in […]
RACE IN THE PARK 2017 Participants Can Enjoy Discounted Tickets at the New Britain Bees Games on RACE Weekend!!!
The CT Breast Health Initiative (CT BHI) has teamed up with The New Britain Bees to offer a promotion that will give RACE IN THE PARK 2017 participants the chance to continue the fun even after the RACE event. The New Britain Bees are offering $6 discounted tickets to those who show their RACE registration […]
NAACP Rallies for Racial Justice in City Employment.
About seventy people attended the NAACP New Britain Branch rally for racial justice in city employment in Central Park. After an investigation by the NAACP branch into accusations of discrimination in the city Fire Department, the NAACP decided to call the rally to press for change in city policies. NAACP New Britain Branch President Ronald P. […]
NAACP Calls Rally to Oppose Discrimination in City Hall, May 9th
Saying, “Enough is Enough,” the NAACP New Britain Branch is calling for a rally to oppose discrimination in the city government and call for greater action to address racial bias. “We urge NAACP members and other concerned members of the public to join us at Central Park on Tuesday May 9, 2017 at 6:30 P.M. […]
Democratic Legislators Announce Approval of Funding for New Columbus Commons Housing Construction
New Britain state legislators announced the approval of funding for a mixed-use development on the site of New Britain’s old police station. Senator Terry Gerratana (D-New Britain), Representative Bobby Sanchez (D-New Britain), Peter Tercyak (D-New Britain), Representative Rick Lopes (D-New Britain) announced the new building, which will be called “Columbus Commons.” Senator Gerratana, in announcing […]
Democrat Merrill Gay Announces Candidacy for Mayor
One hundred and fifty supporters thronged the Pride of Connecticut Elks lodge on Elm Street to cheer on Democratic Board of Education member Merrill Gay, as he announced his candidacy for Mayor. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Sen. Terry Gerratana (D-6), Ald. Shirley Black (D-3), Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25), Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), Rep. Rick Lopes (D-24), […]
Amid Growing Questions and a Democratic Resolution, Stewart and Council Republicans Abandon Patton Brook Sale
In the wake of mounting questions about why Republican Mayor Erin Stewart sold the Patton Brook Well while the city knew it was facing significant drought conditions, and a City Council resolution, originally offered by the three Democratic Council members, to revoke the sale, the Republican mayor and the Council’s Republicans are abandoning her plan to sell […]
Stewart Proposes Freeze on City Education Support, Increase in City Hall Spending
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st would freeze city support for New Britain’s schools while increasing overall city spending and pushing taxpayer debt into the future. Stewart’s General Fund budget proposal would increase city General Fund spending by $2,167,486 to a total of $241,537,535. Funding for the New Britain school […]
Did Facebook Censor Based on an “Apparent forged court order”?
Facebook told the New Britain Progressive that it had removed from Facebook a post of a Progressive-published opinion piece four days after someone asked Google to “deindex” that same opinion piece. The request to Google was labeled a “Court Order Complaint”, using what UCLA School of Law Professor Eugene Volokh called an “Apparent forged court order” in […]
Berriault Announces $3,042 in Campaign Contributions
News Brief Democratic City Council candidate Bobby Berriault has announced that has successfully raised a total of $3,042 in the first campaign reporting period of 2017. Berriault said, “I am deeply humbled to have so much support from so many members of our community from all walks of life; teachers, doctors, students, retail workers, state workers, […]
Column on Washington Post Site About “Apparent forged court order” Concerning New Britain
“Apparent forged court order for the benefit of a New Britain (Conn.) volunteer city commissioner” is the headline of a column by UCLA School of Law Professor Eugene Volokh, published on the editorially independent “The Volokh Conspiracy” portion of the Washington Post. Volokh’s column discusses a request to Google to “deindex” an opinion piece by Bobby Berriault […]
Gerratana Announces Arts Funding For New Britain
Press Pool Article “Our local arts organizations are vital to the health and growth of our communities,” said Senator Terry Gerratana (D-New Britain), announcing grants that will be awarded to local arts organizations. Three New Britain organizations, the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, the New Britain Museum of American Art and the New Britain Youth Theater are to […]
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland Opens on Broad Street
Press Pool Article Polish Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Piotr Wilczek, was in New Britain to officially open the new Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland at 55 Broad Street in New Britain. Mr. Darek Barcikowski has been named as the Honorary Consul. “It’s great that we’ll have a Polish Consulate in New Britain!” said Rep. […]
23% Increase in Mayor’s Salary Proposed
The Republican-dominated City Council is considering a proposal that would increase the salary of the city’s mayor by 23%, up to $108,016. Currently Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s salary is $87,634, an amount that is more than twice the 2015 New Britain median household income of $40,457. The proposed mayoral salary of $108,016 would be 267% of what the […]
“Building Sustainable Social Movements in the Twenty-first Century” – CCSU Africana Studies Annual Conference
Press Pool This from the Center for Africana Studies: “Building Sustainable Social Movements in the Twenty-first Century.” The Arab Spring. Black Lives Matter. Occupy Wall Street. Code Pink. The Women’s March. These social actions represent a growing sense of disenchantment among citizens of the world. Diverse groups are working to change the structure of violence […]