News
New Sex Education Program Will Tackle High Teenage Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections in New Britain
New Britain has the second highest teenage pregnancy in Connecticut according to the Connecticut Department of Health, with 24.3 pregnant teens per 1000 women ages 15-19 and is also 8th in the state in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). In the October 16, 2023 New Britain school Board Curriculum Committee meeting, Lara Bohike, the District 6-12 […]
Democratic Voters to Decide Party Committee Members in Wards 1 and 3
Democratic voters will decide who will represent them on the Democratic Party’s governing Town Committee in a party primary election in Wards 1 and 3. Ward 1 includes the West End, Willow Brook and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods and Ward 3 is located in the center of the city. Candidates on two opposing slates in each […]
Council to Take Up Proposal to Create Housing and Homelessness Committee
The City Council’s Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing is to take up a proposal to create a new Council Committee on Housing and Homelessness. “Unaffordable housing and homelessness has had a pervasive impact on our community,” a statement from the Council’s President Pro-Tempore, Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5), said, adding that the new committee would, […]
Democrats May Have Primaries for Party Governing Committee in Two Wards
In two of the five wards of the city, Democrats may have primaries for who will serve on the Democratic Party’s governing Town Committee. The potentially contested wards are Ward 1, which includes the West End, Willow Brook and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods, and Ward 3, located in the center of the city. Unlike the city’s […]
Engineering Report Confirms Residents’ Concerns About Effects of Neighborhood Flooding
A professional engineer has reported that the effects of repeated flooding, “can be structurally compromising,” of a home in the neighborhood to the southwest of CCSU that includes, Newbury, Hampton, Allen, Brighton and Stewart streets and Eton Place and Roxbury Road. Residents in the neighborhood have been seeking action by the city to address long-standing […]
Protesters Advocate for Palestinians, U.S. Money to Support Local Services Instead of War
Protesters gathered in downtown New Britain Thursday to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and an end United States funding for the ongoing war. Protesters chanted, “money for jobs and education, not for guns and occupation.” City Council member, Ald. Nate Simpson (D-1) thanked people for, “rallying today for nothing but peace.” He said that, […]
New Britain City Council Invites Public to Discussion on Homelessness
The New Britain City Council says that it, “is excited to invite residents, community leaders, business partners and collaborators to a vital discussion aimed at addressing the pressing issue of homelessness within our community.” The Council’s President Pro Tempore, Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5), and the Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4), issued a public statement […]
City Council To Establish A Committee On Housing And Homelessness
In response to recent testimonies by people who are homeless or at-risk to becoming homeless and due to substantial increase in the rate of homelessness in New Britain, the city council, under the leadership of the democratic caucus, is voting in its January 10th meeting to add to its ordinance a Committee on Housing and […]
CCSU and YWCA to Collaborate on Community Health Worker Program
Central Connecticut State University has announced that at $100,000 Community Health Foundation grant will allow it to work with YWCA New Britain to, “ensure more young people have representation in community health policy.” CCSU says that the grant, “will fund the development of a Community Health Worker (CHW) course at Central and subsequent outreach and […]
New Britain Council President Says, “No Excuse For Domestic Abuse,” After Recent Death
The New Britain City Council’s President Pro Tempore, Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5) says that, “There is no excuse for domestic abuse in our community,” in a statement expressing, “condolences to the family and friends of Sabrina Finch, who tragically lost her life as a result of domestic abuse.” Ald. Santiago said that domestic abuse, “is […]
New Britain Ranks Low for Tree Canopy Cover: What are the Consequences and What Could be Done?
A 2013 report “New Britain Urban Forest” prepared for the City of New Britain by the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency (CCRPA) found that New Britain has one of the lowest tree canopies comparing to other cities in Connecticut. While Connecticut cities had an average tree canopy of 49% and overall town coverage average of […]
New Britain Council Committee Approves Creation of Audit Committee
The New Britain City Council’s Committee on Administration, Finance and Law has voted to approve a proposal to create a new Council Audit Subcommittee. The Council’s Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4), one of the co-sponsors of the proposal said that, “government works best when we have checks and balances between the executive and legislative […]
New Britain Council to Consider Audit Committee Amid Deficiencies And Greater Debt in Year-Late Audit Report
The city of New Britain’s long-overdue audit report was dated as filed one day before the City 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. On Wednesday, the Council’s Committee on Administration, Finance and Law will […]
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 […]
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. […]
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” […]
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 […]