News
In Ward 1 Council Election 2 Republicans and 1 Democrat Win
In Ward 1, unofficial results show that Democrat Nate Simpson and Republicans Sharon Saavedra and Alden Russell won the three seats up for election to represent the ward on the fifteen member City Council. Democrat Richard Lacouriere and Independent Party candidate James Sanders, Jr. also ran. The New Britain Progressive, a publication of the New […]
Stewart Wins 6th Term as Mayor
Mayor Erin Stewart, the Republican incumbent, has won re-election to a sixth term as mayor of New Britain. Earlier returns show Stewart receiving more votes than Democratic mayoral candidate Chris Anderson. Stewart campaigned on the generally favorable opinion many people have of her, personally, and a feeling of optimism from cranes in the sky from […]
In Ward 4 Council Election 2 Democrats and 1 Republican Win
In Ward 4, unofficial results show Democrat Neil Connors, Democrat John McNamara and Republican Robert Smedley won the three seats up for election to represent the ward on the fifteen member City Council, for a 2 to 1 Democratic win in Ward 4. Republican Michael Thompson, Independent Party candidate Luz Ortiz-Luna and Independent Party candidate […]
Democrat Anderson Challenges Republican Stewart for Mayor, Tuesday, in City Elections That Include City Council, Board of Education and Other City Offices
Democratic mayoral candidate Chris Anderson will challenge Republican incumbent Mayor Erin Stewart in the city elections to be held on November 7, 2023. City Council, Board of Education and other offices are also up for election. Anderson has criticized large Stewart tax increases and low funding for education and other city services by the Republican […]
Protestors March to Free Palestine
Despite the rain, demonstrators marched in downtown New Britain, calling to, “free Palestine.” “Free, free Palestine,” protesters chanted. “What do we want?” protesters asked, responding, “Justice!”. “By our millions, by our billions,” protesters chanted, “we are all Palestinian.” CNN has reported that, “Pro-Palestinian demonstrators across the globe took to the streets on Saturday to call […]
Two Proposed Zone Changes Tabled Amid Owner Objections, Others Approved With Opposition
The owners of two properties subject to proposed zone changes objected to the changes, with one saying he did not receive a response from Ald. Robert Smedley (R-4), the Republicans’ Council leader, when he called to discuss the matter. The Council voted unanimously to table those two items, but approved three others, against the objections […]
Hundreds March for Justice in Protest for Katherine Colon
Hundreds of people marched and protested, calling for justice for Katherine M. Colon and accountability from city police and Mayor Erin Stewart (R). Colon died after being hit by a New Britain police car in September. Her family and community activists took to the streets to criticize a lack of information and accountability from city […]
Outgoing Council to Consider Yet More in Long List of 2023 Zone Changes
In its last meeting, the outgoing New Britain City Council will consider more land use zone and zoning ordinance changes. The proposals add to a raft of zoning changes already approved by the Republican-controlled Council in June and September of 2023. East Street and Newington Avenue One change would rezone an area along the corner […]
Justice for Katherine March to be Held
A march is to be held in honor of Katherine M. Colon, who died after being struck by a New Britain police car in September.
New Britain Progressive Publishing Police Blotter
The New Britain Progressive newspaper, as part of its community news coverage in New Britain, is publishing the New Britain Police blotter. The city began publishing the police blotter in August, after a controversy in which another publication was denied free access the police logs. At least one City Council member suggested that the city […]
League of Women Voters Council Voter Forum Cancelled After Republican Candidates Back Out
A voter forum of City Council candidates that had been planned by the League of Women Voters of the New Britain Area was cancelled because Republican candidates did not agree to participate. The League of Women Voters said online that, The League had looked forward to offering the public a chance to get to know […]
Black Democratic Committee Holds Interview with Chris Anderson
The Black Democratic Committee of New Britain hosted an interview with Democratic Mayor candidate Chris Anderson, led by Michael Briscoe. The event was held online. Anderson, the challenger in the mayoral election, says that he is running for mayor because of concerns about issues, like the large increases in property taxes under the incumbent and […]
Council Approves Developer Tax Abatements With Small Change
The City Council approved two more tax real estate abatements, adding to a number of other abatements provided to developers in the city recently, but one of the tax reduction plans was slightly scaled-back after a brief delay in a Council committee. An abatement plan that was tabled in the Council’s Committee on Administration, Finance […]
Democrats Call for Transparency in City Budget After Audit Delay Disclosed
Ward 3 Ald. Aram Ayalon (D) and Democratic mayoral candidate Chis Anderson are calling for quick release of information on the city of New Britain’s finances after it has been disclosed that administration of Mayor Erin Stewart (R) is three-quarters of a year late in filing a required annual budget audit with the state. “Is […]
City Claims Late Audit Due to Staffing Shortage, “Projected” Completion on Halloween
The administration of Mayor Erin Stewart (R) claims that the city of New Britain failed to file a required audit more than a year after the close of its 2022 budget year because it was short-staffed in its finance office. Yesterday, the New Britain Progressive broke the news about a stern letter from the state […]
State Letter Says City Failed to Submit Required Financial Audit
A letter to Mayor Erin Stewart (R) from the state appears to say the city of New Britain has been in, “Noncompliance with the Municipal and State Single Auditing Act,” because of, “Outstanding and Late FY 2022 Audit Reports.” The letter to Stewart, from the state Office of Policy and Management, on September 12, 2023, […]
New Britain School Test Scores Remain Low and Behind State
At the October Board of Education meeting, the New Britain school district attempted to paint an upbeat picture of school test scores for New Britain in 2022-23 that appear to remain on a downward long-term trend and far below statewide averages. According to analysis of data from the State Department of Education, between the 2015-16 […]
Council Considering Two More Developer Tax Abatements
The City Council will hear public testimony and consider two more tax abatements, adding to a number of other abatements provided to real estate developers in the city. One proposal would provide a limit of taxes owed by the owner at 102 West Main Street, “which limits real estate property taxes to $700.00 per residential […]
Council Approves $4 Million for Upgrades to Stop Flooding, But City Says Project Not to Happen Until 2025
The City Council unanimously approved $4 million for improvements to address flooding experienced by residents of the Allen Street, Roxbury Road and CCSU area, but the city Public Works director says that the project likely will not happen until 2025. Ald. Luz Ortiz-Luna (R-AL) and Ald. Desiree Costa (R-AL) had introduced the proposal to provide […]