News
Late For Second Year In A Row, Stewart City Hall Reports Completion Of 2023 Audit
The administration of Mayor Stewart (R) is reporting that the audit for the 2023 budget year, nearly six months late, according to state law, is ready. The six month late report follows another, nearly year-late report from the previous budget year. A report from Stewart administration Finance Director Jonathan M. Perugini to the City Council […]
Stewart Administration Proposes New Self-Storage Zoning Rules
Yet another raft of zoning proposal has been submitted by the administration of Mayor Erin Stewart (R), including new rules concerning self-storage businesses, proposed against a backdrop of an ongoing dispute between Stewart and former Republican Council member James Sanders, Jr. The new list of zoning proposals were introduced by Council Republican leader, Ald. Robert […]
Community Mourns and Thanks Dr. Alton Brooks, Revered Community Leader
By Tim O’Brien, with contributing research by John McNamara and from an interview with Dr. Brooks by Rev. Brian Riley and photography by Dr. Frank Gerratana People across New Britain and beyond are in mourning because of the passing of Dr. Alton Brooks, the legendary leader, who did so much for so many, organizing, inspiring […]
City of New Britain Discloses Violation in Drinking Water Monitoring
The City of New Britain has disclosed that the State Department of Public Health notified the city that it, “violated drinking water monitoring and/or reporting requirements.” “During summer 2023,” the city disclosed about the violation, “we did not monitor for the presence of synthetic organic chemicals (IOCs) in our reservoirs.” The United States Environmental Protection […]
DeFronzo Proposes “Historic Investment in Municipal Infrastructure Improvements”
State Representative candidate Dave DeFronzo announced that he is calling, “for a $200 million state investment in aging, unsafe and inefficient municipal infrastructure systems across the state,” with his campaign noting, “long delayed sewer improvement projects have led to regularly recurring flood conditions in a residential neighborhood creating public health dangers and property damage.” “With […]
Ayalon Qualifies For Primary For State Representative
Former City Council and Board of Education member, Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) has qualified for an August 13th Democratic primary, challenging for the nomination for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District. Former Mayor and Democratic Registrar of Voters Lucian Pawlak confirmed that Ayalon received enough petition signatures to qualify to run today. Ayalon is […]
Caribbean Heritage Month Celebrated With Flag Raising
By Jessica Angelo-Julien, MBA, JP A handful of Caribbean nationals gathered in Central Park to support the sixth annual flag raising in the City of New Britain. The air was filled with steal pan music reminiscent of disembarkation of an island cruise or on the beach on an exotic island. A moco jumbie, a traditional […]
Tens of Thousands Visit 2024 Little Poland Festival
The Little Poland Festival again drew tens of thousands of people to New Britain to celebrate Polish culture, music and food. Morning rain did nothing to dampen the excitement for the massively popular event in New Britain’s vibrant Little Poland neighborhood. Under sun and blue skies in the afternoon, tens of thousands of people filled […]
Council Members Chastise City Hall Over Unimplemented $4 Million Allocation for Flooding Improvements
Members of the New Britain City Council chastised city officials over an unimplemented $4 million budget allocation for Allen Street flood control project, calling the actions of the Mayor Erin Stewart (R) and allies an election year trick to placate vocal community members calling for action to address neighborhood flooding. Last September, a month before […]
DeFronzo, Endorsed With Democratic Slate, Emphasizes Grassroots Campaigning, Ayalon to Primary
Newly endorsed Democratic candidate for the 26th Assembly District, Dave DeFronzo, said that he is emphasizing a grassroots approach to campaigning in his run to succeed retiring State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26). “I have knocked on over two thousand doors so far,” DeFronzo said, “and the people of this district have said loud and clear […]
DeFronzo Endorsed By Democrats In 26th District For State Representative
Former City Council member, Ald. Dave DeFronzo (D-AL) has been endorsed by Democrats for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District, receiving more votes from the Democratic Town Committee than former Council and Board of Education member, Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3). The vote in the Democratic Town Committee was 7 votes for DeFronzo and 4 […]
Some Democratic Council Members Vote With Republicans to Defeat Democrats’ Own Proposal to Eliminate Stewart-Proposed Tax Increase
After the Democratic majority on the New Britain City Council had approved an amendment to the city budget that would have rejected a tax increase proposed by Mayor Erin Stewart (R), the budget plan was defeated when a number of Democratic Council members voted with Republicans to vote down the budget plan. At least Democratic […]
New Britain Council Set to Vote on City Budget
The New Britain City Council is set to vote on Wednesday on a city budget for the upcoming year, in a special meeting, “dedicated to deliberating and voting on various budgetary proposals vital for the city’s operations and development,” a statement from the Council said. The Council’s Democratic majority said that, “This special meeting underscores […]
Ayalon Announces Education Platform in State Legislative Campaign
Former City Council member Aram Ayalon (D-3) has announced an series of priorities for education, as part of his campaign for state representative. Ayalon is running for state legislature in the 26th Assembly District. Another former Council member, Dave DeFronzo (D-AL), has also announced that he is seeking the seat. Ayalon, who is a retired CCSU education […]
Council Member Wins Parking to Help Local Business
Third Ward City Council member, Ald. Candyce Scott (D-3) says she is celebrating a win that will help a small business in her district. “The owner of Express Pizza told me that his customers were being ticketed for parking outside the restaurant on Allen Street,” Ald. Scott said. So she pressed for a change for […]
New Britain Chooses to Have Only One Location for Early Voting for Primary
The city of New Britain has chosen to have only one polling location for early voting under the new law that allows people to vote before election day, at least for the August 13th primary. The office Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas (D) says that, “Early Voting allows you to vote in person safely […]
State Increasing Education Aid by $8.6 Million Amid Low Schools Funding by Stewart
The State Educational Cost Sharing Grant for New Britain schools is to increase by an estimated $8,647,194, providing an apparent lifeline for the city’s school system, amid continuing low local funding for education under Mayor Erin Stewart (R). The grant, already at $107,212,343 in the current state budget year, is set to increase to an […]
State Legislators Secure $10 Million More in Aid For New Britain; $4 for More Aid for City Budget
New Britain’s state legislators have announced they have secured $4 million for the city budget in a one-time allocation of federal ARPA funds, as a part of a $10.1 million overall increase in aid to the city. State Senator Rick Lopes (D-6), Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), Rep. Manny Sanchez (D-24), Rep. Gary Turco (D-27) and […]
City Council Meetings Called To Approve Budget
Two meetings of the New Britain City Council have been called for the Council to consider approving a city budget for upcoming budget year. Council President Pro-Tempore, Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5) and Mayor Erin Stewart (R) have each issued a “warrant” calling special meetings of the Council. The one called by Ald. Santiago is to […]
Council Gets Public Report on Developer Tax Breaks Despite Mayor’s Veto – Republicans Vote Down Further Review
Despite a veto by New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart (R) of local legislation to require public reporting of tax breaks for developers, City Council members devised a way to get them reported, anyway. But in a tie 7 to 7 vote, Council Republicans voted down an attempt by Council Democrats to refer the report to […]