News
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 […]
CCSU Investigating Potential Food Poisoning at Campus Café
Central Connecticut State University says that it is investigating potential food poisoning at its Hilltop Café. The University, in a statement, says that its, “university Environmental Health & Safety Department is working with the City of New Britain Department of Public Health and food service provider Sodexo,” in the health investigation. “Students can get services […]
Residents Advocate for Approval Tonight of $4 Million Upgrades to Stop Flooding
Residents of the Allen Street, Roxbury Road and CCSU area say they are pressing for Council members to approve $4 million in sewer and drainage improvements proposed by two Council members to address flooding they have experienced at the Council meeting tonight. Ald. Luz Ortiz-Luna (R-AL) and Ald. Desiree Costa (R-AL) introduced the proposal to provide […]
CCSU Professor Appointed to State Freedom of Information Commission
Central Connecticut State University journalism professor Kate Farrish has been appointed to the state Freedom of Information Commission by Gov. Ned Lamont (D), the University has announced. “In June,” CCSU notes, “Farrish also became president of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government, a non-profit group that educates the public on the importance of government transparency […]
Council Members Propose $4 Million for Drainage in Allen and Stanley Street area
Two City Council members are proposing that the city allocate up to $4,000,0000 to address flooding experienced by residents in a neighborhood to the southwest of CCSU, including Newbury, Hampton, Allen, Brighton streets and Eton Place and Roxbury Road. Ald. Luz Ortiz-Luna (R-AL) and Ald. Desiree Costa (R-AL) have introduced the proposal to provide funding […]
Household Income of New Britain Residents Less Than Pay of Jobs Located in City
Data in a recent study by DataHaven shows household income in New Britain lags behind the pay of jobs in the city. The data raises the question about how much of the relatively higher income jobs that are located in New Britain are held by workers who reside in other towns. The study, DataHaven’s New […]
Neighborhood Near CCSU Hit By Flooding, Overflows Into Homes Multiple Times Since July
Extensive flooding and runoffs into the basements of homes that recurred after heavy rains in July in a neighborhood near CCSU is raising concerns that the city’s outmoded catch basins and sewage system “is putting our safety, health and property values at risk,” according to a Roxbury Road homeowner. A number of residents of a […]
Council Tables Proposal on Moratoriums for Group Homes, Churches, Mechanics and Self Storage
The City Council has tabled a proposal that would have temporarily blocked certain human service, religious, community and business uses under city zoning ordinances. The Council’s City Council’s Zoning Subcommittee had given an unfavorable recommendation to the full Council on the proposals at its meeting on September 12th. The proposals would have included moratoria on […]
Council Committee Gives Unfavorable Recommendation on Moratoriums for Group Homes, Churches, Mechanics and Self Storage.
The City Council’s Zoning Subcommittee has taken the unusual step of making an unfavorable recommendation on a proposal to temporarily block certain human service, religious, community and business uses under city zoning ordinances. The proposals include moratoria on new human services group homes, motor vehicle repair and sales businesses and self-storage facilities. Another proposal would […]
Study Finds New Britain Residents Have Low Opinion of Local Government and Civic Life
New Britain residents are less satisfied than Connecticut residents as a whole with their local government and civic life in the city, according to a New Britain-specific report by the research organization, DataHaven. DataHaven’s New Britain 2023 Equity Profile found that New Britain residents, by a 61% to 67% margin, are less likely to feel […]
Black Democratic Committee Endorses Democratic Party Slate
The Black Democratic Committee of New Britain, founded by legendary community activist, Mr. Alton Brooks, has announced that it has endorsed the entire Democratic Party slate of nominees for the city elections. The organization was recently re-invigorated by electing new officers, and says that its, mission is to seek political candidates of color to endorse […]
Enrollment Report Shows Differences in Ethnicity and Income Among City Schools
The New Britain Board of Education is to receive a report at its meeting tonight with data that shows a notable difference in the ethnicity between schools. While the New Britain school district consists overwhelming of students of color and disproportionately of lower income, which is reflected in the demographics of all of the city’s […]
Activists at Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance Call for End to Nuclear Weapons
By Danaiyla Mendoza and Amy Martin “Those of us living today have been given the opportunity to save the world,” said Dr. Ira Helfand, Co-President of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). “The problem is that we don’t believe another […]
Monsignor Plocharczyk Is Honored At 40th Dozynki Festival
Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – Monsignor Daniel Plocharczyk, the longtime pastor of Sacred Heart Church on Broad Street, received a special recognition award August 19th at the 40th holding of the Dozynki Festival, the city’s celebration of Polish culture and traditions that began in 1980. The Festival Committee also recognized the Polonia Paderewski Choir and […]