Opinion
New Britain Progressive Opinion Page
On this page, you will find Op-Ed pieces, news analysis and other opinion in which the authors seek to inform on topics of interest to the New Britain community. If you would like to send commentary for consideration, please email it to newbritainprogressive@gmail.com.
Baron Defends Reid Cancellation
As President of the Polonia Business Association, I have been asked to respond to the recent controversy surrounding the cancelled talk of a self described historian in New Britain.
Heartbroken About NRZ
People who know me well as a person, know my values and have worked alongside me know why I would be so heartbroken right now.
North-Oak NRZ President Responds to Letter Calling for Resignation
Please refer to the city ordinance regarding the chapter of the North-Oak NRZ also see the Connecticut state statute of the Office Policy Management (OPM)
North-Oak Board Members Call on President to Resign
Letter by Marie Bachand, Vicky Ramos and Manny Sandoval, To the members of the North Oak Community, We the members of the North Oak Neighborhood Revitalization Zone would like to make a statement at this time. It is with a sad heart and much displeasure that we bring information that has been detrimental to the […]
Bizzarro Faces Heat for Ad and Chamber Leadership
Democratic Chair Bill Shortell criticizes Republican Senate candidate Gennaro Bizzarro for a campaign ad and calls on him to dismiss Tim Stewart.
The Tale of Two Monuments
by Ald. Aram Ayalon On Saturday, April 28 I attended the ceremony unveiling a monument in New Britain for the Borinqueneers – the Puerto Rican Infantry Regiment of the US Army. The audience was dressed up for the occasion holding Puerto Rican flags, veterans in full uniforms, and a festive environment full of pride. It […]
North Oak NRZ: Moving the Neighborhood Forward
by Antonio C. Lavoy, Sr. Contributing Columnist The North Oak NRZ‘s newly-elected officers are moving the city of New Britain and Ward 3 forward. President Marie Bachand, along with Vice President-Pablo Rodriguez, Secretary Yvette Ghannam, Public Safety Chair Edgar Lopez, Economic Development Chair Lawrence Sanchez, Human Resources Chair Vicky Ramos, Housing Chair Manuel Sandovar, Jessica Hernandez from […]
Martin Luther King: Remembering April 4, 1968
by John McNamara Contributing Columnist I remember exactly where I was on April 4, 1968. That sunny and warm Thursday, like many others in my senior year in high school, I drove to Bradlee’s Department store on the Lynnway in Lynn, Massachusetts after school to punch in for the evening shift, earning some money before entering […]
Season’s Greeting from the New Britain Progressive
On a day that began as a snowy Christmas, the New Britain Progressive wishes everyone season’s greetings and hopes everyone is having a peaceful day.
NAACP Calls on Timothy Stewart to Resign from Chamber Presidency and City Commissions
By the NAACP New Britain Branch #2006 Yesterday, the New Britain Branch of the NAACP #2006 Officers and Executive Board met. We call for the removal of Mr. Timothy Stewart as President of the Greater New Britain Chamber of Commerce. Stewart must resign from his position for the derogatory remarks made on Facebook towards a […]
Thank You to New Britain’s Veterans
New Britain has a long tradition for how our community honors veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. War memorials are placed throughout the city, remembering those who served, and especially those who gave their lives, in different wars. New Britain has long held to the tradition of holding memorial ceremonies at war monuments all […]
Numbers Don’t Back Mayor Stewart’s Claim That State Budget Caused City’s Negative Credit Rating
By John McNamara Contributing Columnist Mayor Erin Stewart has blamed this year’s state budget crisis for the city’s negative credit rating in response to a November 2nd report of an “escalating” debt and her administration’s own budget that shows interest payments will cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars over the next four years. “We were downgraded […]
New Britain’s Bond Rating Drops From Stable To Negative: Huge Spike In Debt Through 2021 Cited By Moody’s
By John McNamara Contributing Columnist Republican incumbent Mayor Erin Stewart, in her re-election campaign this year and throughout her second term, has touted improving municipal bond ratings for New Britain’s fiscal solvency, claiming credit for budget surpluses of $15 million and pushing spending up at City Hall with no need for an election year tax […]
Will Erin Stewart Get Another Off The Books Push From An Absentee Landlord in 2017?
By John McNamara Contributing Columnist On the eve of the 2015 municipal election scores of tenants in New Britain got a notice about a possible rent increase from their landlord. It wasn’t an official increase but a not so subtle endorsement of Mayor Erin Stewart who at the time was cruising to re-election for a […]
Berriault Calls for Change in Leadership Because of Taxes and Spending
By Bobby Berriault After two terms of Mayor Erin Stewart, I say it’s time for a change in leadership. In her two terms of office, Republican Mayor Stewart raised our property taxes by 19% or $19,231,280! Our mill rate is currently at 50.5 mills, making it the fourth most expensive of any town in the State […]
Did Stewart Get A Prohibited Campaign Freebie In Mailing Of Car Tax Bills?
By John McNamara Contributing Columnist New Britain motor vehicle owners finally got their bills on September 1 along with a glowing missive from Mayor Erin Stewart that makes the case for her re-election. The city held up auto tax notices this year, blaming the state budget impasse for the two month delay. Uncertain was whether […]
GOP Alderman Hits School Board On Salaries But Rubber Stamps Pay Hikes, More Spending At City Hall
By John McNamara The sometimes fragile relations between City Hall and the Board of Education took a backward step this week over complaints from Ward 2 Republican Alderman Kristian Rosado appearing in the New Britain City Journal. Rosado, in a front-page story in the City Journal, derided a unanimous BOE move on salary increases for […]
Merrill Gay: Why I am running for New Britain
by Merrill Gay Why, in today’s world, does anyone want to run for mayor of New Britain? It’s a good question. When I came to New Britain in 1989, I was immediately impressed by its people, its parks and natural resources and its rich cultural diversity. At once I knew this was the place to […]
Support for Merrill Gay for Mayor
By Bobby Berriault After two terms of Mayor Erin Stewart, I say it’s time for a change in leadership. Under Mayor Stewart, New Britain has seen our property taxes increase by 16%, making New Britain the second highest property taxed town in the state. New Britain has the second lowest performing school system in the […]
Support for Malloy Budget Increasing State Aid to New Britain
By Bobby Berriault I write in strong support of Governor Malloy’s proposed state budget for FY 18 and FY 19. His budget calls for increasing state aid to New Britain by $24.2 million over the course of the next two years over what we currently receive. His proposal allows municipalities like New Britain to add […]