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.
City Hall Watch: Deferring Municipal Debt Payment Means Cash Now, Higher Interest Next Year
By John McNamara The Stewart administration is shifting $6 million from a scheduled payment on the city’s rising municipal debt— creating an election year windfall to avert yet another tax increase. The Common Council approved what representatives of William Blair & Company, the city’s bond counsel, called a “re-structuring” of a $28 million bond at […]
Berriault Defends Critque of Stewart
By Bobby Berriault In response to a recent post on the President of the Board of Education Nick Mercier Facebook page, calling me a liar, saying I live by “alternative facts” and complaining that I blocked him on my exploratory committee Facebook page, I want to rebut his first allegation and explain why he and […]
Martin Luther King and the Economic and Social Bill of Rights
By Tim O’BrienColumnist Editor’s note: The following commentary was originally published on January 20, 2014 on Tim O’Brien’s blog. This weekend, our nation, state and communities celebrate and remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his accomplishments. It is a time when I have always felt inspired by his work, as a leader, […]
Stewart’s Economic Record Criticized
By Bobby Berriault I take issue with Mayor Erin Stewart’s recent assertion that our city’s economy is better than ever. While it is true that a few businesses have moved into New Britain – namely the food truck that is downtown a few hours a week, for every business that has moved into our city, […]
City Hall Watch: Stewart Wants More Money For Tilcon Watershed Study; Costs To Exceed $350K
By John McNamara The Stewart administration is seeking an additional $17,500 for an environmental study of Tilcon Inc.’s long-term plan to lease city watershed for trap rock mining. The extra cost is up for consideration at the December 14th Common Council meeting and follows the June 2016 Common Council approval of a $337,000 no-bid contract […]
New Britain Election Postscript: “If Trump wins will I have to leave the country?”
By John McNamara “If Trump wins will I have to leave the country?” The question was asked of me by a Holmes School student when I was leaving the Masjid Al Taqwa mosque on Arch Street on a Sunday evening in August. It didn’t matter that the 5th grader has probably lived in New Britain […]
New Britain Independent Rededicated as the New Britain Progressive
Editorial Message The New Britain Independent has been renamed the New Britain Progressive, as New Britain’s not-for-profit community newspaper organization has decided to redouble its efforts at achieving its core mission – to tell the truth that is so often left out of or falsely reported in the for-profit newspapers and to share news and information […]
Senator Terry Gerratana Eliminates Car Taxes
By Robert Berriault As a resident of New Britain, I encourage New Britain families to show their support for State Senator Terry Gerratana, who has fought to cut taxes for hardworking families in New Britain. Recently, Terry lessened our tax burden by phasing out property tax on motor vehicles. The new law will save Connecticut […]
Alderman Questions Stewart on Well Sale in Light of Water Supply Alert
By Emmanuel (Manny) Sanchez In both a press release and an NBC interview roughly two weeks ago, Mayor Erin Stewart stated we are in a “first water alert”. But all facts and statistics show that we’ve been in one since May. I was also informed that the City was at 39.72% capacity when that press release […]
Stewart Conservation Commissioner Accused of Abuse of Power
By Robert Berriault Mayor Stewart’s Conservation Commissioner Ken Hass had threatened members of the community by threatening to expose private information that the city possesses on them, including their allegedly nonpublic criminal and civil records, in an attempt to embarrass them publicly, in retaliation for publicly stating their opposition to the Tilcon deal. At 9:21 […]
New Britain’s Nastiest Politician Costs Taxpayers $9,500
By Tim O’Brien Columnist During a failed attempt at running for state representative, one of Ald. Lou Salvio’s own election flyers misspelled his name as “Salvo”. For a man who has repeatedly shown himself to be the nastiest politician in New Britain, the moniker “Salvo” has stuck – and for all the wrong reasons. Salvio’s […]
Esty Holds Forum with Gerratana on Defending Democracy
By Tim O’Brien Columnist Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-5) held a forum, with State Senator Terry Gerratana (D-6) on August 31st in the New Britain Public Library to highlight the growing threats to our democracy from big money politics and voter suppression. “Too many Americans feel as though their voices simply aren’t being heard in our democracy,” […]
The Dedicated Leadership of the North-Oak NRZ
By Tim O’BrienColumnist The North-Oak neighborhood is home to a lot of good, generous, sincere people – people who work together for the good of everyone. The neighborhood has been blessed for years by the leadership of the North-Oak Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) and the core dedicated community activists who volunteer their time in it. […]
Referendum Question 3 Obscures Charter Change On Granting Pay Raises To Elected Officials, Accelerated Water Bill Payments
By John McNamara Contributing Columnist The Common Council’s Republican Caucus Leader, Daniel Salerno, likes to preach to citizens who speak at public participation that they ought to stay, not leave after speaking on an issue, to watch the councilors “make the sausage” on selling city assets cheap, adopting a new policy or making budget decisions. […]
Northend Elementary School Canvass Neighborhoods with Backpacks and School Supplies
By Brian K. Riley New Britain Independent Board President During the month of August, Spottswood A.M.E. Zion Church’s Bureau of Supply Missionary Society and Children’s Ministry, led by Jill Riley, Linda Kelly and Cheryl Niccols organized and collected backpacks and school supplies, which were donated to Northend Elementary School. The collected donations were delivered to […]
Prayer for Peace March held in New Britain
By Brian K. Riley New Britain Independent Board President A group of clergy, who call themselves “The Gatekeepers”, consist of Pastors and Ministers from within the New Britain Community. They were responsible for the planning and organizing, of the Prayer for Peace March, which took place on Saturday, August 13, 2016. Rev. Gervais Barger of […]
Black Democratic Club Continues Voter Empowerment
By Tim O’Brien Columnist New Britain has a great need for dedicated advocates for voter empowerment. Our community has a very real history of voter suppression by those charged with operating our election process. That is why it is more important than ever that New Britain’s people remain highly organized to fight for their rights and […]
Art Perry’s Fighting Spirit and Boundless Optimism Will Not Be Forgotten
By John McNamara Contributing Columnist Originally posted in NB Politicus Augusy 13, 2016 New Britain’s and SEIU’s Art Perry died this week after an extended and brave battle with cancer at the age of 63. I knew and will not forget Art as a union organizer of fighting spirit and boundless optimism through too many […]
Basing Our Support of Democratic Candidates On the Company They Keep
By Rhona Cohen Opinion Editor There are two very consequential local democratic primaries happening in New Britain on August 9th. Local elections are hardly ever discussed anywhere in statewide media, which might lead folks to believe they are of no consequence. However, they have major and reverberating effects, both locally and nationally. New Britain […]
Improving Equality and Justice in New Britain, Starting with Voting Rights
By Tim O’Brien Columnist As New Britain joined people nationwide in mourning the lives lost in senseless violent acts, the Black Ministerial Alliance of New Britain led the way in bringing people in the community together in a “Community Prayer for Peace Service for those who lost their lives at the hands of Law Enforcement […]