Top Ten Stories
Top 10 of 2020: #10 – North-Oak NRZ: Keeping Hope Alive
The work of the North-Oak NRZ, the North-Oak Neighborhood’s community organization, has been very important during 2020.
Top 10 of 2019: #1 – Stewart Chamber Presidency Finally Ends
In 2019, Republican former Mayor Timothy Stewart was finally forced to resign as President of the Chamber of Commerce after making bigoted comments.
Top 10 of 2019: #2 – Historic Porcher Candidacy
Democrat Chris Porcher made history in his candidacy to lead the city of New Britain as Mayor in the 2019 city elections.
Top 10 of 2019: #3 – Stewarts: “A Class Act”
Gloating antics and a vulgar hand gesture in their 2019 electoral win celebration put the character of the two Stewart mayors on unflattering display.
Top 10 of 2019: #4 – Tax Hike, Surplus, Refund Debate
In 2019, the tax increase in the city budget that took effect in 2018 returned as an issue when it was disclosed that the budget had ended in a surplus.
Top 10 of 2019: #5 – Alleged Theft by City Hall Administrator
Just weeks after Republican Mayor Erin Stewart was re-elected, news came out alleging that one of the top administrators in City Hall had been arrested.
Top 10 of 2019: #6 – Blogoslawski Apparently Charged With DUI
In 2019, Republican City Tax Collector Cheryl Blogoslawski appears to have been arrested by police for driving under the influence in Southington.
Top 10 of 2019: #7 – Festivals Make New Britain the Place to Be
In a city that was once and perhaps will again have the motto “A City for All People,” New Britain residents are proud of their many cultural celebrations.
Top 10 of 2019: #8 – The 2019-2020 City Budget
The process leading to the city budget approved in 2019 started out with controversy, included a one-time education increase and then ended in controversy.
Top 10 of 2019: #9 – President of Poland Visits New Britain
A visit from a national head of state is always significant, and, for New Britain, the visit by the President of Poland was especially important.
Top 10 of 2019: #10 – Big Republican Wins
The year 2019 saw big wins for New Britain Republicans, leaving the New Britain Democrats contemplating their future after important defeats.
Top 10 of 2018: #1 – Stewart Watershed Mining Plan Defeated, Again
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s proposal to allow the strip mining of New Britain’s protecting drinking watershed land was defeated.
Top 10 of 2018: #2 – Hayes Makes History
History was made in the 2018 election as Democrat Jahana Hayes became the first African-American Democrat to represent Connecticut in Congress.
Top 10 of 2018: #3 – Stewart Budget Increases Taxes and Freezes Education
Stewart used her powers in the city’s strong mayor system to put her original proposed budget into effect, including the tax increase and education freeze.
Top 10 of 2018: #4 – Pizzeria Owners Threatened With Deportation
It seemed so alien to many that a soft-spoken couple with a young child who own a pizzeria on Broad St would be the targets of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda
Top 10 of 2018: #5 – The Blue Wave
In a “Blue Wave” election, Democrats swept all of the legislative elections in New Britain and New Britain contributed to statewide wins for Democrats.
Top 10 of 2018: #6 – $115 Million Stewart Debt Plan to Push Costs to Future
Mayor Stewart’s plan to borrow $115 million was seen as the result of her pushing debt into the future to artificially lower costs during her administration
Top 10 of 2018: #7 – Stewart Found in Violation of Election Law
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart violated state campaign law by illegally using taxpayer money to promote her 2017 re-election.
Top 10 of 2018: #8 – The Tale of Two Monuments
The city celebrated the dedication of its monument to the 65th Infantry Borinqueneers, but rejected a different monument because of Holocaust accusations.
Top 10 of 2018: #9 – Mr. Alton Brooks Advocates for Human Rights Office
When Mr. Alton Brooks spoke to the City Council advocating for the city’s Human Rights and Opportunities office, elected officials took notice.