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News
Staff report At the annual City Council budget hearing, members of the city community expressed…
Community News
State Rep Dave DeFronzo (D-26) will be joined by Lt Gov Susan Bysiewicz (D0 and…
Opinion
In her state of the city address 2021 the then mayor Erin Stewart stated: “What…
News Analysis
By Rhona Cohen and Olive O’Brien-Cohen Steven “Stevie” Jones, 55 years old, died on March…
Featured Journalism
by John McNamara Sponsors and attendees at the New Britain Public Library’s (NBPL) 10th Annual Fundraiser on…
New Britain Racial Justice Coalition
By the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition, The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition (NBRJC) is raising serious concerns about Mayor Bobby Sanchez’s proposed FY27 budget, stating clearly that it reduces overall education funding while failing to meaningfully invest in libraries and community services. Despite public claims of increased support for schools, the full budget shows […]
The Arts
The Central Connecticut State University’s Theatre Department is presenting “In Pieces”, which it says is, “a bold, contemporary new musical featuring a pop-driven score that dives into echoes of love, loss, and self-discovery by weaving the romantic journeys of six characters across three-chapters of life.” The play is April 30th, May 1st and 2nd at […]
Schools
As the summer days wind down and back-to-school shopping begins, familiar signs of a new school year appear. Store shelves are stocked with school supplies, shopping carts start to fill, and a growing sense of anticipation starts to creep in. Across the town of New Britain, students are preparing to return to the school halls […]
History
By John McNamara Saturday, March 7th was one of those days when New Britain lived…
Flooding Series
Latest News and Opinion
Staff report At the annual City Council budget hearing, members of the city community expressed support for increasing funding for New Britain’s schools and advocated for a good quality of education for the city’s children. The hearing was on the Mayor’s Proposed Budget for the budget year that goes from this July 1st to June […]
State Rep Dave DeFronzo (D-26) will be joined by Lt Gov Susan Bysiewicz (D0 and the Polish Legislative Delegation at the 35th annual Polish Day at the Capitol. The event commemorates the 235th anniversary of the Polish Constitution and is a traditional celebration of Polish history, culture and the many people in Connecticut with Polish […]
In her state of the city address 2021 the then mayor Erin Stewart stated: “What I will not do is blindly throw additional tax dollars into a massive bureaucracy that is failing our students” (New 8, March 18, 2021). In response, state representative and current mayor, Bobby Sanchez, said, “There is one obvious solution here […]
Top 10 of 2022: #7: Charter Changes: New City Power Jobs, Transparency Concerns and Minority Party Council District System
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart and her newly elected Republican City Council supermajority set right away in 2022 to change the City Charter in a raft of different ways. Some of the changes were widely viewed as innocuous, while Council election changes raised concerns and new, powerful appointed positions and other changes, encased in an opaque […]
Top 10 of 2022: #8: Council Districting Raises Racial Gerrymandering Concerns
It is said the journalism is the first draft of history. And part of the mission of any real newspaper, including the New Britain Progressive, is to record contemporary events well for the future judgment of history. In 2022, the city hall of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart approved a plan for new City Council districts […]
Top 10 of 2022: #9: A New Schools Superintendent
In 2022, New Britain saw the retirement of Schools Superintendent Nancy Sarra and the selection and installation of Anthony Gasper as the new head of the city’s school system. In April, the Board of Education named Dr. Anthony J. Gasper, Ed.D as the new schools Superintendent, who came to lead the New Britain school district […]
Top 10 of 2022: #10: New Britain Support for Ukraine
The suffering of the Ukrainian people has been a major concern for many people in New Britain as Russia carried out a war of aggression against its neighbor. The invasion has drawn widespread condemnation from people across New Britain, as well as support for the people of Ukraine affected by the largest war in Europe […]
2022 Campaign Activists Recognized At New Britain Working Families Party Celebration
WFP Ballot Line Boosted U.S. Rep. Hayes in 5th Congressional District Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – The Connecticut Working Families Party (CT-WFP), the union-backed third party instrumental in U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes’ (D-5) narrow victory in November, celebrated election year wins across the state at a fundraising reception on December 20th at the Five Churches […]
Happening in New Britain Dec 19th to 25th
New Britain city meetings and community events coming up during the week of Monday, December 19, 2022 to Sunday, December 25th, include… [MEC id=”30088″] Editor’s note: If you would like to submit an event for inclusion in the New Britain Progressive weekly events articles, or would like to update something already listed, here, feel free […]
Happening in New Britain Dec 19th to 25th
New Britain city meetings and community events coming up during the week of Monday, December 19, 2022 to Sunday, December 25th, include… [MEC id=”30088″] Editor’s note: If you would like to submit an event for inclusion in the New Britain Progressive weekly events articles, or would like to update something already listed, here, feel free […]
Council Restricts Locations, Adds New Fees for Street Vendors and Food Trucks
Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – The Common Council revised an ordinance and the fee schedule for outdoor vendors and food trucks doing business in the city at its final meeting of the year on December 14th. Under the revised ordinance vendors will be restricted to seven designated areas called “public way green zones”. Under the […]
Wreaths Across America “Escort to Arlington” Convoy To Make Stop in New Britain
Wreaths Across America “Escort to Arlington” Convoy is to make a stop in New Britain for a ceremony on Tuesday. Wreaths Across America of New Britain says that, in New Britain, “the 50-plus vehicle convoy, including at least a dozen 18 wheelers, makes the first of only two scheduled stops in the Nutmeg State on […]
Happening in New Britain Dec 12th to 18th
New Britain city meetings and community events coming up during the week of Monday, December 12, 2022 to Sunday, December 18th, include… [MEC id=”30001″] Editor’s note: If you would like to submit an event for inclusion in the New Britain Progressive weekly events articles, or would like to update something already listed, here, feel free […]
Mill Rate Cut Is Expected To Offset Big Jump In Property Tax Values
Post-Pandemic Revaluation Brings Hikes Of 50% Or More To Single And Multi Family Homes By John McNamara New Britain’s turn for a revaluation of real property came this year in the regressive property tax system that mandates every city and town set new values for tax purposes every five years. Unlike the last revaluation in […]
Three Schools Get $800K For Technology Improvements
Legislators Praise Approval of Bond Funding For Student Achievement Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – Northend Elementary and Pulaski and Slade Middle Schools will receive $814,484 in instructional technology improvements thanks to support from the city’s legislative delegation and approval of state Bond Commission funds this week. In a joint statement State Senator Rick Lopes (D-6), […]
Happening in New Britain Dec 5th to 11th
New Britain city meetings and community events coming up during the week of Monday, December 5, 2022 to Sunday, December 11th, include… [MEC id=”29962″] Editor’s note: If you would like to submit an event for inclusion in the New Britain Progressive weekly events articles, or would like to update something already listed, here, feel free […]
Community Read-Aloud of “A Christmas Carol” To Be Hosted By Public Library
The New Britain Public Library is hosting a community reading of Charles Dickens’ classic 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol. “We will read the entire story from start to finish in the library’s community room,” the Library says. the event is to be on December 10, 2022. It is to begin at 1:00pm. [MEC id=”29969″] In […]
NAACP New Britain Branch To Hold Elections
The NAACP New Britain Branch #2006 is hold elections on Saturday, December 17, 2022 for officers, committee chairs and board members. The election is among people who are members of the NAACP, who are to receive notification by email of how to cast their ballots online. [MEC id=”29769″] The voting to be begin at 9:00am […]
Trinity-On-Main Hosting TubaChristmas Concert
The music of tubas will once again celebrate the season, as the eighth annual New Britain TubaChristmas is to be performed. Once again, New Britain will join other cities across the country and world for the annual event. “The Tubas return to Trinity On Main for the annual free concert,” Trinity-On-Main says. The New Britain […]
“Proof” to be Performed by Hole in the Wall Theater
New Britain’s Hole in the Wall Theater is to perform David Auburn’s play “Proof”, calling it, “a passionate, intelligent story about fathers and daughters, the nature of genius, and the power of love.” In the play, the Theater says, “Catherine has inherited her late father’s mathematical brilliance, but she is haunted by the fear that […]
Happening in New Britain Nov 28th to Dec 4th
New Britain city meetings and community events coming up during the week of Monday, November 28, 2022 to Sunday, December 4th, include… [MEC id=”29839″] Editor’s note: If you would like to submit an event for inclusion in the New Britain Progressive weekly events articles, or would like to update something already listed, here, feel free […]
“A Christmas Carol” to be Performed by Connecticut Theatre Company
New Britain’s Connecticut Theatre Company is to perform a theatrical production of Charles Dickens’ classic tale “A Christmas Carol.” The Theatre says, in the traditionally told holiday story, “Ebenezer Scrooge is a prosperous curmudgeon who believes that personal wealth is far more valuable than the happiness and comfort of others.” But thanks to the guidance of three […]
North/Oak NRZ Turkey Drive Helps Families At Thanksgiving
Group Holds Meeting To “Re-Brand” For 2023 Organizing Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – Resident leaders of the North/Oak Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) held a “rebranding” meeting on November 17th at the Howey House on North Street to plan outreach activities that will engage more neighbors in 2023. Led by NRZ President Manny Sandoval, participants discussed […]