Erin Stewart
Two Days Before State Report, Stewart Withdraws Watershed Mining Plan
Just two days before a key state decision regarding Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s plan to allow strip-mining on New Britain’s protected drinking watershed land, Stewart has withdrawn the proposal. Stewart’s withdrawal of the mining plan comes just before an August 24, 2018 special meeting of the state Water Planning Council (WPC). The WPC has previously been critical […]
Reported Stewart Veto Reverts Budget to Higher Taxes and Lower School Funding
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has reportedly vetoed the city budget approved by the Democrats on the City Council that would have lowered her proposed tax increase and increased school funding. Under the City Charter rules, Stewart’s veto means that her original proposed budget takes affect as the official city budget instead of the budget approved […]
New Britain Democrats Help Bermúdez’s Lt. Governor Campaign Surge Forward
With the support of most of the delegates from New Britain, former Newtown Town Council member Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman quickly gained momentum at the Democratic State Convention to win nearly forty percent of the vote for lieutenant governor against former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz. Delegates at the Convention overwhelmingly selected businessperson Ned Lamont over […]
Council Votes to Cancel Ramanauskas Monument, But Republicans Oppose
The City Council has approved a resolution to revoke approval of the placement of a monument to Adolfas Ramanauskas on city parkland, but all five Council Republicans present voted in opposition of the revocation resolution. Concern was sparked about the planned monument to Ramanauskas when news about it began filtering into New Britain in 2018 from […]
Stewart Vetoes Hiring Freeze Resolution
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has vetoed a resolution approved by the City Council to institute a hiring freeze all city positions except for public safety and temporary seasonal parks and recreation positions. The resolution had been introduced by all nine Council Democrats and all five Council Council Republicans in attendance voted against the hiring freeze. With the […]
Possible $11 Million Long-Term Deficit Apparently in Stewart’s Budget Proposal
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart proposed budget appears to cover a possible $11 million long-term deficit with non-recurring budget items that may leave a sizable shortfall in future years’ city budgets. Stewart’s budget proposal has already been criticized for increasing property taxes, despite her claim of “no tax increase”, as well as for freezing the city’s annual […]
Community Activists Organizing for City Budget Hearing
Community activists are organizing city residents to turn out and make their views known at today’s hearing on Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s proposed budget. Stewart’s proposal has been criticized for increasing property taxes despite her claim of “no tax increase”, as well as for freezing the city’s annual education allocation and continuing to rely on increased city […]
Council Approves Hiring Freeze, With Republicans Opposing
The City Council has approved a hiring freeze on all city positions except for public safety and temporary seasonal parks and recreation positions. All five Council Republicans in attendance voted against the hiring freeze. The resolution was approved, with nine votes in favor and five in opposition. With the exception of police, fire, emergency dispatch […]
Republican Accusations Thrown Out: Merrill Gay Vindicated
The State Elections Enforcement Commission has dismissed a complaint filed by New Britain Republicans against 2017 Democratic Mayoral candidate Merrill Gay, saying, “the facts do not support the allegations.” As the 2017 mayoral election was heating up, Republican Party Chair Anthony Cane filed a complaint with a series accusations that sought to tie Gay with […]
Stewart Proposes “Huge Tax Increase” Despite Claiming “No Tax Increase”
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s budget includes what is being called a “huge tax increase,” despite her own claims that her budget is a “no tax increase” budget. Stewart’s press release on her budget proposal says that she, “presented to the Common Council a $237.72 million budget for 2018-19 that calls for no tax increase and […]
Ald. Ayalon Says $115 Million Borrowing Plan and Other Decisions Should Not be Rushed
Democratic Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) says the Democrats on the City Council are doing the job the people elected them to do by taking a close look at the city’s finances to make the right budget choices for the city’s future. He says that taking the time to do so is the right thing to […]
Stewart-Trump Meeting Sparks Ire Among New Britain Residents and Renewed Questions
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s meeting with fellow Republican, President Donald Trump, has drawn the ire among New Britain residents and questions about her sincerity in distancing herself from the widely reviled Republican President. Stewart visited Trump on February 14, 2018, CTMirror reported, “to publicize tax incentives available to investors in struggling communities designated as Opportunity […]
Council Adjourns Meeting Without Approving Stewart $115 Million Borrowing Plan
Without approving Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s controversial proposal to borrow $115 million to push city debt into the future, the City Council adjourned the third special meeting that Stewart had called for the Council to approve her plan. The motion to adjourn the January 25, 2018 special meeting was made as the Council began consideration […]
Stewart Calls Third Meeting on Approving $115 Million Borrowing-Refinance Plan
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has called a third Council meeting in three weeks to consider her proposal to borrow $115 million to push city debt into the future. Stewart called the meeting for Thursday, January 25, 2017, one day after the regular Council meeting on January 24th. Many are calling Stewart’s tactics to pressure City […]
Proposal Made to Slow Down and Decentralize Decisions on City Borrowing
After what many are calling Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s heavy-handed attempts to pressure City Council Democrats into a quick approval of her plan to borrow $115 million to push city debt into the future, a proposal has been introduced to slow down and decentralize decisions on city borrowing. Democratic Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) has introduced a […]
Stewart Rebuffs Democrats’ Call for Further Consideration of $115 Million Debt Plan
City Council Democrats called on Republican Mayor Erin Stewart to delay action on her proposal to borrow $115 million to push city debt into the future. The Council majority is seeking more public input and consideration of other options before re-structuring of finances and committing the city to long-term borrowing. While Democrats asked that the […]
Council Sends Stewart $115 Million Borrowing-Refinance Plan Back to Committee
The City Council voted to send Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s controversial plan to borrow $115 million to push current city debt into the future back to the Council’s Bonding Subcommittee. In making his motion to refer the matter back to committee, the Democratic Council Majority Leader, Ald. Carlo Carlozzi (D-5) expressed the desire of Council […]
Stewart Calls Special Council Meeting to Borrow $115 Million to Push Debt into Future
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has called a special meeting of the City Council to consider a plan to borrow $115 million to, “Refund Any of the City’s Outstanding General Obligation Bonds.” Stewart issued her official warrant calling the meeting on January 3, 2018. On the same day, the city’s debt underwriter, Mesirow Financial, issued an […]
Top 10 of 2017: #1 – Timothy Stewart’s “Inmates” Comment Draws Calls for Resignation or Removal
Many important stories have been covered by the New Britain Progressive in 2017. It may be difficult to name only a few articles as the top stories of the year, but there are a few the New Britain Progressive would like to share as our Top Ten. Other Top Ten stories can be found at “Top Ten Stories of […]
Top 10 of 2017: #2 – Stewart’s Plan for a 23% Increase in Mayoral Salary
Many important stories have been covered by the New Britain Progressive in 2017. It may be difficult to name only a few articles as the top stories of the year, but there are a few the New Britain Progressive would like to share as our Top Ten. Other Top Ten stories can be found at “Top Ten Stories of […]