Numbers Don’t Back Mayor Stewart’s Claim That State Budget Caused City’s Negative Credit Rating

By John McNamara 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 … Continue reading Numbers Don’t Back Mayor Stewart’s Claim That State Budget Caused City’s Negative Credit Rating

New Britain’s Bond Rating Drops From Stable To Negative: Huge Spike In Debt Through 2021 Cited By Moody’s

By John McNamara 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 increase. Fiscal … Continue reading New Britain’s Bond Rating Drops From Stable To Negative: Huge Spike In Debt Through 2021 Cited By Moody’s

Will Erin Stewart Get Another Off The Books Push From An Absentee Landlord in 2017?

By John McNamara 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 second term. … Continue reading Will Erin Stewart Get Another Off The Books Push From An Absentee Landlord in 2017?

Did Stewart Get A Prohibited Campaign Freebie In Mailing Of Car Tax Bills?

By John McNamara 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 the auto … Continue reading Did Stewart Get A Prohibited Campaign Freebie In Mailing Of Car Tax Bills?

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 … Continue reading GOP Alderman Hits School Board On Salaries But Rubber Stamps Pay Hikes, More Spending At City Hall

Legislature Takes On Water Issues; Rep. Lopes Bill Requires Fair Market Value For City To Sell Wells, Watershed Land

By John McNamara State Rep. Rick Lopes (D-24) has filed a bill requiring municipalities or water companies to "complete a fair market appraisal of any property encompassing a watershed, well or reservoir before such property may be sold, and to make such appraisal public at least 90 days prior to such sale." Lopes' proposal is … Continue reading Legislature Takes On Water Issues; Rep. Lopes Bill Requires Fair Market Value For City To Sell Wells, Watershed Land

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 a special meeting … Continue reading City Hall Watch: Deferring Municipal Debt Payment Means Cash Now, Higher Interest Next Year

Opposing Trump, GOP Agenda: NB, Hartford Part of Historic Women’s March

From http://www.newbritaindemocrat.org By John McNamara [Photos by Frank Gerratana] The Women’s March on Washington the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump spawned marches from Augusta, Maine to Anchorage Alaska. Millions of people, connected by the same social media so deftly and divisively used by Donald Trump, answered the call of the women’s march … Continue reading Opposing Trump, GOP Agenda: NB, Hartford Part of Historic Women’s March

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 to … Continue reading City Hall Watch: Stewart Wants More Money For Tilcon Watershed Study; Costs To Exceed $350K

New Britain Election Postscript: “If Trump wins will I have to leave the country?”

"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 all his life … Continue reading New Britain Election Postscript: “If Trump wins will I have to leave the country?”