Smalley Academy Renovation Cost Jumps To $53m; Public Hearing Wednesday, June 22, At Council Committee

What's behind a $53 million price tag for renovations to Smalley Academy, a K-5 elementary school near downtown and North-Oak Streets? That question should be on the minds of the Common Council after initial estimates by school officials were closer to $30 million last year. The earlier estimate by school officials was tens of millions … Continue reading Smalley Academy Renovation Cost Jumps To $53m; Public Hearing Wednesday, June 22, At Council Committee

Registrars Move To Re-Locate Two Polling Places For Primary, November Election

By John McNamara New Britain's Registrars of Voters are moving to change polling places in Districts 6 and 13 in time for an August 8th Primary and the November 8th Presidential Election. Republican Peter Gostin and Democrat Juan Verdu have identified Angelico's Cafe restaurant on East Main Street to replace the State Armory in Voting … Continue reading Registrars Move To Re-Locate Two Polling Places For Primary, November Election

@ City Hall: Final Charter Commission Hearing; FY 2017 Budget Slated For OK By Council

City Charter Referendum: Commission Recommends Three Questions Final Hearing Is June 1st Before Going To Common Council A five-member charter commission is recommending three questions to amend the city's governing document to be put before voters in November. The public will be able to comment on the May 26th Draft Report at a final hearing this … Continue reading @ City Hall: Final Charter Commission Hearing; FY 2017 Budget Slated For OK By Council

Stewart’s New Policy: Criminalizing The Homeless, Jeopardizing Building Hope Together

By John McNamara The common council meeting of April 27th began on a hopeful note for a community that has been dubbed the "city for all people." Ward 4 Alderman Bobby Smedley moved a unanimous resolution to adopt a Compassion Charter, having New Britain join with other cities and countries around the world affirming a belief … Continue reading Stewart’s New Policy: Criminalizing The Homeless, Jeopardizing Building Hope Together

Ukrainian Americans Protest Manafort Ties To Dictator, Trump Campaign

The Hartford area's Ukrainian-American community, including members of three church congregations in New Britain, is speaking out against a city native with a well-known name among Republicans -- Paul Manafort, the son of a former mayor, longtime Washington lobbyist and now campaign manager for the GOP's unlikely frontrunner, Donald J. Trump. With Tuesday's Connecticut Primary just … Continue reading Ukrainian Americans Protest Manafort Ties To Dictator, Trump Campaign

Remembering 4/4/1968: 48 Years Ago On Monday

By John McNamara So far the campaign of 2016 -- thanks mainly to Donald Trump and his cohorts in the GOP field --is a disturbing reminder that any progress achieved on civil and voting rights made over the last 60 years is threatened. The Supreme Court's recent ruling weakening provisions of the landmark Voting Rights … Continue reading Remembering 4/4/1968: 48 Years Ago On Monday

Sanders’ Call To End Economic Injustice: A “New Dealer” For the 21st Century

City Hall Watch: Rep. Sanchez Condemns Charter Change Eliminating City Council Districts

By John McNamara The Common Council is set to create a Charter Commission at its February 10th meeting to consider sweeping changes in municipal government at the behest of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart. The Stewart administration, taking advantage of a Republican Council majority, seeks to eliminate neighborhood representation on the city council in … Continue reading City Hall Watch: Rep. Sanchez Condemns Charter Change Eliminating City Council Districts

Inside City Hall: Republicans Seek To Eliminate Polling Places in Center of New Britain

By John McNamara Republican Mayor Erin Stewart and Registrar of Voters Peter Gostin are moving quickly to reduce voter access to polling places for the November Presidential election. A plan drafted by Republican Gostin will come up for a fast-tracked feasibility study vote at the Wednesday January 27th Common Council meeting. The feasibility study apparently … Continue reading Inside City Hall: Republicans Seek To Eliminate Polling Places in Center of New Britain

Labor Day 2015: When “The Saturday Night Club” Remembered The Rise of New Britain Unions

By John McNamara The New Britain Saturday Night Club, founded in the 19th century, is an organization of professionals, industrialists, educators and the civic-minded whose members regularly gathered for some home-grown culture and education. None other than the "Learned Blacksmith" Elihu Burritt was a member starting in 1875 . The longstanding group is kind of … Continue reading Labor Day 2015: When “The Saturday Night Club” Remembered The Rise of New Britain Unions