Council Committee To Hear Move To Weaken Anti-Blight Ordinance, Proposal To Increase Senior Tax Relief

By John McNamara Housing and taxes are usually topics as hot as this week's weather and both are on the agenda of the Common Council's Committee on Administration, Finance and Law at 7 p.m. today at a City Hall public hearing and meeting. Four Republican aldermen have proposed changes to the city's anti-blight ordinance that … Continue reading Council Committee To Hear Move To Weaken Anti-Blight Ordinance, Proposal To Increase Senior Tax Relief

Who’s Selling The City’s Water Supply Now? This Time It’s For Real

One of the more effective hits on former Mayor O'Brien's 2013 campaign was unfounded assertions that he was cutting a deal with the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) to sell the city's water department --- the city's most coveted natural resource.None other than ex-Congresswoman turned lobbyist Nancy Johnson was trotted out by the Republican campaign to … Continue reading Who’s Selling The City’s Water Supply Now? This Time It’s For Real

Shrinking Federal Funds: Stewart Blocks Funds For Basic Human Needs, Community Services

A mayoral veto this month reducing federal funds that will go to meet basic human needs and community services shows the difference between the city's Democrats and the Stewart-led Republicans.The Stewart Administration wants to take away at least $62,000 from community services and hand it over to acting Municipal Development Director Ken Malinowski who intends … Continue reading Shrinking Federal Funds: Stewart Blocks Funds For Basic Human Needs, Community Services

What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate: Rock Cats Owners Didn’t Even Bother To Tell The Big Club

One of the biggest complaints coming out of the pending deal by the Rock Cats and the City of Hartford is that key "stakeholders" were not let in on the talks nor intentions of the team's ownership to vacate New Britain Stadium in 2016 for the proposed I-84 linked Parcel 12B in downtown Hartford.Neither New … Continue reading What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate: Rock Cats Owners Didn’t Even Bother To Tell The Big Club

Stewart Veto Puts HUD Funds For Community Services In Jeopardy: Does Administration Want Money For Political Appointee Malinowski?

In a June 6th letter Mayor Erin Stewart vetoed and returned to the Common Council a plan for use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the new fiscal year.On May 28th the Common Council on a 7 to 5 voted restored funds to several community agencies that had been reduced by the Mayor's … Continue reading Stewart Veto Puts HUD Funds For Community Services In Jeopardy: Does Administration Want Money For Political Appointee Malinowski?

Real Hartford » A Strikeout for Transparency in City Hall

NB Holds Its Own With Population at 72,939: Counting Heads Key To Amount of Funds City Can Receive

New Britain's population is holding steady according to US Census data estimates reported by the Courant May 22nd. The city's estimated population in 2010 was 73,202 and was 72,939 in 2013, a drop of 263 residents.The census counts are a key to funding formulas for a wide variety of state and federal funding programs that … Continue reading NB Holds Its Own With Population at 72,939: Counting Heads Key To Amount of Funds City Can Receive

Whatever Happened To the CPOA? Taxpayer Group Goes Silent And Partisan

Whenever even a rumor of a property tax increase came out of City Hall over the last generation you could count on one group of citizens to make noise and try to mobilize residents against any change in the mill rate.The New Britain Citizens’ Property Owners Association (CPOA) had a reputation as a group of … Continue reading Whatever Happened To the CPOA? Taxpayer Group Goes Silent And Partisan

City Council Gives Nod To $10.10 An Hour A Year Early

Council President Mike Trueworthy's resolution on a $10.10 minimum wage for city employees not covered by labor agreements or other contracts won a 10-5 vote at the Common Council April 9th.It came on the heels of President Obama's visit to CCSU to rally support for federal legislation that languishes in the GOP controlled U.S. House … Continue reading City Council Gives Nod To $10.10 An Hour A Year Early

Remembering Rev. King and 4/4/68 at MLK Park Monument

New Britain's Mary McLeod Bethune Club (MMBC) observed the anniversary of the assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 5th -- a memorial event club members have organized for most of the 46 years since the civil rights leader was killed in Memphis on April 4, 1968. CCSU Anthropology Professor, Dr Evelyn … Continue reading Remembering Rev. King and 4/4/68 at MLK Park Monument