Busway Advances: Rapid Transit Wins Over Purchase of 28,000 Jeep Patriots

Last week the arguments against Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along the I-84 corridor were less about choosing rail over buses and more about opposing any public investment at all in commuter transportation.On April 29th, the state Bond Commission approved $90 million for the New Britain-Hartford bus way, the lion's share of state investment in a … Continue reading Busway Advances: Rapid Transit Wins Over Purchase of 28,000 Jeep Patriots

Hearing on FY 12 City Budget May 12th at Slade Middle School

Now that the Stewart administration has put a $216 million budget on the table officials have set a public hearing for Thursday May 12th at 6 p.m. The hearing will be held at Slade Middle School, not the high school as originally announced.With federal recovery act funds gone and a best-case scenario of level … Continue reading Hearing on FY 12 City Budget May 12th at Slade Middle School

Prediction: Busway Will Get Go Ahead Today

The Governor has scheduled a Monday afternoon announcement about public transportation and whether CT will complete the New Britain to Hartford busway. Proponents Mayor Pedro Segarra and State Rep. Tim O'Brien are going.Because of new jobs and giving guv cover and credibility with labor, Courant's Rick Green in CT Confidential says it will be the … Continue reading Prediction: Busway Will Get Go Ahead Today

Remembering Rev. King and the Labor Movement – Again

Ultra-conservative radio host Dan Lovallo was distorting the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. the other day. He joined a caller in bashing labor unions by objecting to unions' honoring and remembering King for his strong support of organized labor generally and public employee unions specifically. It's all part of Lovallo's and his … Continue reading Remembering Rev. King and the Labor Movement – Again

Party For State Rep. Sanchez: Affirming the American Dream in New Britain

Ward 3 Ald. Shirley Black and Rep. Bobby Sanchez At Fiesta LatinaFamily, friends and colleagues were on hand at the Puerto Rican Society Friday March 18th to celebrate the election of Bobby Sanchez as the state representative from the 25th Assembly District in New Britain. Sanchez, the Democratic Town Committee Vice Chair and Board of … Continue reading Party For State Rep. Sanchez: Affirming the American Dream in New Britain

Should New Britain Follow Tulsa And Consider Mediation at City Hall?

A Mayor and City Council majority are facing a big divide over budgets, policies and ethics.The verbal disputes get heated with name calling and over the top rhetoric that pit one branch of government against another. All of this is occurring weeks ahead of what will be a very difficult municipal budget process. The situation … Continue reading Should New Britain Follow Tulsa And Consider Mediation at City Hall?

Playing Favorites: Stewart Administration Sends Lots of No-Bid Work To Two GOP Aldermen

A review of city purchasing records show that two Republican city council members have received a substantial amount of no-bid business through the Stewart administration. The transactions appear to have avoided an open bid process by either skirting a $3,000 minimum for bidding or bypassing the competitive and ethics process altogether.Alderman at Large Mark Bernacki’s … Continue reading Playing Favorites: Stewart Administration Sends Lots of No-Bid Work To Two GOP Aldermen

Public Transit: Towns On A Slow Train That May Never Get Here

A concerted and well-funded effort by the Bristol Chamber to scuttle the New Britain-Hartford busway has gained considerable ground in recent months. Last week suburban Newington's Town Council was the latest to favor ending the project in favor of developing rail from Waterbury into Bristol and through New Britain. A January 31 New Britain Herald … Continue reading Public Transit: Towns On A Slow Train That May Never Get Here

Tim Stewart As Mayor and Senator? City Charter Says Not So Fast

In declaring his candidacy for the vacant 6th District State Senate seat on January 7th, Mayor Tim Stewart said at his announcement he "would not rule out the possibility of keeping both jobs" if elected to the Senate.While Stewart may want to hold both elective offices and the salaries that go with them, the New Britain City … Continue reading Tim Stewart As Mayor and Senator? City Charter Says Not So Fast

Off Year For State Pols Is All of A Sudden On in New Britain

The odd number years are off years for state politicians as new legislative terms begin and - in 2011- a new Governor takes office. That will not be the case in New Britain in the early weeks of 2011 as the new Governor has summoned the state senator for a commissionership and the Legislature has … Continue reading Off Year For State Pols Is All of A Sudden On in New Britain