Sen. Murphy: “Look for the Helpers”

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), re-elected to a third term Tuesday, carried on his day-after ritual Wednesday at New Britain’s famed Capitol Lunch (est. 1929) a mile down the road from the soon to be demolished Mt. Pleasant public housing project where his mother grew up and in a 5th Congressional District stronghold for Democrats. Talking … Continue reading Sen. Murphy: “Look for the Helpers”

Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign (Part 3)

The Municipal Campaign That Changed New Britain Politics For A Generation Introduction In 1989, Donald DeFronzo became New Britain's 34th Mayor ending the late William (Billy Mac) McNamara's six terms as the city's top elected official, a modern-day record not matched until last November when Mayor Erin Stewart won a sixth, two-year term. "During the … Continue reading Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign (Part 3)

Attorney Geragosian Remembered As Passionate Defender, Advocate For Social Justice

Attorney Harold J. Geragosian, 94, whose "one-man general law office" served scores of New Britain clients and organizations from the 1950s to 2018, died on August 1. Long before the creation of Neighborhood Legal Services Attorney Geragosian's civil and criminal law office, located for many years on West Main Street, served public employees, churches, unions … Continue reading Attorney Geragosian Remembered As Passionate Defender, Advocate For Social Justice

Landlord Group’s “cage fight between Lamont & Zherka” remark stumps the press, brings apology to Governor

There's No Mystery About Who Sam Zherka Is In New Britain By John McNamara West Hartford-based Connecticut Coalition of Property Owners (CCOPO) had to issue a quick apology on May 19th over its first version of a press release opposing an eviction moratorium and use of $400 million in federal pandemic aid to landlords and … Continue reading Landlord Group’s “cage fight between Lamont & Zherka” remark stumps the press, brings apology to Governor

Zherka Arrest A Reminder Of Yellow Journalism And Dark Money In 2013 City Campaign

The arrest and jailing of former Farmington Hills Apartment Complex owner Sam Zherka earlier this month was a fresh reminder of the collusion between and among New Britain Republicans, the New Britain City Journal and a small group of out-of-town landlords throughout 2013. Zherka faces a long indictment for alleged bank loan fraud, income tax … Continue reading Zherka Arrest A Reminder Of Yellow Journalism And Dark Money In 2013 City Campaign

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

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

It May Be A "Magic Bus" After All: NB As The Center Of Rapid Transit

CT Fastraks -- called the "magic bus" to critics such as former Governor John Rowland -- will start rolling 12 months from now (February 2015) on the 9.3-mile rail right of way from New Britain to Hartford. The New Britain Herald's Scott Whipple previews the potential of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for New Britain folks … Continue reading It May Be A "Magic Bus" After All: NB As The Center Of Rapid Transit

Digging Out Slowed By Storm Intensity, Accumulation

The storm that moved into the city at mid day on Friday dumped upwards of 27 inches of drifting snow. It will likely take two to three days to get streets back to normal in cities such as New Britain and Hartford.By 9 p.m. Saturday many residential side streets remained unplowed as crews labored to … Continue reading Digging Out Slowed By Storm Intensity, Accumulation

Tribute To Bart Fisher, the Herald’s Historian-In-Residence

Herald sportswriter Bart Fisher, who died last week at age 68, touched many, many people with his coverage of sports, "encyclopedic" knowledge of athletics and community and informative pieces about the city's history. Invariably a Bart Fisher column would reveal little known but important aspects of New Britain's past that gave us a deeper understanding … Continue reading Tribute To Bart Fisher, the Herald’s Historian-In-Residence