A commentary from former Norwalk Mayor Bill Collins and Emily Schartz Greco on the GOP's move to feed the wealthy and starve the poor.....Food Stamp Cuts Will Stoke HungerFrom http://www.otherwords.org Food Stamp Cuts Will Stoke HungerDemand for SNAP benefits won't retreat until the economic recovery stops benefitting only the richest AmericansBy Emily Schwartz Greco and William A. CollinsWould … Continue reading Other Words: Food Stamp Cuts Will Stoke Hunger

The Stewart for Mayor campaign, devoid of substantive ideas and relying on out of town interests such as Waterbury-based absentee landlord group, is headed for the gutter and negative campaigning, according the New Britain DTC as the campaign enters its final two weekends.In this week's post at http://www.newbritaindemocrat.org reports are surfacing about push poll tactics … Continue reading Republican Push Poll Called "Desperate" and "Misleading" By New Britain DTC

Statements coming out of the mouths of Republicans in New Britain these days on property taxes are about as false and misleading as it gets. The phony refrains on taxes are a stretch even for the partisan sniping that is the New Britain Republican Party's stock in trade.It's one thing to oppose first-term Mayor Tim … Continue reading The Big Lie On Taxes From Team Stewart and NB Republicans

Leaves and Pages, Dan and Arlene Palmer's downtown coffee shop and book store, will host a membership/fundraiser open house on Thursday, June 6th for the New Britain Historical Society from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  Leaves and Pages is located at 59 W. Main St.Wine, cheese, and hors d'oeuvres will be served, and registration is limited … Continue reading Preserving The Hatch Building: Leaves & Pages Open House Fundraiser June 6th For Historical Society

Not since "Main Street USA" in years past has New Britain seen a street festival like April 28th's Little Poland Day organized by the Polonia Business Association.More at New Britain Democrat  http://wp.me/pWyF4-11v

Rell v. CCJEF Lawsuit: New Britain One of Hardest Hit Cities In Funding For SchoolsMoney or the lack of it to pay for public education  was the focus of the Democratic Town Committee meeting last month.  A presentation by longtime advocate Dianne Kaplan deVries, on  a landmark court case brought by the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education … Continue reading Rell v CCJEF: Data Shows NB One Of Hardest Hit In Funding For Schools

New Britain's "Move to Neighborhood Schools" will be the focus of  a Monday, February 25th Board of Education meeting when board members will review a plan by Supt, Kelt Cooper that calls for all students attending classes in schools and programs outside of their neighborhood district in 2012-2013 to attend a neighborhood school in 2013-2014.The … Continue reading Options On The Table For The "Move To Neighborhood Schools"

The Board of Assessment Appeal will be hearing from hundreds of property owners in a couple of months who disagree with the just completed, state mandated revaluation on residential and commercial real estate in the city.  But for City Assessor Mike Konik and his three-member board the number of appeals should be dramatically less than … Continue reading Lower Values Will Mean Fewer Assessment Appeals, Lower Taxes (But Not For the Right Reasons)

 The Herald's Lisa Backus provides a thorough examination of the city's landlord license and issues related to regulating non-owner occupied housing in a December 2nd story.Accurate and balanced information like this is the best way to combat the propaganda and misinformation coming from elsewhere, including the landlord lobby that has used political grandstanding and redbaiting … Continue reading The Herald: Putting Absentee Landlord Policy In Perspective

Elected officials  at all levels can learn something from Governor Jerry Brown and the victory of Proposition 30 in California this month as they contend with "fiscal cliffs" and budget holes.What Brown says and did points to a way forward for those who serve us at New Britain City Hall, the State Capitol and the … Continue reading Lessons from California for New Britain, Hartford and Washington