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

An Important Safety Message from Mayor Tim O’Brien   Dear New Britain resident,Ø  Hurricane Sandy is approaching Connecticut. This is a large, dangerous storm that will impact New Britain, for a period of 24 to 36 hours beginning Monday. Please be advised of the following:Ø   New Britain, is expecting high winds of 40 - 60 MPH … Continue reading Mayor Issues Storm Safety Message for "Sandy"

It's not  the tax windfall that municipal government is looking for these days,  but last week's uncovering of Vince and Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon's bankruptcy records by the Day of New London shows the City of New Britain was one of the creditors.Included on a list of debts to banks, stores, the phone company, unions, individuals … Continue reading Add City of New Britain To McMahon’s Bad Debts

Myth Four: It's poor people who are the biggest freeloaders. What's especially galling about conservative attacks on "takers" is that they focus exclusively on lower income groups and leave out all the subsidies to middle and upper income households. Yes, tax breaks for the working poor -- like the EITC -- have been expanded, but they … Continue reading Debunking Romney’s 47% Assertion