The Polonia Business Association, a Broad Street-based group, organized the first Little Poland Festival today. Businesses, restaurants and volunteer organizations participated. Mayor O'Brien and other officials cut the ribbon to kick off the event

Top Ten Tax FactsThe American Prospect and DEMOS share a  top ten tax facts that show the folly of extending the Bush tax cuts and confirm the growing income gap in the United States.The Bush tax cuts added $1.7 trillion to the nation’s debt between 2001 and 2008, which is more than it would cost to send 25 million … Continue reading Top Ten Tax Facts: The rich get……

From Other Words:  2 January 2012Disenfranchising Voters is Un-AmericanBuying elections on the one hand and keeping people away from the polls on the other isn't what our democracy is supposed to be about.By William A. CollinsLove my voting,Makes me grin;But these new rules,Won’t let me in.You may not realize just what depths the Republican Party has … Continue reading Other Words: The 2012 GOP Vote Suppression Plan

Congressman Chris Murphy (D-5) will discuss the future of Medicare and Social Security in New Britain Monday July 18th amid Republican plans to reduce benefits and privatize the federal programs for older citizens.Murphy will be joined by Judy Stein, the executive director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy at the New Britain Senior Center, 55 Pearl Street, … Continue reading Murphy To Take Up GOP Plan To Outsource and Increase Costs of Medicare, Social Security At New Britain Senior Center 7/18

A public hearing and meeting of the Common Council on June 7th and June 8th are expected to stir strong debate on the proposed siting of a COSTCO store on the white nine of the 27-hole Stanley Golf Course. The plan calls for relocating two golf holes across the street on a pristine parcel of … Continue reading Big Box vs. Public Park: Will A.W. Stanley Park and Golf Course Get Malled?

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

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

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

The Stewart Administration remains intent on branding City Council Democrats as naysayers over bonding and construction of a new police station at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets.The Mayor's latest pronouncement reported in this Herald story over the timing of bonds for a police station  portrays the Council as getting in the way of … Continue reading Mayor’s Blame Game Makes Getting To Yes On Downtown Development Difficult