Ukrainian Americans Protest Manafort Ties To Dictator, Trump Campaign

The Hartford area's  Ukrainian-American community, including members of three church congregations in New Britain, is speaking out against a city native with a well-known name among Republicans -- Paul Manafort, the son of a former mayor, longtime Washington lobbyist and now campaign manager for the GOP's unlikely frontrunner,  Donald J. Trump. With Tuesday's Connecticut Primary just … Continue reading Ukrainian Americans Protest Manafort Ties To Dictator, Trump Campaign

Remembering 4/4/1968: 48 Years Ago On Monday

By John McNamara So far the campaign of 2016 -- thanks mainly to Donald Trump and his cohorts in the GOP field --is a disturbing reminder that any progress achieved on civil and voting rights made over the last 60 years is threatened.  The Supreme Court's recent ruling weakening provisions of the landmark Voting Rights … Continue reading Remembering 4/4/1968: 48 Years Ago On Monday

City Hall Watch: Rep. Sanchez Condemns Charter Change Eliminating City Council Districts

    By John McNamara The Common Council is set to create a Charter Commission at its February 10th meeting to consider sweeping changes in municipal government at the behest of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart. The Stewart administration, taking advantage of a Republican Council majority, seeks to eliminate neighborhood representation on the city council in … Continue reading City Hall Watch: Rep. Sanchez Condemns Charter Change Eliminating City Council Districts

Inside City Hall: Republicans Seek To Eliminate Polling Places in Center of New Britain

By John McNamara Republican Mayor Erin Stewart and Registrar of Voters Peter Gostin are moving quickly to reduce voter access to polling places for the November Presidential election. A  plan drafted by Republican Gostin will  come up for a fast-tracked feasibility study vote at the Wednesday January 27th Common Council meeting. The feasibility study apparently … Continue reading Inside City Hall: Republicans Seek To Eliminate Polling Places in Center of New Britain

Labor Day 2015: When “The Saturday Night Club” Remembered The Rise of New Britain Unions

 By John McNamara The New Britain Saturday Night Club, founded in the 19th century,  is an organization of professionals, industrialists, educators and the civic-minded whose members regularly gathered for some home-grown culture and education. None other than the "Learned Blacksmith" Elihu Burritt was a member starting in 1875 .  The longstanding group is kind of … Continue reading Labor Day 2015: When “The Saturday Night Club” Remembered The Rise of New Britain Unions

“Revolutionary” State Budget? Property Tax Relief, New ED Aid For NB Is Part of Democratic Package

by John McNamara A tentative agreement among Democratic leaders on a biennial state budget  that begins July 1st appears to be good news for New Britain and other municipalities in terms of property tax relief and continued aid to the under-funded city schools. Late Saturday (May 31) Democratic legislative leaders and representatives of the Malloy Administration … Continue reading “Revolutionary” State Budget? Property Tax Relief, New ED Aid For NB Is Part of Democratic Package

Time Running Short For Property Tax Relief Bill: NB Would Gain Up To $8.8 Million If “Tax Fairness” Plan Makes It

New Britain would be in line for an additional $8.8 million from the state for property tax relief if legislation advanced by State Senate Democrats and approved by a key committee wins approval of the Legislature and is signed by Governor Malloy. An Act Concerning Tax Fairness and Economic Development (SB 1),  introduced by Senate … Continue reading Time Running Short For Property Tax Relief Bill: NB Would Gain Up To $8.8 Million If “Tax Fairness” Plan Makes It

Inside City Hall: Stewart’s Civil Service Commission Abuses Power, Violates Charter

The Civil Service Commission’s  efforts to remove from office and impose fines on Council President Pro Tem Suzanne Bielinski over the Council’s hiring of her niece, Jessica   Gerratana.  as the Common Council secretary,  is a costly misuse of government for partisan purposes. Ignoring  the City Charter , the Commission voted last  October 6th for the … Continue reading Inside City Hall: Stewart’s Civil Service Commission Abuses Power, Violates Charter

Supporting Our Troops: Care Package Donations For Marine Corps Needed Through December 21st

Braithreachas, Inc. and the Marine Corps Family Foundation are seeking for donations of care package items and are raising funds to offset the cost of shipping the care packages to deployed military. The campaign, Operation Santa Care Package, is an annual holiday season effort, "This year we are way behind collecting items for the care packages," said … Continue reading Supporting Our Troops: Care Package Donations For Marine Corps Needed Through December 21st