Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign (Part 2)

The Municipal Election 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 2)

Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Election (Part I)

The Municipal Election 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 Election (Part I)

Hearing On Batterson Park Study Set For Thursday (12/7) at NBPD Community Room

A public hearing on the feasibility of Batterson Park's revitalization as a state park will be held Thursday, December 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the New Britain Police Department's Community Room, 10 Chestnut Street. The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is taking public comments on the study at three separate meetings in … Continue reading Hearing On Batterson Park Study Set For Thursday (12/7) at NBPD Community Room

11-22-63: Remembering that day frozen in time

by John McNamara It is a November 22nd when many Baby Boomers are going to tell you where they were 62 years ago. At age 13, I was in Mrs. Sonigan’s 7th grade speech class when the class abruptly ended at Pickering Junior High near Wyoma Square in Lynn, Massachusetts. This was just one year … Continue reading 11-22-63: Remembering that day frozen in time

City Needs To Address Neighborhood Flooding Issues Sooner Rather Than Later

Remaining Pandemic Relief Funds Are An Option For Long Delayed Drainage Improvements By John McNamara Heavy rains have overwhelmed two New Britain neighborhoods this summer causing basement and street flooding on streets in the Allen Street and Overlook Avenue areas. The recent storms are raising new concerns and outrage from residents who have been asking … Continue reading City Needs To Address Neighborhood Flooding Issues Sooner Rather Than Later

New Britain’s Union Organizing History Is Worth Retelling on Labor Day

 By John McNamara (Re-posted from 2023) Labor Day is not a time to be nostalgic about the struggles of the last century to organize factory floors that turned New Britain into a "union town" with its many thousands of factory jobs, most of which have been long lost to offshoring and globalization. On Labor Day … Continue reading New Britain’s Union Organizing History Is Worth Retelling on Labor Day

NBPD Publishes Arrest Log Online After FOI Flap

A July controversy over the City's and New Britain Police's denying access to arrest logs to the New Britain Herald without formal Freedom of Information requests has led to the New Britain Police Department (NBPD) posting a weekly arrest log online at https://pd.newbritainct.gov/safety-prevention/police-blotter. The link shows arrests made in the city for one week -- … Continue reading NBPD Publishes Arrest Log Online After FOI Flap

Lowell Weicker’s Victories Dashed The Hopes of Liberal Democrats Throughout His Career

Reflecting on the Politics of Connecticut's Three-Term Senator and One-Term Governor The first time I and many viewers (outside CT) saw and heard Lowell P. Weicker was watching the U.S. Senate Watergate Committee hearings in 1973. I was paying attention every day from my perch in the newsroom of the Lynn Sunday Post where Weicker's … Continue reading Lowell Weicker’s Victories Dashed The Hopes of Liberal Democrats Throughout His Career

Matt Ritter’s Batterson Park Redux

State Park Status Proposed To Bring Abandoned Recreation Area On Farmington-New Britain Line Back To Life By John McNamara Will Batterson Park, the abandoned recreation area and pond shared by New Britain and Farmington and owned by the City of Hartford, become Connecticut's 91st state park? Last week State House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford … Continue reading Matt Ritter’s Batterson Park Redux