Hayes’ Ground Game Came Late To A CT-5 Democratic Stronghold

New Britain Had 2.6K Fewer Voters Than '18 Gubernatorial Election By John McNamara Urban votes in state and federal elections are the firewalls for Democratic candidates to win competitive races in Connecticut. New Britain, the most reliable Democratic town in non-municipal years in the 5th Congressional District (CT-5), joined other cities in a lower turnout … Continue reading Hayes’ Ground Game Came Late To A CT-5 Democratic Stronghold

DeFronzo on City Charter Referendum: “No Thank You”

Former Mayor Sees Less Accountability, Conflicts At City Hall If Ballot Questions Are Approved Don DeFronzo said "no thank you" to city charter revisions on this year's ballot at a public forum on Nov. 2 in a cogent takedown of the most sweeping changes to municipal government in a generation. He found a receptive audience … Continue reading DeFronzo on City Charter Referendum: “No Thank You”

Does New Britain need both a chief operating officer and a full-time mayor?

Misleading Referendum Proposes High Level Patronage Job To Manage Municipal Government by John McNamara NEW BRITAIN - Creating a new chief operating officer to manage the municipality and making town clerk and tax collector jobs appointed instead of elected offices are big and very different questions for a referendum vote in November. Voters, however, won’t … Continue reading Does New Britain need both a chief operating officer and a full-time mayor?

COO Patronage Job, End To Elections Of Clerk and Tax Collector Are On The Nov. 8 Ballot

Fuzzy Charter Question Will Keep Many Voters in the Dark by John McNamara New Britain voters will be deciding much more than who should be the Governor and making their picks for other elective offices on November 8th. City charter revisions will, if approved, make the biggest changes in a generation as to how Connecticut's … Continue reading COO Patronage Job, End To Elections Of Clerk and Tax Collector Are On The Nov. 8 Ballot

Behind Mayor Stewart’s War On Supt. Sarra and the BOE

By John McNamara The vandalism and trouble that occurred at New Britain High School in September needlessly escalated the rift between Mayor Erin Stewart and New Britain School District leaders. Incidents of student misbehavior fueled by social media have not been limited to New Britain as districts in CT and elsewhere re-opened this fall. Mayor … Continue reading Behind Mayor Stewart’s War On Supt. Sarra and the BOE

The Return of Tim Stewart: Former Mayor Chairs SBC As $50 Million School Project Begins

Former Mayor Tim Stewart is the new Chairperson of the School Building Committee, gaining reappointment by his daughter, Mayor Erin Stewart, just as the seven-member committee moves forward with expenditures on the $50 million major renovation at the Chamberlain Elementary School on the city's East Side. The former four-term Mayor resigned from the SBC and … Continue reading The Return of Tim Stewart: Former Mayor Chairs SBC As $50 Million School Project Begins

Remembering Steve Horowitz: Losing One of “New Britain’s Best”

Dr. Steve Horowitz, 68, CCSU Psychology Professor and a former President of the New Britain Board of Education, died last December 18th after a brief, sudden illness. For Democrats and political activists in New Britain, Steve's passing meant the loss of a close friend and one of "New Britain's Best." You can be forgiven if … Continue reading Remembering Steve Horowitz: Losing One of “New Britain’s Best”

The Day After: Should fireworks be free or come with a fee?

The 4th of July Show Tab This Year Was $60K and $10 A Car Load By John McNamara No one can deny that fireworks on the Fourth of July brings a community together. It is America's birthday tradition that can awe and delight children or the child in all of us. And after 15 months … Continue reading The Day After: Should fireworks be free or come with a fee?

School Building Committee Resolution Curtails Checks and Balances on School Construction Projects

By John McNamara A controversial resolution that removes Common Council and Board of Education approval of all contracts and spending on school construction projects came back to the Common Council April 28th meeting and was approved on a party line vote. The resolution, authored by Republican caucus members Daniel Salerno and Sharon Beloin-Saavedra and revised … Continue reading School Building Committee Resolution Curtails Checks and Balances on School Construction Projects

Stewart Seeks To Exclude BOE, Common Council From Approving Use Of School Construction Money

By John McNamara The Stewart Administration, blocked in recent months by a bipartisan Board of Education (BOE) and city ordinance from filling a political patronage job on a new school construction project, will seek to remove  Common Council and BOE authority on school construction spending handing the final say over to the seven-member School Building … Continue reading Stewart Seeks To Exclude BOE, Common Council From Approving Use Of School Construction Money