A Tale Of Two Democratic Conventions

Finding A Common Thread Of Racial and Social Justice In 1988 and 2024 By John McNamara The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) that nominated Kamala Harris for President last week brought many comparisons to conventions past. Not many delegates, however, were looking back. Delays in getting to the convention on chartered busses and through TSA-type … Continue reading A Tale Of Two Democratic Conventions

CCAG Conducts Climate Change Survey

Residents Share Views At New Britain's Main Street Market On Renewable Energy Vs. Fossil Fuels Interns from Connecticut Citizen Action Group are taking in the views of Greater New Britain residents this summer on "how climate change and energy companies are impacting their lives." CCAG is conducting on the street surveys asking "Are you concerned … Continue reading CCAG Conducts Climate Change Survey

Mayor’s Mill Rate Increase Will Hike Taxes An Average Of $204 On Single Family Homes

Republicans Falsely Claim A $44 Increase After Double Digit Increases This Year; State Stabilization Funds Added $10 Million To City Revenue For Fiscal Year 2025 By John McNamara The dust is settling on the making of the 2024-2025 municipal budget for the Stewart Administration and the closely-divided Common Council of eight Democrats and seven Republicans. … Continue reading Mayor’s Mill Rate Increase Will Hike Taxes An Average Of $204 On Single Family Homes

“Precise” Wording Requirement On City Charter Referendums Introduced For A Second Year

New Britain Lawmakers, LWV Members Back "Fair" Ballot Legislation By John McNamara Legislation to ensure specific wording on local referendum questions has been proposed for a second year at the Connecticut General Assembly's Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE). The GAE Committee will consider House Bill 5494 that would establish "standards" for city charter amendment … Continue reading “Precise” Wording Requirement On City Charter Referendums Introduced For A Second Year

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

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

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

NB Progressive Filled A Void In Local News in 2022

Alternative Online Paper Shares Its "Top 10" Stories Of The Year In 2022 media coverage of government and politics in and around New Britain continued a decline in the pages and posts of the corporate-owned newspapers and on their online sites. The Hartford Courant, owned by Alden Global Capital, and The New Britain Herald, purchased … Continue reading NB Progressive Filled A Void In Local News in 2022

Taking Sides on Charter Revision In New Britain

Mayor, Yes Committee To Hold "Education Session" Tuesday, October 18 at City Hall by John McNamara The Yes on Charter Revision Referendum Committee will hold an "educational session" on October 18th featuring members of the charter commission to promote passage of amendments that have far-reaching implications as to how city government will be governed. Tuesday's … Continue reading Taking Sides on Charter Revision In New Britain

Attorney Geragosian Remembered As Passionate Defender, Advocate For Social Justice

Attorney Harold J. Geragosian, 94, whose "one-man general law office" served scores of New Britain clients and organizations from the 1950s to 2018, died on August 1. Long before the creation of Neighborhood Legal Services Attorney Geragosian's civil and criminal law office, located for many years on West Main Street, served public employees, churches, unions … Continue reading Attorney Geragosian Remembered As Passionate Defender, Advocate For Social Justice