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

Landlord Group’s “cage fight between Lamont & Zherka” remark stumps the press, brings apology to Governor

There's No Mystery About Who Sam Zherka Is In New Britain By John McNamara West Hartford-based Connecticut Coalition of Property Owners (CCOPO) had to issue a quick apology on May 19th over its first version of a press release opposing an eviction moratorium and use of $400 million in federal pandemic aid to landlords and … Continue reading Landlord Group’s “cage fight between Lamont & Zherka” remark stumps the press, brings apology to Governor

Looking Ahead: Stanley Quarter Park Makeover, New Playground Take Shape For Spring

The early days of Spring require all of us to practice social distancing and avoid gatherings in public places in the effort to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic.  But there are things to look forward to with warm weather ahead including a visit to the city's parks when it is safe to do … Continue reading Looking Ahead: Stanley Quarter Park Makeover, New Playground Take Shape For Spring

New Britain’s Bond Rating Drops From Stable To Negative: Huge Spike In Debt Through 2021 Cited By Moody’s

By John McNamara Republican incumbent Mayor Erin Stewart, in her re-election campaign this year and throughout her second term, has touted improving municipal bond ratings for New Britain's fiscal solvency, claiming credit for budget surpluses of $15 million and pushing spending up at City Hall with no need for an election year tax increase. Fiscal … Continue reading New Britain’s Bond Rating Drops From Stable To Negative: Huge Spike In Debt Through 2021 Cited By Moody’s

GOP Alderman Hits School Board On Salaries But Rubber Stamps Pay Hikes, More Spending At City Hall

  By John McNamara The sometimes fragile relations between City Hall  and the Board of Education took a backward step this week over complaints from Ward 2 Republican Alderman Kristian Rosado appearing in the New Britain City Journal. Rosado, in a front-page story in the City Journal , derided a unanimous BOE move on salary increases … Continue reading GOP Alderman Hits School Board On Salaries But Rubber Stamps Pay Hikes, More Spending At City Hall

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

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