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

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