Community leader Veronica T. DeLandro is focusing on small business as part of her exploration of running for Mayor of New Britain.
Democrat DeLandro took time this past week to promote local, Black-owned businesses and is now planning a “Listening Tour” to hear about the needs of small businesses in the city.
“In honor of Black History Month,” DeLandro posted on Facebook recently, “we’d like to highlight black businesses in New Britain, CT.”
Saying, “We support Black business in New Britain,” DeLandro referred people to a list of New Britain Black-owned businesses at the website, Connecticut Black-Owned Business Guide at shopblackct.com. The website says that it, “is a volunteer initiative and not-for-profit website featuring 1,300+ Black-owned businesses ​in Connecticut.” The website includes a page for registering businesses in the Guide that are, “Black-owned and based in Connecticut.”
Then, on Monday, February 22, 2021, DeLandro says that she is holding a “Listening Tour” for small businesses in New Britain. “Join us Monday for a virtual listening session,” DeLandro said on her Facebook page, about the event, to be held online on Zoom.
Her campaign says that the event is to listen to small businesses, “as she explores a potential bid for Mayor. Share your ideas, concerns and opportunities for New Britain.”
“We want to hear from you!” DeLandro’s campaign says.
DeLandro announced in January that she is considering running for Mayor of New Britain and filed an exploratory committee.
DeLandro has served as District Director for Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5) and now provides consulting, training and coaching to nonprofit organizations at VTD Consulting Group, which she founded. She previously had a career at ESPN before she began working with organizations with a focus on philanthropy, college access and mentoring.
DeLandro ran for City Council in 2017, very nearly winning an upset victory in an uphill race in the City’s First Ward, where Republicans have historically had the advantage in city level elections, and then was selected as the City Council’s first woman and first African American Clerk of Committees. She has also previously served on the city’s Youth & Family Services Commission and the school system’s Graduation Odyssey Task Force.
DeLandro’s stature as a leader in the community and among Democratic Party activists has grown, advocates for her have noted, because more attention has been focused on what are widely viewed as her substantial qualifications and leadership capabilities, ironically, because city Republicans’ blocked her from a seat on the Council. Republicans blocked the appointment of her to succeed newly elected Rep. Manny Sanchez (D-24) in the City Council seat he vacated to take office in the state legislature, choosing a loyalist to Stewart-Republican political machine, instead. DeLandro had received wide community support including from Rep. Manny Sanchez, himself, the Democratic Party and numerous other Democratic leaders.
