Mayor Bobby Sanchez Delivers First State-of-the-City Address

The following is the annual State-of-the-City address delivered by Mayor Bobby Sanchez (D) at the March 11, 2026 City Council meeting:

Good evening.

I want to begin by thanking the members of the Common Council, our state legislative delegation, city employees, community leaders, and the residents of New Britain who make this city such a strong and vibrant community.

Tonight is an opportunity to reflect honestly on where we are as a city, the challenges we have faced, the progress we have made, and the path forward that we must build together.
Let me begin with a simple truth about New Britain.

This is a city that endures.

But endurance alone cannot be our standard.

The truth is that the challenges we face today are not simply the result of difficult weather, a cyberattack, or shifting federal policies. Many of the challenges confronting our city today are the result of years of complacency that allowed serious operational weaknesses to take root within City Hall.

For too long, oversight was inconsistent, critical positions were left unfilled, and clear policies and procedures were either outdated or absent entirely. Short-sighted decisions and a lack of long-term planning have left parts of our city government exposed to real risk.

We saw a clear example of that vulnerability in the recent cyberattack on our city systems. While cities across the country face these threats, the reality is that outdated systems and insufficient safeguards made New Britain more vulnerable than it should have been.

More broadly, the risks facing our city extend beyond technology.
An understaffed public safety operation strains the men and women who work every day to keep our community safe, but we must look introspectively at what has caused those staffing difficulties. Aging infrastructure across our city requires attention and investment. And for too long, key leadership positions were left vacant or filled without the qualifications necessary to properly manage those departments, weakening the oversight and accountability that any effective government requires.
Taken together, these conditions have allowed New Britain to fall behind where we should be as a city.

And that is not acceptable.

Because complacency in government does not simply create administrative problems, it puts residents at risk.

It affects the safety of our neighborhoods.

It affects the reliability of our infrastructure.

And it affects the public trust that our residents place in their government.

That is why from the very first day of this administration, we began the work of rebuilding the systems, leadership, and accountability that a strong city government requires.

As part of this broader review, concerns were identified involving prior fiscal misconduct within city operations. When those concerns came to light, I immediately ordered the launch of an independent investigation to determine exactly what occurred and to ensure that accountability follows the facts. We are committed to following the facts regardless of where they lead and who they involve.

What has already been uncovered raises serious concerns about past oversight and the culture that allowed certain practices to take hold within City Hall. That investigation is ongoing, and I expect that additional information will come to light in the weeks and months ahead.

Transparency and accountability are not optional in government. They are the foundation of public trust, and restoring that trust is one of the central responsibilities of this administration.

I also want to thank the many brave city employees who have assisted with this process. Looking inward is never easy, but the professionalism and cooperation of our workforce has been essential as we work to strengthen the operations of city government.

As we move forward, we must also be honest about the financial challenges facing our city. Over the past decade, New Britain’s debt has increased by tens of millions of dollars. At the same time, long-term tax breaks have shifted a greater share of the burden onto our residents and small businesses while providing significant benefit to a limited number of out of town entities.

Like many municipalities, New Britain is also experiencing rising operational costs that continue to place pressure on our budget. And beyond our local challenges, long-standing structural issues combined with the possibility of reductions in federal support are creating additional uncertainty for cities across the country.

That is why our administration is conducting a careful and disciplined review of spending as we prepare the upcoming budget. We are identifying potential cost savings, evaluating priorities, and making sure that every dollar spent reflects the needs and values of our community.

The truth is that the decisions ahead will not always be easy. But they will be made responsibly, transparently, and with the long-term stability of our city in mind.

I look forward to working with members of the Common Council to ensure that we meet these challenges together and continue moving New Britain forward.

One of the most important responsibilities we share as a city is ensuring that our children receive the education they deserve. Over the past several months, we have had constructive discussions with the Board of Education about the challenges facing our schools and the resources required to address them.

Education is the foundation of our city’s future. Investing in our students means investing in the next generation of New Britain.

At the same time, any increase in resources must be paired with strong accountability and responsible management. Our goal must be to ensure that every investment in education directly benefits students, strengthens our schools, and prepares young people for success.

We will continue working closely with our legislative delegation and with the Governor to secure the resources necessary to support the unique needs of our community.

Tonight, I am also proud to highlight progress on one of the most significant infrastructure challenges our city has faced.

For decades, residents on Allen Street have endured repeated flooding that has disrupted their homes and their lives. Addressing this issue has been a priority for my administration from the very first day we took office.

I am pleased to say that we now have a clear path forward to secure the millions in funding necessary to move the Allen Street flood control project ahead. By taking a new approach and exploring funding strategies that had not been pursued before, this administration has been able to break through a challenge that has stalled this project for years.

This project represents a long-overdue commitment to the residents who have waited far too long for action.

And it reflects something larger, a commitment to investing in the infrastructure that strengthens neighborhoods across our city. Whether it is improving roads and traffic safety, investing in parks and public spaces, or addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges, our administration is focused on building a stronger foundation for New Britain’s future.

Public safety remains one of the most fundamental responsibilities of local government. Over the past several months, we have been advancing initiatives designed to make our streets and neighborhoods safer for everyone. That means putting more officers where they belong, out in our neighborhoods, not behind desks or sitting in cruisers, and renewing our commitment to a community policing model that builds trust, visibility, and real partnerships between officers and the residents they serve.

We are also moving forward with the implementation of red-light and speed enforcement cameras to reduce dangerous driving and prevent accidents, allowing our officers to focus on the work they do best, protecting our neighborhoods and engaging with our community. We are installing speed control devices including speed bumps in our parks to ensure that families and children can enjoy these spaces safely.

Every resident deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, and this administration will continue working toward that goal every day.

Another challenge facing communities across the country is homelessness. This winter, our administration worked closely with community partners to increase the number of available shelter beds and extend the operation of warming centers during the coldest months of the year.

These steps were necessary to ensure that vulnerable residents were not left without shelter during dangerous conditions.

But addressing homelessness requires more than temporary solutions. We are continuing to work directly with community service providers and local organizations to build a coordinated response that provides support, stability, and pathways toward permanent housing.

Our long-term goal is clear: a future where homelessness in New Britain is rare, brief, and non-recurring, where individuals receive the help they need while ensuring that our downtown and business districts remain safe, welcoming, and vibrant.

From the beginning of this administration, I made a commitment that City Hall would be more accessible, more present, and more connected to the residents we serve. That is why we have launched listening tours throughout the city, attended community meetings and neighborhood events, and created new opportunities for residents and businesses to engage directly with their government.

This effort is not about self-promotion. It is about partnership.

Government works best when it listens, when it responds, and when it reflects the voices of the people it serves.

No matter what neighborhood you live in, you will see this administration present, engaged, and committed to making a difference.

The work of governing is never simple. There will always be challenges, difficult decisions, and moments that test our resolve.

But I believe deeply in this city. I believe in the resilience of its people. And I believe in the future we are building together.

If we continue to work with honesty, accountability, and a shared commitment to our community, there is no challenge we cannot overcome.

The state of our city is resilient.

The state of our city is determined.

And the state of our city is ready to do the hard work ahead.

Thank you, and may God bless the City of New Britain.