27 April, 2024
4 mins read

Democrats Seek Transparency On Contracts And Tax Agreements

Common Council Budget Review Begins For the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year This report is the second in a series to keep the community informed about Council business and to encourage public participation in city government from the perspective of the Democratic Majority Caucus. The details of municipal purchasing, tax and and leasing agreements will be reported […]

4 mins read

New Fed Grant Helps Friendship Center Enhance Shelter On Arch Street

A $1 million federal grant to New Britain’s Friendship Center (FSC) on Arch Street will support expansion of the facility, including the installation of private restrooms and other capital and maintenance improvements. U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-5) and FSC Executive Director Caitlin Rose announced the new funding on April 3rd which stems from approval of […]

3 mins read

Federal Earmarks Bring New Funds For Housing, Emergency Shelter And Sewer System

by John McNamara New Britain is the beneficiary of specially appropriated federal funds to address needs for the unhoused, affordable housing development and a deteriorating storm water and sewer system under the recently adopted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. Funded with $2,134,752 are three projects for two nonprofit agencies and municipal government submitted by U.S. […]

5 mins read

Bill For “Precise” Wording On City Charter Referendums Gets Hearing

New Britain Lawmakers, League of Women Voters Back Fair Ballot Questions 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 […]

3 mins read

California Congresswoman and New Britain Native Anna Eshoo To Retire At End of Term

1960 NBHS Graduate Grew Up In City’s Armenian and Assyrian Communities U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo (CA-16) a member of Congress representing California’s “Silicon Valley” and a close friend of House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), is retiring at the end of this term after serving more than 30 years in the House of Representatives. Rep. Eshoo, first […]

74 mins read

Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign

The Municipal Campaign That Changed New Britain Politics For A Generation Introduction to Part 3 In 1989, Donald DeFronzo became New Britain’s 34th Mayor ending the late William (Billy Mac) McNamara’s six terms as the city’s top elected official, a modern-day record not matched until last November when Mayor Erin Stewart won a sixth, two-year […]

81 mins read

Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign (Part 2)

The Municipal Election That Changed New Britain Politics For A Generation Introduction In 1989, Donald DeFronzo became New Britain’s 34th Mayor ending the late William (Billy Mac) McNamara’s six terms as the city’s top elected official, a modern-day record not matched until last November when Mayor Erin Stewart won a sixth, two-year term. “During the […]

66 mins read

Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign (Part I)

The Municipal Election That Changed New Britain Politics For A Generation Introduction: In 1989, Donald DeFronzo became New Britain’s 34th Mayor ending the late William (Billy Mac) McNamara’s six terms as the city’s top elected official, a modern-day record not matched until last November when Mayor Erin Stewart won a sixth, two-year term. “During the […]

7 mins read

Students’ Art, Music and Essays Commemorate MLK Day in New Britain

“America has not reached greatness yet because we are all not great together.” –Bishop Rha-Sheen Brown, Right Now Ministries by John McNamara On the 38th anniversary of the national holiday for the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 95th anniversary of his birth, New Britain held its commemorative program Monday (January 15) featuring music, […]