Campaign cash soared in ’21 municipal election but voter turnout declined
By John McNamara “Money is the mother’s milk of politics” goes the observation first coined in the 1960s that applies to almost every state and federal election cycle as all kinds of committees and special interests raise billions in reported and anonymous donations. That old saying about money in politics applies less frequently to local elections where […]
“Morning Without Child Care” Rally Set for Tuesday in New Britain
Coalition Says State Needs $700 Million To Address A “Crisis” Advocates of affordable child care are organizing a “Morning without child care” rally on Tuesday March 15th at child care centers across the state, including a New Britain rally at the Human Resources Agency (HRA) on Clinton Street. Coalition leaders, who include New Britain Board […]
Council Resolution Proposed To Support Ukraine
Local Responses Grow To War, Humanitarian Crisis By John McNamara A resolution affirming Ukraine’s “independence and territorial integrity” will be considered by the New Britain Common Council at its March 9th meeting. Alderman Aram Ayalon (D-3), consulting with members of the city’s Ukrainian and Polish communities, is submitting a resolution as war and a humanitarian […]
Unity urged after shooting incident near high school
Four Republican BOE Members Call For Early Buyout Of Retiring Superintendent By John McNamara Leaders of “Ice the Beef” (ITB), a regional anti violence and youth empowerment group, gathered with several residents and educators at New Britain High School (NBHS) on Sunday calling for an end to divisiveness and new actions that will reduce violence […]
Update: Anti-Gun “Peace Rally” at High School Postponed
A “No Community Without Unity Peace Rally” sponsored by “Ice The Beef” (ITB) advocacy group and scheduled for Sunday, February 13th has been postponed to Sunday, February 20th because of the snow storm. The rally will be held at New Britain High School in the aftermath of the shooting of a student near the school […]
Campaign 2022: Fictional Bob On TV Is Same Bob Who Ran For Governor in 2018
by John McNamara Bob Stefanowski’s story is the stuff of hardscrabble immigrants making it to America in the 20th century to raise their families and realize the American Dream. That is the narrative in Republican Stefanowski’s re-branding to voters in his first television commercial for Connecticut’s GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2022. No doubt that Mr. Stefanowski’s parents […]
New Coalition Pushes for Child Care Investments To Close Gaps
40% of CT Families Live In “Child Care Deserts”; Shortage Is Severe in New Britain By John McNamara New Britain is one of the communities in affluent Connecticut with significant “child care deserts” — places where a high percentage of working and middle income families do not have access to quality and affordable services for […]
Behind Mayor Stewart’s War On Supt. Sarra and the BOE
The vandalism and trouble that occurred at New Britain High School in September needlessly escalated the rift between Mayor Erin Stewart and New Britain School District leaders.
The Return of Tim Stewart: Ex-Mayor Chairs SBC As $50M School Project Begins
By John McNamara Former Mayor Tim Stewart is the new Chairperson of the School Building Committee, gaining reappointment by his daughter, Mayor Erin Stewart, just as the seven-member committee moves forward with expenditures on the $50 million major renovation at the Chamberlain Elementary School on the city’s East Side. The former four-term Mayor resigned from the […]
Remembering Steve Horowitz: Losing One of New Britain’s Best
Dr. Steve Horowitz, 68, CCSU Psychology Professor and a former President of the New Britain Board of Education, died last December 18th after a brief, sudden illness. For Democrats and political activists in New Britain, Steve’s passing meant the loss of a close friend and one of “New Britain’s Best.” You can be forgiven if […]