News
Lamont Announces $4 Million Grant for New Britain Main Street Development
Gov. Ned Lamont (D) announced that the Main Street development next to the Police Headquarters is receiving a $4 million grant to build a six-story apartment building on the site. The Governor said that the funding is part of a $23 million round of grants for different projects under the state Connecticut Communities Challenge Grant […]
Amid High-Profile Dispute, City to Consider Self-Storage Zoning Moratorium
The city of New Britain is set to consider a moratorium on self-storage facilities amid a high-profile controversy between a former Republican City Council member and Republican Mayor Erin Stewart about a development plan on East Street that includes a self-storage proposal. Chamberlain Square LLC owner, James Sanders, Jr., has been in a very public […]
Council Member Appears to Suggest Reduced Access to Press to Police Blotter Was Over Objections to Editorial Policies and Negative Coverage of Police
A New Britain Republican City Council member suggested that city Police’s disapproval of press editorial policies contributed to revoked free access for the press to the Police blotter, saying that the press, “don’t have the right to pick and choose who makes it in the paper and who doesn’t,” and commenting that, “As soon as […]
New Britain Racial Justice Coalition Filing Freedom of Information Request Seeking Police Arrest Records – Republican Leader Says They Will Be Published on City Website
The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition (NBRJC) says it has, “submitted a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request to access all arrest records and use-of-force records in 2023 so far,” citing, “the recent decision by the city council to discontinue sending daily police blotters to the New Britain Herald.” The city is required to provide […]
Council Committee Moves to Take North Street Property
The owner of a North Street apartment building is asking the City Council for more money than the city plans to pay to acquire the presently vacant property. The city plans to take the property at 238 North Street by eminent domain for purposes that include expanding Willow Street Park, by providing a new entrance […]
Mount Pleasant Residents Upbeat On Development Plan But Still Have Many Questions
Residents of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood are generally upbeat about the proposed demolition of the existing aging housing and new construction of apartments, but still have many questions. Since coverage by the New Britain Progressive in January about the large and vaguely described plans by the New Britain Housing Authority to demolish the Mount Pleasant […]
Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas Speaks on Elections and Business at NAACP Event
Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas spoke at a meeting of the New Britain NAACP Economic Development Committee and Multicultural Business Coalition on Monday. Secretary Thomas spoke on voter participation, civics, community participation and business empowerment. Thomas leads the state agency responsible for elections and business registration. She is the first African-American to hold the […]
Ortiz Luna and Sanders Plan Independent Candidacies for Council
At large Council Member Luz Ortiz Luna (R-AL) and longtime Republican activist James Sanders, Jr. are building independent campaigns for Council, as Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s coalition shows more signs of fraying. “I will be petitioning to get on the ballot as an Independent,” Ald. Ortiz Luna said. She said she it looked like she […]
Republicans’ Council Slate Very Different From Current Council
New Britain Republicans have endorsed a very different slate of candidate from their current Council members, with many incumbents out — and rumors circulating that some incumbents and other Republicans may challenge as independent candidates. Only six of the twelve incumbent Republicans on the City Council were endorsed for re-election, out of a possible ten […]
Republicans Endorse Stewart and Slate for City Offices
Republican incumbent Mayor Erin Stewart received the endorsement of her party for re-election, along with a slate of candidates for City Council, Board of Education and other city offices. The Republican Town Committee said that, “We are thrilled to make a special announcement regarding the endorsement of Mayor Erin Stewart for her re-election to a […]