2018 Top Ten Stories (Editor Opinion)
Top 10 of 2018: #1 – Stewart Watershed Mining Plan Defeated, Again
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s proposal to allow the strip mining of New Britain’s protecting drinking watershed land was defeated.
Top 10 of 2018: #2 – Hayes Makes History
History was made in the 2018 election as Democrat Jahana Hayes became the first African-American Democrat to represent Connecticut in Congress.
Top 10 of 2018: #3 – Stewart Budget Increases Taxes and Freezes Education
Stewart used her powers in the city’s strong mayor system to put her original proposed budget into effect, including the tax increase and education freeze.
Top 10 of 2018: #4 – Pizzeria Owners Threatened With Deportation
It seemed so alien to many that a soft-spoken couple with a young child who own a pizzeria on Broad St would be the targets of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda
Top 10 of 2018: #5 – The Blue Wave
In a “Blue Wave” election, Democrats swept all of the legislative elections in New Britain and New Britain contributed to statewide wins for Democrats.
Top 10 of 2018: #6 – $115 Million Stewart Debt Plan to Push Costs to Future
Mayor Stewart’s plan to borrow $115 million was seen as the result of her pushing debt into the future to artificially lower costs during her administration
Top 10 of 2018: #7 – Stewart Found in Violation of Election Law
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart violated state campaign law by illegally using taxpayer money to promote her 2017 re-election.
Top 10 of 2018: #8 – The Tale of Two Monuments
The city celebrated the dedication of its monument to the 65th Infantry Borinqueneers, but rejected a different monument because of Holocaust accusations.
Top 10 of 2018: #9 – Mr. Alton Brooks Advocates for Human Rights Office
When Mr. Alton Brooks spoke to the City Council advocating for the city’s Human Rights and Opportunities office, elected officials took notice.
Top 10 of 2018: #10 – Neighborhood Activism
In 2018, there were a number of heartening examples of neighborhood activism, in which residents worked together to do work and press for change.