Erin Stewart
Possible $11 Million Long-Term Deficit Apparently in Stewart’s Budget Proposal
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart proposed budget appears to cover a possible $11 million long-term deficit with non-recurring budget items that may leave a sizable shortfall in future years’ city budgets. Stewart’s budget proposal has already been criticized for increasing property taxes, despite her claim of “no tax increase”, as well as for freezing the city’s annual […]
Community Activists Organizing for City Budget Hearing
Community activists are organizing city residents to turn out and make their views known at today’s hearing on Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s proposed budget. Stewart’s proposal has been criticized for increasing property taxes despite her claim of “no tax increase”, as well as for freezing the city’s annual education allocation and continuing to rely on increased city […]
Council Approves Hiring Freeze, With Republicans Opposing
The City Council has approved a hiring freeze on all city positions except for public safety and temporary seasonal parks and recreation positions. All five Council Republicans in attendance voted against the hiring freeze. The resolution was approved, with nine votes in favor and five in opposition. With the exception of police, fire, emergency dispatch […]
Republican Accusations Thrown Out: Merrill Gay Vindicated
The State Elections Enforcement Commission has dismissed a complaint filed by New Britain Republicans against 2017 Democratic Mayoral candidate Merrill Gay, saying, “the facts do not support the allegations.” As the 2017 mayoral election was heating up, Republican Party Chair Anthony Cane filed a complaint with a series accusations that sought to tie Gay with […]
Stewart Proposes “Huge Tax Increase” Despite Claiming “No Tax Increase”
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s budget includes what is being called a “huge tax increase,” despite her own claims that her budget is a “no tax increase” budget. Stewart’s press release on her budget proposal says that she, “presented to the Common Council a $237.72 million budget for 2018-19 that calls for no tax increase and […]
Ald. Ayalon Says $115 Million Borrowing Plan and Other Decisions Should Not be Rushed
Democratic Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) says the Democrats on the City Council are doing the job the people elected them to do by taking a close look at the city’s finances to make the right budget choices for the city’s future. He says that taking the time to do so is the right thing to […]
Stewart-Trump Meeting Sparks Ire Among New Britain Residents and Renewed Questions
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s meeting with fellow Republican, President Donald Trump, has drawn the ire among New Britain residents and questions about her sincerity in distancing herself from the widely reviled Republican President. Stewart visited Trump on February 14, 2018, CTMirror reported, “to publicize tax incentives available to investors in struggling communities designated as Opportunity […]
Council Adjourns Meeting Without Approving Stewart $115 Million Borrowing Plan
Without approving Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s controversial proposal to borrow $115 million to push city debt into the future, the City Council adjourned the third special meeting that Stewart had called for the Council to approve her plan. The motion to adjourn the January 25, 2018 special meeting was made as the Council began consideration […]
Stewart Calls Third Meeting on Approving $115 Million Borrowing-Refinance Plan
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has called a third Council meeting in three weeks to consider her proposal to borrow $115 million to push city debt into the future. Stewart called the meeting for Thursday, January 25, 2017, one day after the regular Council meeting on January 24th. Many are calling Stewart’s tactics to pressure City […]
Proposal Made to Slow Down and Decentralize Decisions on City Borrowing
After what many are calling Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s heavy-handed attempts to pressure City Council Democrats into a quick approval of her plan to borrow $115 million to push city debt into the future, a proposal has been introduced to slow down and decentralize decisions on city borrowing. Democratic Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) has introduced a […]