Democratic Alderman John McNamara (D-4), seeking a second, two-year term on the New Britain Common Council, says key priorities for city government over the next two years include affordable housing and fair taxes, neighborhood flood relief, equitable funding for schools and safer streets.
2025 Municipal Campaign
“Council Democrats have sought to restore checks and balances to City Hall with more transparency in budgeting and to make municipal government more responsive to neighborhood needs during this term,” said McNamara. “More progress can be made by electing a Democratic Mayor and a stronger Democratic majority on the Council and Board of Education this year. “
Key Issues
Housing And Taxes: Services for unhoused individuals and families have been stretched to the limit in New Britain. The executive director of the Friendship Service Center records increasing numbers of residents displaced because of higher rents. While the current city administration touts luxury units with 26-year tax breaks coming on the market, affordable housing is hard to find even for those with vouchers (Section 8). The Council needs to address the housing crisis by encouraging and approving affordable developments, making the fair rent commission ordinance stronger (to include tenant unions at large, multi unit apartments) and beefing up code enforcement. Additional options need to be considered for property tax relief for seniors, veterans & limited income individuals based on ability to pay.
Neighborhood Flood Relief. Addressing stormwater/sewage problems caused by a dilapidated infrastructure is a priority in my ward and throughout the city. Heavy rains have repeatedly caused flooding, public health risks and damages to certain neighborhoods over the last three years, including mine. For years City Hall turned a deaf ear to neighborhoods hit by damage to property and public health, but some progress has been made. Stormwater upgrades need to be at top of the capital improvement list along with advancing green infrastructure. Over the last two years funds have been secured to address the issue in the Overlook-McKinley neighborhood and efforts are accelerating to raise remaining funds in the Allen Street-Belvidere nieghborhood through the efforts of the city’s legislative delegation.
Public School Funding. At $16,814 per pupil New Britain ranks 160th in CT in local aid, below the state median of $21,676. Over 12 years local school aid has been flat funded in the current Mayor’s budgets. Education needs to be a greater priority in future budgets. The push for educational cost sharing and tax reform that will make funding for schools equitable regardless of zip code must continue. Over-reliance on property taxes must end.
Traffic Safety Action Plan (Vision Zero) The Common Council took the first step of the Vision Zero initiative last December by adopting a Council resolution, introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3), that accepted a federal transportation grant and established the task force “to develop a comprehensive Safety Action Plan to identify projects and strategies that will reduce fatalities and serious injuries at high crash locations in New Britain.” On June 11th the Common Council adopted a new ordinance to allow the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices (ATESD) under a state law enabling communities to use the video technology as part of safety action plans. Democrats look forward to implementation of traffic calming measures to curb speeding and dangerous driving and reach the Vision Zero goals.
McNamara is serving his first term on the Common Council and is the Council’s majority leader. A former Democratic Town Chairperson, he was previously elected to the Board of Assessment Appeals and chaired the city Building Commission.
McNamara worked as Institutional advancement director at Capital Community College (now known as CT State Capital) for 22 years before retiring in early 2022. At Capital, McNamara was elected to the Congress of CT Community Colleges (4Cs) SEIU Local 1973 Delegate Assembly representing faculty and staff on the campus.
New Britain’s Ward 4 is the area that includes the neighborhoods near Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) spreading north and west to Brittany Farms and Batterson Park.
To contact John: 860-416-0665 mcnamara4council@gmail.com
For updates and more information: http://mcnamara4council.org
paid for by McNamara 4 Council. Michael McNamara, Treasurer. Approved by John McNamara
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 