New Britain voting for the November 5th Presidential Election begins October 21st at the New Britain Senior Center, 55 Pearl Street, for all city residents. The last day to cast an early ballot will be November 3rd.
On Election Day November 5th polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. For residents who miss the voter registration deadline, same-day registration and voting will be available on Election Day.
As of October 15th, 31,803 residents are eligible to vote three days ahead of the October 18th registration deadline including 13,770 Democrats (44%), 13,162 Unafilliateds (41%), 4,409 Republicans (14%) and 462 (less than 2%) in third parties.
Polling Places
New Britain polling locations for November 5th by Assembly District
The ballot includes President/Vice President, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, State Senator, State Representative and Registrar of Voters. There is one referendum question asking voters to approve “no excuse” absentee voting as part of amending the state constitution.
The sample ballot for the 26th State Assembly District that includes Ward 4 polling places at Saint Francis of Assisi Church and Pulaski Middle School. District 13 voters vote at Saint Francis this year because of Holmes School reconstruction.
NEW BRITAIN – Common Council Democrats are proposing a neighborhood flood relief initiative to “provide immediate and direct relief to homeowners whose properties are damaged by storm water and sewage when extreme weather leads to flooding and damages.”
A resolution, introduced by Common Council President Francisco Santiago (D-5), Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3) and Majority Leader John McNamara (D-4), is on the agenda at the September 25th Common Council meeting.
Democratic Caucus Update – New Britain Common Council
The “Neighborhood Flood Relief Pilot Program” would provide up to $7,500 in assistance to eligible owner-occupied homes from one to three units contingent on available funds “to reduce or eliminate the risk of repeat damage to basements, buildings and mechanical systems not covered by insurance or other sources.” The resolution calls for use of an estimated $500,000, which is a portion of an additional $2,864,147 in unallocated state municipal aid approved by the Legislature last May.
Eligible activities and improvements will involve funding for sump pumps, French drains, lateral replacement, window wells, basement windows, gutters, drain snaking , video camera inspections, sewer jetting, basement cleanouts, new boilers, hot water heaters, electrical components and related mold remediation, according to the resolution.
Extreme weather events brought on by accelerated climate changes are increasing the threat to property and public health in vulnerable neighborhoods of New Britain, the resolution states.
“Since July 2023 floods in neighborhoods most at risk from hazardous weather have become routine and are increasing.” said Majority Leader McNamara. “The outmoded storm water-sewage system has caused problems for decades, with homeowners incurring out of pocket expenses and the eventually loss of insurance. The conditions are causing an increase in claims of injury to property, adding to higher insurance costs for city government.”
“Dilapidated storm water and sewer mains are not effective in handling overflows that result in street flooding and flooding into homes and property whenever intense storms occur,” said McNamara, who also serves as Council liaison to the Board of Public Works. “This initiative is a start at reducing damages to homes as the city seeks state and federal support for capital improvements to modernize the system.”
Through the FLUSH program (Fresh Line Upgrades for Sanitary Health) and the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) the city’s Department of Public Works has identified projects that will replace aging and broken infrastructure to reduce the risk to residences and neighborhoods. At the September 11th Council meeting alderpersons approved three projects to address the problem:
$2,147,634 was approved to address chronic flooding in the Overlook Avenue-McKinley Drive area with most of the funding coming from the remainder of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money awarded to the city.
Planning continues with $80,000 more in site engineering work for Allen Street area stormwater and sewage improvements. The project will cost an estimated $13.9 million to be funded with up to a $9.4 million state bond funds and $4.2 million in city matching funds.
Using remaining American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding $13,490,285 million was approved to implement Phase 3 of the FLUSH program on the southeast side of the city between John Downey Drive and East Street.
In proposing a pilot flood relief initiative similar to programs in other cities, McNamara said the direct aid project can be a catalyst for more state and federal support to municipalities to deal with flooding damage to infrastructure and properties. He cited the the implementation of a similar program in Hartford three years ago and the release of a flood mitigation study this month from the CT Conference of Municipalities (CCM) that “outlines a series of strategic interventions tailored to the state’s unique environmental and infrastructural needs.”
Regular Common Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, except for July and August. Public participation in person and via remote call in begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers , 27 West Main Street.
NEW BRITAIN – Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara will hold a constituent meeting on Saturday, September 7, at noon to discuss municipal and neighborhood concerns of residents in the Saint Francis, Holmes School and Pulaski School voting districts. The meeting will be held at the Roma Sports Bar & Grill dining room, 382 Allen Street, 12 to 1:30 p.m.
An update will be provided on a $13.9 million capital improvement project to replace deteriorated stormwater and sewer infrastructure on Allen Street. The outmoded system has led to frequent flash flooding in the adjacent neighborhoods causing storm and sewer back ups and property damage. The Allen Street project is to be funded by a $9.7 million state bond proposed by legislators and matching funds of $4.2 million from the city. In addition, the status of the Overlook Avenue-McKinley Street project to address flooding will be provided. Other possible responses by the city to prevent losses from extreme weather will be discussed.
Information on early voting for the November 5th Election and the Absentee Voting referendum on ballots will be available, McNamara said. The lunchtime constituent meeting will include pizza and light beverages.
The Common Council will resume its twice a month schedule of regular meetings on September 11 with public participation beginning at 7 p.m. For more information contact Alderman John McNamara, john.mcnamara@newbritainct.gov
NEW BRITAIN – Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara will join locally elected officials from around the country associated with the Municipal Democratic Officials (DMO) organization at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago August 19-22.
McNamara, the Common Council Majority Leader, is one of 12 5th Congressional District delegates elected to represent Connecticut at the convention where Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) will be formally recognized as the nominees for President and Vice President. Connecticut’s Democratic Party is sending 74 pledged and district delegates to the convention.
DMO is a national association of elected Mayors, City Council Members, School Board Members, and other municipal leaders “who identify with the values of the Democratic Party.” It also helps “to connect, elect, and empower municipal elected officials by leveraging its national network of members, alumni, and strategic partners and providing training and other resources.
“I am looking forward to hearing ideas and ways that municipal governments can address homelessness, school funding equity, aging infrastructures and affordable housing that are key issues New Britain and other cities face in sustaining and building healthy communities,” said McNamara, who will participate in a first Democratic Local Elected Officials (DLEO) Council meeting on the first day of the DNC. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, will address local officials.
Connecticut delegates, including Governor Ned Lamont and the state’s Congressional delegation, will gather each morning of the convention to hear from party leaders and luminaries. Committee meetings and caucuses of labor, women, LGBTQ, seniors and other constituency groups will follow before evening sessions gavel in for speeches, adoption of the party platform and a ceremonial roll call for the Harris-Walz ticket. Delegates nominated Vice President Harris in a virtual roll call completed August 6.
A tribute to President Joe Biden with remarks from the President and Dr. Jill Biden are expected on the first night of the DNC and acceptance speeches from Governor Walz and Vice President Harris will conclude the convention. In between delegates will from Hillary Clinton, and former Presidents Clinton and Obama and others leaders.
The 74-member delegation includes 12 members from the 5th Congressional District led by Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5). Other 5th CD delegates include: Elaine Werner of Avon, City Councillor Cheryl Smith of Danbury, Riju Das of Farmington, Atty. and State Party Secretary Audrey Blondin of Goshen, City Council President Pro Tem Sandra Martinez-McCarthy of Waterbury, Joyce Petteway of Waterbury, Joseph Malcarne of Wolcott and Vanita Bhalla of Woodbury.
“I am privileged to represent New Britain Democrats as part of the state delegation in Chicago and will work to mobilize support for the nominees and Congresswoman Hayes for the November 5th Election,” said McNamara, who served as Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee from 1994 to 2016 and is a first term alderman.
Thursday, June 27th, At Roma Sports Bar & Grill, New Britain
A Presidential Debate Watch Party will be held Thursday, June 27th, starting at 8 p.m. at the Roma Sports Bar & Grill, 382 Allen Street, New Britain.
New Britain Democrats and friends are invited to the watch party (Debate time: 9 p.m.) and to sign up for Fall Campaign activities. Complimentary pizza and soft beverages will be served with a cash bar.
Ward 4 Alderman and Common Council Majority Leader John McNamara, a Biden delegate to the Democratic National Convention this summer, is hosting the event. To RSVP and for information: John McNamara, 860-416-0665. johnhmcnamara@gmail.com.
Here is my take on the municipal budget that will take effect July 1.
The good news is that the Legislature appropriated $10 million more for tax relief or addressing unmet needs in the coming 2025 fiscal year. The bad news is a 1.31 mill rate increase and less local aid to education than 2024.
“The Mayor and Council will face more challenges next year at budget time and will not have the one-time funding provided by the Legislature’s stabilization plan for town aid and educational cost sharing funding. If past is prelude the city’s legislative delegation can be expected to push for and get increases for both education, PILOT and other forms of town aid when the General Assembly convenes next January to adopt a new biennial state budget. The situation points to the need for more fiscal discipline at City Hall than is the case now and making property tax relief a priority at the local and state level in 2025.”
“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
Thomas Paine, The Crisis
Observances were held at the National Iwo Jima Memorial on Monday, May 27th, the Memorial Day holiday, as part of this week’s activities to honor all men and women who served in the armed services and lost their lives in wars and conflicts throughout U.S. history.
On Thursday, May 30th, wreath-laying services will be held during the morning at New Britain’s monuments and the traditional Memorial Day Parade will kick off at 5 p.m.
8:00 am – General John Patterson Memorial on East/Allen Streets
8:30 am – Spanish American War Memorial at Willow Brook Park, 635 So. Main St.
8:45 am – Vietnam Memorial at Willow Brook Park, 635 South Main St.
9:15 am – Sherrod E. Skinner Memorial on Corbin Ave./Lincoln Street
9:45 am – Israel Putnam Stone at Walnut Hill Park
10:00 am – World War I Memorial Monument at Walnut Hill Park
10:30 am – General Casimir Pulaski Monument/General Tadeusz Kosciuszko Monument at Pulaski Park
11:00 am – Civil War, World War II, Korean and Vietnam Memorials at Central Park
11:30 am – 65th Infantry Regiment Park at Beaver Street, North Side (corner near LaSalle and Washington Streets and Farmington Avenue)
11:50 am – Belvidere Area World War II Memorial at Campbell Square, Stanley St/Hillcrest Ave.
12:15 pm – Captain Brian S. Letendre U.S.M.C. Memorial at Pendleton Road/Sunnyslope Drive
The National Iwo Jima Memorial was conceived and built by the Iwo Jima Survivors Association, led by Dr. George Gentile, a New Britain native and NB High School graduate who practiced dentistry in his native city.
According to the Iwo Jima Association: “On Feb 23, 1995 the monument was dedicated in memory of the 6,821 Americans who lost their lives on Iwo Jima. The names of the 100 Connecticut men who died are inscribed on the monument, and 100 flags are flown at the Park to commemorate their sacrifice.”
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 