This fall, I co-authored an article with my former colleague at Center for Community Progress (I left, she’s still there), about our experience and work in New York helping local leaders leverage vacant properties as one solution (among many) to reduce homelessness. The article was published this month by Shelterforce, an award-winning news organization with
Additional Recommendations to Address Homelessness in New York Read More »
During my four years as Binghamton’s Deputy Mayor, I led and managed the annual budget process. It was one of my favorite exercises every year (says the policy nerd). Mayor Jared Kraham gave his 2027 Budget Address this past Tuesday (September 15) in City Council Chambers. I’ve spent some time the last two days reviewing
I spent some time attending public meetings last year to better understand the Broome Tech Park proposal. Led by the Broome County IDA / The Agency, a quasi-governmental entity empowered to provide tax breaks to businesses if job creation can be demonstrated, Broome Tech Park has been a relatively swift collection of acreage across the
Broome Tech Park looms, updates vague and uninspiring Read More »
The Knights Inn Fire put our homelessness crisis front and center. While there are many drivers of homelessness, this is a crisis rooted in systemic poverty and a rental market boom that has priced out too many financially insecure individuals and families. Like all challenges rooted in injustice, this crisis demands two governmental actions: (1)
While I have largely stopped checking the major headlines for fear of bellyaches, I occasionally will search for the local news to see what is happening in the city I live in. I’m not sure if this is a new thing around here, but it is somewhat shocking to see the tenor of disrespect from
Noticing How Language is Used by Local Leaders Read More »
Biden’s American Rescue Recovery Act, the administration’s signature policy response to the COVID pandemic, included $350 billion to be distributed among every governmental unit, territory, and tribal nation in the country. The awards were announced in the spring of 2021, with deadlines of allocating all funds by December 31, 2024 and spending all funds by
In late March, I resigned from the Broome County Land Bank Board of Directors, after serving approximately seven years. I left because I believed an ask by County leadership was wildly irresponsible and financially reckless—and risked the integrity of the land bank. I have shared some details in a Facebook post (April 2), in a
DON’T FALL FOR IT: KRAHAM’S DEAL WITH ANZAROOT WAS COSTLY, DUMB, AND RECKLESS When asked about his record on slumlords, Mayor Jared Kraham suddenly stands taller as he marches through his talking points on how he took down the city’s most notorious slumlord, Isaac Anzaroot: “I promised to hold bad landlords accountable” “We won’t tolerate
Mayor Jared Kraham: The Incompetent Con-Man Series, Part 5 Read More »
Part 4: Polished Public Relations Manager, but Poor Public Sector Manager: Kraham’s Executive Team in Shambles —- Everybody knows former Police Chief Joe Ziksuki. And many are familiar with the City’s Economic Development Director, Sarah Glose—hardworking, competent, and highly visible. But aside from those two, can you name another department head in Jared Kraham’s administration
Mayor Jared Kraham: The Incompetent Con-Man Series, Part 4 Read More »
Part 3: Administration of the Vacant Property Registration Program under Kraham has been a Tragic Disaster This is an article about how the Kraham administration has failed to effectively administer the Vacant Property Registration Program, which was passed 17 years ago with support from then Binghamton Fire Marshall Dan Eggleston, a great public servant and
Mayor Jared Kraham: The Incompetent Con-Man Series, Part 3 Read More »
