At the April 12 Binghamton City Council meeting, the GOP-led Council is expected to rubberstamp, as usual, Mayor Kraham’s request to (1) launder $500,000 of COVID recovery funds through the general fund, “liberating” the federal grant dollars from program rules, and then (2) immediately allocating this same $500,000 for a commercial façade improvement grant … [Read more...] about Binghamton Republicans Want to Launder More ARPA Recovery Dollars to Fund Beautifying Walls of Commerical Buildings
Residents Launch New Website to Track how Binghamton is Spending $46 million in Pandemic Recovery Funds
BINGHAMTON – A small group of residents, including former public employees and housing justice advocates, launched today a new website that documents and tracks how Binghamton elected officials are spending the City’s $46 million in pandemic recovery funds (often called ARPA funds). “Former Mayor Rich David and current Mayor Jared Kraham … [Read more...] about Residents Launch New Website to Track how Binghamton is Spending $46 million in Pandemic Recovery Funds
Vacancies in Binghamton Police Department up to 19; Mayor Kraham’s Retention Plan: Incentive Pay, Beards, and Tattoos
BINGHAMTON - This week, Binghamton City Council unanimously approved Mayor Kraham’s proposal to pay police officers a retention incentive using $363,000 of American Rescue Plan funding, federal dollars awarded to Binghamton to help with local recovery efforts following the pandemic. (Councilwoman Aviva Friedman was absent and did not vote). The proposal … [Read more...] about Vacancies in Binghamton Police Department up to 19; Mayor Kraham’s Retention Plan: Incentive Pay, Beards, and Tattoos
A Performance Analysis of the current Binghamton City Council: Legislative Body or Overpaid Rubber Stamp?
If Binghamton City Council is the community’s legislative body, ever wonder how they’re performing? After all, Binghamton is a strong-mayor form of government, which grants the mayor full executive and administrative authority over the day-to-day operations of the city. City Council, on the other hand, assumes the role of chief legislative body, expected … [Read more...] about A Performance Analysis of the current Binghamton City Council: Legislative Body or Overpaid Rubber Stamp?
Binghamton’s GOP-led Council (Again) Won’t Even Discuss Basic Reform Proposals to Increase Transparency and Improve Ethics
On September 26, I submitted to Binghamton City Council and the Clerk’s Office two Requests for Legislation (RLs) that share common themes of transparency and good governmental reforms. Expand Broome's Annual Financial Disclosure Reporting to Binghamton The first request pertains to emulating the longstanding practice of Broome County, which … [Read more...] about Binghamton’s GOP-led Council (Again) Won’t Even Discuss Basic Reform Proposals to Increase Transparency and Improve Ethics
Brock and His Secret Army of Investors: A Case Study, in Real Time, of How Binghamton Residents are Being Displaced and Harmed by the Mad Rush to Profit off Student Rentals
A homegrown equity investment firm, founded by a former Binghamton University wrestler, is quietly attracting silent investors and gobbling up apartment buildings and two-family residences, illegally displacing long-term seniors and working families, and converting these properties into cash-cow student rentals. Brock Cvijanovich, who also uses the name … [Read more...] about Brock and His Secret Army of Investors: A Case Study, in Real Time, of How Binghamton Residents are Being Displaced and Harmed by the Mad Rush to Profit off Student Rentals
Six Restore NY Applications Submitted from Broome County Governments: Here’s a List of the Vacant Properties Prioritized and Proposed Projects
As reported here in June, New York leaders supercharged its most successful blight elimination grant program, Restore NY, with a $250 million allocation in the state’s 2022-2023 budget. The Restore NY program is managed by Empire State Development (ESD), the state’s economic development agency. ESD announced this summer that the $250 million in Restore NY … [Read more...] about Six Restore NY Applications Submitted from Broome County Governments: Here’s a List of the Vacant Properties Prioritized and Proposed Projects
Binghamton and Broome Must Seize the Hidden Gem in NY’s Budget: $250 Million to Tackle Vacant Properties
Thanks to the unprecedented infusion of federal recovery dollars, the state’s budget approved in April is loaded with massive, one-time investments. Some have attracted critical media attention (Bills stadium deal, Exhibit A), while some have escaped the spotlight. One of those hidden gems is a $250 million allocation to the Restore NY program, which has … [Read more...] about Binghamton and Broome Must Seize the Hidden Gem in NY’s Budget: $250 Million to Tackle Vacant Properties
Court Dismisses Harassment Charge Against Abdelazim: Ruling Affirms the Charge Had No Legal Merit
Below is a statement from Binghamton resident Tarik Abdelazim, following the ruling by Ithaca City Court Judge Seth Peacock to dismiss the harassment charge against him, which was brought by the Office of Broome County District Attorney Michael Korchak based on a complaint made by City Councilmember Sophia Resciniti on August 5, 2021. When I learned last … [Read more...] about Court Dismisses Harassment Charge Against Abdelazim: Ruling Affirms the Charge Had No Legal Merit
Open Letter to Binghamton Officials on Proposed Code Enforcement Reforms
April 3, 2022 Dear Council Members, I am writing about the code enforcement proposals recently announced by Mayor Kraham. While I support the overall efforts, the statements made by the Mayor and Councilmembers are a bit overstated. Moreover, the reforms don’t really solve the specific concerns expressed by the same officials. Or they simply … [Read more...] about Open Letter to Binghamton Officials on Proposed Code Enforcement Reforms
