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 …
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 …
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 …
Open Letter to Binghamton Officials on Proposed Code Enforcement Reforms Read More »
Outside Corporate Investors Feast on Rental Market, Exploiting Binghamton’s Outdated Assessments Enough is Enough: We Need a Citywide Re-Assessment That is Fair to all Property Owners BINGHAMTON – Amicus LLC, registered with the New York State Department as a foreign corporate entity, is the latest outside institutional investor to quietly feast on Binghamton’s rental …
Corporate Investors Feast on Binghamton’s Rental Housing Market Read More »
In an April 28, 2017 Press and Sun Bulletin article about Mayor David’s real estate holdings and potential conflicts of interest, the reporter noted that Rich David made a promise not to purchase any properties while serving as Mayor. “While he’s mayor, though, he will not purchase any commercial properties, he said in a March …
Mayor David Breaks Promise: Purchases Rental Property under Secret LLC Read More »
Binghamton Mayor Rich David unveiled his 2022 Budget last week, a financial plan that the next mayor will inherit. As usual, Mayor David’s final Budget Address was full of political soundbites and rosy rhetoric, intentionally directing the gaze of the media exactly where he wanted. Here are four key takeaways, unpreported by the local press, …
Binghamton received the first half of the unprecedented federal recovery award, $23 of $46 million, this summer. According to the 8/16 City Council Work Session Packet, Mayor David has already programmed every penny. And aside from a last-minute, face-saving announcement of $6 million for affordable housing, not a single penny is being allocated to help …
As reported previously here at The Bridge, Binghamton is in line for $48 million in flexible federal aid to support recovery efforts as we emerge from the crushing impacts and trauma wrought by the pandemic. The first $24 million is expected by May 10, and the second half will be wired by the US Treasury …
Local leaders all over the country—Republican and Democrats—are elated by the eye-popping federal aid awards included in Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. As reported previously here at The Bridge, the City of Binghamton is slated to receive about $48 million, and the Town of Union is in line for $32 million. The U.S. Treasury …
Back in 2009 and 2010, as local governments started to drown in the wreckage of the Great Recession, Washington didn’t even bother to show up to lend a hand. Our federal leaders from both parties were too busy shoveling tax dollars to the very same Wall Street firms that imploded our economy and ultimately wiped-out …