Throughout the year, local reporting and community activism shined a spotlight on a number of unethical and illegal actions taken by City Assessor Scott Snyder over the last few years that generated significant financial benefits for Mayor Rich David. Some of the local reporting even resulted in internal investigations by the City Attorney’s Office, an […]
The primary revenue source for the City of Binghamton–as with most local governments–comes from local property taxes. For example, in 2019, the City collected $35 million in local property taxes, which alone covered more than half of the $64.5 million general fund operating budget. [Yes. Worst intro ever. I know. But trust me: the research
– Come next summer, the sewer rates will be 35% higher than in January 2017, thanks to Mayor David – According to his own statements and as reported by multiple local media outlets–including WNBF radio, the Press and Sun newspaper, and WBNG–Mayor Rich David promised no increases to the sewer rates. But a simple review
While the local newspaper and TV media outlets* have completely ignored the mounting evidence of improper actions between the City Assessor and Mayor Rich David, City Council members have been quietly continuing the conversation at business meetings and work meetings the last two months. In fact, at the April 15 work session meeting, there was
According to a review of city documents by The Bridge, owners of flood-damaged, substandard rental properties in a neighborhood with 62% of residents living at or below poverty (Census, 2013-2017 ACS), received FEMA Buyout payments far in excess of fair market values. In one case, 20 Carroll Street, the FEMA Buyout payment was four times
Each year, the City of Binghamton receives approximately $2 million from HUD through the Community Development Block Grant program, consistently ranked by Republican and Democratic mayors across the country as one of the most important funding sources to support investments in distressed neighborhoods, local housing needs, and nonprofits delivering essential services to our most vulnerable
Citizen Input Needed on Annual Federal Housing Grants to City of Binghamton Read More »
I live next door to a zombie, and I worry that trouble is coming this summer. The zombie is a single family residence with three bedrooms and about 1,700 square feet of living space. The owner defaulted on the mortgage a couple years ago, and before he moved to Texas, he offered the house up
On February 5, I published an article on the bridge explaining how Mayor Rich David quietly and questionably secured a nearly 30% reduction of his downtown property tax bill. Mayor Rich David is now saving thousands in local property taxes because, in 2018, the City Assessor—a position the Mayor oversees and appoints—used a questionable “informal
On April 13, 2018, Mayor Rich David issued an official city news release, announcing the City had entered into a one-year extension of lease, PILOT, and parking agreements with Boscovs Department Store. The release, available on the City’s website (and pictured below), stated, “A one-year extension of Boscov’s payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement
BOSCOVS: The Smoke and Mirrors over Tax Breaks and Ownership Read More »
Having worked at City Hall for almost eight years prior to the current administration, I remain friends or friendly with dozens of city employees: in the Police and Fire Departments, over at the “Rock” (our endearing term for the DPW facility), in every division of Public Works, and in Planning and Development. Often, I receive
How I Found Out Mayor David Secretly Cut His Property Tax Bill by 27% Read More »
