March 28, 2020 / Bill Martin US Attorney General Barr: Prisons = “petri dishes” for the virus, releases at risk prisoners NY Governor Cuomo: Silence NY Attorney General James: Silence Broome County Executive Jason Garnar: Never! Broome County Sheriff Harder: Got virus? Jails are the safest place! We’ve been down this road before. Amidst … [Read more...] about Virus Denialism
Open Letter from JUST
Dear County Executive Jason Garner, District Attorney Michael Korchak, and Broome and Binghamton City Judges, We write deeply concerned about the impact of the Coronavirus upon the county’s residents entangled in our criminal justice system. Many of the most vulnerable members of our community are in the local jail; many more are required by probation, … [Read more...] about Open Letter from JUST
How will county jail handle coronavirus?
There is little doubt now that the coronavirus, COVID- 19, will come to Broome County, if it isn’t here already. Are we ready? It will be a challenge. Broome County ranks 57th in health outcomes among the state’s 62 counties. The County Health division tasked with the surveillance and prevention of communicable diseases has seen its staff cut by 20% and … [Read more...] about How will county jail handle coronavirus?
Solving the problem of funding NY Medicaid
by Amy Fleming Who started the rumor that there isn’t any money to continue Medicaid at its current level? I heard the governor is claiming a $6 Billion dollar budget deficit and blaming Medicaid for $4 Billion of it. Unfortunately, he has a habit of naming sham commissions that come up with questionable “facts” to justify his actions to cut Medicaid … [Read more...] about Solving the problem of funding NY Medicaid
Fear and Loathing among Mass Incarcerators
December 28, 2019 Make no mistake about it: they are afraid. Very afraid. For the state’s new bail reform bill threatens to undermine what our bloated elected officials have spent decades constructing: the machinery of mass incarceration that siphons funds for health and social services into policing and jailing innocent persons. The new bail bill is … [Read more...] about Fear and Loathing among Mass Incarcerators
Protesting Treatment of People Seeking Asylum
The horror that most people experience in learning about the Trump Administration's treatment of people trying to seek asylum in the US--inhumane detention in inadequate facilities, separating children from their parents, virtual concentration camp conditions-- has boiled over into massive protests across the country. A Friday night vigil in Binghamton drew … [Read more...] about Protesting Treatment of People Seeking Asylum
What Contaminated Products DPW is Finding in Recycle Bins
Recycle Help: Here is a list of JUNK that our guys and gals in DPW are finding in Recycle Bins. The following makes a Recycle Bin contaminated: Diapers; Any and all milk cartons, unless plastic; Any and all ice creme containers, unless plastic; Venetian blinds! Recycles 'not' washed is junk; No watering hoses, Plastic nor flexible; No plastic clocks, LCD … [Read more...] about What Contaminated Products DPW is Finding in Recycle Bins
Broome County is Killing Me
By Bill Martin It has become far too common: another person denied medical care at the Broome County Jail, and this time with gruesome and deadly consequences. Today’s epitaph is written for Rob Card, a local carpenter, artist, and family man who was sent to the jail for violating probation on a minor drug charge. At the time of his arrest on January 8th, … [Read more...] about Broome County is Killing Me
Rough and Tough is not Justice
Rough and Tough is not Justice. The Press & Sun Bulletin ignored this letter a year ago and again now, so if a resident of Broome County attends a Public Safety legislative committee meeting, they are not allowed to speak. So what is John Q. Public to do? Everyone can agree that someone who commits a crime should take responsibility for their actions … [Read more...] about Rough and Tough is not Justice
“New Hope” NY State Budget Forum
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 3 PM Press Conference followed by Forum & Teach-In (Enter at rear parking level) Guest Speakers: Ron Deutsch, Fiscal Policy Institute Rev. Peter Cook, NYS Council of Churches Micah Barreiro, Broome Tioga NAACP The community is invited to join us to discuss how we can champion changes in some of the underlying … [Read more...] about “New Hope” NY State Budget Forum