I was on the road the last two days for work, serving as a resource at a conference for local government employees from Republican and Democratic administrations across New York to help brainstorm effective strategies to transform vacant housing to neighborhood assets with a focus on equity, sustainability, and justice. My phone started lighting up … [Read more...] about Republican City Electeds Come out of the Closet: “We’re Bullies and Hypocrites”

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 … [Read more...] about Binghamton City Council President Tom Scanlon Refuses to Allow Discussion on Good Government Reform Proposals

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 and graphics … [Read more...] about Binghamton’s Assessment is Broken and Inequitable; but Working Just Fine for Landlords of Student Rentals and Wealthy Downtown Developers

Broome County Inmate Hospitalized with Life-Threatening Burns Following Medical Negligence A Local Man Is the Latest to Sustain Serious Injuries Related to Medical Malpractice at Broome County Jail Release from Binghamton PLOT Sep 16 A man being held in Broome County Jail was rushed to the Clark Burn Center of Upstate University Hospital (UUH) in … [Read more...] about Broome County Inmate Hospitalized

 - 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 of the 2020 proposed budget shows … [Read more...] about Mayor David Promises No Sewer Rate Increase, but Quietly Proposes (Another) Sewer Rate Increase

by Rick Sprout For many years the Binghamton-Johnson City Sewage Waste Water plant has been operating with a physical facility that does not meet the State & Federal requirements for the treatment of waste water. Workers at the plant struggle daily to overcome the plant’s shortcomings in order to maintain the very basic minimal necessary … [Read more...] about Opinion on Sewage Treatment Plant Proposal