Women and Local Activists Call to End to the Abuse of Women in the County Jail Women are one of the fastest growing populations in jails and prisons around the country. Broome County mirrors those trends: locally the incarceration of women has been accelerating. The growing number of women behind bars in Broome County is a key reason why Broome County … [Read more...] about End Abuse of Women in the County Jail
Downtown Shutdown
A Facebook group called Binghamton Believes Survivors of Sexual Assault and a business, Tea and Things called for a "Downtown Shutdown in Response to Sexual Assault" There have been multiple allegations that there have been rapes in three downtown restaurants, The Colonial, Dos Rios, and The Stone Fox. All three restaurants were temporarily closed but The … [Read more...] about Downtown Shutdown
Call for Artists and Craftspeople
The Cooperative Gallery 213 offers entry in the annual Holiday Show for all exhibiting and supporting members. The Holiday Show runs from December 2- 19th and is open First Friday Dec. 3, 5-9 pm, other Fridays 5- 8 pm, Saturdays 11 am to 3 pm, Sundays, 12-3 pm. There will be a reception for participating artists on Thursday Dec 2nd 6-8 pm. For those who want … [Read more...] about Call for Artists and Craftspeople
Three Artists in November at Cooperative
The Cooperative Gallery is exhibiting three of its artists’ work in the month of November. Bill Gorman, photographer (and well known local actor) presents Melange a mix of “incongruous elements.” Geoffrey Gould, also a photographer, displays Iceland’s Natural Beauty. And Eileen Schlag, a painter in several media, offers Layers, both a technique and … [Read more...] about Three Artists in November at Cooperative
Mayor David’s 2022 Budget: Hidden Gems for Police, the Baseball Stadium, and the Golf Course; And the Impacts of David’s “Big Flush” Start to Emerge
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, that Mayor … [Read more...] about Mayor David’s 2022 Budget: Hidden Gems for Police, the Baseball Stadium, and the Golf Course; And the Impacts of David’s “Big Flush” Start to Emerge
Well Armed
When the SWAT vehicle picked me up, I was most scared of losing was my son. It’s a terrifying thought, a fear that’s universal across parent and gender. The second thing that scared me, was my attraction to one of the presumably male officers. It hadn’t happened a lot in my life, but it had happened. I didn’t really expect to have to share my sexuality as … [Read more...] about Well Armed
“I can’t breathe” in the Broome County Jail
August 30, 2021 / Bill Martin / From Just Talk website. “Strip, N-word!” That’s what Broome County correctional officers told Taej’on Vega after dragging the prone and handcuffed Black/Latino teenager across the floor to his cell. It got more brutal quickly, leaving Vega badly bruised and traumatized. Similar stories have for years been … [Read more...] about “I can’t breathe” in the Broome County Jail
The Pink Bat Signal and the Last Adderall.
by Kyle Pond Disclaimer: I’d previously been diagnosed as having “bipolar disorder” and had been awake for three days (popping Adderall) when I was picked up in the SWAT vehicle. My motives for sharing are simple: I want to demonstrate resiliency; I want to feel strong; I want to feel like I have grit, and I want to heal by helping other people. … [Read more...] about The Pink Bat Signal and the Last Adderall.
Who are you?
by Kyle Pond When we pick up a book or read an article, often we already know a bit about the person we’re reading. Many of you know me, even if you don’t know who I am. I have a penchant for inserting myself into unusual places- at the right time, and the right place. I have a story to tell, and I need to practice before I’m able tell it in a way that … [Read more...] about Who are you?
Mayor David Already Exhausts All $23 Million of Recovery Funds On Outrageous, Slap-In-The-Face Priorities Without Any Public Input
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 … [Read more...] about Mayor David Already Exhausts All $23 Million of Recovery Funds On Outrageous, Slap-In-The-Face Priorities Without Any Public Input