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 review” … [Read more...] about First the Questionable Reduced Assessment, now an Illegal STAR EXEMPTION: Mayor Uses Influence over Assessor to Save Thousands in Local Taxes

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 was … [Read more...] about BOSCOVS: The Smoke and Mirrors over Tax Breaks and Ownership

LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO There is less than a month to go to enact a public financing of elections law this year.  Let’s get this done and allow a greater diversity of people access to the political process.  Let’s reduce the influence of big money and major corporations by giving small donors a fair chance.  Let’s elect people who represent the people.  … [Read more...] about LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO

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 whispers of wrongdoing, or … [Read more...] about How I Found Out Mayor David Secretly Cut His Property Tax Bill by 27%

The Broome County Safe Housing Task Force will be hosting its first community forum this coming Tuesday, February 5, from 5:00 - 7:00pm, at the Broome County Public Library. The Task Force was announced by County Executive Jason Garnar last fall. According to the County's website, "This collaborative coalition brings together department representatives, … [Read more...] about Community Forum: Broome County Safe Housing Task Force Needs to Hear Your Stories

The Green Party of New York has denounced the ongoing US-backed coup in Venezuela as the latest in a long line of US imperial interventions in Latin America. Party officers pointed out that the Trump administration has been enforcing crippling sanctions on Venezuela and met with military leaders last year to plot a coup, which was openly reported in US news … [Read more...] about Green Party Denounces US-Backed Coup in Venezuela