we believe pandemic recovery funds should be prioritized to help those most impacted
We are members of a diverse coalition of engaged residents who care deeply about addressing the housing crisis in Binghamton and helping our neighbors in need--especially those most impacted by COVID-19.
Since April of 2021, when Binghamton first heard it'd be receiving $46,000,000 in ARPA funds to help recover from COVID-19, we jumped into action and demanded that housing needs be prioritized, particularly for our more vulnerable residents. (The newspaper finally ran an article in August 2021, "Housing advocates want half of Binghamton's $46 M in American Rescue Plan funding to go towards housing justice...")
At the very least, housing justice and good goverment advocates demanded that before Binghamton officials spend any of its ARPA dollars, they must first: (1) carry out an inclusive community engagement process and center those residents most impacted, (2) collaboratively and openly establish priorities and develop a comprehensive spending plan, and (3) demonstrate a strong commitment to transparency as they allocate these unprecedented recovery funds between now and December 31, 2026 (deadline).
Yet Binghamton's decision-makers, led by Republican mayors and a Republican-led City Council, have consistently refused all of the above requests.
The City received the once-in-a-lifetime award of $46 million in June 2021 and still the Mayor's Office has never held one community forum. There has been no effort to solicit public input. They have stubbornly refused to be transparent with OUR pandemic recovery funds.
Instead, former Mayor David and current Mayor Jared Kraham, with full support of the Republican majority on Council, have turned this $46,000,000 recovery award into their very own political slush fund.
No community input to define priorities, no strategic spending plan, and absolutely no transparency.
In the summer of 2022, some advocates proposed legislation to City Council that would AT LEAST require the administration to create a website documenting how these recovery dollars were being allocated.
The Republican-led Council refused to even discuss the proposed legislation. Republican Council President Phil Strawn buried it. The City Council Democrats refused to champion it.
That's fine. We have power, and we don't give up easily.
We utilized the New York State Freedom of Information Law and demanded the administration hand over copies of all documents over the last two years pertaining to ARPA funds. Our goal was to collect and publish the information City leaders have been trying to keep secret from Binghamton residents.
Yes, we won, but the news is bad.
As of January 2023, only $4.2 million of the original $46 million dollar award remains unallocated--even though we have until December 31, 2026 to spend it!
We were shocked and infuriated.
So during the holiday break, we designed this website as a resource for ALL Binghamton residents. Consider it our gift to the community in hopes it can lead to a healthier democracy.
Residents need to know how Binghamton leaders--two Mayors and the current City Council--have doled out OUR recovery award as if it was THEIR personal, political slush fund.
We hope you find this information helpful and informative. We will continue to track what little ARPA funds remain, and post updates whenever the occasion merits.
Can we ask a few favors?
- Please SHARE this resource with others through your social media networks and circles of friends? A healthy democracy starts with an informed and engaged citizenry.
- Please use the CONTACT online form (or email) to tell us if you still have unmet needs because of COVID-19. We can share this with others in the housing justice coalition who run mutual aid, and it could help us advocate for how the remaining funds should be allocated.
- Please join us in demanding bold, immediate solutions to our serious housing crisis in the Binghamton area! Please check out our GET INVOLVED page to learn about groups in the area fighting for housing justice for ALL residents.