City Announces Demolition Plans for Ross Building NEW
[5/9/2008] - The City of Binghamton today announced plans to demolish the Ross Building, which is located on the corner of State and Court Street in downtown Binghamton. more...

Mayor Ryan to Host Police Week Awards Ceremony NEW
[5/7/2008] - Mayor Matt Ryan will host the annual Police Week Awards Ceremony tomorrow, May 8, at 1:30pm in City Council Chambers. more...

City Reminds Residents of ‘Open Burning’ Regs, Fire Safety Tips NEW
[5/6/2008] - Outdoor cooking and bonfires are often most popular in the spring and summer months, and to ensure such activities are safe and enjoyable, the City of Binghamton would like to remind residents of the city code relating to open burning, as well as several fire safety measures. more...

Mayor Ryan Introduces Proposed 2008-2009 CDBG Budget NEW
[5/5/2008] - Mayor Matt Ryan today introduced his proposed 2008-2009 Community Development Block Grant budget, which promises to solidify and enhance the City’s comprehensive, focused approach to community development.  more...

MAYOR RYAN'S MONTHLY MESSAGE

Community Development That's Community-wide

May 2008

Ensuring our city is safe and healthy requires a comprehensive approach to community development – focusing on everything from housing and private enterprise, to youth leadership and civic engagement, to infrastructure and sound fiscal management. My administration mobilized this approach when we came into office two years ago, and we have seen impressive results ever since - particularly in recent weeks.

Community development starts in our neighborhoods, where my administration's work with the State's Restore NY program has allowed us to turn blighted properties into assets. Leveraging our sizable Restore NY Round I grant, we prepared 20 such properties for redevelopment, and just last month we sold 15 to homeowners and business owners who've presented detailed plans to restore the properties, and thereby revitalize the surrounding residential sectors – making our neighborhoods safer, bolstering market values, and spurring local economic development. We look forward to Restore NY's Round II, for which we've landed another $2.5 million and anticipate boosting our housing development capacity a whopping 300 percent.

Comprehensive community development must be community-based, cultivating the leadership of residents and constituents. Our Neighborhood Development Project Fund (NDPF) provides such grounding by giving residents and community groups control of small, local investments that focus on neighborhood beautification and bricks-and-mortar work. Last fall residents and human service agencies applied for NDPF grants via the Neighborhood Assemblies, and two weeks ago I was pleased to announce 15 awards. Pretty soon the grantees will begin implementing their projects and programs, which range from specialty garbage cans and tree plantings, to youth media training and developing a reading garden.

Our public infrastructure is our community's architectural backbone, and its health is critical to supporting all our activities. That's why we've outlined an extensive set of projects for our construction season.

Smart fiscal management is a key to sustaining our community advancements, particularly amidst the increasing economic constraints that Binghamton and other Upstate cities are now facing. To meet this challenge, and keep moving our community forward in the right direction, I introduced four commissions on fiscal management, and they are now convening regularly to identify the strategies that will best serve our community's economic vitality, and overall health.

My administration's approach to community development is as focused as it is ambitious. And as we make Binghamton a better place to live, we recognize that more work remains. Our success relies on our continued commitment to innovation and partnerships. Binghamton is growing strong, and together we can make it even stronger.