Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo

Officials say the demolition of the IBM buildings, which have been vacant and dilapidated for years, marks the end of an era for the Broome County village.

The Binghamton City Council voted unanimously to approve the zoning reform legislation Wednesday. In recent years, cities across the country have implemented zoning reform to ease restrictions on housing development.

Housing advocates and organizers gathered in downtown Binghamton Saturday, handing out hot food, warm clothes, and harm reduction supplies like fentanyl test strips and the overdose-reversing drug naloxone.

The law puts a limit to how much landlords can raise rent at one time. It also limits the reasons a landlord could refuse to renew a tenant’s lease.

According to preliminary results, around 90 percent of Binghamton voters approved the capital project, which would involve extensive asbestos abatement, a new two-story classroom wing, and improvements to outdoor play spaces at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School.

Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro lost to Democrat Josh Riley in the November election by less than two points. He said now that he won’t be starting another term in January, his focus will be advocating for issues like disability justice.

Omer Neutra, who grew up on Long Island, was believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. But the Israeli military said it has learned he was killed during the Oct. 7 attack last year.

The spending plan includes raises for county employees, investments in infrastructure, and a $5 million economic development and housing fund, meant to support local projects.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Binghamton University on Monday, highlighting a Department of Defense scholarship program, which offers college tuition to students who join the country’s cybersecurity workforce.

Rathmell plans to reduce food insecurity and improve access to mental health care. She also wants to increase affordable housing units and reform the city’s housing code enforcement system.