Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Passport
  • Support WSKG
Donate
  • Donate
  • logo
  • logo
  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
  • Donate
  • More
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Passport
    • Support WSKG

WSKG - Local news and arts, broadcasting NPR radio and PBS TV.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...
  • Donate your vehicle to support WSKG

WSKG (https://wskg.org/residents-criticize-broome-budget-proposal-over-jail-sheriff-funding/)

  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
Listen Live WSKG
Listen Live WSKG Classical

Watch Live WSKG TV
Watch Live PBS Kids
Coronavirus Updates
Coronavirus Updates

Residents Criticize Broome Budget Proposal Over Jail, Sheriff Funding

By Jillian Forstadt | October 15, 2020
More
  • More on 2021 budget
  • Subscribe to 2021 budget

BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) — Residents gathered in person and online Wednesday to voice their concerns with Broome County’s 2021 budget proposal.

Protesters hung banners near the Broome County office building in Binghamton Wednesday during a protest over the proposed 2021 county budget. (Jillian Forstadt/WSKG)

The Broome County Legislature held its first online public hearing for next year’s proposed budget on Wednesday. Meanwhile, nearly 50 people gathered in protest outside the county offices.

While the group did exceed the gathering size allowed in Broome County’s state-designated yellow zone, they wore masks and maintained social distancing.

Many of the protesters who spoke during the hearing criticized the budget proposal for adding two new sheriff positions and keeping the budget for the Broome County jail at more than $29 million.

A coalition of Southern Tier organizations hosted the rally, including Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier, Citizen Action, Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow and TruthPharm. The coalition also held several actions throughout the summer in favor of defunding the police and the county jail.

Activists around the country called for defunding the police during the protests that followed the death of George Floyd. Alexis Pleus, of TruthPharm, said it is part of the reason the budget proposal came across as “tone deaf” to activists.

“We see this happening across the county, and yet our county seems to want to be stuck in the Dark Ages, ignore what people are saying and ignore the evidence that we need to change how we’re doing things and then just plow forward with this budget,” Pleus said.

The proposed budget would fund two new deputy sheriffs and cut several public health positions; many of those positions, however, were already unfunded over the last several years.

Many who called-in to the Zoom meeting took issue with the funding allotted to the jail. Susan Link of Binghamton said that with the jail operating at around half capacity for most of this year, it doesn’t make sense to keep its budget so large.

“All of the money seems to be going into correctional services, but there are not enough people to serve in the correctional services,” she said. “So I don’t really see what the point is.”

Link said county funding should instead go to “people-centered” services that help meet residents’ basic needs. Many residents suggested increasing funding for mental health care, social services, substance use disorder treatment and low-income, affordable housing.

A second public hearing on the budget will be held next month.

Recent Posts

  • Homelessness increased by 50% in the Southern Tier, count finds

    BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG)—Homelessness in the Southern Tier increased by more than 50 percent over the past year, according to new preliminary data from the Southern Tier Homeless Coalition. The coalition runs programs and tracks homelessness in Broome, Chenango, Otsego, Cortland, Delaware and Tioga counties.

  • One week after the racist shooting in Buffalo, here’s what we know

    BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) — Last week's racist mass shooting in Buffalo left ten people dead and three wounded. WSKG host Sarah Gager talks with reporters Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo and Megan Zerez about what they've learned in the days since the attack.

  • In PA primary, two state budget leaders’ experience used against them

    HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) – Pennsylvania Republican voters appear to want to replace two key state budget negotiators with a pair of far-right challengers. Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) and Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), both longtime incumbents, are well-respected in state political and policy circles.

  • Proposed constitutional amendment would ensure abortion rights in New York

    ALBANY, NY (WSKG) - New York state lawmakers are considering a change to the state’s constitution that would enshrine the right to abortion as part of a larger guarantee of equal rights. The sponsor of the measure said it’s needed now more than ever.

  • Uncertainty still clouds New York’s 23rd Congressional District special election

    VESTAL, NY (WSKG) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has yet to call a special election for the 23rd Congressional District after Rep. Tom Reed resigned last week, as Republicans remain perplexed about how to handle filling the vacancy. Under New York state statute, the governor must schedule a special election within 10 days after a seat in congress is vacated, meaning Hochul must call the 23rd District by Friday.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...

About WSKG

WSKG connects you to local and global news and the arts online, on the radio, and on TV. NPR and PBS affiliate.

CONTACT US
email: WSKGcomment@wskg.org

phone: 607.729.0100

address: 601 Gates Road Suite 4, Vestal, NY 13850-2288

DONATE

Pay an underwriting invoice


  • WSKG
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Science
  • News
  • Your Radio
  • Schedule
  • TV
  • About
  • WSKG Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Public Reports & Policies
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
  • Protect My Public Media
FCC PUBLIC FILES
WSKG-FM
WSQX-FM
WSQG-FM
WSQE
WSQA
WSQC-FM
WSQN
WSKG-TV
WSKA
Disabled and need assistance with the online FCC public file?
Contact Gary Talkiewicz
WSKG
601 Gates Road
Vestal, New York 13850
607-729-0100
gtalkiewicz@wskg.org

Full Frequency Information Listed Here

WSKG

89.3fm   Binghamton
91.1fm   Corning, Elmira
88.7fm   Hornell
90.9fm   Ithaca
89.9fm   Odessa
91.7fm    Oneonta
90.5fm   Watkins Glen

WSKG Classical

91.5    Binghamton
105.9  Cooperstown
90.7    Corning
88.1    Greene, Norwich
92.1     Ithaca

WSKG HD TV

Binghamton
46.1 Broadcast TV
7 Time Warner Cable
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

Elmira
30.1 Broadcast TV
8 Time Warner Cable
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

Oneonta, Cooperstown
8 Time Warner Cable
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

Hornell
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

© Copyright 2022, WSKG

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑