final bing blueprint edited 12_08 (to print)

THE BINGHAMTONBLUEPRINT2016

REIMAGINING THE RULES OF BROOME COUNTY

The Roosevelt Institute at Binghamton University

We bring together thousands of thinkers and doers—from a new generation of leaders in every state to Nobel laureate economists—working to redefine

the rules that guide our social and economic realities. We rethink and re-shape everything from local policy to federal legislation, orienting toward a

new economic and political system: one built by many for the good of all.

Bing for Broome

Bing for Broome is a student-led organization that serves to increase student engagement in Broome County by raising awareness of local issues and pro-moting political activism in the community. To further our goal of building rela-tionships with local government and community organizations, we promote a collaborative environment between students and Broome County. To increase collaboration, we conduct student opinions research and provide volunteers

with opportunities to develop and advocate for initiatives that address the concerns of students and the local community. As students, Broome County

is our home, and we believe that we must take the initiative to make sure that we can direct all of our energy and ideas towards making it a better place.

ContentsOUR VISION..............................................................................................4

THE SURVEY............................................................................................5

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT.....................................................................6

SAFETY.......................................................................................................8

POVERTY...................................................................................................9

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.............................................................10

EDUCATION............................................................................................12

URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE................................................................13

HEROIN EPIDEMIC................................................................................14

NEXT STEPS...........................................................................................16

ENDNOTES..............................................................................................17

SPECIAL THANKS.................................................................................19

The rules that guide the daily lives of citizens in Broome County do not include our voices or reflect our beliefs. In a political environment of divisive rhetoric and discouraging promises, our generation has been sidelined in both national and local politics across the country. As students of Binghamton University, we are concerned by the lack of community identity between students and their fellow citizens of Broome County. We felt the need to respond to an all-too-important question: Why is political participation and engagement among young people, and students especially, lower than other age demographics?

Bing for Broome approached this question by embarking on a mission to survey hundreds of students on their values, their ideas, and their level of engagement and awareness of local issues. Their research made it clear that the lack of student engagement in local government is a combination of lack of awareness and a failure of local government to address the concerns of students.

Following Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s ambitious vision of a government that works for all of its citizens, the Roosevelt Institute partnered with Bing for Broome to create an agenda that reflects the vision of Binghamton University students and tackles Broome County’s hardest challenges. We addressed the key policy areas of the Binghamton Blueprint: Education,

Economic Development, Public Safety, Urban Infrastructure, the Heroin Epidemic, and Poverty.

This document represents our vision for a productive, collaborative, and innovative approach to student engagement in local government. Inspired by the Roosevelt Institute's Next Generation Blueprint and its call to action developed from 160 college campus-es, the Binghamton Blueprint was crowdsourced from the opinions of 635 students at Binghamton University. For the first time in local history, we are elevating the importance of involving more people in the policy process. As citizens of Broome County, we have both the responsibility and opportunity to develop solutions that will address Broome County’s most im-portant issues. We believe 2016 is a powerful moment to showcase the potential of connecting a generation’s issue activ-ism and policy work to the electoral process.

Only by working together can we see real progress that will benefit the whole commu-nity and create a collective voice that reflects all of Broome County’s citizens. No list of solutions can completely solve these issues, but if we want to see progress, we must start somewhere. Although we invest in the local economy and provide hundreds of hours of community service to Broome County’s schools, parks, and hospitals, we are rarely asked to help shape the decisions that affect our communities. Starting with this election cycle, we are bringing student voices to the table and challenging our local officials to take this opportunity to engage with our generation.

4

60%of respondents feel like their opinions

have no weight in local politics.

76%of respondents have never placed a vote

for a local official.

68%of respondents feel

like they are not updated with local

news.

The Survey

data collectionFEB 2016 - MAY 2016

Using standard statistical tools and methods, we established a sample size that would give us a basic representation of the Bing-hamton University student population. Whether it was through meeting with other student groups or simply traveling on foot and strik-ing up conversations with random students, in-person questionnaires were admin-istered to 635 students all over campus.

THE SAMPLE

METHODOLOGY

policy creation & review

SEPT 2016 - OCT 2016

Using our survey analysis, we created policy initiatives that address these 6 princi-pal local issues that Bing-hamton University students told us they find important.

data analysisMAY 2016 - SEPT 2016

We performed relative frequency distributions for our categorical data and organized our open-ended responses into meaningful categories to identify 6 key issues that matter most to our respondents: education, economic development, urban infrastructure, pub-lic safety, poverty, and the heroin epidemic.

99%confidence level

5%margin of error

635participants

OFF CAMPUS

43%ON CAMPUS

57%

FEMALE52%

ANONYMOUS5%

MALE43%

5

surveyconstruction

DEC 2015 - JAN 2016

The objective of this survey was to provide students with an opportunity to voice their opinions, identify the issues that matter most to them, and promote student engagement in local politics.

“It’s absolutely refreshing to see the talent, energy, and enthusiasm young people bring to our community and everyone benefits by stu-dents becoming more en-gaged in where they live.” - Jason Garnar Broome County

Executive“It’s important that our students engage in our local community because they have so many wonderful talents and so much to offer.” - Milton Chester Assistant Dean for

Off Campus Services

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Our generation represents the future of our country, and our voice can shape the political institutions that affect our lives every single day. If you want your voice heard, learn how the local political system works , become informed of the issues affecting Broome County, attend local forums and hearings, and get to know your local representatives. If you do all of this, you can have a seat at the table and influence real change, because WHO writes the rules matters.

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2013 2014 2015 2016

Enrollment of Registered Voters at Binghamton University Campus

Binghamton University has a total enrollment of 16,913 students, and a freshman retention rate of 91.1%.1 These students have a wealth of talent and ideas to add to the community, and in one year alone, we contributed $12.4 million worth of volunteer and internship work to local organizations.2 Students make up 9% of Broome County’s population, so we all have a stake in making the community a better place.3

Voter turnout among youth is considerably lower than other age demographics, and has been since at least 1962.4 This often has been attributed to young people lacking aware-ness of local races and a sense of community membership.5 At Binghamton University, we are dedicated to breaking these stereotypes and empowering our vote. Student orga-nizations such as the Center for Civic Engagement, NYPIRG, Roosevelt Institute, Bing for Broome, and Democracy Mat-ters have been at the forefront of registering student voters in Broome County. Since 2013, the enrollment of voters on campus has increased by over 2,000 students. Our empow-erment of the student vote has swung local races, elected a student into Binghamton City Council, and shaped the dialogue of student representation in the local community.

Source: "Recent Election Statistics." Broome Votes. Accessed October 28, 2016. http://www.broomevotes.com/statistics.

YEAR

VOTERS

“Do you feel your opinion has weight in local politics?”

“Have you ever placed a vote for a localofficial?”

“How updated are you with local news?”

“Do you know who the current Broome County Executive is?”

We believe that creating a sense of community identity among incoming Binghamton University students is of the utmost priority for student engagement. Expanding on Binghamton University’s Welcome Week Service Project, a Freshman Day of Service would create a more accessible opportunity for new students to be engaged in off-campus opportunities by automatically enrolling the entering class. Like similar programs at California State University East Bay, this program will raise awareness of local opportunities and issues among a wider audience of students as they spend a day volunteering on-site with community organizations.7

YES

NO

6.46%

0 100 200 300

1

2

3

4

5

N/A4%

YES20%

NO76%

YES31%

NO60%

N/A9%

Instill a sense of civic responsibility with a Freshman Day of Service

We challenge our elected officials of Broome County to:

We believe in an inclusive political system that values the voices of all community members. To include student voices in the political process, the County Executive can convene a special Student Advisory Committee. This committee will present reports on issues which impact students, provide information to the County Executive about these issues, and advocate for a legislative agenda that will better communi-ty-student relations.

Promote inclusivity through a Student Advisory Committee to the Broome County Executive

As citizens of Broome County, students must be informed of local news. To increase awareness of issues, events, and opportunities in the community, local newspapers, such as the Press & Sun-Bulletin, can be added to the newsstands throughout campus.

Make local news accessible on campus

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Strengthen town and gown relations with an Office of Student Affairs

NOT AT ALL

EXTREMELY

We believe in an accessible government that promotes in-novative town & gown projects and strengthens the relation-ships between residents and students through cooperative action and dialogue. Partnering with Binghamton University, the Office of Student Affairs can be a resource for connect-ing students to county agencies and programs. An Office of Student Affairs must be created to conduct student opinion polling, educate students about local matters, provide a forum for joint processes, and address community issues.6

SAFETY

We believe that everyonedeserves to feel safe in theircommunity. Our local law enforcement must be a force for security and equal justice.Binghamton University students identified safety as one of the issues that they care about most. Problems with public safety can undermine an area’s ability to grow economically, retain citizens, and maintain resident quality of life. Bing-hamton’s homicide totals are the highest they have been since 2010.1 In 2015, Broome County had the highest Index Crime rate and Property Crime rate in New York State.2 The Crime rate affects all of those who live in the County, wheth-er they were born here or not. All residents deserve to live without fear of crime.

Implement a blue-light system


“Which service would you rank mostimportant to be given by the local

government?”

The City of Binghamton must adopt a blue-light callbox and camera system to function as a cost-effective crime de-terrent and emergency reporting mechanism. The system will consist of highly-visible poles topped with a blue light equipped with cameras and a callbox. Placed in high-crime areas in downtown Binghamton, blue-light systems will reduce crime rates, improve criminal investigations, and provide a rapid emergency report system to those that are without cellphones, lack cellular service, are hearing-im-paired, are affected by language barriers, or are in the middle of a conflict. Cell phones are unreliable in emergen-cies because they can run out of battery, get left at home, or lose reception.3 They can also get stolen in the midst of a struggle, demonstrated by an attack in Downtown Bing-hamton in Spring 2014.4 A blue-light camera system in one area of Chicago was found to be responsible for a 12% drop in overall crime rate, a reduction of drug-related crimes and robberies by one-third, and a decline in violent crimes by 20%.5 In Chicago, such crime reductions saved the city $4.30 for every $1 spent on the system.6 The report also noted effective crime deterrence in Baltimore and Wash-ington, D.C.7 A blue-light system is a practical and effective measure against crime.

Establish a pre-trial actual innocence review program

For a public safety apparatus to operate, it needs the trust of the public. To further the public trust, an Assistant District Attorney (ADA) must be assigned to review cases where compelling reasons for “actual innocence” can be present-ed before trial or plea bargaining. “Actual Innocence” is the legal term for a situation in which a person is accused of a crime they didn’t commit, and therefore is actually innocent.8 This will stop the judicial system from wasting resources on innocent suspects, before they go to trial, and prevents innocent people from being placed into a position where a plea bargain will seem like a better alternative to going to trial. After a polygraph test, evidence against the suspect will be reviewed, and if a moral certainty that the suspect is guilty or that a conviction will result from trial cannot be established by the ADA, the charges will be dropped.9 Also, charges which rely on a single eyewitness will be subject to review, as recent studies have found eyewitness testimony to be less reliable than previously believed.10 This program, which is similar to one in St. Clair County, Illinois, will improve community relations with law enforcement, yielding better criminal intelligence and im-proving safety.11,12

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POVERTY

We believe that no child or adult should forsake healthy food due to a lack of access and financial means. Through public-private initiatives, we can combat the dual crisis of food des-erts and poverty.

“What do you believe are the most import-ant issues affecting the local area?”

To take effective action against poverty in the Binghamton area, a secure source of nutritious and affordable food must be made accessible. Therefore, the local government needs to invest in the community by establishing a food cooperative in the North Side, directly managed and staffed by community members. By establishing a North Side food co-op, the City will alleviate a food desert, reducing future health-related costs to the municipality and creating employment opportunities. Combating food deserts and poverty through public-private partnerships is a successful and sustainable initiative. Since its inception in 2004, the Pennsylvania Fresh Foods Financing Initiative, a mission to develop grocery stores and food markets in food-insecure communities, financed $120 million for grocery stores in low-income areas, created 5,000 jobs, and led to improved healthy food access for more than 400,000 people.11

The Binghamton Food Co-op will operate on a local level and involve the collaboration of local government, grocery stores, non-profit organizations, and the community. Local government will provide the property through the Broome County Land Bank and initial funding can be sourced from the Broome County Anti-Poverty Task Force12 and the Southern Tier Region-al Economic Development Council.13 The food will be sourced from community gardens, food banks, and local retailers. Through local tax incentives, retailers such as grocery stores can reduce waste by donating food to the co-op, which will sell donated food at discounted prices. Community members will become active in the food co-op for free and will be directly engaged in the management, administration, and operations of the co-op through employment, volunteering, and a co-op community board.

We challenge our elected officials of Broome County to:Combat food deserts with a food cooperative

Binghamton, NY has a poverty rate of 33.9 percent and two designated food deserts: the North Side and the First Ward.1,2 The USDA defines a food desert as an area in a low-income community with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.3 In 1996, the last full-service grocery store in the North Side closed its doors, leaving the sur-rounding neighborhood devoid of a reasonably close source of healthy, affordable food.4 The poverty rate for children is near 50% in Binghamton and without access to proper nutrition, they face health complications.5,6 Food insecurity results in higher municipal costs on welfare programs and health measures.7 Currently, the North Side relies on convenience stores, local eateries, and fast food outlets. Grocery stores don’t open in the North Side be-cause they are profit-driven businesses and have little

motive to open in low-income neighborhoods.8 Bingham-ton has taken some action to address the issue by partially funding a mobile kitchen which offers groceries to residents of the Northside.9 The City has continuously tried to estab-lish a grocery store since 1996, but has been unsuccessful.10

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POVERTY39%

LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES

19%

QUALITY/AVAILIBILITY/AFFORDABILITY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

12%

HEROIN EPIDEMIC10%

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

9%

INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

7%

OTHER4%

We believe that everyone has the right to accessible resources and equitable job opportunities in an economy that promotes innovation and incentivizes growth for Broome County’s workforce.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Since 2012, Broome County has lost 6,000 jobs.1 Current-ly, 17.2% of Broome County’s population falls below state poverty lines, compared to the New York state average of 15.4%.2,3 Another factor contributing to the continuous job loss is the accelerating rate of the “Brain Drain” of college graduates. As more young people emigrate out of the County, the population’s median age has steadily risen from 33.3 in 1990 to 38.2 in 2004.4

In the City of Binghamton, impoverished areas like the North Side have a large portion of underutilized and dilapidated commercial space. In order for these areas to become strong urban cores, we must focus programs and funding towards redevelopment with the goal of creating opportunity for all residents.5 Broome County is currently receiving over $650,000 in grant funding to rehabilitate areas designated as Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA).6

Through initiatives such as the Upstate Revitalization Act and the Southern Tier High Technology Incubator, there has been a significant shift to promoting STEM entrepreneur-ship in the Southern Tier. Dedicated to STEM initiatives, the Southern Tier High Technology Incubator will house START-UP NY companies and is projected to create 250 jobs in the first three years.7 Although these incentives attract high-technology start-ups, it is imperative that we create an accessible environment for other student-led initiatives.

To combat the “Binghamton Brain Drain,” the Broome Coun-ty Legislature and Binghamton University must collaborate on creating incentives for college graduates to stay in the local community. Capitalizing on the resources and support of the Binghamton University School of Management, the SUNY Bridge to Entrepreneurial Excellence Initiative (SUNY-

Create an entrepreneurship grant for students


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government?”

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BOAs are locations where the presence of hazardous sub-stances and pollutants makes redevelopment difficult. How-ever, the process of designating BOAs prevents the timely resolution of issues facing low-income areas, and not every commercial corridor in need of revitalization qualifies for rehabilitation through this program. Therefore, we have to expand local efforts to redevelop our commercial corridors.

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2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Broome County Employment(in thousands)

Source: "Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program." Department of Labor. Accessed October 28, 2016. https://www.labor.ny.gov/stats/laus.asp.

YEAR

EMPLOYEDPERSONS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Low-income areas have few commercial and retail options, which limits access to goods and employment opportunities.8 Establishing a commercial corridor revital-ization initiative in impoverished areas would drastically improve the overall economic contribution of preexisting structures and strengthen surrounding neighborhoods. By implementing an initiative to reform existing commer-cial spaces, low-income areas will see facade improve-ments, a decrease in vacant lots, and more employment opportunities.9

The San Francisco Bay-Area instituted a similar program, the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Neighbor-hood Marketplace Initiative (NMI), which proved to be invaluable. It relied on the collaborated efforts of state and local governments as well as private funding from LISC-associated groups, drawing a majority of its resourc-es from grants.10 Perceived safety and attractiveness of these NMI areas increased, and in three years, communi-ty lot vacancies dropped from 20% to 7%.11 The NMI also succeeded in attracting new businesses, such as grocery stores and restaurants, which met needs previously un-fulfilled by existing establishments.12

Because a Broome County revitalization initiative would rely on preexisting and up-to-code structures instead of constructing new commercial buildings, it is much more cost effective. Possible funding options for an initiative in Broome County include grants from the County, grants from New York State, and investments from the private sector.

Revitalize commercial corridors

Encourage business cooperatives

“What do you believe are the most important issues affecting the local area?”

A cooperative is a business that is owned and operated by its employees with lower startup costs than traditional businesses.13 As an owner, income is based off of produc-tivity, tying work ethic to income. In one study, a group of housekeepers making $24,000 annually formed a coopera-tive and increased their incomes to approximately $40,000 a year.14 Co-ops also tend to be more stable: only 10% of co-ops fail within the first year, compared to 60-80% of tradi-tional businesses.15 Lastly, co-ops have a positive impact on local economies, where owners are typically from the same area as the cooperative and will likely invest their earnings there.16

The first step Broome County must take is lowering the property taxes for new co-ops. As of 2014, Binghamton has one of the highest property tax rates in all of New York, resulting in the discouragement of potential cooperative owners.17 Broome County should also manage an advertis-ing campaign on the benefits of co-ops, help direct co-op owners towards existing state and federal grants, and fur-ther collaborate for their business expansion and success.

11

BEE), and the Southern Tier High Technology Incubator, we envision the modernization of Broome County’s economy through youthful entrepreneurship initiatives. To increase the accessibility of these resources, the County Legislature and Binghamton University can allocate funds towards a competitive grant program for student entrepreneurs. In order to finance a pilot program, tax revenue from Broome County’s Occupancy Tax, two percent of which is dedicated to economic development, can be dedicated to the student entrepreneurship grant program. In return for incubator space, access to startup trainings, and housing-assistance programs, winners of the grant competition agree to locate their businesses in Broome County.

POVERTY39%


19%


12%

HEROIN EPIDEMIC10%

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

9%


7%

OTHER4%

PUBLIC EDUCATION

We believe that all students should have the opportunity to achieve a higher education. All students deserve the resources and attention necessary to develop the skillsdemanded by a modern economy.

The level of education one receives has been proven time and again to greatly impact the outcomes people achieve later in their life. Whether a person can successfully gradu-ate from high school fundamentally impacts not only their ability to achieve a better future, but also what sort of future their children may have. In the City of Binghamton, where a third of the population lives in poverty, high school gradua-tion rates have decreased.1 In 2015, the graduation rate in Binghamton City School District was 54%, down 6% from 2014.2 When compared to the average for New York State, 78%, Binghamton’s graduation rate is 24% lower.3 Further-more, Binghamton’s drop-out rate was 13% higher than the state average.4

In order to help solve this issue, Binghamton University and SUNY Broome must collaborate with Binghamton City Schools to provide college student tutor-mentors to middle and high school students. This policy represents an expansion of current efforts by Binghamton University in the Johnson City School District. According to a study conducted by the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, mentoring programs “can produce…improved school attendance and performance – leading to increased graduation rates…”5 The goal of this program is to offer a model of success for the younger students, in addition to assisting them with subjects they might find challenging. By participating in this program, college students would receive college credit and valuable experience in the secondary school environment. From this point, the program will expand to other areas of Broome County where academic goals are not being achieved. The expansion of mentorship programs in Broome County is a simple and cost-effective step towards better outcomes for Binghamton's secondary students.

Expand University mentorship programs


“What do you believe are the most important issues affecting the local area?”


government?”

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POVERTY39%


19%


12%

HEROIN EPIDEMIC10%

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

9%


7%

OTHER4%

URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

We believe that infrastructure is-sues in Broome County must be handled urgently and creatively to ensure a sustainable and equitable life for both current and future generations.

Stormwater management is a significant problem facing Broome County. Approximately 26 square miles of Broome County are found within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), with around 3.7 square miles located within 500-year floodplains, including several urban areas. Severe storms and heavy rainfall caused a “100 year flood” in 2005, only to be followed by a “500 year flood” in 2006 and yet another severe flood in 2011.1 Ultimately, in the 2011 flood alone, Broome and Tioga County experienced $1 billion worth of damage and 20,000 people were evacuated.2,3 In addition, Broome County has a critical sewage problem. Traditional stormwater and wastewater treatment plants are costly to maintain and repair: the estimated annual opera-tion and maintenance cost of Broome County’s three waste-water treatment plants is $8,600,000.4 Currently, there are several flood control ponds and proposals for green infra-structure in Broome County, but there are no large-scale green wastewater treatment projects.5

Transforming brownfields (former industrial/commercial sites with environmental contamination) into rain gardens will alleviate flooding and urban decay. Binghamton’s 2016 bud-get allocated only $50,000 to repairing flood walls, which is insufficient for proper floodwater mitigation.9 Rain gardens are cost-effective complements to flood walls: The River-front Park rain garden constructed in Middlebury, Vermont cost only $5,700, and was funded by environmental orga-nizations and public donation.10 Public groups can establish ownership of brownfields through the help of environmental organizations and the community, receiving funding through environmental interest groups, programs/initiatives, and donations. In addition, every dollar invested in stormwater infrastructure has been shown to save five dollars.11 Rain gardens are spatially efficient and practical tools for mitigat-ing floods, as a 2,000 sq ft garden can absorb runoff from approximately 20,500 sq ft of surrounding land.12 Utilizing New York State’s Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program, Binghamton can convert underutilized land into productive areas with positive environmental qualities and increased property values. One study found that brownfield remedi-ation increased housing values between 5.1% and 12.8%.13 Rain gardens in Binghamton can thus resolve a variety of issues at once, such as flooding, air pollution, loss of biodi-versity, urban decay, low property values, and community health.

The costs of operating wastewater treatment facilities and further costs to repair flood damage are insensible. Con-structed wetlands are a superior alternative to wastewater treatment facilities and have the potential to mitigate flood-ing in addition to treating water in a cheaper and more envi-ronmentally-friendly way. Flooding can be mitigated through the absorption and slowed rate of storm runoff in wetlands. In terms of cost, multiple case studies exhibited far cheaper capital and operating expenses for wetlands than traditional sewage treatment plants.6 The Bluebelt Drainage Basin in New York City drained 14,000 acres and saved $80 million compared to “conventional sewer costs.”7 There are many desirable sites along the Susquehanna River for construct-ed wetlands. One 27.2 acre site in Union, NY, a former aero-nautics factory, sits on a creek and floodplain.8 A wetland on this site would result in cheaper costs than the maintenance of Broome County’s current facilities. A constructed wetland is an excellent option for economical wastewater treatment.

Construct rain gardens in brownfields



government?”

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Develop constructed wetlands

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HEROIN EPIDEMIC

As of Spring 2016, the White House designated Broome County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.1 Broome County is now being given more law enforcement resourc-es, but we need to help those suffering from the disease of addiction and invest in substance abuse prevention programs. The current projected drug overdose death rate in Broome County is 40.8 per 100,000, while the New York State rate is 9.1.2 Between 2011 and 2014, the number of drug overdose deaths in Broome County have tripled,3 and the NYS Department of Health indicates a 177% increase in the number of newborns addicted to heroin in Broome County.4

“What do you believe are the most import-ant issues affecting the local area?”

We believe in a system that protects the universal right to health, recognizes addiction as a disease, and educates our youth on the dangers of substance abuse. With Broome County facing one of the worst health crises in its history, we must remove the barriers to accessible treatment and combat the heroin epidemic as a unified community.

Local resources available for addiction treatment are reserved for short-term inpatient programs and outpatient treatment. The inpatient program offered, through New Horizons in Binghamton General Hospital, provides 20 beds for 10 to 28 days of care; the Addictions Crisis Center provides 18 beds. The two outpatient programs offered, through Addiction Center of Broome County and New Horizons, provide narcotic agonist (methadone) main-tenance treatment prescriptions to addicts by means of controlled daily doses.5

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POVERTY39%


19%


12%

HEROIN EPIDEMIC10%

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

9%


7%

OTHER4%

Opiate Deaths in Broome County 2010-2016

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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Source: WBNG News. "Report: 53 Drug Overdose Deaths in Broome Coun-ty." WBNG-TV: News, Sports and Weather Binghamton, New York. August 26, 2016. Accessed October 29, 2016. http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Report-53-drug-overdose-deaths-in-Broome-County-391412451.html.

YEAR

DEATHS

“The opioid health crisis is the most deadly time period in Amer-ican modern history...The im-pacts touch every walk of life and even every citizen; therefore, the only solution is through engage-ment and care, by every citizen.”

- Alexis PleusFounder and President

of Truth Pharm

We need a treatment center that will focus on treating the individual. Dependence on opioids alters brain chemis-try and can leave its victims at the mercy of brain-related disorders anywhere from months to years following drug abstinence. However, these victims can be effectively treat-ed if committed to by a society looking past overwhelming addiction stigmas. Currently, hospital emergency rooms are not required to and do not currently admit or transfer patients that have overdosed to detox programs, nor do they effectually schedule appointments for treatment refer-rals. Those seeking treatment services for their addiction must be evaluated by physicians, however, the wait time for such appointments ranges from two days to five weeks in New York. The development of a drug rehabilitation and detox center in Broome County will decimate current time intensive accessibility to effective inpatient and outpatient opioid treatments, while immediately providing access to more long-term therapy, additional public education pro-grams in the surrounding communities, and creating jobs to help facilitate center operations. By more definitively conceptualizing the terms “detox” and “treatment,” outlining the expectations of both short and long-term objectives of rehabilitation, increasing awareness of the rights of users in the workforce to encourage their rehabilitation, and offer-ing same-day evaluations, we can combat and reverse the impacts of this epidemic.


The Broome County Legislature must allocate the excise tax revenue from future medical marijuana sales to an annual competitive grant program for substance abuse counseling and prevention programs to Promise Zone schools. The prevention programs should have an educational emphasis on the dangers of opiate and heroin addiction. Colorado’s Board of Education grant program serves as an example of a successful system for using marijuana tax revenue to provide drug counseling and prevention programs to young adults. This program provides annual funding in the form of competitive grants to various schools districts. In 2014, Col-orado’s Joint Budget Committee allocated $2.5 million, with grants ranging from $50,000 to $169,232, from the medical marijuana excise tax revenue to approved school districts.6 Using this example, the funding for Broome County’s com-petitive grant program will come solely from the sales on medical marijuana.

The County will receive 22.5% of all gross receipts of medical marijuana sales, with $100,000 allocated to the Department of Social Services for general opiate programs.7 This fund can be divided into separate grants for schools in the Broome County Promise Zone.8 Currently, these schools receive only $416,000 annually from the state.9 Promise Zone schools can then apply for grants to hire health work-ers to specifically focus on substance abuse programs, with a particular emphasis on the dangers of opiate and heroin addiction. The Broome County Legislature must create a coalition between the Promise Zone, Department of Social Services, and the Broome County Opioid Abuse Council to facilitate these educational programs and combat the hero-in epidemic in our schools.

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Create a rehabilitation and detox center Allocate tax revenue from medical marijuana sales to fund substance abuse prevention programs

16

Next Steps

Improve the accessibility of local government by visiting campus, en-gage in substantive discussions to learn about student interests, and hold a County Legislature meeting on campus once per semester.

Create a collective voice that reflects all of Broome County’s citizens in the decision-making pro-cesses that affect our daily lives…

Advocate for the creation of an Office of Student Affairs and a Student Advisory Committee to the County Executive to understand what mat-ters to students and include them in the decision-making processes.

Support accessible voting practices and inform students of local races during non-presidential years.

Recruit student interns onto local campaigns and into legislative offices to get them more involved in government.

Strengthen the relationship between students, faculty and Broome County residents to benefit all communities with a unified vision of progress...

Hold events and outreach efforts on campus to educate students about candidates at the local level.

Create a dialogue between student organizations, local businesses and events through a centralized platform.

Increase service learning opportunities at Binghamton University to promote civil responsibility.

Expand Binghamton University community programs into underserved areas and identify community needs.

Make university budgeting more transparent and open to student input.

While our Blueprint is just a start to reimagining the rules of Broome County, our calls to action can only be recognized if we pressure local officals and administrators to...

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EndnotesStudent Engagement1 Undergraduate Admissions, Binghamton University. “Binghamton Class Profile.” Binghamton University. https://www.binghamton.edu/admissions/profile.html.2 Binghamton University, “Binghamton University Economic Impact.” Binghamton University Advocacy. August 16, 2016. https://www.binghamton.edu/advocacy/eco-nomic-impact.html. 3 United States of America. Department of Commerce. U.S Census Bureau. U.S Cen-sus Quick Facts. 2015. Accessed October 28, 2016. http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/36007.4 Brennan, Colin and Cook, Kristi, “Why college students aren’t voting (and why it matters)” USA Today, 25 September, 2015. Accessed 10/26/16, http://college.usato-day.com/2015/09/25/why-college-students-arent-voting/. 5 Ibid.6 Kemp, Roger L. “Town and Gown Relations Revitalize America’s Downtowns.” Na-tional Civic Review 103, no. 2 (Summer 2014): 27-29. Accessed November 27, 2016.7 “Freshman Day of Service.” California State University East Bay. 2016. Accessed October 28, 2016. http://www.csueastbay.edu/faculty/ofd/communityengagement/freshmen-day-of-service/.

Safety1 Borelli, Anthony. “Binghamton’s Homicide Total Highest in Several Years.” Press and Sun-Bulletin, October 15, 2015. http://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/public-safe-ty/2016/10/14/murders-shooting-binghamtons-5th-homicide-2016/92005182/. 2 NYOJSA. NY Index Crimes By County. 2015. Raw data. New York, Albany. 3 Newsom, John. “Blue-light Phones a Mainstay of Campuses.” Greensboro News & Record. March 23, 2014. Accessed October 26, 2016. http://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/blue-light-phones-a-mainstay-of-campuses/article_0f487ee5-e056-5a21-8a8b-0813499ddc82.html.4 Mackof, Alexandra. “Students Bring past Assault to Light.” Pipe Dream. February 05, 2016. Accessed October 26, 2016. https://www.bupipedream.com/news/64834/spring-2014-assault/.5 La Vigne, Nancy G., Samantha S. Lowry, Joshua A. Markman, and Allison M. Dwyer. Evaluating the Use of Public Surveillance Cameras for Crime Control and Prevention - A Summary. Urban Institute. Justice Policy Center. September 2011. http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/412401-Evaluating-the-Use-of-Pub-lic-Surveillance-Cameras-for-Crime-Control-and-Prevention-A-Summary.PDF. 6 Ibid.7 Ibid.8 Aglialoro, Matthew. “Case for Actual Innocence” Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, 2014. Accessed October 13, 2016 http://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/cgi/view-content.cgi?article=1405&context=cjlpp 9 Lussenhop, Jessica. “Could ‘Actual Innocence’ Save the Broken U.S Justice Sys-tem?” BBC News Magazine, April 21, 2016. Accessed October 13, 2016.10 Stambor, Zak. “How Reliable is Eyewitness Testimony?” APA Monitor on Psychol-ogy, 2006. Accessed October 11th, 2016. http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr06/eyewit-ness.aspx11 Lussenhop, Jessica, “Could ‘Actual Innocence’ Save the Broken U.S Justice Sys-tem?”12 Gill, C., Weisburd, D., Telep, C.W. “Community-oriented policing to reduce crime, disorder and fear and increase satisfaction and legitimacy among citizens: a system-atic review” Journal of Experimental Criminology, 2014. Accessed October 14, 2016. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11292-014-9210-y.

Poverty1 United States Census Bureau. “Broome County, New York.” QuickFacts. 2015. http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/36007. 2 Howe, Steve. “Food Deserts Present Challenges beyond Groceries.” Press & Sun-Bulletin. August 18, 2014. Accessed October 25, 2016.3 Ibid.4 Ibid.5 Peixoto, Julianne. “47% of Binghamton Children Living in Poverty.” WBNG-TV. Au-gust 25, 2015. Accessed October 23, 2016. http://www.wbng.com/news/local/47-Bing-hamton-children-living-in-poverty-322873801.html. 6 Casey, Patrick H., Kitty L. Szeto, James M. Robbins, Janice E. Stuff, Carol Connell, Jeffery M. Gossett, and Pippa M. Simpson. “Child health-related quality of life and household food security.” Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine 159, no. 1 (2005): 51-56.7 Tarasuk, Valerie S., and George H. Beaton. “Household food insecurity and hunger among families using food banks.” Canadian Journal of Public Health 90, no. 2 (1999): 109-113.8 Wright, James D., Amy M. Donley, Marie C. Gualtieri, and Sara M. Strickhouser. “Food Deserts: What Is the Problem? What Is the Solution?” Society 53, no. 2 (Febru-ary 17, 2016): 171-81. doi:10.1007/s12115-016-9993-8.

9 Brockett, Megan. “’Mobile Market’ Headed to Binghamton’s North Side.” Press & Sun-Bulletin. June 15, 2016. Accessed October 23, 2016. http://www.press-connects.com/story/news/local/2016/06/15/mobile-market-headed-bingham-tons-north-side/85938486/. 10 Howe, Steve. “Binghamton’s North Side Slated for Independent Grocery.” Press & Sun-Bulletin. July 30, 2014. Accessed October 23, 2016. http://www.presscon-nects.com/story/news/local/2014/07/30/david-addresses-binghamton-food-des-ert/13350819/.11 Lang B, Harries C, Manon M, Tucker J, Kim E, Ansell S and Smith P. (2013). Healthy Food Financing Handbook. Philadelphia, PA: The Food Trust.12 “Broome County’s Anti-Poverty Task Force Receives $1.5 Million Grant.” FOX40. May 26, 2016. Accessed October 23, 2016. http://www.wicz.com/story/32075677/broome-countys-anti-poverty-task-force-receives-15-million-grant.13 “Southern Tier Wins $500M Prize for Economic Development.” WBNG-TV. December 10, 2015. Accessed October 26, 2016. http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Upstate-Revitalization-Initiative-results--361429231.html.

Economic Development1 NYSDOL. Broome County Unemployment Data. September 2016. Raw data. New York, Albany.2 “Broome County New York QuickFacts,” United States Census Bureau, 2010-2015, accessed October 19, 2016, http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/36007.3 Ibid. 4 “Broome County Comprehensive Plan: Building Our Future,” Go Broome County, 12, accessed October 18, 2016, http://www.gobroomecounty.com/files/planning/_pdf/Comprehensive Plan/compplan_landuse(2).pdf5 “Broome County Department of Planning and Economic Development,” Blue-print Binghamton, accessed October 21, 2016, http://blueprintbinghamton.com/files/4513/8185/0482/BroomeCountyBrownfieldProgram.pdf.6 “Brownfields Development Initiative,” City of Binghamton, accessed October 21, 2016, http://www.binghamton-ny.gov/departments/planning-housing-community-de-velopment/planning/brownfield-opportunity-areas.7 Ellis, By Katie. “Panel Examines New York’s ‘rural Brain Drain’.” Inside Binghamton University. Accessed October 28, 2016. http://www.binghamton.edu/inside/index.php/inside/story/1354/panel-examines-new-yorks-rural-brain-drain/.8 Dunlap, Helen, and Carl Vogel. “Revitalizing Commercial Corridors: Lessons from LISC MetroEdge.” Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Summer 2015. Accessed Oc-tober 19, 2016. https://www.philadelphiafed.org/community-development/publications/cascade/88/03_lessons-on-revitalizing-commercial-corridors. 9 Sideroff, Desiree, and Chris Walker. Building Community through Economic De-velopment: An Evaluation of the Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative. Publication. January 2011. http://programs.lisc.org/bay_area/images/resources/asset_upload_file808_17204.pdf. 10 Ibid.11 Ibid.12 Ibid.13 Merriam-Webster. Accessed October 21, 2016. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/co–op.14 “What Works: Using A Cooperative Model to Increase Latina Wages” Accessed Oc-tober 21, 2016. http://icic.org/works-using-cooperative-model-increase-latina-wages/.15 Williams, Richard G. “The Cooperative Movement.” United Diversity. Accessed October 21, 2016. http://library.uniteddiversity.coop/Cooperatives/The_Coopera-tive_Movement.pdf.16 Gordon-Nembhard, Jessica. Benefits and Impacts of Cooperatives. Howard Univer-sity. February 2014. Accessed October 21, 2016. http://coas.howard.edu/centeronrace-andwealth/reports&publications/0213-benefits-and-impacts-of-cooperatives.pdf.17 Brockett, Megan. “High Taxes Brand Binghamton - Binghamton New York News.” December 16, 2014. Accessed October 21, 2016. http://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/2014/12/12/high-taxes-brand-binghamton/20315101/.

Education1 New York State Community Action Association. New York State Poverty Report 2016. Report. 2016. 2 “Binghamton High School Graduation Rate Data 4 Year Outcome as of July.” New York State Education Department. 2015. https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?-year=2015&instid=800000055085. 3 Ibid.4 Ibid.5 Anton, Paul A., and Judy Temple. Analyzing the Social Return on Investment in Youth Mentoring Programs: A Framework for Minnesota. Report. March 2007.

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Urban Infrastructure1 Masters, Jeff. “Tropical Storm Lee’s Flood in Binghamton: Was Global Warming the Final Straw?” Weather Underground. December 14, 2011. Accessed September 21, 2016. https://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/tropical-storm-lees-flood-in-binghamton-was-global-warming-the-final. 2 Ibid.3 Burton, Haley. “Thursday Flooding: Sheltering Thousands.” WBNG-TV. September 8, 2011. Accessed October 27, 2016. http://www.wbng.com/news/video/Thursday-Flood-ing-Event-Evacuation-129488923.html. 4 Stearns & Wheler, LLC. Broome County Wastewater Systems Financial Feasibility Study. Report no. 6109910. December 2007. http://www.gobroomecounty.com/files/planning/_pdf/Broome5 “Current Projects.” Broome County Engineering. Accessed October 27, 2016. http://www.gobroomecounty.com/engineering/projects. 6 United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Water. Constructed Treatment Wetlands. August 2004. https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/30005UPS.PDF?Dockey=30005UPS.PDF. 7 Rosenzweig, Cynthia, David C. Major, Kate Demong, Christina Stanton, Radley Horton, and Melissa Stults. “Managing Climate Change Risks in New York City’s Water System: Assessment and Adaptation Planning.” Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 12, no. 8 (April 03, 2007): 1391-409. doi:10.1007/s11027-006-9070-5. 8 Town of Union GIS Property Data. 2016. Raw data. http://imo.co.broome.ny.us/prop-detail.aspx?swis=034689&printkey=143062000100100000009 United States. City of Binghamton. 2016 Adopted Budget. http://www.bing-hamton-ny.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/2016%20Adopted%20Bud-get-rev2015.12.27.pdf. 10 Vermont. Department of Environmental Conservation. Watershed Management Division. Riverfront Park Rain Garden. http://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/wsm/erp/docs/sw_gi_case_study_riverfront_park.pdf. 11 “Natural Solutions for Reducing Flood Risk.” The Nature Conservancy. Accessed September 25, 2016. http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/riverslakes/natu-ral-solutions-for-reducing-flood-risk.xml. 12 Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Riverfront Park Rain Garden. 13 Haninger, Kevin, Lala Ma, and Christopher Timmins. Estimating the Impacts of Brownfield Remediation on Housing Property Values. Working paper no. EE 12-08. Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy, Duke University. August 2012. http://sites.nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/environmentaleconomics/files/2013/01/WP-EE-12-08.pdf.

Heroin Epidemic1 “White House Drug Policy Director Announces Designation of 14 Counties as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.” The White House. January 15, 2016. Ac-cessed October 25, 2016. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/01/15/white-house-drug-policy-director-announces-designation-14-counties-high2 “Report: 53 Drug Overdose Deaths in Broome County.” WBNG-TV: News, Sports and Weather Binghamton, New York. August 26, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2016. http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Report-53-drug-overdose-deaths-in-Broome-Coun-ty-391412451.html3 Ibid.4 “Addicted Newborns Increasing on Long Island.” Newsday. November 22, 2015. Accessed October 26, 2016. http://data.newsday.com/long-island/data/health/addict-ed-newborns/. 5 “Heroin Epidemic: Local Addiction Treatment Resources.” WBNG Bingham-ton. Accessed October 25, 2016. http://www.wbng.com/news/local/The-strug-gle-to-get-clean-Local-heroin-addiction-treatment-resources-350717221.html?m=y&s-mobile=y6 Robles, Yesenia. “Colorado hands out $975,000 in pot funds to schools for health workers.” The Denver Post. Last modified November 13, 2014. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_26926069/colorado-hands-out-975-000-pot-funds-schools.7 Compassionate Care NY. Summary of New York’s Medical Marijuana Law (S7923/A6357-E). Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.compassionatecareny.org/wp-con-tent/uploads/Summary-of-New-Yorks-New-Medical-Marijuana-Law-Aug-2015.pdf.8 Roby, John R. “Broome declines to divert marijuana funds for heroin fight.” Press & Sun-Bulletin. Last modified September 17, 2015. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.pressconnects.com/story/ news/2015/09/17/broome-weighs-plan-fight-heroin-pot-proceeds/32533911/.9 Feaver, Christopher. “Education initiative shows great Promise.” Press & Sun-Bulle-tin. Last modified December 5, 2014. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.press-connects.com/story/news/education/2014/12/05/broome-promise-zones/19971647/?-from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=.

PhotographsUnless otherwise indicated, all photos are by the Roosevelt Institute at Binghamton University.

CoverDousmanis, Evangelos, "Binghamton University Campus Alley," October 2, 2001, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Binghamton_university_campus_alley.jpg. This image is under CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

SafetyDavidson, Scott, “Police Car Lights,” from Law Enforcement, October 27, 2006, https://www.flickr.com/photos/33129669@N05/3090392251/. This image is under CC BY 2.0 license.

PovertyJason Garnar for County Executive, still image from “Join Jason Garnar,” 0:11, https://www.facebook.com/jasongarnar2016/videos/10154128343897672/.

Urban InfrastructureFlickr user melland, “Interstate 86 - NYS Rt17,” from Binghamton District Flood 2011, September 28, 2011, https://www.flickr.com/photos/nyswysa/6192273301/. This image is under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.

Heroin EpidemicImage Provided Courtesy of TruthPharm.

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Special ThanksLead Architects at Binghamton University

Brianna Cea (President)Zachary Frieden (Vice President)Liane Ng (Bing for Broome Advisor)Austin Perelka (Director of Public Relations)Garrett Shor (Committee Chairman)

Working Groups

Student EngagementBrianna CeaRyan PortiGarrett Shor

Public Safety Zachary FriedenGarrett Shor

PovertyEamon Ross

Economic DevelopmentBrianna CeaKatelyn JardineRyan Porti

EducationAaron HillJohn Santare

Urban InfrastructureBrent KavalerLevi Matza

Heroin EpidemicBrianna CeaShannon MooreAustin Perelka

Student Opinions Research Team

Kelly BenderBrianna CeaMolly DixonZachary FriedenJoe GundersonLiane NgPriya PandeyAustin PerelkaRyan PortiChristele SemeGarrett ShorBrian WongKelly Zheng

Graphic Designers

Liane NgChristele Seme

Special thanks to Johnson City Primary School, Alexis Pleus, Jason Garnar, Milton Chester, and everyone else involved in the creation of this document.

Additional thanks to Harpur Edge for pro-viding a meeting space in which to perform data and policy analysis.

Quotes have been modified for clarity throughout the document.

REIMAGINING THE RULES OF BROOME COUNTY#RooImpact #WhoseRules

final bing blueprint edited 12_08 (to print)

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