This past Saturday, Binghamton residents, including PLOT (Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow, a youth group organized at Citizen Action), rallied in solidarity with residents of Ferguson, calling for responsible politics and more investment in after-school programs.
Here’s what some of the attendees had to say:
Increased police presence in our schools does not achieve the stated goal of improving safety. To achieve a school climate in which all students and staff feel safe and comfortable to learn and grow, we should continue providing faculty with training and opportunities to solve conflicts and constructively manage student’s needs throughout the day.
– Korin Kirk, Binghamton Resident
Violent crime has been falling, which means that the ratcheting up of law enforcement often leads to police overreach and harassment in our communities. We must track and document each stop police make, and invest in uniform cameras to help create a culture of accountability.
-Cory Ray, Binghamton Community Member
Today we are here to make a bold demand: that every kid in Binghamton be entitled to free after school and summer programming.
-Andy Pragacz, Binghamton University PhD student currently researching jails in upstate New York
Those gathered offered these opportunities to get more involved in working on these issues:
Community Attitudes towards Law Enforcement Survey – Binghamton University Research Project
Become a surveyor and travel the neighborhood collecting stories and data from residents about their experiences with Law Enforcement.
Contact: Dr. Sean Massey 607-245-9740
Email: [email protected]
Volunteer or Intern with The Boys and Girls Club:
Supervise and engage with children attending various after school programs at the Boys and Girls Club.
Contact: Kymel Yard 1-718-710-0286
Email: [email protected]
Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT)
Learn organizing skills, how to create actions and exert pressure on public officials, or even run for office!
Contact: Cory Ray 607-226-3437
Email: [email protected]
School Board Meetings
These meetings are open to the public and are held every third tuesday at 7 p.m. in the 3rd Floor Board Room, Columbus School, 164 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY. It is a good place to express concerns and learn about the inner-workings of our schools!
Contact: District Clerk Sanya Brown 762-8100 Extension : 319
Email: [email protected]
City Council Meetings
These Meetings are also open to the public, they are held usually every tuesday, with a public work session on mondays. City Council Meetings take place in the Council Chambers in Binghamton City Hall at 38 Hawley Street. For more information, you can visit www.binghamton-ny.gov/departments/city-council/city-council
Contact: City Hall (607) 772-7021