Mayor Kraham Highlights Success of New Approach to Housing Code Prosecutions

City Attorney Recognized by Bar Association for Work on Unsafe Living Conditions

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.)—Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Tuesday highlighted several major court victories by the City of Binghamton's code prosecutor, a position created in 2022 to take on serious housing cases.

Mayor Kraham said: "When I ran for this office, I pledged to hold problem property owners accountable. Through a new code prosecutor position, my administration is delivering and fighting back against the bad landlords who force families to live in unsafe housing and hurt entire neighborhoods. I appreciate the many hours of hard work by the City's code prosecutor and Code enforcement officers to protect the integrity of Binghamton's neighborhoods."

Shortly after taking office, Mayor Kraham created a dedicated City attorney position to prosecute slumlords and repeat code offenders, with a focus on addressing unsafe housing conditions and persistent blight.

Under the new approach, the City has prosecuted code cases in both City court and New York State Supreme Court, secured fines and compliance from property owners, and arrested out-of-town landlords to enforce court warrants.

Attorney Elisabeth Rossow has filled the code prosecutor role since its inception. Earlier this year, Attorney Rossow received the Broome County Bar Association's Community Service Award for her work.

Mayor Kraham highlighted some of the City's significant court victories:

• 10 Baxter Street—The City secured a plea for $10,000 in fines related to unsafe living conditions, including a cockroach infestation, rat infestation, non-functioning smoke alarms, damaged plumbing lines and faulty electrical wiring and fixtures. The plea included two other properties owned by the same defendant—16 Pleasant Street and 5 Brown Street.
• 11 Baxter Street—The City's prosecution led to $3,000 in fines against the property owner and abatement of all Code violations at the property. The City had cited the property owner for unsafe exits, a cockroach infestation and holes in the walls, kitchen counter, sink, front stairs, floor and bathroom tub.
• 3 Bigelow Street—Property owners pleaded to a total of $4,500 in fines related to multiple housing code charges brought by the City for interior violations, including missing smoke alarms and no heat.
• 70 Broome Street—The City pursued the out-of-town property owner for numerous code citations for poor living conditions, including a rat infestation, non-functioning smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, blocked exits, a broken stove and a broken furnace resulting in no heat to the building. After the defendant failed to appear in court multiple times, the City applied to a Rockland County court for a warrant endorsement. The defendant was arrested in Rockland County and brought to Binghamton for arraignment as a result. Shortly after, the defendant made repairs to the property and paid a $1,500 fine.
• 182 Chapin Street—The court convicted the property owner on 25 housing code charges brought by the City. Conditions included no heat, bed bugs, cockroaches, exposed electrical outlets, damaged gas lines and holes in the roof. The defendant is awaiting sentencing.
• 380 Chenango Street—The City secured a plea from the property owner for $5,000 in fines related to 11 housing code violations, including charges related to a cockroach infestation, roof damage and a plumbing leak.
• 7 Elm Street—The City secured a $3,500 fine against the property owner, who was convicted on charges related to an unsafe front porch, blocked emergency exit and garbage. The court ordered the owner to make repairs.
• 5 Jerome Avenue—The property owner was convicted on all six charges brought by the City for housing code violations, including charges related to unsafe scaffolding, unsafe front stairs and a misaligned wall. The owner was ordered to pay $2,350 in fines and complete repairs.
• 52 Park Street—The City's prosecution resulted in a $3,000 fine against the property owner and abatement of all code violations at the property. Tenants had been displaced due to dangerous living conditions, including raw sewage in the basement, non-functioning smoke detectors, broken windows, plumbing problems and electrical issues.
• 25 Virgil Street—The property owner was convicted of 14 housing code charges brought by the City on violations related to an unsafe two-story porch, missing smoke alarms, missing carbon monoxide alarms, unsafe electrical output, and garbage. The court found the property owner in contempt after failing to make timely repairs and fined $2,250.
• 34 Winding Way—The City secured a plea from the property owner for $4,000 in fines related to 44 housing code violations. Tenants had been displaced due to unsafe living conditions, including broken floor joist beams, damaged foundation, non-functioning smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and plumbing problems.

To report unsafe living conditions or other Code issues in the City of Binghamton, residents may contact the Code Enforcement Department at (607) 772-7004.