Binghamton City Council on Wednesday approved an ordinance and companion resolution to accept state funding for a lead domestic-violence analyst in the Binghamton Police Department and to enter an agreement with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for the STRIVE/SCRIBE program.

The measure, introduced as O25-36 to amend the 2025 police budget and followed by resolution R25-37, passed on roll calls of 4-1. Council member Rathbone cast the lone no vote on both items.

Council members said the position — a full-time lead domestic-violence analyst — will be paid about $85,000 a year and is funded in part through the statewide STRIVE/SCRIBE initiative to improve violent-crime analysis and victim services. Supporters described the role as risk-assessment and triage-focused to speed victim services; critics said the program emphasizes law-enforcement involvement rather than survivor autonomy.

"I remain deeply uncomfortable with the anticipated activities of this analyst and how the plan the STRIVE grama executive board proposed for its funding uses the rate of poverty and increases in homelessness in Binghamton to support enhancing the crime analysis center's targeting of poor, unhoused, and underemployed individuals for data analysis and increased surveillance monitoring," Council member Hadassah Madovetsky said during debate.

Council member Kavanaugh described the analyst's duties as helping with risk assessment "to make sure that people are getting assistance in a timely manner based on kind of a triage system" and said the program was presented as "victim centered." Other council members noted that some partner agencies — including local shelters and victim-advocacy organizations — were mentioned in the plan but that most of the $750,000 regional allocation described in the plan goes to police, the sheriff, the district attorney and probation.

Council members additionally discussed that certain community providers referenced in the plan — RISE and CVAC were both mentioned — do not receive equivalent budgeted personnel funding in the grant. One council member said RISE would receive roughly $10,000 of the overall $750,000 described in the application, while CVAC was listed to receive funding for personnel and already coordinates closely with the DA's office.

There was no formal amendment to remove law-enforcement components; rather the council approved the budget change and authorized the mayor to execute the state agreement. Council and staff commented that participation in STRIVE/SCRIBE requires local positions and coordination with multiple agencies.

Council members requested continued oversight and clarity about program implementation and data use while staff said the funding maintains an analyst post that had previously been funded through other sources. The resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into the state agreement (R25-37) was described by staff as necessary to access the state funding.

The council will receive subsequent implementation details and staffing agreements through the normal municipal processes.