Funeral-home owner tells council business disrupted by nearby unhoused residents, cites damage and safety concerns

Tim Sesney, owner of Demon Funeral Home and Cremation Service, told the council during public comment that recent incidents involving people living along the riverbank have disrupted his business, endangered staff and family members, and caused property damage.

Sesney said Binghamton’s efforts to clear the riverside in a recent city action led to displacement that has caused continued disturbances elsewhere. He described waking at 4 a.m. to a neighbor yelling obscenities and said that person later committed domestic violence; he said another person threatened his father on the funeral-home property. Sesney said one individual “broke and destroyed my doors to the funeral home” around Christmas and that he is incurring roughly $5,000 in damage costs.

Sesney thanked the mayor for “cleaning up the city and my side of the street” but said he is considering whether to locate the business outside Binghamton because of repeated disruptions. He urged council members to address the safety and property impacts that he described.

The council received Sesney’s comments during the public‑comment period and did not take immediate action during the Jan. 28 meeting. Several other public commenters later addressed housing and related policy topics.