Anzaroot Calls Kraham’s Criticism of Him “Absolutely Ludicrous”

Isaac Anzaroot, who owns dozens of properties in Binghamton, contends Mayor Jared Kraham is targeting him for political gain.

Anzaroot appeared in Binghamton City Court on Monday in connection with some of the code violations that he's facing.

According to WIVT/binghamtonhomepage.com, Anzaroot contends there's a conspiracy to drive him out of the Binghamton area.

Kraham has repeatedly criticized Anzaroot, both before and since he became mayor of the city. During his campaign, he described Anzaroot as "Binghamton's most notorious slumlord."

During a live WNBF News interview Tuesday, Anzaroot called that characterization "absolutely ludicrous." He suggested Kraham was "using me as a political ploy to advance his career."

Anzaroot said "the mayor doesn't like the fact that I have a vision." He said that "vision includes building up all of these properties and restoring Binghamton to its glory." He said he acquires blighted properties with the intention of renovating them.

Anzaroot said Kraham "believes I'm an easy target."  He said his name "stirs a lot of publicity and I think that's what he was looking for" by singling him out "as the number one bad guy."

Anzaroot said he began buying properties in the Binghamton area about two decades ago because "I saw a need." He said "a lot of these houses" had not been maintained over the years. He said "I saw an opportunity to buy these properties, fix them up, get them back and house people."

Police arrested Anzaroot at one of his properties - a historic former bank building at 95 Court Street - last July. Binghamton City Court had issued warrants regarding several alleged housing code violations.

In an email to WNBF News Tuesday evening, Mayor Kraham wrote: "We’ll make our arguments in court — however prosecution outside the City of Binghamton seems to contradict much of what he’s saying."

LISTEN: Isaac Anzaroot discussed his Broome County properties and alleged code violations during a WNBF News interview on March 28, 2023.

This story was updated to include a comment from Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.