Binghamton Human Rights Commission Changes

Members of Binghamton's Human Rights Commission are fighting a plan by Mayor Richard David to change the way appointments are made to the panel.

Commission members now nominate new members but the mayor wants to make appointments himself and have them approved by City Council.

Some Commission members say they see the move as retaliation over disagreements with the administration last year about the police modernization law.

Commission member Sean Massey says he also has concerns that the way the proposal is written up, it could steer the panel’s mission away from issues addressing discrimination against gay and transgender residents and the disabled.

The mayor’s office says almost all appointments to commissions are made by the mayor and approved by council.

City Council could take up the issue during next week’s work session.