Blight to Bright: Pioneering Post-Industrial Cities as Sustainability Hubs

Author: Dahíl Primo

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program, TRiO (SSS, Upward Bound, etc.)

Faculty Mentors: Matthew Cole

Easel: 56

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Binghamton, NY is a northeastern city that holds incredible potential, yet possesses dilapidation and blight after having been a former hub for industry and production. One of the first things students notice when attending its SUNY campus is widespread poverty, abandoned buildings, and unhoused people in Binghamton proper, yet as one travels further into the suburbs, the facades become wealthier. While there are efforts to revitalize the city, several solutions could immediately address problems of job scarcity, food deserts, and urban blight. According to the Climate Clock, humanity has just slightly over 4 years to reduce global warming down to 1.5℃. Put simply, there’s an urgent need for people to take actionable measures to continue having a planet that can sustain human life. This research bridges sustainability initiatives with enduring issues experienced by Binghamton through critically analysing the past, present, and future of its social inequity, infrastructure, and larger applications.