Actions Against Antler Lodge Called “Stereotyping”

An official of the group which has used the Antler Lodge for decades says Binghamton Mayor Richard David is "trying to run us off our land."

Christina Archie-Brown at the Antler Lodge on July 12, 2016. [Bob Joseph/WNBF News][/caption]

Christina Archie-Brown, Daughter Ruler of Elks United, strongly criticized the mayor after his latest comments concerning the Chenango Street facility which is home to the Triple Cities Nu Temple.

David on Tuesday announced the city has "advanced multiple actions in cracking down on criminal activity" at the Antler Lodge.

During an interview broadcast on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program Wednesday, Archie-Brown said the Nu Temple has utilized the location for more than 30 years.

Archie-Brown said the city's efforts to use the Lockdown Law after a fatal shooting near the Antler Lodge last July have been "very unfair, very unjust." She said the mayor did not speak with group members before he discussed his concerns with the media.

Archie-Brown said the organization's members are "very insulted at the way" David is "making us look like a band of hoodlums." In fact, she said, the members are "hard-working" and "good people."

Archie-Brown said the mayor had not returned calls made to invite him to the Antler Lodge and learn more about the organization. She said there has been no history of violence at the site.

Archie-Brown said the group's leaders planned to meet to discuss a tentative deal to sell the site to developers working on a project next door. She suggested the organization might decide against the sale.

Archie-Brown charged racial "stereotyping" was behind the "targeting" of the Antler Lodge. She said the mayor "should be ashamed of himself" for his handling of the matter. She maintained David "doesn't like the looks" of some of the people who frequent the place. She asserted "he's just trying to ruin us."

Archie-Brown maintained the Antler Lodge situation is a reflection of a wider problem of "racial profiling" in Binghamton.

Given the events of recent months, Archie-Brown said she was angry and "heartbroken."

The mayor was not immediately available to respond to Archie-Brown's comments.

LISTEN to the Binghamton Now interview with Christina Archie-Brown.

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