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CONNECT NEW YORK IS SPONSORED BY JAMES JORDAN ASSOCIATES ARCHITECT PROVIDING SERVICES THROUGH SCIENCE THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE.

JAMES JORDAN ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS WITH OFFICES IN RICHFIELD SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

>> WELCOME TO WCNY'S LIVE COVERAGE OF MAYOR OF SYRACUSE BEN WEATHER APP.

'S CITY FER STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.

I'M HOST THE PRESSROOM AND YOU ARE WATCHING A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF THE MAYOR'S SEVENTH STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS AND STICK AROUND FOR ANALYSIS OF THE REMARKS WITH JEREMY BOYAR, AND MAURICE BROWN AN ONONDAGA COUNTY LEG FOR AND DEBRA OWENS.

WE WILL HEAR FROM MAYOR BEN WEATHER APP.

SHORTLY.

BEFORE WE DO WE WILL SET THE SCENE FOR TONIGHT'S ADDRESS.

MAURICE IS THERE ANYTHING YOU THINK THE MAYOR NEEDS TO ADDRESS?

TOPICS YOU THINK THAT ARE TOP OF MINDS FOR REINS OF SYRACUSE?

>> YES.

I WOULD HOPE HOUSING.

I'M HOPING HOUSING IS ONE OF THE THINGS HE MENTIONS.

TRANSPORTATION IS BIG, BUT OUR HOUSING, WE NEED SO MUCH MORE HOUSING.

I'M HOPING HOUSING GETS ADDRESSED.

>> WE GOT GOOD NEWS FOR YOU BECAUSE JEREMY BOYAR REPORTED THAT THE MAYOR IS LIKELY TO TOUCH ON HOUSING.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM MAYOR WALSH?

>> I THINK WE REPORTED TODAY HE IS GOING TO BE ANNOUNCING A COUPLE OF BIG HOUSING PROJECTS COMING INTO THE PIPELINE.

A DOWNTOWN HIGH-RISE BUILDING WITH 300 UNITS AND A PLANNED COMMUNITY, HIGH DENSITY PLANNED COMMUNITY WHICH IS NOT GOING TO BE YOUR TYPICAL SUBURBAN SUBDIVISION OUT AT AN OLD GOLF COURSE THE LAFAYETTE HILLS GOLF COURSE.

BUT HE IS GOING TO TOUCH ON A LOT OF THE THINGS THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF.

THE CITY'S HOUSING STUDY THAT WAS COMPLETED IN THE FIRST -- THE STUDY WAS COMPLETED LAST SPRING.

IDENTIFIED A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND A LOT OF CHALLENGES.

THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIC PHASE.

AND GOING TO PUT THAT OUT IN APRIL.

SO HE IS GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT PROCESS.

AND THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE INHERENT IN THE CITY'S HOUSING MARKET RIGHT NOW.

>> DO YOU ANTIS PARTICIPATE HE IS GOING TO BROACH THE IDEA OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT HE WANTS TO INVEST IN AND GOTTEN PUSHBACK FROM COUNSELORS?

>> I THINK HE WILL TALK ABOUTED HOUSES TRUST FUND THAT THE COUNCIL DID AFTER GIVE AND TAKE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, THEY DID APPROVE AT THE END OF DECEMBER.

AND I AM SURE HE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE AT WITH THAT.

I DON'T THINK HE IS GOING TO TALK TOO BROADLY ABOUT BIG PICTURE PUBLIC DEVELOPER TYPE THINGS.

BUT I'M SURE HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE THE HOUSING TRUST IS OFF AND RUNNING AND PROBABLY TO BE HEARD FROM SOON.

>> MAURICE, YOU MENTIONED TRANSPORTATION.

I'VE DONE THE SPEECH AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES UP IS RAPID BUS TRANSIT.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT OR OTHER TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION?

>> YES.

THE RAPID BUS RAPID TRANSIT.

IT'S BUS RAPID TRANSIT.

>> I AM A DRIVER.

>> IT THE BRT WILL DO FREQUENT SERVICE.

SO LIKE OUR CENTRAL RIGHT NOW THEY SERVE MANY, MANY AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY BUT THERE ARE FEW AREAS THAT HAS FREQUENT SERVICE WHERE YOU CAN EASILY GET A BUS.

I'M HOPING HE MENTIONS THAT AND THEY ARE GOING TO PILOT IT WITH ONE LINE.

THEY WILL EXPAND IT TO THE FULL X BUT THE FACT THEY ARE DOING THAT IS A BIG STEP.

>> JEREMY, THE PEACH TONIGHT IS BEING HELD AT THE CITY CENTER, THE SITE OF THE MAYOR'S, I BELIEVE, SECOND STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS LOCATION?

>> THEY CHOSE TO COME BACK HERE WHEN THEY DID THE SPEECH IN 2019, CITY CENTER WAS JUST IN THE FIRST PHASE OF A TOTAL -- IT IS A FORMER DEPARTMENT STORE WAS EMPTY FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

AND DEVELOPER CAME IN TO TOTALLY RENOVATE IT INTO MIXED-USE OFFICE SPACE.

SO THE FIRST TIME HE WAS THERE WAS WHEN THEY WERE JUST STARTING IT A THEATER THE RED HOUSE THEATER OPENED IN THERE.

BUT HE IS COMING BACK FIVE YEARS LATER BECAUSE IT'S FULLY RENOVATED, REOPENED, 200 PLUS PEOPLE ARE WORKING THERE.

AND AT THE TIME HE ANNOUNCED HIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN WHICH THEY'VE DUBBED THE SYRACUSE SURGE AND FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT TO THE GOALS THAT WERE LAID OUT.

>> IT IS A VICTORY LAP.

>> YEAH, AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE SYMBOLISM, TOO, OF IN SYRACUSE'S HEYDAY IN THE 20s, SOUTH SALINA STREET WAS THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING.

AND IT CAN BE THAT AGAIN AND THE ENVY OF THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT GROWTH IN ONONDAGA COUNTY WITH MICRON, ESPECIALLY AND THE MAYOR IS SAYING HE WANTS SYRACUSE TO REALLY BE THE FOCAL POINT OF WHERE THAT GROWTH IS FELT THE MOST.

>> WE STILL HAVE MORE TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU SHORTLY TO THE CITY CENTER.

BUT WHILE WE STILL ARE WAITING FOR THAT FEED, MAURICE, THE MAYOR OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T OPERATE IN A VACUUM AS A COUNTY LEGISLATOR WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO HEAR HIM ADDRESS IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY LAWMAKERS OR JUST ITS OVERALL PLACE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK?

>> YEAH.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP A BUNCH WAS FOR CITY RESIDENTS WAS LEAD REMEDIATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

LEAD TESTING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY DOES BUT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ARE DOING A BETTER JOB WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS IT.

IF HE COULD HIGHLIGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT WORK IS BEING DONE.

BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.

AND I'M HOPING THAT HE IS ABLE TO TOUCH ON ALL OF THEM WHETHER IT'S THE LEAD, THE ASSESS, I DON'T KNOW.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT CONNECTIONS HE IS GG TO MAKE.

I'M HOPING HE MENTIONS THE LEAD AND I'M STILL GOING TO MENTION HOUSING BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A BIG DEAL FOR ME.

BUT, YEAH, I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK BETTER.

I THINK WE CAN WORK BETTER GOING ON.

BUT I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR, THAT THE CITY OF SYRACUSE HAS TO BE THE CENTER OF THE PROGRESS.

I JUST HAVE NEVER SEEN IT WORK WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE A STRONG CITY CENTER AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> JEREMY AT THE STATE LEVEL ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL AND WHAT IT DOES FOR SCHOOLS, ESSENTIALLY NOT PROVIDING THE INCREASE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE WERE ANTICIPATING.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THIS MAYOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE, I KNOW HE TAKES CREDIT FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

IS FUNDING FROM THE STATE OR OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE DEVELOPMENTS GOING ON WITH REGARDS TO EDUCATION SOMETHING WE SHOULD EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THIS MAYOR?

>> I'M NOT SURE IF HE WILL ADDRESS THAT DIRECTLY TONIGHT.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SYRACUSE EVEN THOUGH THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET FALLS UNDER THE CITY BUDGET, IT'S STILL GOVERNED BY ITS OWN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND SUPERINTENDENT.

AND THEY ARE REALLY THE LEADERS IN THAT LOBBYING EFFORT TO THE STATE AS FAR AS SCHOOL STATE AID.

WHERE HE DOES GET INVOLVED MORE HEAVILY IS IN CAPITAL PROJECTS.

THERE IS A JOINT SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTION BOARD WITH CITY AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON IT.

AND THEY'VE GONE THROUGH TWO PHASES OF OVERHAULS AND LOOKING FOR MONEY FOR THE THIRD PHASE.

I KNOW THAT THAT IS SOMETHING HE PLANS TO TOUCH ON TONIGHT.

I'M NOT SURE IF HE IS GOING TO CHALLENGE THE GOVERNOR OR THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE YOU GIVE US OUR FAIR SHARE IN THAT RESPECT.

WE MIGHT HEAR FROM SOME OTHER MAYORS IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS, JEREMY, I'M INTERESTED IN IS THE FACT THIS IS THE SEVENTH STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS FOR BEN WALSH AND HE IS TERM LIMITED AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT, WE'VE GOT COMMON COUNSELORS AND MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, AND LOCAL DIGNITARIES WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY WILL BE THINK BEING IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE OF SYRACUSE AND MAYBE THEIR ROLE IN DELIVERING THE SPEECH IN THE FUTURE?

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

I MEAN THERE'S ALREADY BEEN, YOU KNOW, A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT INCLUDING THE PERSON WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE JOINING US LATER, SHARON OWENS, HIS DEPUTY MAYOR TO SAY THEY ARE INTERESTED IN RUNNING IN 2025.

>>> TAKING OFF IN 2026.

>> PAT HOGAN HAS DONE THE SAME.

AND JUDGE CECIL AS WELL.

ALL SORT OF WITHOUT PUTTING THEIR FLAG AND SAYING THEY ARE RUNNING THEY'VE ALL SAID PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGING ME AND I'M NOT SAYING NO.

THERE'S THAT DICHOTOMY HOW DOES HE WORK TOWARDS SHORT-TERM GOALS AND GOALS HE THINKS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IF HE CONTINUES THE WORK THAT HE STARTED.

>> WE ARE GOING TO PICK UP A LOT MORE OF THIS DISCUSSION LATER.

I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THEY SHOULD STICK WITH US AFTER MAYOR BEN WALSH DELIVERS HIS SPEECH WE WILL HAVE THAT POTENTIAL MAYORAL CANDIDATE SHARON OWENS DEPOSITLY MAYOR JOINING US FOR ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT OF THE SPEECH WE ARE ABOUT TO HEAR IN A FEW MINUTES AND WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR GUESTS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM.

FOR NOW WE WILL BRING YOU TO THE CITY CENTER WHERE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S PRIDE OF SYRACUSE CITY MARCHING BAND IS KICKING OFF TONIGHT'S FESTIVITIES.

[♪♪♪] [APPLAUSE] [♪♪♪] [APPLAUSE] [♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] [APPLAUSE] [♪♪♪] >> AND THAT WAS THE MARCHING BAND GIVING US A TASTE OF THE WEEKEND AND WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT HERE IN THE STUDIO AFTER HELP FROM OUR iPHONES.

WE ARE GOING TO CUT BACK TO THE CITY CENTER IN A LITTLE BIT WHERE WE WILL GET A WELCOME ADDRESS AND A PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS AND POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE PRIOR TO COMMON COUNCILOR MEMBER JONES-ROWSER INTRODUCING THE MAYOR.

JEREMY THIS SPEECH, IS IT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, FOR THE POLITICAL NERDS?

FOR PEOPLE THAT WILL OPEN UP THE SYRACUSE POST STANDARD?

WHO IS THE MAYOR SPEAKING TO?

>> TECHNICALLY IT IS A SPEECH FOR THE SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL.

THAT IS THE REASON THEY DO THIS EVERY YEAR.

AND TO BE BLUNT, I MEAN THAT IS A BIG -- THOSE NINE VOTING MEMBERS AND PRESIDENT THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH HIM.

SO HE WANTS TO LET THEM KNOW WHERE HE IS COMING FROM.

>> WE WILL TAKE YOU NOW BACK TO THE CITY CENTER AND GET THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE VERY SHORTLY.

>> THERE'S SEATS OUT IN THE MIDDLE THAT ARE OPEN.

THOSE THAT ARE STANDING IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FILL IN THE SEATS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I'M JEREMY THURSTON AND ONE OF THE PARTNERS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF CITY CITY CENTER.

IT IS A CONSTRUCTION FIRM THAT WORKS FOR AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BUILD COMMERCIAL PROJECTS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND BEEN INVOLVED WITH NOTABLE PROJECTS IN SYRACUSE LIKE THE HOTEL SYRACUSE PUTTING THE NEW ROOF ON THE GMA DOME AND BRINGING THIS DEPARTMENT STORE BACK TO LIFE AS A CLASS A OFFICE BUILDING IN THE HEART OF THE CITY.

[APPLAUSE] THIS BUILDING WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE WONDERFUL PARTNERS AND BUSINESSES THAT DECIDED TO RELOCATE TO DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE.

FRANKLIN FRY WITH THE RED HOUSE IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE SOMEWHERE.

BRIAN FROM TOMKINS COMMUNITY BANK.

[APPLAUSE] AND PETER, THE C.E.O.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE HUNTING TON ENGLES WHO OCCUPIES TWO FLOORS IN THE BUILDING TOTALING 50,000 SQUARE FEET AND WAS OUR FIRST TENANT TO OPEN IN THE BUILDING LAST MARCH.

[APPLAUSE] AS A COMPANY THAT BUILDS AND RENOVATES BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT UPSTATE NEW YORK, AND BEYOND, THE MOST REWARDING ONES WE WORK ON ARE THE ONES IN THE HEART OF THE CITY.

THERE'S NO BETTER FEELING THAN WATCHING A COMPLETED PROJECT THRIVE AND BRING POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE BUILD IN.

AND STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S CORE.

WE LOVE BEING PART OF THE GROWTH, SO MUCH SO THAT WE DECIDED TO RELOCATE OUR BUSINESS TO THE THIRD FLOOR.

WE OCCUPY 25,000 SQUARE FEET AND OUR TEAM ABSOLUTELY LOVES BEING IN DOWNTOWN.

WHETHER IT'S THE DIVERSE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY CAN VISIT DURING THE WORKDAY OR AFTER, THE RESTAURANTS OR JUST HANGING OUT IN THE NEW SPACE, THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

I'VE ALSO ENJOYED WATCHING THE IMPACT OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE OTHER TENANTS IN THE BUILDING AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS AS OTHER BUSINESSES BENEFITED FROM 250 PEOPLE WORKING IN THIS BUILDING EVERYDAY.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HUNTINGTON ENGLES ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF ENGINEERING AND THEY'VE HIRED AND RECRUITED EIGHT MORE PEOPLE THIS MONTH ALONE.

BEING IN DOWNTOWN IS AWESOME AND GREAT FOR OUR BUSINESSES COLLECTIVELY.

THE TENANTS THAT ARE IN THE BUILDING AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WE ARE CELEBRATING AS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN WE'VE SECURED A STEAK AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT D PARKERS THAT WILL GO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS BLOCK WALL AND TAKE THE OTHER HALF OF THIS FIRST FLOOR.

IT WILL LOOK OVER ARMORY SQUARE ON JEFFERSON AND CLINTON STREET AND I WILL BE HONEST I'VE BEEN PROMISING THE OTHER TENANTS WE WOULD HAVE A RESTAURANT IN HERE SO I AM SO RELIEVED I'M ABLE TO FULFILL ONE OF OUR PROMISES WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HERE.

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THE CITY CENTER.

WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE ALL THE WORK THAT THE BUILDINGS AND PEOPLE IN THE ROOM ARE DOING FOR OUR CITY.

THANK YOU TO THE PARTNERS IN CITY GOVERNMENT AND TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE JOINING US THIS EVENING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING TO STRENGTHEN OUR CITY.

NOW, LET'S BEGIN THE STATE OF THE CITY.

PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS BY THE NAVY NATIONAL DEFENSE CADET CORPS FROM FOWLER AND REMAIN STANDING ARE NOTED INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND NATIONAL ANTHEM.

LET US PRAY.

MOST GRACIOUS FATHER, OUR GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, FOR THIS TIME, FOR THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY.

FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN, CHILD FOR EVERY FAMILY, WE PRAY YOU BLESS THE MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY, THE COMMON COUNCIL ITS COLLECTIVE MEMBERS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY FOR THIS CITY.

WE PRAY YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP ALL OF THOSE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, WHO TIRELESSLY COME TO WORK EVERYDAY TO MAKE THIS CITY BETTER EACH DAY.

WE ASK YOU TO BLESS AND KEEP EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, EVERYONE WHO WORKS EVERYDAY, BUSINESSES WHO WORK EVERYDAY, TO MAKE THIS CITY GREAT.

WE THANK YOU, GOD, WE GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY ALL THE PRAISE.

WE HONOR YOU IN THIS PLACE.

AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

♪O SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT♪ ♪WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING♪ ♪WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT♪ ♪O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED, WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING♪ ♪AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR♪ ♪GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE♪ ♪O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE♪ ♪O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪.

YOU [APPLAUSE] >> YOU ARE WATCHING THE COVERAGE OF THE FESTIVITIES LEADING UP TO MAYOR BEN WALSH'S SEVEN IT STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS AND GETTING TO THE STAGE IS PATRONA JONES ROWSER AND MAYOR BEN WALSH WILL BE TAKING THE STAGE WE WILL STICK AROUND HERE BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.

MAURICE I'M REMINDED IN LIGHT OF SEEING ALL THE KIDS ON THE STAGE, THE FACT THAT SYRACUSE HAS A REAL PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO CHILD POVERTY.

THIS IS, I THINK, A CITY THAT 100,000 OR LARGER.

WE HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTRY ACCORDING TO STATS FROM 2022.

WHAT IS THE MAYOR NEED TO SAY ABOUT THAT TODAY?

ONE DOES HE RECOGNIZE IT AND DOES HE NEED TO ADVANCE A PLAN OR SOMETHING ABOVE HIS PAY GRADE?

>> YEAH, THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS ONE OF THE CATEGORIES YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAD THE NATION IN AND WE HAVE THAT DISTINCTION.

IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE GOVERNOR HOCHUL MENTION THAT.

I'M HOPING THE MAYOR SPEAKS TO POVERTY BY NAME AND WE TAKE REAL STEPS TO ADDRESS IT.

ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN ADDRESSING ANY PROBLEM IS ACKNOWLEDGING IT.

IF WE CANNOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT, ADDRESSING IT WILL BE TOUGH.

I'M HOPING THAT HAPPENS.

>> STICKING WITH POTENTIALLY FACING HARD TRUTHS WHAT ABOUT CRIME AND THE STATE LEVEL, GOVERNOR HOCHUL COULD TOUT THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE VIOLENT CRIME NUMBERS ARE DOWN BUT PROPERTY THEFT CRIMES REMAIN A PROBLEM.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR NEEDS TO TACKLE?

AND ALSO IF HE DOES, DOES HE NEED TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT IT IN A DELICATE MANNER?

>> YES.

LIKE YOU SAID, THE VIOLENT CRIMES ARE DOWN.

BUT WITH THE PROPERTY CRIME, I THINK THE MAYOR NEEDS TO BE THE CAPTAIN OF A TEAM.

I DON'T THINK IT IS HIS JOB ALONE TO TAKE IT ON.

WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB BRINGING COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN.

I THREE HE TRIED IT BUT THE SUCCESS WORRYING ABOUT I DO THINK THAT'S RELATED TO THE POVERTY QUESTION WHERE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS ONE TO ADDRESS THE OTHER.

SO I'M HOPING HE ADDRESSES BOTH.

>> JEREMY YOU'VE COVERED A VARIETY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND A VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THESE TYPES OF SPEECHES IN TERMS OF CONFRONTING THE REALITY OF A SITUATION VERSUS PRESENTING THINGS MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY AS THEY ARE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SERVE YOUR BEST INTEREST?

>> I THINK IN GENERAL WE I WATCHED YOUR SHOW AFTER THE STATE OF THE STATE.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> THE OTHER DAY.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU AND YOUR GUESTS REMARKED ABOUT HOW GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THAT SPEECH REALLY WENT OUT OF HER WAY NOT TO SAY ANYTHING THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, A ONE LINEER IN A CAMPAIGN FOR SOMEONE ELSE PLAYING IT SAFE AND JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH IT AND SAY HERE ARE THINGS WE WANT TO DO WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH BUT NOT NECESSARILY BEING SUPER BLUNT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE.

HOW DIFFICULT THEY ARE TO TACKLE.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WHERE MAYBE I'M AN OLD JADED REPORTER, BUT I AM CYNICAL THAT SPEECHES LIKE THIS ARE EVER GOING TO BE A WAY TO REALLY MAKE A DENT IN THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

GENERALLY, THEY ARE MORE OF A HIGH LEVEL, 30,000 FOOT VIEW TYPE OF APPROACH TO SAY, HEY, HE WILL PROBABLY SAY YEAH WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH POVERTY THAT IS AN UNDER LYING ISSUE THROUGH OUR OTHER PROBLEMS BUT I DON'T THINK YOU WILL HEAR LIKE A WHOLE 20-MINUTE SECTION ON THAT.

>> HE IS NOT GOING TO BE LIKE I'M BACKING UP A U-HAUL EVERYONE JOIN ME?

>> I'M NOT EXPECTING THAT TO COME OUT.

>> MAURICE HOW OPTIMISTIC OR POSITIVE DOES THE MAYOR HAVE A RIGHT TO BE IN THIS SPEECH?

WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE TONE GIVEN THE PROBLEMS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT?

>> I THINK HE CAN BE ON MYSTIC.

HE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AND I DON'T WANT TO IGNORE THE PROGRESS.

WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT IS COMING AND THE FACT THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO RUN FOR REELECTION IT ALLOWS HIM TO BE BLUNTED FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.

I'M HOPING HE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> DO WE EXPECT TO SEE THE NEXT TWO YEARS OF A COOL, LOOSE MOOD BEN WALSH GOING AFTER PEOPLE?

>> ONE COULD HOPE.

>> UNBUTTON THE TOP BUTTON IS THAT THE TYPE OF LEADER WE SHOULD SEE UNTIL WE HAVE ANOTHER MAYOR ELECTED?

>> ONE COULD HOPE.

I DEFINITELY HOPE THAT HE IS ABLE TO BE TRUE TO HIMSELF.

LIKE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE DONORS ARE GOING TO SAY.

HE CAN REALLY GO AND PUSH THE THINGS HE WANTS TO SEE DONE WITH THIS CITY.

AND YEAH, THAT MEANS HE IS GOING TO UNBUTTON HIS TIE AND GO LOOSE ABOUT IT BY ALL MEANS.

>> WITH THE CAVEAT THAT YOU ARE NOT WEARING A TIE IS THAT HOW YOU PLAN ON GOVERNING WITH RECKLESS ABANDON AND BECOME A ONE-TERM LEGISLATOR BUT YOU WILL STAY TRUE TO MAURICE?

>> I WILL STAY TRUE TO MAURICE, HOWEVER I DON'T THINK IT WILL END UP WITH ME BEING A ONE-TERM ELECTED.

THAT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN SERVE IF YOU TRY TO BE SOMEONE YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU WILL NOT GET FAR.

AS LONG AS YOU ARE TRUE TO YOURSELF YOU NEVER HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHO YOU ARE.

I'M HOPING HE IS ABLE TO DIG IF A LITTLE MORE.

>> AND STICKING AS WE ARE WITH THE NEW MAURICE BROWN PORTION OF THE SHOW, HOW EXCITED ARE YOU ABOUT NEXT WEEK?

THAT IS WHERE THINGS SEEM TO BE GETTING GOING FOR YOU, RIGHT?

WITH THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS?

>> YEP.

SO I WAS NAMED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE COUNTY FACILITIES COMMITTEE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ADDRESSING BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH OCC SO I HAVE AN OCC BACKGROUND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TO WORK WITH THEM.

GETTING INTO THE WORK BEING A COUNTY LEGISLATOR THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE PAST I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AND NOW I'M IN A POSITION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT I AM.

>> THE ENVIRONMENT IS A BIG ISSUE FOR LOCAL LEADERS UP ON DOWN THE LADDER UP UNTIL STATE LEADERS BECAUSE OF THE STATE'S CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT THE LAW THAT GREENHOUSE REDUCTION EMISSION GOALS FOR THE FUTURE.

IS THAT SOMETHING WHERE THE MAYOR NEEDS TO STEP IN?

DOES THE CITY HAVE A ROLE HERE?

OBVIOUSLY AS A COUNTY LEGISLATOR YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A ROLE.

SHOULD THE MAYOR BE WEIGHING IN ON THE ISSUE?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS.

I'M STILL GETTING MY HANDS ON LIKE WHO OVERSEES WHAT.

I KNOW LIKE BARRY PARK THERE IS A STORM SHED OR SOMETHING TO THAT NATURE THAT WE OVERSEE BUT THE PARK IS CITY.

FIGURING OUT THOSE DYNAMICS AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER THINGS WHETHER IT'S SOIL SAMPLING OR WHOLESALE THINGS MOVING OFF OF FOSSIL-FUELS AND FIGURING HOW TO DO THAT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS GOING TO BE OUR CHALLENGE OF THE NEXT 20 SOME ODD YEARS FOR US.

BUT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE NATION.

>> AND YOU WILL ASSUME BEING IN OFFICE IN 20 YEARS?

>> THAT'S THE HOPE.

20, NO, BUT 10.

>> IN LAST YEAR'S SPEECH ONE OF THE THINGS THE MAYOR MADE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IS THE IDEA OF VISION ZERO THAT HE WANTS TO PROMOTE SAFER STREETS AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AFTERWARD.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT BECAUSE THE MAYOR IS ABOUT TO TAKE THE STAGE FOR HIS SEVEN STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS WE WILL LISTEN TO THE SPEECH AND MAKE SURE YOU STICK AROUND AFTERWARD FOR OUR PANEL DISCUSSION.

LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE KIDS.

WHAT AMAZING PEOPLE WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[APPLAUSE] >> I THINK IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE.

WE PEAKED WITH THOSE KIDS AND WITH THE COUNCILOR BUT I WILL DO MY BEST TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED TONIGHT.

I'M THRILLED THAT YOU ARE HERE.

AND I WANT TO START AGAIN BY THANKING COUNCILOR JONES-ROWSER FOR THAT INTRODUCTIONMENTS AS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SYRACUSE, A WIFE, A MOTHER, A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, BUSINESSPERSON AND ENTREPRENEUR, YOU HAVE DEDICATED MUCH OF YOUR LIFE TO MAKING SYRACUSE BETTER FOR ALL WHO LIVE HERE.

YOUR PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE WILL SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE 4TH DISTRICT WELL IN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

WELL DONE, THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] I ALSO WANT TO THANK JEREMY WE MET SOME ST KIDS FROM HW SMITH AND THE TEACHER POINTED OUT THAT I WAS THE MAYOR AND ONE GIRL LOOKED AT ME SIDEWAYS AND LOOKED AT JEREMY AND GOES HE LOOKS LIKE THE MAYOR.

SO JEREMY, TAKE THAT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

AND I'M GOING TO TRY MY BEST TO LOOK AS MAYORAL AS POSSIBLE FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

JEREMY THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.

I THANK YOUR TEAM.

WE KNOW WE PUT YOU THROUGH YOUR PACES TO PULL THIS TOGETHER BUT IT IS REALLY AN AMAZING BUILDING IT'S SPECIAL AND WE'RE THRILLED TO BE HERE.

I COULD NOT THINK OF A MORE FITTING PLACE TO BE THEN THIS MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

THANK YOU AGAIN, JEREMY.

[APPLAUSE] "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, RESIDENTS OF SYRACUSE, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, AND FELLOW CITIZENS AS WE STAND AT THE CROSSROADS OF OUR COMMUNITY'S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, IT IS MY HONOR TO ADDRESS YOU.

OUR COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS UNWAVERING, AND IT IS THE BEDROCK UPON WHICH WE BUILD OUR SHARED FUTURE.

ECONOMICALLY, SYRACUSE HA THE GIG'S UP TIME FOR A CONFESSION.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE NOTICED, BUT ALL THE COOL MAYORS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LATELY.

SO AS MAYOR OF NEW YORK'S FLAGSHIP SMART CITY, I THOUGHT I'D TRY LETTING CHATGPT WRITE THE STATE OF THE CITY THIS YEAR.

I GOTTA ADMIT.

I WAS KIND OF IMPRESSED.

I JUST ENTERED, "WRITE A STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH FOR SYRACUSE."

ABOUT 20 SECONDS LATER, OUT CAME ABOUT 500 WORDS THAT WEREN'T TOO BAD.

BUT THEY WEREN'T GREAT EITHER.

OUR SPIRIT IS UNWAVERING •THE BEDROCK ON WHICH WE BUILD OUR SHARED FUTURE."

FEELS LIKE I'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE.

"SYRACUSE HAS EXPERIENCED POSITIVE GROWTH."

WHILE TRUE, THE WORDS FAIL TO CAPTURE THE PIVOTAL ROLE THE CITY IS PLAYING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK'S RESURGENCE.

THAT'S THE REALITY I WANT TO SHARE.

SO, WHILE SYRACUSE WILL LEVERAGE A-I IN A WAY THAT IS INTELLIGENT, LET'S SET ARTIFICIAL ASIDE FOR NOW.

AND HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR CITY.

PRESIDENT HUDSON, AT-LARGE COUNCILORS CALDWELL, GETHERS, MAJOK, AND PANIAGUA, AND DISTRICT COUNCILORS NAVE, HOGAN, WILLIAMS, JONES-ROWSER AND MONTO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, IT IS MY HONOR TO DELIVER TO YOU, AS WELL AS AUDITOR MARION AND CLERK MCBRIDE, THE STATE OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AS WE BEGIN 2024.

I AM PROUD TO REPORT THE STATE OF OUR CITY IS •GROWING.

SYRACUSE IS GROWING IN WAYS THAT ARE GENERATING ENERGY, CONFIDENCE AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

GROWING IN WAYS THAT ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

GROWING IN WAYS THAT A VIBRANT AND SUCCESSFUL REGION MUST HAVE AT ITS CENTER.

YOU DID.

THANK YOU.

WE HEAR YOU.

WE HEAR YOU.

WE HEAR YOU.

ALL RIGHT DO YOU WANT TO HEAR ME SPEAK?

DO YOU WANT TO HEAR ME SPEAK?

OKAY.

LISTEN UP FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT YOU MIGHT LEARN A FEW THINGS AND YOU MIGHT HEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.

OKAY.

THE DEATH OF ALL PEOPLE, ALL INNOCENT PEOPLE IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, INCLUDING IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL.

MY HEARTBREAKS FOR THEM.

[APPLAUSE] SO WITH THAT BEING SAID AND I TRULY MEAN THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BUT THE CITY HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE.

IF YOU WOULD BE QUIETED YOU WILL HAD HEAR ME TALK ABOUT EVICTIONS AND A LOT OF THINGS.

MY TURN.

THANK YOU, SIR, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

BYE-BYE.

OKAY.

WHERE WERE WE?

ALL RIGHT.

ARE WE ALL RIGHT?

GOOD?

ALL RIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] LOOK, HEY, I MEAN THAT.

I THINK ALL OF OUR HEARTS BREAK FOR ALL THE INNOCENT PEOPLE DYING THERE.

IT'S AWFUL, TERRIBLE AND I HOPE THE CONFLICT ENDS TOMORROW.

TONIGHT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT SYRACUSE AS I WAS SAYING WE ARE HERE AT THE CENTER OF OUR REGION.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BUT THE CITY HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE.

THE VERY SITE AT WHICH WE GATHER TONIGHT - THE SPECTACULAR CITY CENTER - WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL.

HERE STOOD A THEATER IN THE 1920S AND THEN A BIG DEPARTMENT STORE - ON A SALINA STREET THAT PULSED WITH CULTURE AND COMMERCE.

LOCATED ON THE MAIN STREET OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, IT WAS THE CENTER OF GROWTH FOR THE REGION.

FOR MY 2019 STATE OF THE CITY, WE GATHERED ON THIS SAME BLOCK HERE AT CITY CENTER IN THE RED HOUSE THEATER, WHICH WAS THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS REDEVELOPMENT.

WE SHARED OUR VISION FOR SYRACUSE: TO BE A GROWING CITY THAT EMBRACES DIVERSITY AND CREATES OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.

IT HAD BEEN DECADES SINCE SYRACUSE GREW, SO AT THE TIME, IT WAS A BOLD AMBITION.

WE LAID OUT FOUR OBJECTIVES TO GUIDE US TOWARD THAT VISION: INCREASE ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY; DELIVER CITY SERVICES EFFECTIVELY, EFFICIENTLY AND EQUITABLY; PROVIDE QUALITY CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT AND RESPONSE; AND ACHIEVE FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY.

FROM THAT DAY TO THIS, THESE OBJECTIVES DRIVE ALL OF OUR WORK.

IT WAS HERE AT CITY CENTER THAT WE UNVEILED THE SYRACUSE SURGE, OUR STRATEGY FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN THE NEW ECONOMY.

WE ENVISIONED IT WOULD JUMPSTART INVESTMENT AND MAKE SYRACUSE A WORLD LEADER IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

WE STARTED WITH STREETLIGHTS AND A VOW TO BE A SMARTER CITY.

AT A TIME WHEN HIGH TECH MOSTLY BENEFITED A SELECT FEW, WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO UPSKILL PEOPLE AND OPEN NEW PATHS TO PROSPERITY.

NOBODY ELSE WAS DOING THAT.

FROM AI TO IOT TO SEMICONDUCTING, WE BELIEVED THAT PREPARING OUR RESIDENTS FOR THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE WOULD MAKE SYRACUSE MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR INVESTMENT.

SINCE THAT NIGHT FIVE YEARS AGO, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMON COUNCIL AND IN COORDINATION WITH OUR OTHER PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS AND THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR, WE HAVE EXECUTED THE SYRACUSE SURGE PLAN.

LAUNCHING INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS.

EXPANDING BROADBAND ACCESS.

BREAKING GROUND ON THE STATE'S FIRST REGIONAL SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ARTS AND MATH HIGH SCHOOL.

AFTER DECADES OF SLOW DECLINE, OUR POPULATION IS RISING ONCE MORE.

SYRACUSE IS IN THE TOP TEN OF CITIES IN AMERICA WHERE YOUNG ADULTS - GEN ZERS - ARE NOW MOVING.

DOWNTOWN IS BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY AND INVESTMENT.

CITY CENTER, WITH ITS FOUR-STORY METAL AND GLASS COURTYARD CARVED OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE OLD SIBLEYS, EXEMPLIFIES THE RENEWAL HAPPENING IN OUR CITY AND REGION.

SYRACUSE IS AGAIN OUR "CENTER OF GROWTH."

AND JUST IN TIME.

POWERED BY MICRON'S $100 BILLION COMMITMENT, OUR REGION IS EMBARKING ON AN ERA OF OPPORTUNITY NOT SEEN HERE IN MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY, IF EVER.

COUNCILORS AND PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, THE RESULTS WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER ARE NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE.

IN TONIGHT'S ADDRESS, I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING AND THE CHALLENGES WE STILL HAVE TO CONQUER.

MOST CRITICAL IS THE SCOURGE OF POVERTY THAT AFFLICTS TOO MANY CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY.

VIRTUALLY ALL OUR EFFORTS ARE STRATEGICALLY ALIGNED TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY AND LIFT PEOPLE UP.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY.

I'LL COVER THE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TOPICS OF EDUCATION, HOUSING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS AND FAMILIES AND A ROBUST ECONOMY CAN'T EXIST WITHOUT A STRONG SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I'M PROUD TO REPORT THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SUPERINTENDENT TONY DAVIS AND THE SYRACUSE SCHOOL BOARD, IS RISING TO THE CHALLENGE.

IN ADVANCE OF LAUNCHING A NEW STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS THIS YEAR, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND THE BOARD ADOPTED A BRIDGE PLAN TO GUIDE THE DISTRICT THROUGH THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

IT IS BASED ON THREE PRIORITIES: FIRST, IMPROVE THE SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL.

SECOND, INCREASE STUDENT PROFICIENCY IN LITERACY AND NUMERACY.

AND THIRD, ESTABLISH A CULTURE OF LEARNING AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

AS A PARENT IN THE DISTRICT, THESE ARE EXACTLY THE VALUES I WANT TO SEE EMPHASIZED.

YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE SOON FROM THE DISTRICT ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING THE PLAN.

I URGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK.

ONE PRIORITY WE CAN ALL AGREE ON IS OUR STUDENTS DESERVE THE FINEST EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

I AM PLEASED TO REPORT IN 2023, WE CLOSED OUT PHASE II OF THE JOINT SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTION BOARD PROJECTS AT NINE SCHOOLS, TOTALING $300 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS.

JSCB III IS UP NEXT, AND I HAVE AN IMPORTANT UPDATE.

LATE LAST YEAR, WITH THE STRONG SUPPORT OF OUR STATE DELEGATION, GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNED A $100 MILLION INCREASE TO JSCB III, BRINGING THE BUDGET TO $400 MILLION.

OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, WE WILL SEE RENOVATIONS AT STEM AT BLODGETT, CORCORAN, DELAWARE, HENNINGER, SYRACUSE LATIN, LINCOLN, NOTTINGHAM, ROBERTS, SEYMOUR AND WEBSTER.

RFPS, DESIGN AND PLANNING WILL START ON THESE PROJECTS THIS YEAR.

SCSD CONTINUES TO HAVE THE PREEMINENT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

MA'AM, I THINK YOUR FRIENDS WENT THAT WAY.

WE HEAR YOU.

AMEN.

IF YOU WOULD LET ME GIVE MY SPEECH YOU WILL HEAR ME TALK ABOUT THAT.

YOU MIGHT LEARN A THING OR TWO.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

GOD BLESS YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

GOOD NIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] GOOD JOB.

OKAY.

THE DISTRICT OFFERS CTE PROGRAMS IN MORE THAN 30 FIELDS OF STUDY - ALLOWING STUDENTS TO GET AN EARLY START ON A COLLEGE DEGREE OR PREPARING THEM FOR GOOD CAREERS IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

NEXT FALL, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND MICRON, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN A NEW SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AND BEGIN EARNING COLLEGE CREDITS IN HIGH SCHOOL SO THEY ARE READY TO ENTER THE EXPANDING CHIP INDUSTRY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE BEST-IN-CLASS RESOURCES FOR LEARNING AND ATHLETICS, BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT.

PEOPLE HAVE ALL KINDS OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND SOMETIMES IT CAN BE UGLY AND HURTFUL.

UNFORTUNATELY, MEMBERS OF THE PSLA@FOWLER FOOTBALL TEAM FACED THAT ON THE ROAD LAST FALL.

OUR ATHLETES WERE SUBJECTED TO ON-FIELD RACIAL SLURS AND DIRTY PLAYS THAT WEREN'T CALLED.

THEY TRIED TO KEEP PLAYING BUT THE WORDS CONTINUED AND EVENTUALLY THERE WAS A FIGHT ON THE FIELD.

FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE GAME HAD TO BE STOPPED.

AND, BECAUSE OUR PLAYERS WERE NOT WITHOUT FAULT THEMSELVES, THE DISTRICT HELD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND REQUIRED THE TEAM TO FORFEIT THEIR FINAL GAME.

NONE OF US CAN KNOW WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO BE ON THAT FIELD THAT NIGHT NOR CAN WE SAY HOW WE WOULD HAVE REACTED.

MEMBERS OF THE TEAM, ALONG WITH THEIR COACH, ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS: WE SUPPORT YOU.

WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK AND WANT ONLY THE BEST FOR YOU ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.

[APPLAUSE] BIG BOYS BACK THERE.

WE GOT YOU FELLAS, YOU GOT MY BACK.

WE'RE GOOD.

HOUSING IS AT THE CORE OF NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY.

I'M IMMENSELY PROUD OF THE WORK ALREADY BEING DONE BY THE CITY DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT "NBD" TO IMPROVE HOUSING AND STRENGTHEN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS CORRIDORS.

THE RESURGENT NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE "RNI" WHICH WE INTRODUCED IN 2020 GAVE US A HEAD START ON RESPONDING TO THE GROWING DEMAND FOR QUALITY HOUSING.

THE RNI INFILL HOUSING STRATEGY SET AN AUDACIOUS GOAL TO CONSTRUCT 200 NEW UNITS OF AFFORDABLE SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY HOMES ON SCATTERED SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT HALF OF THOSE UNITS ARE ALREADY BUILT OR UNDERWAY.

TONIGHT, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WITH OUR PARTNERS AT HOME HEADQUARTERS, WE WILL START WORK ON 40 MORE HOMES IN 2024.

[APPLAUSE] HOUSING VISIONS WILL ALSO BE UNDERWAY WITH CREEKSIDE LANDING, WHICH WILL ADD MORE THAN FIFTY NEW HOUSING UNITS - 20 ON WEST ONONDAGA STREET WITH JUBILEE HOMES AND 16 TWO-FAMILY HOMES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

NBD IS WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS ON BIG PROJECTS TO BRING HUNDREDS OF NEW RENTAL UNITS ONLINE BEGINNING IN 2025.

AT THE FORMER SYRACUSE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER, DEMOLITION STARTS THIS YEAR TO MAKE WAY FOR MORE THAN 500 UNITS OF MIXED-INCOME HOUSING.

AT THE LONG VACANT MARIA REGINA CAMPUS ON COURT STREET, THE FINANCING IS LINED UP TO CREATE AROUND 180 UNITS OF BADLY NEEDED AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING ON THE NORTHSIDE.

MOM, GOOD?

[APPLAUSE] IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, THE CITY IS PUSHING PROJECTS FORWARD THAT WILL REHABILITATE OR REPLACE MANY HUNDREDS OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

THE FINANCING AND DESIGN PLANS FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF THE EAST ADAMS NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION ARE ACTIVELY UNDERWAY AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN IN 2025.

LET'S TALK ABOUT -- MA'AM.

MA'AM.

DO YOU HEAR US TALKING ABOUT OUR CHILDREN?

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

HOW ABOUT RESPECTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT?

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MA'AM, YOU HEARD ME SAY THAT THE DEATH OF ALL INNOCENT PEOPLE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD LIKE THE CONFLICT TO END TOMORROW.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LEAVE TONIGHT, NOWISH, THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU.

[APPLAUSE] LET'S GO BACK TO TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH IS A CRITICAL NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS MULTI-PHASE PLAN WILL INCLUDE A 1:1 REPLACEMENT OF ALL SYRACUSE HOUSING AUTHORITY PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS IN THAT INCLUDE A 1:1 REPLACEMENT OF ALL SYRACUSE HOUSING AUTHORITY PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND INCLUDE SOME NEW MIXED-INCOME APARTMENTS, [APPLAUSE] TOTALING 1,400 UNITS OF NEW HOUSING ON THE SOUTHSIDE.

AT EASTWOOD HEIGHTS, SHA WILL BE GETTING STARTED LATER THIS YEAR WITH A FULL REHABILITATION OF MORE THAN 50 AFFORDABLE SENIOR APARTMENTS.

MOYER CARRIAGE LOFTS BY HOUSING VISIONS AND REDEV CNY IN THE OLD PENFIELD BUILDING ON THE NORTH SIDE IS COMPLETING 128 AFFORDABLE UNITS INCLUDING HOUSING FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

AND THE DEPLORABLE RENTAL UNITS AT VINCENT APARTMENTS ARE NOW PREPARED FOR REDEVELOPMENT, WITH THE SKYLINE APARTMENTS SCHEDULED SOON TO FOLLOW.

WE EXPECT THAT WILL BRING ABOUT 600 UNITS OF WORKFORCE HOUSING BACK ONLINE, AND THERE'S MORE IN THE PIPELINE.

TONIGHT, AT A TIME OF URGENT NEED IN OUR REGION, I AM MAKING A HOUSING PROMISE: SYRACUSE WILL HAVE 2,500 NEW UNITS OF QUALITY HOUSING COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY BEFORE I LEAVE OFFICE AT THE END OF 2025.

[APPLAUSE] ED MEETING THE HOUSING NEEDS OF A BIG CITY IS MORE THAN A FINANCING AND CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGE.

PATTY LYNCH KNOWS IT IS A PEOPLE BUSINESS.

SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THE NORTHSIDE AND IS NOW NBD'S HOUSING STABILITY COORDINATOR.

PATTY GIVES A BIG PART OF HER LIFE TO HELPING SYRACUSE'S HOUSING VULNERABLE FIND STABLE PLACES TO LIVE.

WHAT'S MOST AMAZING IS PATTY DOESN'T MANAGE ANY PROPERTIES OR RUN RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

WHAT SHE DOES DO IS CARE.

PATTY'S GIFT AS A HOUSING MATCHMAKER HAS BEEN PUT TO THE TEST IN THE PAST YEAR.

TAKING ACTION ON PLACES LIKE SKYLINE AND VINCENT REQUIRED RELOCATIONS IN NUMBERS WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

FRANKLY, I WONDER WHERE WE'D BE WITHOUT PATTY RIGHT NOW - AND I REST A LITTLE EASIER KNOWING WE HAVE HER.

PATTY IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED SO WE CAN ALL SHOW YOU OUR APPRECIATION.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

NBD HAS MANY HOUSING PRIORITIES, BUT THERE IS NONE GREATER THAN PROTECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FROM LEAD POISONING.

2023 WAS THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY'S NEW LEAD ORDINANCE, DEVELOPED IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE COUNCIL.

THE RESULTS ARE ENCOURAGING.

SINCE IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM, CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTORS HAVE ISSUED LEAD PAINT VIOLATIONS AT NEARLY 2,200 PROPERTIES.

IN ALMOST HALF OF THOSE CASES, THE LANDLORDS HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED THE CONDITION.

FOR THE REST, THE CITY WILL ENSURE THE WORK GETS DONE.

WE COULD NOT DO THIS WORK WITHOUT THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE COMMON COUNCIL AND ONONDAGA COUNTY.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE PROPERTIES THAT STILL NEED LEAD HAZARD MITIGATION, SO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION WILL BE CRITICAL.

IN ADDITION TO LEAD PAINT RISK, THE CITY WATER DEPARTMENT IS REPLACING MORE LEAD SERVICES THAT BRING WATER TO HOMES THAN EVER BEFORE.

IT EXPECTS TO COMPLETE ANOTHER 2,100 IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

I DON'T BELIEVE ANY COMMON COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION HAVE MADE MORE PROGRESS TO IMPROVE HOUSING CONDITIONS THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST SIX YEARS.

DURING THAT TIME, THE NUMBER OF VACANT PROPERTIES CITYWIDE HAS DECREASED BY 33%, FROM 1,650 DOWN TO JUST OVER 1,000.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S STILL NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

DECADES OF JOB LOSS AND POPULATION DECLINE DID SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CITY'S HOUSING STOCK.

EARLIER THIS YEAR WE COMPLETED THE SYRACUSE HOUSING STUDY, ONE OF THE MOST IN-DEPTH HOUSING ANALYSIS EVER DONE BY A CITY.

THE STUDY FINDS THE CITY IS BURDENED WITH TWO SEPARATE BUT RELATED PROBLEMS - WE HAVE BOTH A MARKET GAP AND AN AFFORDABILITY GAP.

THE MARKET GAP IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IT COSTS TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN HOUSING AND THE MARKET'S WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR IT; THE AFFORDABILITY GAP IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IT COSTS TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN HOUSING AND THE MARKET'S ABILITY TO PAY FOR IT.

BECAUSE OF THESE INTERCONNECTED CONSTRAINTS, THERE'S HARDLY A BLOCK IN SYRACUSE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A HOUSE THAT'S BEEN DEPRIVED OF PROPER CARE.

MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S MANY HOUSES - BLOCK AFTER BLOCK - THAT BADLY NEED ATTENTION.

BUT THE COST OF UPGRADING THE PROPERTIES EXCEEDS WHAT THE MARKET IS WILLING OR ABLE TO PAY.

THE COST OF SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS - AS MUCH AS $1.5 BILLION - FAR EXCEEDS OUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL, WE'VE TAKEN A CRITICAL FIRST STEP WITH THE FORMATION OF THE SYRACUSE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

IT WILL GIVE US MORE TOOLS AND FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO CONSTRUCT, RENOVATE, REPAIR AND REHABILITATE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

WE ARE NOW UNDERWAY WITH A SYRACUSE HOUSING STRATEGY, WHICH WILL PROVIDE A ROADMAP FOR HOW TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE STUDY IN THE COMING YEARS.

IT WILL BUILD ON OUR EXISTING HOUSING PROGRAMS AND WILL REQUIRE COLLABORATIVE AND NON-TRADITIONAL STRATEGIES.

WE WILL NEED TO BRING NEW SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS, ESPECIALLY IN TRANSITIONAL, OR "BRIDGE" NEIGHBORHOODS.

BY BOLSTERING THESE STABLE BUT MODERATELY DISTRESSED NEIGHBORHOODS, WE WILL HALT FURTHER DECLINE AND BUILD MORE AREAS OF STRENGTH FASTER.

AS WE REHABILITATE THE CITY'S HOUSING STOCK, WE WILL ALSO REINVIGORATE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS CORRIDORS.

LAST YEAR, WE ALLOCATED $1 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS TO EIGHT DISTRESSED PROPERTIES LOCATED IN BUSINESS CORRIDORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM CALLED PROUD PLACES, TO PARTNER CITY STAFF WITH NEIGHBORS IN IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING HEALTH AND PROPERTY CONCERNS.

NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS CORRIDORS HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, TOO.

SAM ABDEL WANTED TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO A LONG VACANT GAS STATION THAT HAD BEEN AN EYESORE ON SOUTH GEDDES STREET FOR MANY YEARS.

WITH THE HELP OF OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM, SAM, ALONG WITH HIS SON AND NEPHEW, AHMAD AND SAM, SUCCESSFULLY OPENED THE DELI@700 ON GEDDES LAST YEAR.

BUILDING ON A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC AND THE DAILY CAR VOLUME HEADING TO AND FROM THE WESTSIDE, THEIR BUSINESS IS THRIVING.

IN FACT, THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF EXPANDING INTO A NEW LOCATION IN THE FORMER LUIGI'S RESTAURANT LOCATED ON VALLEY DRIVE.

AHMAD AND SAM ARE HERE TONIGHT.

PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.

[APPLAUSE] WE NEED MORE OF THESE BUSINESSES, SO LATER THIS YEAR THE SYRACUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WILL LAUNCH THE BROWNFIELD REVOLVING LOAN FUND.

WITH $1 MILLION IN EPA FUNDING, IT WILL SUPPORT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF LONGTIME VACANT AND CONTAMINATED SITES THAT ARE READY FOR REUSE.

OUR BEST-KNOWN NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT IS DOWNTOWN, AND IT CONTINUES TO THRIVE.

IN ADDITION TO CITY CENTER, THE TRANSFORMATION OF SYMPHONY TOWER JUST ACROSS THE STREET - AFTER ALMOST TWO DECADES OF VACANCY - IS NEARLY COMPLETE.

THE STUNNING TREASURY, JUST TWO BLOCKS UP THE STREET IN THE OLD ONONDAGA SAVINGS BANK, IS OCCUPIED AND OPEN.

DOWNTOWN IS HOME TO MORE THAN 2,800 HOUSING UNITS, AND THAT IS PROJECTED TO GROW AT LEAST ANOTHER 13% IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

LAST YEAR, RETAIL OCCUPANCY DOWNTOWN INCREASED 80% FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

JUST OUTSIDE THESE WINDOWS IN ARMORY SQUARE, THE BUSINESS DISTRICT THAT ARGUABLY TOOK THE BIGGEST HIT DURING THE PANDEMIC, IS POISED TO BE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER THIS YEAR WITH THE LONG-ANTICIPATED OPENING OF SEVERAL MORE NEW BUSINESSES IN PROMINENT LOCATIONS.

TO HELP ENSURE THE HEALTHY GROWTH OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CORRIDORS AND DISTRICTS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HOLD BAD BUSINESSES ACCOUNTABLE.

THROUGH THE TIRELESS WORK OF OUR OFFICES OF CODE ENFORCEMENT AND CORPORATION COUNSEL, WE ARE CRACKING DOWN ON RETAIL STORES THAT ARE OPERATING UNLAWFULLY.

WHEN RETAIL BUSINESSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH OUR LOCAL LAWS, THEY PUT THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH AT RISK.

THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

[APPLAUSE] AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SYRACUSE SURGE.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AIMED TO ENSURE OUR PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AND READY TO FILL JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE GROWING DEMANDS OF THE NEW ECONOMY.

THE HARDEST WORK BEING DONE IS PREPARING CITY RESIDENTS - WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND VETERANS - TO EXCEL IN THE TECHNOLOGY CAREERS OF THE FUTURE.

LEAD BY CENTERSTATE CEO AND SUPPORTED BY MANY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS, SYRACUSE SURGE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS HAVE ALREADY DELIVERED SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS; WE'VE PUT ABOUT 1,300 PEOPLE THROUGH CODING AND DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING.

ANOTHER 122 PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TRAINING WITH 60% OF THEM ALREADY WORKING IN THE FIELD.

AND THE SYRACUSE SURGE ACCELERATOR - AN INCUBATOR PROGRAM FOR BIPOC ENTREPRENEURS - CURRENTLY HAS FIVE DYNAMIC BUSINESSES IN THE PROGRAM.

WE PLAN TO EXPAND THE ACCELERATOR IN 2024.

LE MOYNE COLLEGE'S ERIE21, A SYRACUSE SURGE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES CITY STUDENTS AND ADULTS WITH TECH-CENTERED PATHWAYS TO GOOD CAREERS, HAS ALREADY TRAINED NEARLY 1,500 OF OUR STUDENTS.

NANCY MARTINEZ, A CITY RESIDENT AND HENNINGER ALUMNA, KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW SYRACUSE SURGE IS PREPPING PEOPLE FOR TECHNOLOGY CAREERS.

SHE'S THE PRODUCT OF A PROUD MEXICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY, WHO MOVED TO SYRACUSE FROM MEXICO IN 1999.

IN 2022, NANCY GRADUATED FROM LE MOYNE COLLEGE AS A PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR AND LAST SUMMER SHE WAS AN ONPOINT FOR COLLEGE SUMMER FELLOW WITH THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

SHE WORKED IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DATA GOVERNANCE, WHILE ALSO PARTICIPATING IN ERIE21.

NANCY IS NOW A FULL-TIME IT COORDINATOR AT LE MOYNE WHERE SHE WILL SOON EARN THE ERIE 21 CYBERSECURITY CERTIFICATE, CREDENTIALS THAT ARE IN HIGH DEMAND IN THE NEW ECONOMY.

JOINED BY LE MOYNE PRESIDENT LINDA LEMURA, NANCY IS HERE TONIGHT.

NANCY, YOU ARE WHAT THE SYRACUSE SURGE IS ALL ABOUT.

PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.

[APPLAUSE] BRICK AND MORTAR PROJECTS THAT PREPARE OUR WORKFORCE AND PROVIDE TECH JOBS ARE A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE SYRACUSE SURGE, ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTHSIDE CAMPUS FOR THE NEW ECONOMY.

LAST DECEMBER, WITH GOVERNOR HOCHUL, COUNTY EXECUTIVE MCMAHON, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, MICRON AND AMAZON LEADERS AND MANY LOCAL PARTNERS, WE BROKE GROUND ON THE BIGGEST AND MOST TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT ON THE SOUTHSIDE CAMPUS: THE STEAM HIGH SCHOOL AT THE LONG VACANT FORMER CENTRAL TECH.

BY FALL OF 2025, WE EXPECT TO OPEN A STATE-OF-THE-ART SCHOOL THAT WILL WELCOME STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE OCM BOCES REGION, BRINGING CITY AND SUBURBAN YOUNG PEOPLE TOGETHER TO GET THE FINEST STEAM EDUCATION AVAILABLE ANYWHERE.

AND STUDENTS AT STEAM AND ITC WILL ALSO SOON HAVE THEIR OWN ATHLETIC FIELD AT ROESLER PARK.

THE SOUTHSIDE CAMPUS IS ALSO COMING TO LIFE WITH OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS, LIKE THE JMA WIRELESS CAMPUS, THE NEW SYRACUSE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, AND THE TECH GARDEN EXPANSION.

IN HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS EARLIER THIS MONTH, GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCED A NEXT LEVEL COMMITMENT TO JOB PREPARATION FOR LOCAL PEOPLE.

OUR CITY WILL BE HOME TO AN INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HUB: A SEAMLESS "FRONT DOOR" TO JOB SEEKERS AND FIRMS LOOKING FOR TALENT IN CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING.

AS THE "FLAGSHIP" HUB ACROSS UPSTATE, THIS PROJECT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HOPED THE SOUTHSIDE CAMPUS WOULD ATTRACT TO SYRACUSE.

THE CITY OF SYRACUSE IS ALSO WORKING WITH NEW YORK STATE ON ANOTHER TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVE FOR THE REGION: THE COMMUNITY GRID PROJECT.

CONSTRUCTION ON THIS MASSIVE PROJECT STARTED THIS PAST YEAR, AND DESPITE LITIGATION STILL TRYING TO STOP IT, WE WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT WORK MOVE INTO THE CITY LATER THIS YEAR.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT MONTH, WE WILL RELEASE THE CITY'S COMMUNITY GRID VISION PLAN.

IT IS A FULL-THROATED ENDORSEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY GRID AND SHOWS HOW SYRACUSE CAN MAXIMIZE THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY.

A MULTI-DECADE VISION PLAN, IT LOOKS AT HOW WE CAN ENHANCE THE STREET NETWORK TODAY AND HOW CITY NEIGHBORHOODS CAN EVOLVE IN THE FUTURE.

THE "NORTH STAR" OF THE VISION PLAN IS PEOPLE - NOT CARS.

THAT MEANS IT PUTS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY ON PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SAFE INTERSECTIONS AND SIDEWALKS.

ONCE THE VIADUCT IS GONE, IT ENVISIONS A VIBRANT AND WALKABLE ALMOND STREET LINED WITH MIXED-USE BUILDINGS - INCLUDING MULTI-STORY TOWERS THAT SYRACUSE HASN'T SEEN BUILT IN MANY DECADES.

THIS KIND OF GROWTH ISN'T A "FUTURE FANTASY": IT'S STARTING NOW.

TONIGHT, I'M EXCITED TO TELL YOU THE FIRST MAJOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT DESIGNED FOR A POST-VIADUCT ALMOND STREET IS BEING PROPOSED.

A DEVELOPER WITH A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS IN THE CITY INTENDS TO BUILD A 14-STORY HIGH-RISE APARTMENT BUILDING ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF EAST FAYETTE AND ALMOND WITH QUALITY HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH A WIDE RANGE OF INCOMES.

THE PLANS INCLUDE 300 UNITS OF HOUSING WITH FIRST FLOOR COMMERCIAL SPACE.

THE PROJECT IS JUST BEGINNING THE LOCAL REVIEW PROCESS - BUT IT'S A CLEAR INDICATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF THE COMMUNITY GRID ALREADY COMING TO FRUITION.

THIS PROJECT WILL BE MIXED INCOME THANKS TO THE NEW SYRACUSE ZONING REQUIREMENT THAT MANDATES RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF 20 OR MORE UNITS MUST OFFER A MINIMUM OF 10% AND UP TO 12% AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THIS REQUIREMENT WAS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF REZONE SYRACUSE.

COUNCILORS, I THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THE NEW ZONING ORDINANCE AND MAP LAST YEAR.

IT WAS A LONG JOURNEY, BUT WE GOT IT DONE.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] I HAVE A SECOND MAJOR HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT ALSO ENABLED BY REZONE SYRACUSE AND THE COMMUNITY GRID PROJECT.

A DEVELOPER IS PROPOSING THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE LONG DORMANT LAFAYETTE COUNTRY CLUB FOR A LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY THAT WILL BRING 270 UNITS OF QUALITY NEW HOMES TO THE CITY PROPERTY.

IT WILL HAVE A MIX OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND - BECAUSE OF PROVISIONS FOR NEW HOUSING TYPES IN REZONE - IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE DUPLEX TOWNHOMES THAT WERE NOT ALLOWED UNDER THE OLD ZONING CODE.

THE DEVELOPERS KNOW, WITH THE COMMUNITY GRID PLAN, THEIR NEW RESIDENTS WILL HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THE NORTHERN SUBURBS, AND CONVENIENT ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AS ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS HAPPENING IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW, THE 81 PROJECT PRESENTS NEVER BEFORE SEEN WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL PEOPLE.

WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE URBAN JOBS TASK FORCE, STATE DOT, ORGANIZED LABOR AND MULTIPLE LOCAL PARTNERS, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT HAPPENS FOR OUR CITY RESIDENTS.

THE DATA AND EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS SHOW THE FIRST 81 JOB SITES ARE ON TRACK TO MEET THE AGGRESSIVE GOALS FOR LOCAL HIRING SET FOR THE PROJECT.

SYRACUSE BUILD, OUR WORKFORCE AND JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM, HAS PREPARED NEARLY 86 PEOPLE FOR APPRENTICESHIPS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY - THE START OF SUSTAINABLE GOOD PAYING CAREERS.

SYRACUSE BUILD AND SYRACUSE SURGE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO HAVEN'T ALWAYS BENEFITTED FROM ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE PAST, INCLUDING VETERANS.

WITH THE RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTE FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES, MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HELPED BY SYRACUSESERVES IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE WE STARTED THE PROGRAM.

I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO CHANCELLOR KENT SYVERUD FOR HIS VISION AND COMMITMENT TO VETERANS.

NOW, I WANT THE CITY TO DO EVEN MORE.

LAST SEPTEMBER, I SERVED AS A GUARDIAN FOR HONOR FLIGHT.

IT WAS AN INSPIRING DAY IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ACCOMPANYING CENTRAL NEW YORK VETERAN JOE FRACCOLA WHO SERVED IN THE ARMY AND WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

ON JOE'S SUGGESTION, SYRACUSE WILL TAKE TWO BIG STEPS THIS YEAR TO HONOR OUR CITY VETERANS.

FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO BECOME A PURPLE HEART CITY, A DECLARATION I WILL MAKE BY PROCLAMATION THIS SPRING PRIOR TO MEMORIAL DAY.

WE WILL INSTALL PURPLE HEART CITY SIGNAGE PAYING TRIBUTE NOT JUST TO THOSE WHO ARE AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART BUT ALL WHO SERVED IN COMBAT.

AND SECOND, WE'RE GOING TO START THE HOMETOWN HEROES PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS FAMILY MEMBERS TO SPONSOR LARGE BANNERS ON SELECT CITY STREETS RECOGNIZING THEIR ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE PERSON OR VETERAN LOVED ONE - LIVING OR DECEASED.

THIS YEAR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DUNBAR AMERICAN LEGION POST, WE WILL ALSO ADVANCE THE MINORITY VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS MEMORIAL AT KIRK PARK, WHICH WILL CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES OF MINORITY VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS IN SYRACUSE.

LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR ALL OF OUR VETTED RARCHES AND SERVICE MEMBER -- VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS.

[APPLAUSE] ALONG WITH SERVING YOUR COUNTRY, THERE'S NO MORE NOBLE CALLING THAN SERVING TO PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS ESSENTIAL TO STABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENT, AND I BELIEVE THE SYRACUSE POLICE AND SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING WORK THAT IS LEADING NEW YORK STATE AND THE NATION.

THE NEARLY 370 BRAVE AND DEDICATED PEOPLE OF THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO NEARLY 30,000 ALARMS IN 2023, THE MOST IN DEPARTMENT HISTORY, INCLUDING 83 MAJOR STRUCTURE FIRES.

THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME WAS JUST TWO MINUTES AND 53 SECONDS - THE BEST IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

[APPLAUSE] I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT SFD HAS ONCE AGAIN EARNED THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SCORE FROM THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT GRADES COMMUNITIES ON FIRE SUPPRESSION - A RATING ACHIEVED BY LESS THAN 1% OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

IN ADDITION TO DOCUMENTING EXCELLENCE, THE ISO 1 CERTIFICATION ALSO MEANS LOWER FIRE INSURANCE COSTS FOR RESIDENTS.

LAST SUMMER, THE DEPARTMENT STARTED TRAINING IN ITS NEW FIRE TOWER WHICH BETTER PREPARES OUR CREWS TO BATTLE FLAMES IN TALLER BUILDINGS.

SFD HAS ALREADY TRAINED 8,400 HOURS IN THE NEW TOWER.

AND LEADING THE STATE IN HEALTH PROTECTION, THE SFD LAUNCHED ITS FIRST-EVER CANCER REDUCTION PROGRAM FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO ADDRESS THE HARD REALITY THAT FIRE PROFESSIONALS FACE A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING AND DYING FROM CANCER.

THE DEPARTMENT'S OUTSTANDING FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU - WHICH INSTALLS SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AND CONDUCTS A COMPREHENSIVE YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM - RECEIVED THE ONONDAGA COUNTY BOYNTON AWARD WHICH RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

WITH ALL THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT OUR FIRE CHIEF MICHAEL MONDS WAS NAMED THE NEW YORK STATE FIRE CHIEF OF THE YEAR IN 2023.

[APPLAUSE] IN ADDITION TO HIS 23-YEAR RECORD OF SERVICE, THE HONOR CALLED OUT HIS TIRELESS WORK IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND RECRUITMENT.

CHIEF, THE AWARD REFLECTS WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN: SYRACUSE HAS THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE BEST FIRE CHIEF IN THE NATION.

CHIEF MONDS, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THIS CITY.

[APPLAUSE] MIKE MONDS INSPIRES PEOPLE TO CAREERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO DOES A 16 YEAR-OLD PSLA@FOWLER STUDENT NAMED NOLEN CARNEY.

FOR AS LONG AS NOLEN AND HIS FAMILY CAN REMEMBER, HE'S DREAMED OF BEING A SYRACUSE FIREFIGHTER, LIKE HIS UNCLE AND COUSIN BEFORE HIM.

LAST SEPTEMBER, NOLEN AND HIS DAD WERE TRAVELING ON WEST GENESEE STREET WHEN THEY SAW A MAN UNCONSCIOUS ON THE SIDEWALK.

THEY KEPT A DOSE OF NARCAN IN THE CAR, SO INSTEAD OF DRIVING BY, THEY PULLED OVER.

NOLEN JUMPED OUT AND USED THE SKILLS HE LEARNED AS A CADET IN THE FIRE RESCUE PROGRAM TO ADMINISTER THE OPIOID ANTIDOTE AND PERFORM CPR.

HE IS CREDITED WITH SAVING THAT MAN'S LIFE AND TAKING ANOTHER STEP TOWARD ACHIEVING HIS DREAM OF JOINING THE SFD.

NOLEN AND HIS DAD, KEVIN, ARE HERE TONIGHT ALONG WITH HIS CLASSMATES AND INSTRUCTORS.

PLEASE ALL STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.

[APPLAUSE] GREAT JOB.

UNDER THE EXPERIENCED AND STEADY COMMAND OF CHIEF JOE CECILE, I'D PUT THE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT UP AGAINST ANY POLICE FORCE IN AMERICA FOR THE WAY THEY ARE RESPONDING TO AN EVER-CHANGING PUBLIC SAFETY LANDSCAPE.

VIOLENT CRIME WAS DOWN MORE THAN SIX PERCENT LAST YEAR, A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT AFTER A PERIOD OF INCREASES FOLLOWING COVID-19.

GUN CRIMES, IN PARTICULAR, WERE WAY DOWN.

INCIDENTS OF SHOOTINGS WITH INJURY OR DEATH WERE DOWN 36%.

PROPERTY CRIME ON THE OTHER HAND - DRIVEN LARGELY BY THE SPIKE IN STOLEN VEHICLES - WAS UP 26%.

CHIEF AND HIS COMMAND STAFF, WORKING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ARE IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE INITIATIVES TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THESE AND ALL TYPES OF CRIME.

IN A MAJOR POSITIVE CHANGE THIS PAST FALL, THE DEPARTMENT FULLY IMPLEMENTED A NEW WORK SCHEDULE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR AN OVERLAP OF STAFF DURING PEAK CALL TIMES, AND PUTS MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED MOST.

IT ALSO ALLOWS MORE WALKING BEATS AND BIKE PATROLS AND IS BETTER FOR OFFICER WELLBEING.

AND THE NEW SCHEDULE IS IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES.

THE AVERAGE "MINUTES TO DISPATCH" WAS REDUCED BY NEARLY 30% AFTER INTRODUCING THE NEW SCHEDULE.

DESPITE NATIONAL CHALLENGES WITH RECRUITING, WE CONTINUE TO HIRE NEW OFFICERS AND LATERAL TRANSFERS.

AND THE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT CADET PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY PREPARING 10 MEMBERS AS PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES TO BECOME POLICE OFFICERS.

THE NEXT CLASS IS SCHEDULED TO START IN JULY.

IN SYRACUSE AND CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, THERE IS AN EPIDEMIC OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS.

SPD IS LEADING THE WAY IN BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVE POLICING STRATEGIES.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING FOR OFFICERS AND IS BRINGING MENTAL HEALTH AND CRISIS COUNSELORS ON REGULAR SHIFTS TO RESPOND TO THESE SENSITIVE CALLS IN MINUTES.

WITH THE CREATION OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE, SPD HAS A NEW PARTNER IN COORDINATING THE WORK OF ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE.

WITH APPROVAL BY THE COMMON COUNCIL LATE LAST SUMMER, WE ARE STARTING THE SAFER STREETS PROGRAM NEXT MONTH.

IT IS BASED ON A MODEL THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN OTHER CITIES.

THE OFFICE IS CONTRACTING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR HIGHEST RISK YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO ESCAPE GUN VIOLENCE.

INSTEAD OF WRINGING OUR HANDS OVER THE CRISIS OF GUN VIOLENCE, SAFER STREETS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE MUST TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO PROTECT OUR YOUTH.

THE DEPARTMENT'S CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN - OR CPTED PROGRAM - IS ALSO HELPING IMPROVE SAFETY.

CPTED IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT ADDRESSES PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CRIME: OVERGROWTH, LACK OF LIGHTING, VACANT BUILDINGS AND OPEN LOTS WITH TRASH AND DEBRIS.

THEY'RE PLACES WHERE GUNS ARE HIDDEN AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITY TAKES ROOT.

SPD IS WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS CITY GOVERNMENT - DPW, PARKS, CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND LAW - TO CLEAN UP HIGH RISK AREAS.

ANDY JAKUBOWSKI, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DPW ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES BUREAU, IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE CPTED EFFORT.

ANDY GREW UP IN EASTWOOD AND GRADUATED FROM HENNINGER.

EVERYDAY, ANDY AND HIS TEAM ARE ON CITY STREETS DOING LITTER PICKUPS AND CLEANING UP AFTER ILLEGAL DUMPING AND CODE VIOLATIONS.

THEY'RE A RAPID RESPONSE CREW TO ALL KINDS OF MESSES.

ACCORDING TO SPD, "ANDY AND HIS CREW WORK SO HARMONIOUSLY, IT'S LIKE WATCHING A PERFORMANCE AS THEY CLEAN UP A BLOCK."

ANDY AND TWO MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TEAM, HERB RATCHFORD AND JIM KURAK ARE HERE TONIGHT.

PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED SO WE CAN THANK YOU FOR MAKING SYRACUSE CLEANER - AND SAFER.

[APPLAUSE] DO ME A FAVOR WHEN YOU DRIVE BY THESE GUYS GIVE THEM A HONK.

THEY DESERVE IT.

THANK YOU, GUYS.

I AM ALSO PLEASED TO REPORT THE SYRACUSE POLICE ATHLETIC AND ACTIVITIES LEAGUE IS ENTERING ITS THIRD FULL YEAR IN OPERATION, AND CONTINUES TO EXPAND.

AS YOU CAN SEE, CHIEF CECILE AND HIS TEAM UNDERSTAND MAINTAINING SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS IS NOT JUST THEIR DUTY - IT'S ALL OF OURS.

I ADMIRE THE WAY SPD IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO KEEP US ALL SAFE.

[APPLAUSE] OUR SECOND MAJOR OBJECTIVE TO BEING A GROWING CITY IS TO DELIVER EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE CITY SERVICES.

BECOMING NEW YORK'S FLAGSHIP SMART CITY IS A CRITICAL PIECE IN ACHIEVING THAT OBJECTIVE, AS IS DEVELOPING NEW SERVICES TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

BROADBAND ACCESS AND RELIABLE WI-FI ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A SMART CITY, AND HAVE BECOME ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS YEAR, WITH THE HELP OF ARPA FUNDING, WE LAUNCHED SURGELINK, A FREE BROADBAND SERVICE THAT WILL SERVE ABOUT 2,500 ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS IN SYRACUSE'S SOUTHWEST, NEAR WESTSIDE, AND BRIGHTON NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS NEW SERVICE, ALONG WITH OUR DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, LED TO SYRACUSE RECENTLY BEING NAMED A NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION TRAILBLAZER.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPAND SURGELINK AND OTHER DIGITAL PROGRAMS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

TONIGHT, I HAVE ANOTHER EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT: IN 2024, THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WILL INTRODUCE FREE PUBLIC WI-FI AT OUR LARGER CITY PARKS.

THIS WILL ADD TO OUR WI-FI NETWORK AT CITY HALL, ONE PARK PLACE AND FIVE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTERS.

AS WE INTRODUCED NEW SERVICES IN 2023, WE ALSO MADE BIG CHANGES TO IMPROVE OLD ONES.

LAST YEAR, WE SUCCESSFULLY INTRODUCED SEMI-AUTOMATED TRASH PICKUP WITH WHEELED, COVERED TRASH CARTS CITYWIDE.

IT'S THE BIGGEST OPERATIONAL CHANGE CITY GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN ON IN DECADES, AND IT IS WORKING EXTRAORDINARILY WELL.

INJURIES TO SANITATION WORKERS ARE DOWN DRAMATICALLY.

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION, MORE THAN 99% OF SETOUTS ARE COMPLYING WITH OUR TRASH REQUIREMENTS; SERVICE TO RESIDENTS IS IMPROVED; AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING LESS TRASH AND LITTER ON THE STREETS.

TONIGHT, I HAVE SOME NEW DATA TO REPORT: LAST YEAR WE SAVED ABOUT $100,000 ON LANDFILL FEES BECAUSE OF REDUCED VOLUME.

AND THAT'S FOR ONLY PART OF THE YEAR.

AS THE COUNCIL IS PAINFULLY AWARE, IT WASN'T ALWAYS EASY.

WE GOT SOME PRETTY HARSH FEEDBACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I EVEN RECEIVED A FEW "MEAN TWEETS:" "WHOEVER DECIDED THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA AND MANDATED IT, SHOULD BE FIRED."

UH...THAT'D BE ME.

"MORE PR FOR THE MAYOR.

FLUFF.

WASTE OF MONEY."

OUCH.

CHANGE IS ALWAYS HARD AND WHEN YOU'RE IMPACTING MORE THAN 33,000 PROPERTIES, YOU ARE BOUND TO GET A FEW BAD TWEETS.

BUT OUR TEAM DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB IMPLEMENTING THIS MASSIVE CHANGE AS EVIDENCED, IN PART, BY TWEETS LIKE THESE: "IT'S ABOUT TIME!

:)" AND, "THE NEW TRASH CARTS ARE GREAT.

BRING ON RECYCLING."

ON THAT FRONT, I HAVE GOOD NEWS.

WE PLAN TO INTRODUCE SEMI-AUTOMATED RECYCLING PICKUP IN 2024.

[APPLAUSE] OUR TEAM WILL BE MEETING WITH THE COUNCIL NEXT MONTH TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THE ROLLOUT PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION.

DELIVERING EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE SERVICES ALSO MEANS PROVIDING SIDEWALKS, ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT WORK FOR EVERYONE.

IN 2023 WE RECONSTRUCTED MORE THAN 14 MILES OF CITY STREETS, WHICH IS ANOTHER BIG INCREASE OVER WHAT WAS DONE ONLY SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO.

WITH INCREASED ROAD RECONSTRUCTION EVERY YEAR, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE REAL DATA-BASED IMPROVEMENT IN CITY ROAD CONDITIONS.

IN SIX YEARS, WE'VE NEARLY DOUBLED THE ROADS RATED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION; KEPT THE GOOD ROADS ABOUT THE SAME; AND CUT THE FAIR AND POOR ROADS BY ABOUT 4.5% EACH.

JUST TWO FULL CONSTRUCTION SEASONS INTO THE MUNICIPAL SIDEWALK PROGRAM, THE RESULTS ARE ALREADY EVIDENT HERE AS WELL.

MAJOR STRETCHES OF SIDEWALKS LEADING TO SCHOOLS, PARKS, SHOPPING DISTRICTS AND OTHER AREAS WITH HIGH PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE TRAFFIC HAVE BEEN RECONSTRUCTED.

IN 2023, DPW FIXED MORE THAN 12 MILES OF SIDEWALKS - UP FROM SEVEN MILES IN THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF THE PROGRAM AND FOUR THE YEAR BEFORE THAT.

WE ALSO EXPANDED OUR SPEED HUMP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SLOW TRAFFIC AND IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

THIS YEAR WE ADDED 11 ASPHALT CUSHIONS ON FIVE CITY STREETS.

DATA ON THESE INSTALLATIONS SHOWS EVIDENCE OF LOWER SPEEDS, WHICH IS WHY WE WILL CONSTRUCT MORE THIS YEAR.

THESE PROGRAMS ALL SUPPORT OUR DRIVE TO BECOME A VISION ZERO CITY, AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM THAT SEEKS TO ELIMINATE ALL TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES.

LAST YEAR, WE STARTED THE PROCESS OF CREATING A VISION ZERO PLAN FOR SYRACUSE, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT TO EARN THE DISTINCTION.

IT'S A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING THAT COVERS ROADS, LAND USE, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

THAT WORK CONTINUES THIS YEAR WITH A GOAL OF BRINGING A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE COUNCIL IN 2025.

[APPLAUSE] AND CENTRO REPORTS THAT IT IS STILL ON TRACK FOR THE START OF BUS RAPID TRANSIT - WHICH WILL BRING INCREASED FREQUENCY AND SPECIAL BUSES AND STOPS TO SYRACUSE - IN 2026.

[APPLAUSE] YOUR CITY IS MAKING SURE OUR PARKS, RECREATION AND YOUTH PROGRAMS DELIVER EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND EQUITABLE SERVICES TO CITY RESIDENTS, TOO.

THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WELCOMED NEW LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR: TONY WILLIAMS AS COMMISSIONER AND CHRIS ABBOTT AS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER.

[APPLAUSE] TONY IS NEW TO CITY GOVERNMENT AND HAS AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN FACILITIES, FITNESS AND WELLNESS.

CHRIS HAS BEEN WITH PARKS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AND HAS HELPED BUILD OUR OUTSTANDING LINEUP OF RECREATION PROGRAMS.

FROM NEW PICNIC TABLES AND BETTER PLAYGROUNDS TO CHAIR YOGA FOR SENIORS AND ESPORTS FOR CITY YOUTH, TONY, CHRIS AND THEIR TEAMS ARE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY PROGRAM AND FACILITY IN THE PARKS PORTFOLIO.

THEY FINISHED AN INNOVATIVE NEW HEXAGONAL BASKETBALL COURT AT HUNTINGTON PARK IN EASTWOOD.

IT'S A SIX-SIDED COURT IDEALLY SUITED TO SMALLER GAMES AND SHOOTING PRACTICE FOR MULTIPLE USERS AT ONCE.

OUR FORESTRY TEAM IS STRENGTHENING THE CITY'S TREE CANOPY.

THERE'S NO BETTER EXAMPLE THAN SCHILLER PARK WHERE THE URBAN FOREST AT THE ROUNDTOP IS BEING RESTORED WITH THE CLEARANCE OF ACRES OF INVASIVE OVERGROWTH.

MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING SECURED BY ASSEMBLYMAN MAGNARELLI, THIS PROJECT IS RESTORING SPECTACULAR VIEWS AND CREATING HEALTHIER TREES AND A BETTER SENSE OF SAFETY.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT, BUT FOR YEARS PARKS, ALONG WITH SYRACUSE POLICE, HAVE BEEN A PART OF OUR ANIMAL WELFARE TEAM, ALONG WITH OUR DEDICATED SHELTER PARTNER AT BARKS AND REC.

LIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES IN AMERICA, SYRACUSE IS FACING A CRISIS OF STRAYS SINCE COVID-19.

IN RESPONSE, PARKS WORKED WITH THE COUNTY AND MULTIPLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO REESTABLISH A CANINE SHELTER AND ADOPTION FACILITY AT THE FORMER SECOND CHANCE FACILITY IN JAMESVILLE.

IT WILL HELP SERVE THE OVERFLOW OF STRAY CITY DOGS.

THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE ONONDAGA CREEKWALK, AS WELL AS THE EMPIRE STATE TRAIL IN THE CITY, WILL BE PART OF AN EXCITING PLAN TO ADD A NEW TRAIL IN THE CITY.

I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT THAT THANKS TO A NEARLY $1 MILLION GRANT DELIVERED BY STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, WE WILL START DESIGN ON A NEW WESTSIDE TRAIL PROJECT TRAVELING THROUGH LIPE ART PARK, OVER THE RAILROAD BRIDGES AT GEDDES STREET, AND UP TO TIPP HILL.

[APPLAUSE] EARLY PLANS INCLUDE GREENWAY TREATMENTS TO THE NEAR WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO THE WEST STREET CROSSWALK THAT CONNECTS TO THE CREEKWALK.

I THINK PARKS, TRAILS AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ARE THE "CROWN JEWELS" OF A CITY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE OURS THE BEST THEY CAN BE FOR OUR CENTER OF GROWTH.

DELIVERING QUALITY CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT AND RESPONSE IS THE THIRD OF OUR GROWING CITY OBJECTIVES.

CITYLINE IS THE "FRONTLINE" FOR CONSTITUENT INQUIRIES AND SERVICE.

IT'S COMPRISED OF A PHONE CENTER AT 315-448-CITY; AN ONLINE APP; AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

CITYLINE FIELDS MORE THAN 36,000 INQUIRIES ANNUALLY FROM CONSTITUENTS.

2023 WAS THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF THE COMPLETELY REBUILT CITY WEBSITE AT SYR.GOV.

LED BY OUR OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL SERVICES TEAM, WE TRANSITIONED THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF CONTENT FROM THE OLD SITE AND REDESIGNED THE NEW SITE FOR VASTLY BETTER USER EXPERIENCE AND OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE ON ALL PLATFORMS.

SIMPLY STATED, SYR.GOV IS EASIER TO USE AND BETTER TO LOOK AT.

WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?

[APPLAUSE] THE FOURTH AND FINAL OBJECTIVE TO BE A GROWING CITY IS ACHIEVING FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY.

I MADE A FIRM COMMITMENT TO THE CITY'S FINANCIAL WELL-BEING WHEN I BECAME MAYOR.

BACK THEN, MANY CONSIDERED US ON TRACK TO BANKRUPTCY.

THROUGH CAREFUL FISCAL MANAGEMENT, WE PUT AN END TO THAT NARRATIVE.

OUR BOND RATINGS WERE UPGRADED IN 2022, WHICH WE'VE MAINTAINED, AND WE CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY NEW WAYS TO GENERATE SAVINGS AND REVENUE.

DESPITE THIS PROGRESS, THE CITY STILL SPENDS MORE ON THE VITAL SERVICES RESIDENTS DESERVE THAN WE TAKE IN FROM TAXES, FEES, AND STATE AID.

CLEARLY, THAT IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE POSITION, WHICH IS WHY WE LAUNCHED A REVENUE ENHANCEMENT WORKGROUP LAST YEAR, WITH THE GOAL OF GENERATING AN ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION IN ANNUAL INCOME.

WE PARTNERED WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL, SOUGHT SOME OUTSIDE ADVICE, AND CALLED ON CITY DEPARTMENTS TO BRAINSTORM SOLUTIONS.

MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS HIRING OUTSIDE EXPERTISE TO ADVISE THE CITY ON CASH MANAGEMENT.

IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, THAT YIELDED JUST OVER $2 MILLION.

IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE HAVE ACHIEVED AN OVER $7 MILLION RETURN.

BY THE CLOSE OF THIS FISCAL YEAR IN JUNE, WE SHOULD ACHIEVE HALF OF OUR OVERALL TARGET FROM THIS ONE INITIATIVE.

[APPLAUSE] FINALLY, THE CITY'S FINANCE AND BUDGET TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASED EFFICIENCIES.

I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT WE CANNOT CUT OUR WAY TO PROSPERITY, WE MUST GROW.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TAXPAYERS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY DOLLAR THE CITY SPENDS IS A NECESSARY DOLLAR.

WE HAVE OTHER LARGE SCALE CHANGE INITIATIVES UNDERWAY THAT ARE PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT AND WORTH MENTIONING.

SUPPORTED BY THE HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL'S GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE LAB AND BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES, WE ARE STARTING YEAR TWO OF THE PROCUREMENT TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM.

THE CITY SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY EVERY YEAR.

THIS PROGRAM IS ENGAGING EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THE WAY WE BUY THINGS IS RESULTS-DRIVEN, MORE EFFICIENT, AND MORE EQUITABLE.

WE HAVE AN ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP TO MAKE SURE THE CITY'S PROPERTY AND LAND HOLDINGS ARE DELIVERING MAXIMUM VALUE.

LATE LAST YEAR, THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE SALE OF CITY HALL COMMONS - GENERATING REVENUE FOR THE CITY, LETTING PRIVATE SECTOR MONEY RESTORE THE HISTORIC BUILDING AND, BEST OF ALL, PUTTING IT BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS.

WE'VE ALREADY MOVED OUR STAFF TO BETTER AND LESS EXPENSIVE SPACE AT ONE PARK PLACE.

ASSET MANAGEMENT IS TAKING ON ANOTHER MAJOR CHALLENGE.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT'S FROM THE OUTDATED PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, GENERATE VALUE FROM OUR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY, AND RENT SPACE THAT IS BETTER AND CHEAPER.

BEST OF ALL, THE NEW SITE ON THE WEST SIDE IS JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM PSLA@FOWLER AND WILL BRING ACTIVITY AND INVESTMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS CORRIDOR ALONG GEDDES STREET.

[APPLAUSE] NOBODY LIKES TALKING ABOUT TAXES OR ASSESSMENT, BUT WE NEED TO.

THE ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT, USING A DATA CENTRIC APPROACH, REASSESSED ABOUT 7,500 PROPERTIES LAST YEAR.

THAT'S A 40% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR AND REPRESENTS REAL PROGRESS TO ENHANCE THE EQUITY OF OUR ASSESSMENT ROLLS.

IT'S NEEDED AS WE CONTINUE TO ANALYZE IF, OR MORE LIKELY WHEN, WE SHOULD LAUNCH A CITYWIDE REVALUATION.

DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS, WE'VE HAD A RELENTLESS FOCUS ON BEING A DATA DRIVEN CITY.

BUILDING ON THE EFFECTIVE ITEAM, WE CREATED THE OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, PERFORMANCE AND INNOVATION.

RECOGNIZING THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF DATA IN GOVERNMENT, THAT TEAM IS NOW ANALYTICS, PERFORMANCE AND INNOVATION.

WITH THE HELP OF BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES, SYRACUSE IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN USING DATA FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT.

IN 2021, WE WERE PROUD TO RECEIVE THE WHAT WORKS CITIES SILVER CERTIFICATION, AND LAST YEAR WE LEVELED UP TO GOLD.

BEFORE I LEAVE CITY HALL, I'M DETERMINED TO MAKE DATA-INFORMED DECISION-MAKING PART OF THE DNA OF SYRACUSE CITY GOVERNMENT.

[APPLAUSE] IN CLOSING, TONIGHT WE'VE DONE A FULL STATUS REPORT ON THE FOUR OBJECTIVES THAT HAVE GUIDED US TO BEING A GROWING CITY.

WE DIDN'T DO THIS ALONE.

THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM - THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY - CONTRIBUTED TO OUR PROGRESS.

AT A PIVOTAL POINT IN OUR COMMUNITY HISTORY, THE CITY IS WELL POSITIONED AS A CENTER OF GROWTH.

AFTER ALL THIS TIME FOCUSED ON THE CRITICAL ROLE OF SYRACUSE TO OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURES, I WENT BACK AND ASKED CHATGPT, "WHY ARE CITIES IMPORTANT?"

HERE IS WHAT IT SAID: "IN THE INTRICATE TAPESTRY OF HUMAN EXISTENCE, CITIES ARE THE VIBRANT THREADS THAT WEAVE TOGETHER CULTURE, INNOVATION, AND SOCIETAL GROWTH."

WOW, I'D AGREE.

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, SR., WHO, FOR THE RECORD, WAS A REAL PERSON, THE GREAT WRITER, EDUCATOR AND DOCTOR OF THE 1800S, SAID IT EVEN BETTER: "THE AXIS OF THE EARTH STICKS OUT VISIBLY THROUGH THE CENTRE OF EACH AND EVERY TOWN OR CITY."

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN SYRACUSE'S AXIS TONIGHT IS HERE IN CITY CENTER, WHERE FIVE YEARS AGO WE LAUNCHED THE SYRACUSE SURGE AND LAID DOWN OUR VISION OF BEING A GROWING CITY THAT EMBRACES DIVERSITY AND CREATES OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.

FRIENDS, AS LONG AS WE STAY ON OUR COURSE AND CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE, SYRACUSE'S BEST DAYS ARE STILL AHEAD OF US.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THERE TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] [♪♪♪] >> AND THAT WAS SYRACUSE MAYOR BEN WALSH IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AT THE CITY CENTER WHERE THE MAYOR DELIVERED HIS SEVENTH STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS I'M DAVID LOMBARDO HOST OF THE CAPITAL PRESSROOM AND YOU ARE WATCHING ANALYSIS AND JOINING ME ARE JEREMY BOYAR, CITY REPORTER FOR THE SYRACUSE POST STANDARD AND SYRACUSE.COM.

MAURICE BROWN A LEGISLATOR REPRESENTING SYRACUSE AND SHARON OWENS DEPUTY MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

JEREMY, AS THE REPORTER HERE, WRITING ABOUT THIS, WHAT IS ARE LEAD FOR THE MAYOR'S SPEECH?

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE IN THE SYRACUSE AREA EXPECTED TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE SPEECH?

>> I THINK IT'S IN A LOT OF WAYS, IT'S A SORTED OF I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, SORT OF A PARTIAL VICTORY LAP OF THIS IS WHERE WE WERE IN 2019 AND THIS IS THE GOALS WE HAD LAID OUT.

AND WE'VE DOPE A LOT TO GET TO THOSE GOALS.

AND WE HAVE MORE TO GO AND THAT IS KIND OF I THINK THE THEME OF -- THE CHOICE OF A VENUE AND BRINGING IT BACK TO THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST AND PAST STATE OF THE CITY SPEECHES WAS FELT THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH.

HE STRUCTURED IT AROUND SOME OF THE FOUR CORE GOALS THAT THEY HAD IN THAT SPEECH BACK IN 2019.

>> SHARON, IF YOU HAD THE PRIVILEGE OR WRITING FOR THE SYRACUSE POST STANDARD WHAT WOULD BE YOUR STORY THAT YOU WANT READERS TO TAKEAWAY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MAYOR WAS TRYING TO CONVEY AND DO YOU THINK HE DID THAT?

>> I DO.

JEREMY HIT IT ON THE HEAD.

WE SET OUT AN AGGRESSIVE AGENDA IN 2018 AND ROLLED IT OUT IN 2019 DESPITE COVID.

US ALL PAUSING FOR A MOMENT.

WE'VE KEPT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AS A PERSON IN CITY HALL WORKING DAY-TO-DAY, I ABSOLUTELY EXPERIENCE IT EVERYDAY.

SO WE HAVE NOT LET UP WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON MANY OF THE INITIATIVES THAT HE TALKED ABOUT.

AND THERE'S STILL MORE TO COME.

AND TWO YEARS LEFT.

>> FROM TONIGHT'S SPEECH WHAT EMBODIED THE PEDAL TO THE METAL SPIRIT?

WHAT DOES THE MAYOR WANT TO DO SPEAKS TO THAT IDEA OF NOT LETTING UP?

>> THE COMMITMENT TO HOUSING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

2500 UNITS BY 2025.

WE ARE GOING TO GET IT DONE.

>> AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT WHAT THE MAYOR IS LAYING OUT THAT IS GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT?

DOWN THE ROAD IN ALBANY THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT A PLAN FOR LAYING OUT 800,000 NEW HOMES AND THE FIRST YEAR WAS A FLOP.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE MAYOR'S PLAN THAT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN REALIZING IT AND ACTUALLY SEEING THE HOUSES BUILT?

>> THE GOVERNOR IS SPEAKING FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

THE MAYOR IS SPEAKING FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

WE HAVE ALREADY HAVE ESTABLISHED PARTNERS WITH HOUSING WHETHER IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU HEARD TODAY.

PEOPLE LOOKING TO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE THIS HOUSING THAT WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO NEED.

NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME INTO OUR COMMUNITY BUT ADDRESSING THE HOUSING WE HAVE NOW.

>> MAURICE HOUSING WAS ONE OF THE AREAS YOU WERE HOPING TO HEAR FROM THE MAYOR AND MORE ON TRANSPORTATION.

THINK BEING THOSE ISSUES AND GENERALLY WHAT IS ON THE MIND OF SYRACUSE RESIDENTS, DID THIS SPEECH REFLECT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING PEOPLE IN SYRACUSE?

>> YEAH, ACTUALLY.

SO LIKE YOU SAID I WAS CRITICAL AND HOPING THAT HE WOULD MENTION HOUSING A LOT AND HE DID.

I WAS KEEPING COUNT I STOPPED AT FIVE BUT HOUSING WAS MENTIONED A LOT AND THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT TO SCALE.

AND HE'S MAKING AN ATTEMPT AT THAT.

STILL SKEPTICAL BECAUSE OF WHO I AM BY NATURE.

BUT IT IS GOOD TO HEAR THE ATTEMPT IS BEING MADE AND HIGHLIGHTING THINGS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS.

THAT WAS GOOD.

AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION BUS RAPID TRANSIT I BELIEVE WAS MENTIONED.

>> 2026 HE IS LOOKING TO HAVE THAT ROLLED OUT.

>> YES.

THROUGH CENTRO.

>> AND THAT WAS EXCITING TO SEE IT.

I WOULD LIKE MORE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BUS RAPID TRANSIT FREE WHEN IT LAUNCHES.

I WANT TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP AND WORK WITH HIM TO DO THAT.

AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT HE MENTIONED THE COMMUNITY GRID.

I THINK FOR SO LONG WE WERE STUCK ON THE DECISION AND WHAT LIKE JUST WHATEVER.

BUT NOW WE'RE AT THAT NEXT STEP AND WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY GRID GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

IS IT GOING TO BE WALKABLE, BIKE LANES?

>> SHARON IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COMMUNITY GRID THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND AUTOMOBILES.

AND LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR, THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THE VISION ZERO PLAN THE IDEA OF PROMOTING SAFETY.

HAS A LOT BEEN DONE ON THAT IN 2023?

HAS HE ENCOUNTERED A LOT OF ROADBLOCKS?

IF SO IS THERE REASON TO THINK THAT IN 2024 THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS ON THAT ISSUE?

>> SO PARTICULARLY FOR THE COMMUNITY GRID, THE OWNER OF THAT PROJECT OBVIOUSLY IS THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

SO WE HAVE BEEN ON A MONTHLY CONVERSATION WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THEY ARE LOOKING AT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT WE ARE INSERTING OURSELVES, JOE DRISCOLL WAS OUR LEAD STAFF PERSON INSERTING OURSELVES IN THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOW WALKABLE, SPACES ARE GOING TO BE.

UNDERSTANDING THAT WALKABILITY ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COMMUNITY GRID ISN'T NECESSARILY THE SAME AS WALKABILITY ON THE NORTHERN END OF THE COMMUNITY GRID.

SO ENSURING THAT D.O.T.

IS SEEING US AND HEARING US SAY WHAT THE DIFFERENT FABRICS ALONG THAT CORRIDOR WHICH KIND OF SHIFT IN MULTIPLE PLACES FROM THE HIGHLY RESIDENTIAL AREA IN SOUTH SIDE TO THE MORE BUSINESS ORIENTED AS YOU GET NORTHERN UNTIL YOU GET TO HOLLY GREEN AND THAT CONNECTIVITY WITH 690.

THEY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO US.

WE KEEP PUSHING THE NEEDLE WE WILL HAVE THE LAUNCHING OF THE VISION DOCUMENT SOON AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC HAVING AN OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

>> JEREMY WITH THESE SPEECHES ONE OF THE THINGS I'M LISTENING FOR ARE THE KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT AT THEIR HOMES AND THINGS THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE PAST HAVE COME UP IS SIDEWALKS AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A KITCHEN TABLE ISSUE FROM THIS SPEECH.

DID ANYTHING STAND OUT TO YOU?

>> THERE'S QUITE A FEW.

I THINK ANYTIME YOU TALK ABOUT CODES AND CRACKING DOWN ON BAD LANDLORDS OR ILLEGAL BUSINESSES THAT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT AFFECTS EVERYONE IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHEN THEY WALK THE STREETS TO GO TO WORK.

A BIG ONE IN THE CITY AND SHARON KNOWS IT ALL TOO WELL, IS EVERYONE LOVES TO DISCUSS THE TRASH CARTS AND SO THE MAYOR DID NOT SHY AWAY FROM IT.

AND CERTAINLY HIGHLIGHTED THAT THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THAT.

AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH RECYCLING.

SO DETAILS WILL BE INTERESTING FOR THAT IF THE COUNCIL HAS COME ALONG, BUT THEY'VE DEFINITELY YOU KNOW AND TO THEIR CREDIT THEY ARE LISTENING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND BRINGING THAT FEEDBACK, BACK AND IT'S GIVE AND TAKE THAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE TRASH CARTS I IMAGINE WE'LL SEE THAT AS RECYCLING GETS ROLLED OUT THE DETAILS HOW THAT WILL WORK.

THOSE ARE KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES.

IT'S NOT GOING TO -- PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO HOW THEIR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING GETS PICKED UP AND THE MAYOR WANTS TO MAKE SURE HE LETS PEOPLE KNOW THESE ARE THINGS WE CARE ABOUT AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES THE MAYOR DID NOT PLAN ON SPEAKING IS THE MIDDLE EAST AND HECKLERS BROUGHT UP THE ISSUES OF PALESTINIAN DEATHS FOLLOWING THE HAMAS TERRORIST ATTACKS, RIGHT NOW, DO YOU THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT IN THE FUTURE?

IS THERE A ROLE FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE ON NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS?

>> I BELIEVE THAT THE MAYOR HAS TO BE AN EAR TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF HIS CITY.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE THEY MAY BE ON.

THE SIDE WE ALL NEED TO BE ON IS THE SIDE OF HUMANITY.

PEOPLE ARE DYING NO MATTER WHAT YOU SUPPORT.

AND WHO WHICH SIDE YOU ARE ON.

THESE ARE HUNE BEINGS BEING MURDERED OR TORTURED IN THIS HORRIBLE WAR.

AS THE MAYOR, THE POSITION OF THE MAYOR SHOULD BE TO HAVE AN OPEN EAR TO THE INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE INFLUENCE WHERE HE CAN, WHETHER IT'S STATE OR FEDERAL OR INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS.

WHERE HE CAN.

BUT HIS RESPONSIBILITY AS A MAYOR IS TO HAVE AN EAR FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE STAKEHOLDERS.

>> MAURICE AN ISSUE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT AROUND THE STATE WHETHER IT'S IMPACTING THEIR LIVES OR NOT BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS CYCLE IS THE INFLUX OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TO NEW YORK.

WE DIDN'T HEAR MUCH OF ANYTHING FROM THE MAYOR ABOUT THAT.

IS THAT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY?

SHOULD THE MAYOR WEIGHED IN ON THAT ISSUE?

>> YEAH, ACTUALLY THAT WAS GOOD THAT YOU POINTED OUT I DIDN'T REALIZE.

IT IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE.

IT'S FUNNY, BECAUSE THE I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, AMERICA MELTING POT.

I THINK THAT IS HOW OUR NATION WAS FOUNDED LIKE THAT IS WHAT MAKES US STRONG.

AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THAT THERE IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE THERE IS A LOT OF JOBS THAT THEY SAY NO ONE WANTS TO WORK ANYMORE.

THESE PEOPLE IF WE BRING IN NEW PEOPLE MAYBE WE CAN FIND EMPLOYEES.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE CONVERSATION BACKWARDS.

IT IS NOT A DEFICIT NOT A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE CAN BOLSTER OUR WORKFORCE AND BOLSTER OUR EDUCATION, WE CAN GROW OUR COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT.

>> SHARON WAS THAT A CONSCIOUS CHOICE FOR THE MAYOR NOT TO ADDRESS THAT?

OMISSION?

HOW SHOULD WE THINK OF THE LACK OF FOCUS ON ASYLUM SEEKERS?

>> IT IS AN ISSUE FOR ALL OF US.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN WAR-TORN AND AREAS IN OUR WORLD, PARTICULARLY OUR SOUTHERN BORDERS WHO ARE TRYING TO RUN AWAY FROM OPPRESSION.

AND THEY FIND THAT IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THEY FIND IT FIRST OF ALL ACROSS THE BORDER AND PEOPLE ARE BEING BROUGHT TO NORTHERN UP TO NEW YORK.

AND PARTICULAR NEW YORK CITY AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A DEBATE BACK AND FORTH.

I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT ASYLUM SEEKERS IS THAT THERE IS A STRATEGY.

BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT OUR PEOPLE JUST DROPPED OFF ON A BUS AT A HOTEL OR SOMEWHERE OR ON THE STREET WITH NO PLAN HOW -- IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE A SHELTER OR ROOM.

THERE HAS TO BE A PLAN FOR THEIR PROSPERITY.

IF THERE IS A PATH FOR WORK OPPORTUNITIES, THAT SHOULD BE LAID OUT AND VERY STRATEGIC.

SO WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE STRATEGIC.

IT IS HEART WRENCHING TO SEE FAMILIES UNLOADING ON BUSES NO IDEA WHERE THEY ARE GOING, NO IDEA HOW THEY ARE GOING TO SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES.

KIDS GOING TO SCHOOLS WHO DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AT THOSE SCHOOLS AND NO PLAN FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE USED AS POLITICAL PAWNS.

>> JEREMY WE HAVE TO CALL IT A NIGHT IN A FEW SECONDS.

IS THIS AN AGENDA WE HEARD THAT THE COMMON COUNCIL IS GOING TO EMBRACE?

OR ARE THERE POTENTIAL LAND MINES OR WARM HUGS AND KISSES THROUGHOUT 2024?

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ALREADY, YOU KNOW THEY SIGNED OFF ON THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

THEY SIGNED OFF ON SOME OTHER BIG INITIATIVES LIKE SAFER STREETS.

AND YOU KNOW, AS THESE PROGRAMS START TO BE IMPLEMENTED, I WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF RESULTS THERE ARE AND IF COUNCIL SAYS HEY THAT IS NOT WHAT WE THOUGHT.

WE EXPECTED THIS TO GO BETTER OR DIFFERENTLY, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SORT OF SEE SOME OF THE ROLL OUT OF SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND WHERE IT GOES.

>> STAY TUNED SO TO SPEAK.

WE HAVE TO CALL IT FOR TONIGHT.

I THANK MY GUESTS DEPUTY MAYOR SHARON OWENS, MAURICE BROWN AND JEREMY BOYAR.

IF YOU WANT TO REVISIT THE COVERAGE VISIT WCNY.ORG AND IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN ENOUGH TUNE IN TO WCNY ON JANUARY 29TH FOR CONNECT NEW YORK WHERE WE WILL BREAKDOWN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

FOR EVERYONE BEHIND THE SCENES, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]