♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO WCNY'S DEBATE FOR THE CANDIDATES VYING TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF SYRACUSE.

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO HOST OF WCNY'S "THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM" AND ALONGSIDE ME IS NINA MORE, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT COLGATE UNIVERSITY AND PANELIST FOR WCNY'S "IVORY TOWER" AND CHRIS BAKER, MY FELLOW ALUM WHO IS THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR AT SYRACUSE.COM.

OUR CO-HOST THIS EVENING.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT FOR MAYOR OF SYRACUSE.

WE ARE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY DEMOCRAT SHARON OWENS, REPUBLICAN TOM BABILON, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE TIM RUDD AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE ALPHONSO DAVIS.

OVER THE NEXT HOUR, CANDIDATES WILL FIELD QUESTIONS ABOUT A VARIETY OF TOPICS IMPACTING THE LIVES OF SYRACUSE RESIDENTS, REBUTTALS FOLLOW-UPS AND ADDITIONAL TIME WILL BE DETERMINE BID MY COLLEAGUES AND ME.

WE WILL BEGIN OUR FORUM WITH OPENING REMARKS.

CANDIDATES HAVE 60 SECONDS AND AS A RESULT OF A RANDOM DRAW BEFORE EVERYBODY GOT HERE, WE WILL BEGIN WITH TIM RUDD.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

HAVE YOU 60 SECOND.

>> MY NAME IS TIM RUDD BORN AND RAISED IN SYRACUSE NEW YORK, WENT TO HENNEGER HIGH SCHOOL, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, MAXWELL SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LOCAL AND STATE FINANCE.

MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY FOR SEVEN YEARS.

I HAVE WORKED IN PUBLIC FINANCE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

EIGHT YEARS AGO I GOT ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

I WAS AN AT-LARGE CITY COUNCILOR, THE FINANCE CHAIR ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ABOUT THREE AND THEN BECAME THE BUDGET DIRECTOR WITHIN THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION AND REALLY DID THE FINANCES FOR THE CITY FOR OVER FOUR YEARS.

I LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE WITH MY FAMILY.

MY WIFE AND HAVE I FIVE CHILDREN, TWO DOGS SEVEN CHICKENS.

I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF MATH.

IN MANY WAYS, I APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF MATH.

I SEE ART IN MADS.

IT HELPS ME FEEL GOD IN MATH AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO MAKE MY ANSWERS GROUNDED IN MATH AN THE POSSIBILITIES THAT EXIST WITHIN SYRACUSE SO I REALLY SEE THIS CITY OF 25 SQUARE MILES AND WITHIN THAT, I THINK WE HAVE INFINITE POTENTIAL.

THERE IS A LOT OF POSSIBILITY.

SO I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE AND THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK BRIT.

>> -- TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> ALPHONSO.

>> AL FANS OWE DAVIS BORN-- BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

I HAVE A VISION FOR THIS CITY TO BE REBUILT NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE MARGINALIZED AND DISENFRANCHISED, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN OVER THE PAST NOT JUST SEVEN YEARS BUT OVER THE PAST FEW ELECTIONS THERE ARE SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN THIS CITY THAT HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN AND I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I BELIEVE I HAVE THE VISION, THE PASSION AND THE TEM TRAMENT TO BRING ABOUT TRUE CHANGE THAT ALLOW THIS CITY TO GROW AND MOVE AND CHANGE IN A WAY THAT WILL INCLUDE EVERYBODY.

I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WHEN YOU LIFT UP THE VERY LEAST OF THEM, THAT EVERYTHING RISES.

I HAVE A WIFE AND FIVE KIDS.

ONE OF MY KIDS IS AT MANHATTAN UNIVERSITY.

THE OTHER ONE IS A TEACHER AND THE OTHER IS A JUNIOR AT I.T.C.

I HAVE AN OLDER DAUGHTER WHO WORKS IN SOCIAL WORK.

AND I HAVE A SON.

AND I'M ABOUT MY CITY.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

SHARON.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US.

MY NAME IS SHARON OWENS, I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

I AM PROUD ADOPTED DAUGHTER OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

CAME HERE IN 1981 TO GO TO SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY WHERE I MAJORED IN ECONOMICS.

DESPITE THINKING I WAS GOING TO LEAVE TO GO TO NEW YORK CITY TO WORK ON WALL STREET, I DID AN INTERNSHIP ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SYRACUSE AND REALIZED THAT THIS WAS THE PLACE I WANTED TO BE AND NOT NEW YORK.

BUT SYRACUSE.

I'M AN EAST SIDE RESIDENT.

WIFE OF MY HUSBAND FOR 35 YEARS.

I HAVE TWO CHILDREN.

ONE 35 AND ONE 25.

AND I AM HERE BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CITY.

IT IS MY ADOPTED CITY AND I HAVE MORE WORK TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF SYRACUSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> TOM, YOU ARE UP WHENEVER YOU ARE READY.

>> I'M TOM BABILON.

I'M A FATHER.

I LIVE ON THE NORTH SIDE.

I'VE GOT A 20-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHO GRADUATED FROM FOULER.

FOWLER.

A 15-YEAR-OLD STEPSON AT HENNINGER AND A NEW BABY GIRL WHO WILL BE HERE IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

I'M VERY INVESTED IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

THE CITY HAS TO SUCCEED.

THE CITY HAS TO SUCCEED.

I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

I'M AN ATTORNEY.

I HAVE PRACTICED LAW FOR 23 YEARS.

10 YEARS I WAS AN ATTORNEY WITH THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND RAN THE HOUSING DIVISION FOR TWO YEARS, WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LABOR ATTORNEY FOR THREE YEARS.

I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND IDEAS HOW WE CAN FIX THE THINGS THAT ARE WRONG WITH THE CITY.

REALLY, I'M HERE RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.

I'VE DEDICATED MY LIFE, MY LEGAL CAREER TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND WHENEVER I GET A CHANCE TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE CITY, IT'S GREAT WHETHER ITS RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS OR JUST PEOPLE OR THE CITY ITSELF, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE I HAD A BIG WIN.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO.

I WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND MAKE SYRACUSE A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US.

THANK YOU.

>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THINGS UP TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR PANEL AND WE WILL START LEFT TO RIGHT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WITH QUESTION FOR SHARON OWENS AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION.

SPECIFICALLY SYRACUSE POLICE HAVE NOT BEEN COORDINATING WITH ICE OR WORKING WITH THEM TO IDENTIFY AND DETAIN MIGRANTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

IF YOU WERE MAYOR, WOULD YOU DIRECT YOUR POLICE CHIEF TO CONTINUE OR ALTER THAT POLICY?

>> THAT POLICY WILL ABSOLUTELY REMAIN THE SAME IF I'M THE MAYOR OF SYRACUSE.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE DISPUTES IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY'RE IMMIGRANTS OR PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN HERE, WHO ARE COMMITTING CRIMES, THAT IS THE ROLE OF THE POLICE I. IS NOT THE ROLE OF THE POLICE AND OUR TAXPAYERS DO NOT PAY OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO BE ICE AGENTS.

SO, NO, WE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN ICE ACTIVITIES WITH ME AS MAYOR.

>> TOM, SAME QUESTION.

>> A COUPLE REASONS WHY THAT WON'T HAPPEN.

FIRST, IT'S NOT LEGAL TO DO THAT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

WE CANNOT ENTER INTO COOPERATION AGREEMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT ENTER INTO COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH ICE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NOT LEGALLY POSSIBLE.

SECONDLY, WE JUST, EVEN IF IT WERE, WE DON'T HAVE THE POLICE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

WE ARE DOWN, FROM WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, ABOUT 200 POLICE OFFICERS AND OVER 100 IN THE LAST SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS ALONE.

SO YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CALL THE POLICE RIGHT NOW, I MEAN SOMETIMES THEY TELL YOU HOURS OR , YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE THERE AS SOON AS WE CAN OR WE WON'T BE THERE AT ALL.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.

WE CANNOT LEGALLY ENTER INTO THOSE AGREEMENTS SO, YES, I WOULD KEEP IT AS IT IS FOR NOW.

>> TIM.

>> SYRACUSE IS A DIVERSE AND WELCOMING CITY AND I THINK WE NEED TO STAY THAT WAY.

WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST IN OUR OWN SECURITY.

SO ONE THING IS THE POLICE FORCE, THERE IS TOO MUCH FOR IT TO DO.

THERE IS NO WAY WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE WORK OF ICE.

AT THE SAME TIME I WOULD NOT AT ALL MARKET THE CITY AS SOMEHOW SAFE HARBOR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY A PART OF THIS COUNTRY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTS AND DOES THE IMMIGRATION STUFF.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO REMAIN A WELCOMING CITY AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT WE HAVE TO DO TO ESTABLISH SAFETY AND ORDER SO THAT SYRACUSE CAN GROW.

WE HAVE A POVERTY PROBLEM IN SYRACUSE.

THE LEVELS OF POVERTY ARE A THREAT TO THE WHOLE OF THE CITY.

IF WE DON'T MINIMIZE THAT PERCENTAGE THAT WE ARE POOR BY ATTRACTING NEW RESIDENTS AND REALLY GROWING FROM, KEEP THE RESIDENTS WE HAVE, ADD RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT YET HERE WHO HAVE RESOURCES, THAT IS HOW WE CAN ESCAPE POVERTY FOR THE WHOLE OF THE CITY AND HOW WE CAN REALLY THRIVE.

>> ALFONSO, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

YOU HAVE 60 SECONDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT WILL I, AS MAYOR OF SYRACUSE, WHEN I'M ELECTED MAYOR OF SYRACUSE, I WILL NOT DIRECT THE SYRACUSE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PARTICIPATE OR SUPPORT OR HELP ICE IN IN I WAY OR FASHION.

WE ARE A CITY OF A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS AND WE WELCOME THEM.

WE HAVE ALWAYS WELCOMED THEM.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION.

SO ABSOLUTELY NOT, THERE WILL BE NO PARTICIPATION FROM ANY FACET IN MY ADMINISTRATION FOR ICE AND HELPING THEM IN THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> SO I HAVE ONE FOLLOW YES OR NO QUESTION BASED ON COMMENT TIM MADE WITH REGARD TO SAFE HARBOR.

SPECIFICALLY, AS A RESULT OF A DECISION FROM THEN MAYOR STEPHANIE MINER, SYRACUSE WAS DECLARED A SANCTUARY CITY.

IT MAY BE RHETORICAL DISTINCTION, A POSITION OF, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFICULT'S VALUES.

IF YOU-- THE CITY'S VALUES.

IF YOU ARE MAYOR OF THE CITY, WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A SANCTUARY CITY SIMPLE YES OR NO QUESTION.

SHARON.

>> NO.

>> TOM.

>> NO, BECAUSE WE NEVER WERE.

>> TIM YES OR NO?

>> NO.

>> ALFONSO YES OR NO CONTINUE?

>> NO, WHAT IS A SANCTUARY CITY?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I'LL HAND THINGS OVER TO NINA NOW.

>> OKAY, SO KEEPING WITH THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL POLICY ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS EITHER CANCELING OR WITHHOLDING PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED FEDERAL FUNDS FROM BOTH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, CITIES LIKE THE GREAT CITY OF SYRACUSE, WHAT RECOURSE DO THESE CITIES HAVE?

TOM, I BELIEVE WE WILL START WITH YOU.

>> FIRST, I THINK THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE FAVORABLE TO REPUBLICAN MAYOR IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

I THINK I'LL CERTAINLY FACILITATE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY, WHEN IT COMES TO GRANTS, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS-- IF YOU ARE GIVEN A GRANT, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL THE BOXES ARE CHECKED SO YOU CAN GET THE MONEY INTO THE CITY BANK OR CITY COFFERS AND WHEN WE WERE THERE, THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

AS SOON AS YOU GET AWARDED A GRANT, YOU GET IT IN THERE SO THEY CAN'T CLAW IT BACK AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO GOING FORWARD.

IF WE ARE AWARDED SOMETHING, GET IT IN THERE BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I'M NOT THE PERSON THAT IS GOING TO ANTAGONIZE PRESIDENT TRUMP OR CALL HIM NAMES OR DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT WOULD ONLY HURT THE CITY OF SYRACUSE SO I FORESEE WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH GRANTS IN THE FUTURE IF I'M THE NEXT MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, TIM.

>> WE NEED COMPETENT TRANSPARENT, CAPABLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND WE'VE HAD NOTHING BUT OPPORTUNITY THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

WE WERE GIVEN $123 MILLION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHAT HAS IT GOTTEN US?

WE WERE GIVEN A $2 MILLION BRANDT FOR A PAYROLL MODERNIZATION PROJECT.

WE SPENT OVER 10 AND THERE IS STILL NO NEW TIME KEEPING SYSTEM.

THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO EXECUTE ON THE OPPORTUNITIES IN FRONT OF US.

AND I THINK THAT WE KNOW THAT BEN WALSH IS A PRODUCT OF THE STRUCTURE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, AND THAT HE MANAGES THE STATUS QUO AND SHARON OWENS HAS BEEN HIS DEPUTY FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

SHE IS A MANAGER, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE STATUS QUO AND THEY'RE NOT GOOD AT IT.

SO WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE MONEY THAT BEE DO GET, WHETHER WE GET A LOT OR A LITTLE; WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO MANAGE THE LOWEST LEVEL AND GET RESULTS.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO USE DATA AND PRIMARILY AROUND POVERTY TO GUIDE THE DECISIONS AND ALLOCATIONS ON HOW TO MANAGE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

>> SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> YES.

AND IN THINKING ABOUT HOW CITIES ARE TO ADJUST TO THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS EITHER WITHHOLDING OR CANCELING PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED FEDERAL FUNDS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAD TO LEAD THE CITY TO DEAL WITH THAT SORT OF SITUATION?

>> WELL, WHEN I'M ELECTED MAYOR, THE FIRST THING I'M GOING TO DO, THAT I WOULD DO IS NOT GET INTO A DEBATE WITH DONALD TRUMP, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I WOULD FOCUS MY ENERGY ON OUR ELECTED STATE SENATORS AND LEAN ON THEM TO HELP IN TERMS OF STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE OUR STATE SENATOR AND OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN A COHESIVE MINDSET IN TERMS OF RESOURCES THAT ARE FUNNELED TO THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

SO I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT GET INTO A MATCH WITH DONALD TRUMP.

>> THANK YOU.

DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO FULLY ASSESS WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND WHAT IS NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.

THE NEW YORK STATE RELATIONSHIP IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL.

I HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS AND POLICY IMPLEMENTERS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS.

I ACTUALLY HAD-- I HAVE THEM ON MY CELL PHONE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOUSING, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THE INTERSTATE PROJECT GOING ON, MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.

AS FAR AS BEING STATUS QUO, MY VERY EXISTENCE MAKES ME AS FAR AWAY FROM THE STATUS QUO AS YOU CAN BE.

MY EXPERIENCE IN EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE ACROSS MY LIFE, HAS MADE ME NOT THE STATUS QUO.

I DO AGREE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT GRANT FUNDING, IT ISN'T ABOUT THE BUDGET SPENDING.

IT'S ABOUT ALLOCATION OF THE GRANT FUNDING, THE WAY IT WAS PROVIDED TO US AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE COMPLYING WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

>> THANK YOU.

I DO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP KEEPING WITH OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IS THERE SOMETHING-- WE'LL START AGAIN WITH YOU, TOM-- THERE SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING THAT YOU AGREE WITH AND ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH?

>> YEAH, I MEAN I LOVE ALL THE PEACE DEALS HE HAS BEEN DOING LATELY.

I MEAN WE'VE GOT PEACE IN GAZA TODAY AND IT DRIVES ME CRAZY WHEN I GO ON FACEBOOK AND PEOPLE ARE CURSING HIM OUT.

HOW CAN THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T ALL AGREE ON.

SO I LOVE THAT HE IS A PEACE-SEEKING PRESIDENT.

HE HAS TRIED TO SEEK THAT OUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

I ADMIRE HIM A LOT FOR THAT.

ONE THING I WOULD CRITICIZE HIM ON, I'M NOT REALLY A FAN OF, YOU KNOW, SORT OF USING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO GO AFTER PEOPLE FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

I MEAN I THINK THE DEMOCRATS DEFINITELY TOOK THE FIRST SHOT HERE, SO IT'S HYPOCRITICAL WHEN THEY COME BACK AND SAY WELL, HE IS DOING THIS, HE IS DOING THAT.

WELL THEY DID THAT FIRST.

BUT I WOULD PREFER IF HE WAS A BIGGER PERSON AND DIDN'T DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

>> TIM.

>> I THINK HE HAS HELPED CREATE SPACE TO FEEL LIKE THERE IS ROOM FOR FREE SPEECH.

I THINK THAT'S NECESSARY, EVEN WHEN PEOPLE STRONGLY DISAGREE.

IN MANY WAYS, HE HAS LEANED AND MAXIMIZED ON A BROKEN POLITICAL PROCESS AND HE PLAYS THAT GAME AND I, LIKE MANY PEOPLE ARE TOTALLY DISGUSTED BY THAT GAME THAT REDUCES THINGS TO SOUNDBITES AND MAKE IT REALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR VOTERS TO GET REAL INFORMATION OR DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN CANDIDATES AND I THINK HE HIGHLIGHTS THAT.

IN A WAY, I THINK THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN FROM THE TOP TO THE LOWEST LEVEL AND I NO LONGER AM INTERESTED IN PLAYING THAT GAME.

SO LIKE FOR ME, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE ANY YARD SIGNS.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE ANY ENDORSEMENTS AND I DON'T WANT TO RAISE ANY MONEY BECAUSE I THINK THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BIASED AND IT FORCES US TO BE FAR MORE SIMILAR.

I THINK ONE OF THE THE ONLY THINGS THAT MIGHT MAKE SHARON OWENS TO BEN WALSH IS OUR POLITICAL PROCESS THAT FORCES TO YOU GO RELY ON OUTSIDE MONEY AND ESTABLISHMENT INTERESTS.

AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO PLAY THAT GAME ANYMORE AND TRUMP PLAYS THAT GAME.

>> ALFONSO.

>> I JUST FIND IT AMAZING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY, TO HEAR ONE OF THE CANDIDATES UP HERE SAY THAT HE IS ABOUT PEACE WHEN YOU'VE BASICALLY DESTROYED THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN GAZA, SEVERAL MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE KILLED.

I DON'T SEE THAT AS PEACEFUL.

AND THEN I PERSONALLY, AS I'VE WATCHED THE NATIONAL NEWS, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING THAT I COULD SAY THAT HAS BEEN A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE FROM THIS MAN THAT IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

HE SAYS OKAY, IT'S ABOUT FREE SPEECH, ONLY IF IT'S FAVORABLE TO HIM.

IF YOU SAY SOMETHING THAT IS AGAINST HIM, THEN IT'S NOT FREE SPEECH ANYMORE.

WHEN YOU GO AROUND ATTACKING YOUR OPPONENTS AND TRYING TO JAIL THEM, AND TRYING TO PROSECUTE THEM BECAUSE THEY DIFFER WITH YOU, I JUST DON'T SEE ANYTHING POSITIVE FROM THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, OUR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO THERE IS NOTHING I SEE FROM HIM.

>> THANK YOU.

DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> 20 HOSTAGES ARE FREE TODAY.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL BE REJOICING ABOUT.

WHETHER THAT'S DONALD TRUMP OR ANYONE ON THIS STAGE WHO MADE THAT POSSIBLE, I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, Mr.

DAVIS AND I ARE IN AGREEMENT.

YOU SEND NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS INTO CITIES, FROM A PARTY THAT PRIDES ITSELF AS NOT BEING OVER REACHING, GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.

WHAT IS MORE OVERREACHING THAN SENDING NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS INTO CITIES IN OUR COUNTRY ON THE PREMISE THAT THEY'RE TOO VIOLENT TO LIVE IN?

WHEN THEIR DATA IS SAYING THAT THEIR CRIME HAS BEEN REDUCED.

SO, YES, I DON'T CARE WHO WAS IN OFFICE WHEN 20 HOSTAGES WERE RELEASED.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT.

BUT I'M ALSO LOOKING RIGHT SQUARELY IN THE FACE OF OVERARCHING GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE WITH NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN CITIES.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M GOING TO PASS THE BATON TO MY COLLEAGUE CHRIS NOW.

>> I'M GOING TO JUMP OUT OF ORDER A LITTLE BIT HERE AND-- >> IT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL A LITTLE BIT AND PROPERTY TAX REEVALUATION.

TIM RUDD WILL START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU.

THE COUNCIL VOTED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO CUT FUNDING FOR AN INITIATIVE THAT WOULD UPDATE PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS, CITY WIDE TO REFLECK THE REAL VALUES.

AS MAYOR, WOULD YOU TRY AGAIN TO PUT RESOURCES TOWARDS THAT CITY WIDE REEVALUATION, WHICH COULD IMPACT PROPERTY TAXES AND WHY OR WHY NOT?

>> I WOULD LIKELY INVEST IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT INDEPENDENT OF A SEPARATE GROUP COMING IN, THE OUTSIDE CONSULTANT GROUP I'M KIND OF ADVERSE TO.

I THINK YOU CAN EXPAND CAPACITY TO DO MORE TAX REASSESSMENTS.

WE BASICALLY HAVE THE SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE $9 BILLION OF VALUE, HALF EXEMPT AND HALF TAXABLE AND THE STATE TELLS US WE ARE OUT OF WHACK BY 50% MEANING THERE IS $18 BILLION WORTH OF TAXES.

AS LONG AS THEY AREN'T DISPROPORTIONATELY OUT OF OF WHACK, IT'S NOT THE BIGGEST DEAL BUT THERE IS A NEED TO PERMANENTLY FIX IT.

THE ONLY WAY TO PERMANENTLY FIX THIS ISSUE IS TO BUILD THE STAFF WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT, REGULARLY REASSESS, HAVE A PREDICTABLE PROCESS FOR THAT.

THIS WAS NOT A PRIORITY IN THE DEBATE FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION HASN'T GOTTEN IT DONE.

SO WE NEED TO-- THERE IS A POINT WHERE THE BOARDS AND THE ANSWERS ON THESE STAGES BECOME INSINCERE.

I THINK THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO BE JUDGED ON THE RESULTS THEY HAVEN'T DELIVERED.

>> ALFONSO.

>> THE ASSESSMENT DEFINITELY HAS TO BE REVAMPED IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S DONE AND MILWAUKEEING SURE THAT WE HAVE QUALIFIED AND EFFECTIVE PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH THAT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

BUT FOR ME, WHEN YOU'VE GOT 47% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE PAYING 100% OF THE TAXES, YOU CAN'T SUSTAIN YOUR CITY LIKE THAT.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, TAX INCENTIVES TO BIG BUSINESS AND CORPORATIONS BUT WHEN THEY DON'T MEET THE NEEDS OR THE AGREEMENTS, THEN THERE HAS TO BE CLAW-BACK.

AND THAT CLAW BACK HAS TO COME FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT DOING WELL BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU WERE GIVEN BASED ON THESE TAX INCENTIVES AND THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE ARE SUFFERING.

I KNOW MY PROPERTY TAX HAVE GONE UP.

MOST PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES HAVE GONE UP.

BUT YET AGAIN WE CANNOT SUSTAIN OUR CITY WHEN WE ONLY HAVE 47% OF THE PEOPLE PAYING 100% OF THE TAXES.

WE HAVE TO REEVALUATE WHAT WE ARE DOING AND HOW WE ARE DOING IT AND I AGREE WITH TIM IN TERMS OF JUST ASSESSING THAT PROCESS EFFECTIVELY AND PUTTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE TO DO THAT.

>> SHARON.

>> I SAID THIS IN THE PRIMARY.

I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

WE SHOULD RESTART THAT PROCESS.

AS FAR AS THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION NOT GETTING IT DONE, IT WAS KEYED UP TO BE DONE.

TEED UP TO BE DONE BUT VOTED DOWN BY THE COUNCIL.

IT IS 48% OF US TAXPAYERS WHO BEAR 100% OF THE TAX BURDEN.

I DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE BUILDING UP EXCESSIVELY THE CAPACITY OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT; WHEN WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE DEALING WITH A BUDGET DEFICIT.

I THINK AN OUTSIDE EVALUATION COMPANY WHO DOES THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS SHOULD BE THE ENTITY TO DO IT.

BUT WITHOUT QUESTION WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

>> TOM.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S TIME IS RIGHT TO DO A CITY WIDE REASSESSMENT RIGHT NOW AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS: FIRST, WHILE IT'S BEEN IN THE PAPER, IT'S BEEN STATED THAT YOUR TAXES WON'T NECESSARILY GO UP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR TAXES ARE BASED ON WHAT THE ENTIRE TAX LEVY IS, SO THAT'S TRUE IN SO FAR AS CITY TAXES GO, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT COUNTY TAXES AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT SCHOOL TAXES, THE SCHOOL TAXES ARE BASED ON THE TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE OF THE CITY.

SO IF THE TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE OF THE CITY GOES UP, WHICH IT WOULD IN A REASSESSMENT, THEN YOUR SCHOOL TAXES ARE GOING TO GO UP.

IF THE COUNTY TAXES ARE BASED ON THE TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE OF THE CITY, THE COUNTY TAXES WILL GO UP.

SO THAT'S ONE REASON I THINK WE HAVE HAD TOO MUCH TAX INCREASES IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

WE'VE HAD THREE TAX HIKES FROM THIS MAYOR.

HE HAS WANTED TO DO FIVE.

THE COUNCIL STOPPED HIM TWICE.

WE'VE HAD NEW SIDEWALK TAXES.

WE'VE HAD HIGHER WATER FEES.

IT'S REALLY COME TO A POINT WHERE I LOOKED AT MY TAX BILL AND IT'S ALMOST 40% HIGHER THAN IT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO JUST ON THE CITY END.

THE ONLY REASON WE DON'T NOTICE THAT IS BECAUSE THE COUNTY TAXES HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN AT THE SAME TIME.

>> REBUTTAL.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE 30 SECONDS TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY REPORTED THAT TOM BROUGHT UP?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR THE RECORD, AS DEPUTY MAYOR, I CAN WEIGH IN ON THE DECISIONS MADE.

THE DECISION ULTIMATELY IS THE MAYOR'S.

THIS LAST TAX HIKE, I WAS NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH.

I DID NOT WANT TO RAISE THE TAX RATE AGAIN.

BUT WE DID.

WE ATTEMPTED TO AND THE COUNCIL VOTED IT DOWN AND HERE WE ARE.

>> TIM, YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS.

>> SHARON JUST BLAMED THE COUNCIL FOR NOT GETTING IT DONE.

THE COUNCIL IS PART OF THE PROCESS.

I DON'T THINK THERE ARE FIVE COUNCILORS OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WHO WOULD SAY THIS ADMINISTRATION IS HONEST AND TRUSTWORTHY.

I THINK THEY WOULD SAY THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

YOU NEED FIVE VOTES, SIX VOTES TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE COUNCIL.

WE NEED TO START BEING TRANSPARENT AND TRUTHFUL WITH THEM AND THAT'S THE NECESSARY STEP TO GETTING ANYTHING DONE.

>> MAY I PLEASE... >> YOU ARE GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT HAD THIS.

>> REPEATEDLY CALLING ME DISHONEST.

>> 15 SECONDS.

>> I DO NOT GET UP EVERY DAY TO MISLEAD ANYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF.

I PRIDE MYSELF WITH MY INTEGRITY AND MY HONESTY.

>> SO BECAUSE WE BROUGHT UP THE COMMON COUNCIL AND WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LATER ON.

WE ARE GOING TO DO A QUICK LIGHTNING ROUND BEFORE NINA ASKS ANOTHER SUBSTANTIVE QUESTION AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE COMMON COUNCIL AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT LETTER GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THE CURRENT COMMON COUNCIL'S PERFORMANCE STARTING WITH YOU ALFONSO.

WHAT LETTER GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THE COMMON COUNCIL?

>> THEY HAVE BEEN MISSING THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL-- >> NEED A LETTER GRADE.

>> I WOULD SAY C +.

>> SHARON.

>> SAME.

>> TOM.

>> SO BEFORE 2025-- >> NEED A LETTER GRADE.

B AND THEN C IN 2025.

>> LETTER GRADE.

>> I COULD WORK WITH THEM ALL DAY.

I GIVE THEM AN A OR DEALING WITH A BROKEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> ONE LAST LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTION.

MAYOR BEN WALSH HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RELOCATE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE.

IF YOU BECAME MAYOR, WOULD YOU ADVANCE THAT RELOCATION EFFORT OR WORK TO KEEP THE STATUE IN PLACE.

>> YES OR NO.

KEEP IN IN PLACE, ADVANCE THE POLICY TO MOVE IT?

>> YES.

>> KEEP IT IN PLACE.

>> TIM.

>> COLUMBUS STANDS WHERE IT.

>> Susan: ALFONSO.

>> KEEP IT IN PLACE.

>> NINA LET'S GO BACK TO YOU NOW.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO CITY FINANCING AND SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT USE OF THE CITY'S RESERVES.

I WOULD LIKE FOR TO YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD USE IT AND IF COULD YOU START BY TALKING SPECIFICALLY AS TO WHETHER YOU WOULD USE IT TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S BUDGET DEFICIT.

THE MAYOR HAD TALKED ABOUT OR WANTED TO USE AT LEAST UP TO ABOUT 25%.

THAT WAS PUSHED BACK.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW BEST TO USE THESE CITY'S RESERVES?

AND I'M NOT SURE WHO WE BEGIN WITH.

TOM.

>> THE CITY RESERVES ARE TO COVER BUDGET DEFICITS.

SO, YES, OF COURSE, THAT'S WHAT IT'S THERE FOR, HOWEVER WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHY WE HAVE A BUDGET DEFICIT.

OUR BUDGET, FOR THE CITY OPERATIONS HAS INCREASED OVER $100 MILLION IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

WE HAVE TO CUT THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE A BUDGET DEFICIT BECAUSE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE BUDGET HAS INCREASED.

AND WE HAVE WASTED MONEY ON ALL KINDS OF PROJECTS.

LITERALLY DOING A SIDEWALK PLAN RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE RIPPING OUT BRAND NEW SIDEWALKS, RIPPING OUT DISAD COMPLIANT INTERSECTIONS DONE THREE YOURS AGO AND PUTTING BRAND NEW SIDEWALKS DOWN ON TOP OF THEM.

IT'S CRAZY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WASTE AND SPENDING THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE.

AND IT'S NOT JUST WITH THE SIDEWALK PLANS.

I MEAN YOU LOOK AT THE OFFICE TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.

THAT WAS $1.5 MILLION WITH ZERO RESULTS.

THE COUNCIL IN THEIR BUDGET HEARINGS INTERVIEWED THE HEAD OF THAT AND HE SAID I CAN'T TELL YOU ANY RESULTS.

WE SENT 20 PEOPLE TO JOB TRAINING FOR $1.5 MILLION.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

THESE ARE THE THINGS THIS MAYOR HAS DONE.

>> TIM.

>> FUND BALANCE LIKE I WOULD RESTRUCTURE THE LEADERSHIP IN PARTICULAR I THINK THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION IS PLAGUED WITH TOO MANY CHIEFS.

SO THE POSITION OF DEPUTY MAYOR, THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OFFICER, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, CHIEF PUBLIC POLICY OFFICER WHO IS REALLY THE PROPAGANDA PERSON, I WOULD GET RID OF ALL OF THEM AND HAVE ONE CHIEF OF STAFF.

RIGHT THERE THAT CREATES STRUCTURAL TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND IT SAVES A BUNCH OF MONEY.

I WOULD DO THAT ACROSS THE SYSTEM.

>> THANK YOU.

ALFONSO.

>> DEFINITELY RESTRUCTURING THE SYSTEM IN TERMS OF MANAGEMENT AND HOW IT FALLS.

THERE ARE, IN MY POSITION A LOT OF WASTEDFUL POSITIONS THAT EXIST.

HAVE YOU TO RESTRUCTURE THAT.

YOU DON'T NEED TO DUPLICATE THOSE.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SPENDING, IF YOU TALK ABOUT USING SURPLUS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SPENDING, YOU HAVE TO REALLY BE MINDFUL WHEN WE SUBCONTRACT PROJECTS OUT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY CAPABLE OF DOING THE PROJECTS THAT'S WASTEFUL SPENDING SO FOR ME UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, I WILL BE CRYSTAL CLEAR WHERE WE TARGET OUR RESOURCES, HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY AND WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE DUPLICATING THE SERVICES OR USING PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SUBCONTRACTING THAT WE HAVE CAPABLE PEEING OF DOING IN THE DEPEND OF PUBLIC WORKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE RESERVES AS MENTIONED BEFORE, ARE TO FILL THE STRUCTURAL GAP.

OUR REVENUES WE ARE BRINGING IN VERSUS THE EXPENSES.

THE KEY IS TAKING A LOOK AT THE EXPENSES AND REDUCING THEM.

WITHOUT QUESTION, THE TOP EXPENSES IN A CITY BUDGET ARE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

IT IS POLICE, IT IS FIRE, IT IS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED TO PROTECT US AND TO GET US OUT OF NOREASTER SNOW EVENTS.

BUT MANY OF THE COSTS BEYOND THAT PERSONNEL ARE CAUSED NOT CONTROLLED BY US.

IT IS MARKETS, INSURANCE, CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, PENSION COSTS SO THOSE COSTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET WE HAVE TO PAY AND THAT'S THE "BALANCING ACT" THAT HAS TO COME.

TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF THE FUND BALANCE STRAW IN THE RESERVES BUT ABSOLUTELY TAKING A LOOK AT IT.

>> I WANT TO DO A QUICK FOLLOWUP SO KEEP YOUR ANSWERS SHORT AND LIST THE FIRST THINGS YOU WOULD CUT.

I THINK I'VE HEARD ALL OF YOU TALK ABOUT TRIMMING THE FAT.

WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD CUT?

>> STARTING WITH TIM?

>> THE DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> ALFONSO.

>> A FEW OF THEM BUT THE DEPUTY MAYOR POSITION IS A MADE UP POSITION.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER POSITIONS.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> OKAY.

>> SHARON.

I WOULD NOT CUT THE DEPUTY MAYOR [LAUGHTER] THE DEPUTY MAYOR WORKS VERY HARD.

I WOULD REDUCE VACANCIES WHERE WE ARE NOT FILLING POSITIONS, WE SHOULD JUST CUT THEM.

>> I WOULD REDUCE THE ENTIRE BUDGET OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE NOT JUST THE DEPUTY MAYOR'S POSITION.

>> CAN I ASK ONE OTHER JUST ONE OR TWO WORD FOLLOWUP YOU TALKED ABOUT CUTTING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

CAN YOU NAME ONE PLACE WHERE YOU THINK WE COULD BE GETTING MORE REVENUE ONE OR TWO WORDS?

SHARON, START WITH YOU.

>> WE ARE WORKING ON NOW, OUR ASSETS.

CITY ASSETS.

>> WAY TO PLAY THE GAME.

EXCELLENT.

>> TOM.

>> SALES TAX AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH NOT-FOR-PROFITS.

>> TIM.

>> SALES TAX IS UP, UP, UP, HOPEFULLY IT KEEPS GOING.

>> ALFONSO.

>> REPEAT THE QUESTION, CHRIS.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING EXPENSES.

WHERE WOULD YOU RAISE REVENUE IN ONE OR TWO WORDS.

>> SALES TAX.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> CHRIS.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK?

>> THAT I DO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOUSING.

AND I THINK WE WILL START WITH TIM RUDD FOR THIS QUESTION.

SYRACUSE IS GOING TO NEED A LOT MORE HOUSING IF AND WHEN MICRON DELIVERS ON ITS EMPLOYMENT PROMISES AND JUST IN GENERAL.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO SPEED UP CREATION OF NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>> WE NEED TO ACTIVATE PRIVATE INVESTMENT.

TOO MANY OF THE REAL ESTATE SCHEMES IN SYRACUSE RELY ON GOVERNMENT MONEY.

AND AS A RESULT THEY MOVE SLOWLY OR NOT AT ALL.

WE NEED TO MAKE CONDITIONS WHERE PEOPLE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.

THAT DOES HAPPEN IN CERTAIN MARKS, POCKETS WITHIN THE CITY.

SO YOU SEE IT ALONG EAST GENESEE STREET WHERE THEY BUILT UP DENSE STUDENT HOUSING.

WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE THAT BY MAKING SYRACUSE FEEL SAFE AND HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSIT, SO BRT NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MOBILITY AND DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION, THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO TO BE A BETTER CITY WHERE WE HAVE MORE CONNECTIONS AND CAN ADD THOUSANDS OF NEW PEOPLE.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BUILD THE HOUSING WE NEED.

I HOPE THE SUBURBS PLAY NIMBY ALL DAY AND PREVENT FROM IT HAPPENING BECAUSE IF THEY GET ALL THE DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE BECAUSE THERE IS TOO MUCH POVERTY IN THE CITY, WE WILL HAVE PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE INCLUDING IN THE CITY.

WE NEED THE NEW RESIDENTS WHO COME FOR THE THIRST 20 BILLION PHASE OF MICRON TO CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THE CITY PROBABLY IN PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN AND SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

>> ALFONSO.

AND THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT INCREASING.

>> HOUSING.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO INCREASE THE SPEED AND AMOUNT OF NEW HOUSING BEING BUILT IN THE CITY.

>> WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR EXISTING LANDLORDS WHO HAVE PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

BUT THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS THIS.

I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF THE LAND BANK.

AND I THINK DISSOLVING THE LAND BANK AND BRINGING BACK THE CONCEPT OF WHERE YOU HAVE THE DOLLAR HOUSE AND LOOKING AT THE PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND ALLOWING PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE THOSE PROPERTIES, IN A SYSTEM AND A WAY THAT CAN BRING THEM BACK UP TO A LIVABLE AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, THAT WILL HELP INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITIES.

BECAUSE WHAT I THINK THE LAND BANK HAS DONE WAS SHUT OUT A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN INVESTING.

AND ALSO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN, UNDERSTAND MY ADMINISTRATION THAT WE WILL FOCUS ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WHO ARE BUYING UP A BUNCH OF PROPERTY WHO BECOME SLUM LORDS AND THEN WE CAN'T GET AT THEM BECAUSE HERE HIDING UNDER THE LLC.

IN MY OPINION I THINK WE HAVE TO RETOOL FROM THAT FOCUS IN ORDER TO BRING MORE PROPERTIES BACK TO THE LEVEL.

>> SHARON.

>> I DO AGREE, ACTUALLY, WITH TIM.

; THAT WE HAVE GREAT NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOUSING ENTITIES.

THEY CAN'T DO IT THEMSELVES.

PRIVATE INVESTMENT HAS TO INCREASE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

BUT BEFORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE HAVE TO DIVERSIFY HOW WE BUILD IT.

THE METHODOLOGY NOW, IT COSTS $AUTO-- $450,000 TO BUILD A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AND TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE TO 150,000, THE SUBSIDY IS TOO DEEP INTO THE PUBLIC MONEY.

I LIKE THE WAY WE ARE GOING WITH MANUFACTURED HOUSING THAT IS BUILT.

IT ALSO CAN CREATE A NEW INDUSTRY, LOCALLY HERE.

I KNOW THAT JUST OUTSIDE OF UTICA THOSE HOUSES ARE BEING BUILT IN THAT MANNER.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING CLOSER IN SYRACUSE AND PARTNER ABOUT THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO BUILD THOSE HOUSES IN A LESS-- AT A CHEAPER PRICE.

ALSO DIVERSIFYING THE TYPE OF HOUSING TYPES.

MY DAUGHTER IS DOWNTOWN.

SHE LOVES LIVING DOWNTOWN.

SHE DOESN'T WANT A THREE BEDROOM HOME.

SO TOWNHOMES, SMALLER OPTIONS, TINY HOMES, DIVERSIFYING THE OPTIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

TOM.

>> THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS STREAMLINE THE PERMIT PROCESS.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY DEVELOPERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AND EXPLAINED TO ME THE PROBLEMS GETTING THE PERMITS IN A TIMELY FASHION TO BE ABLE TO BUILD.

SECOND, WE NEED TO DO SOME CREATIVE ZONE CHANGES TO ALLOW FOR ALTERNATIVE HOUSING LIKE MICROAPARTMENTS THAT THEY HAVE IN NEW YORK CITY OR TINY HOMES OR SHARED SPACES, THINGS LIKE THAT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ALSO WE NEED TO MAXIMIZE OUR HUD FUNDING AND THAT STARTS WITH A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT I THINK I CAN FACILITATE.

WE NEED SMART DEVELOPMENT.

THE CITY TOO LONG HAS BUILT A HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HORRIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN IT'S FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR A FEW YEARS LATER.

WE NEED TO BUILD OFF OUR EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROTECT THE INVESTMENTS OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROTECT THE INVESTMENT OF THE PERSON LIVING IN THE NEW HOME.

I AGREE WITH ALFONSO ABOUT THE LAND BANK.

I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT BUT IT NEEDS TO BE RUN DIFFERENTLY THE WAY IT WAS INITIALLY STARTED.

IT NEEDS TO RUN BETTER.

AND ALSO WE NEED TO BE-- WE NEED TO MAKE SYRACUSE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.

IF WE ARE GOING TO EXPECT PEOPLE FROM MICRON TO LIVE HERE, IT HAS TO BE A PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE AND NOT LEAVE.

>> HAVE I TWO SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

THE FIRST ONE IS ANOTHER HOUSING QUESTION STARTING WITH ALFONSO.

A SIMPLE YES OR NO.

THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHED A HOUSING CENTER KNOWLEDGE THAT OFFERS MONEY FOR HOMEOWNERS TO MAKE EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS IN MIDDLE INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

WOULD YOU EXPAND THAT PROGRAM TO COVER ADDITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS?

YES OR NO?

>> THAT'S NOT A YES OR NO QUESTION.

>> WOULD YOU EXPAND IT YES OR NO?

THIS IS A GOOD TEST FOR FOLLOWING RULES.

>> QUESTION MARK FOR ME.

>> OKAY.

YES OR NO.

>> WHYY.

>> NO BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE PROGRAMS ARE STRUCTURED.

>> TIM.

>> MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS IN THE FIRST PHASE.

I'M NOT SURE.

I WOULD BE OPEN TO CUTTING ALL OF IT.

>> THREE MORE WORDS.

>> I GAVE YOU AWE SHORT SHRIFT.

DO YOU WANT A COUPLE MORE WORDS SINCE OTHER PEOPLE DID?

WOULD YOU LIKE A FEW MORE WORDS TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM?

>> GIVE ME YOUR QUESTION AGAIN.

>> WOULD YOU EXPAND THE PROGRAM?

>> WELL, FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT LOOKING AT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE CHANGE THE DYNAMICS.

WE HAVE NOT USE RESOURCES IN AREAS THAT ARE BLIGHT.

>> WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS AND THIS ONE WILL KEEP IT EASIER, THUMB'S UP OR THUMB'S DOWN.

SPEED CAMERAS BY SCHOOLS.

THUMB'S UP IS A GOOD THING, THUMBS DOWN BAD.

>> THUMBS UP SHARON.

>> THUMBS DOWN.

>> THEY'RE GOOD BUT TOO FAR FROM THE SCHOOL.

>> THUMB UP OR DOWN ALFONSO.

>> I GOT A TICKET SO STILL THUMBS UP.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TURN TO NINA.

>> YOU HAVEN'T HAD TO PAY FOR IT YET.

>> NINA HAS AN EDUCATION QUESTION FOR YOU.

STARTING WITH TOM.

>> VERY GOOD.

SO KEEPING WITH SCHOOLS, THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSISTENTLY RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM WHEN IT COMES TO STANDARDIZED TESTS, SPECIFICALLY THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND THE MATH TEST.

SO WHAT IS THE FIX HERE, STARTING WITH YOU, TOM?

HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT?

>> WELL, FIRST, I THINK WE'VE GOT A GREAT DISTRICT, GREAT SCHOOL SYSTEM.

MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM FOWLER KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TO FOWLER AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, EVERYONE THAT I EVER HAD ANY INTERACTION WITH IS GREAT.

AND I APPRECIATE THE JOB THAT THEY DO.

THE REASON OUR STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES ARE SO BAD IS BECAUSE SOME OF THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS HAVE-- THEY EXPERIENCE TRAUMA AT HOME, THEY'RE IN POVERTY.

EDUCATION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD THAT MAY BE VALUED, YOU KNOW, SO WHEN YOU DON'T VALUE EDUCATION, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PERFORM WELL ON STANDARDIZED TESTS.

WAS WE NEED TO DO IS CHANGE THAT WAY THAT THEY FEEL ABOUT EDUCATION.

AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED PEOPLE MENTORS TO GET IN THERE, MORE MENTORS FIRST WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THE CHILDREN WHY THEY'RE NOT PERFORMING AND THERE IS THE ISSUE OF CHRONIC ABSENTEE ITCH AND WE NEED TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THAT WITH PARENTS.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO DO BUT REALLY WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE STUDENTS INDIVIDUALLY TO MAKE THOSE TEST SCORES FLOW.

>> THANK YOU, TIM.

>> I'M A PRODUCT OF THE CITY SCHOOLS.

FRESHMAN CLASS HAD 700 KIDS, GRADUATING CLASS HAD 350, FIGHTS EVERY DAY.

A LOT OF WHAT MAKES ME AGGRESSIVE AND MAKES ME AND OTHER PEOPLE FEEL UNEASY IS A FUNCTION OF ME COMING THROUGH CITY SCHOOLS AND I LOVE WHO IT MADE ME BUT I THINK THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO GAIN NEW RESIDENTS WHO ARE MOVING HERE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE CITY.

IT DOES NEED TO BE A PRIORITY AND I'M GLAD THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP TO DEAL WITH THAT.

I WOULD PARTNER WITH THEM.

THE CITY HAS A POVERTY PROBLEM.

WE USED TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO DO WHAT IS UNDER OUR CONTROL TO ATTRACT NEW DENSE DEVELOPMENT TO BECOME A BIGGER CITY.

WE NEED THOUSANDS OF MORE RESIDENTS.

FOUR YEARS FROM NOW WE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 10,000 NEW RESIDENTS IN ADDITION TO EVERY ONE WE HAVE NOW.

EIGHT YEARS 20,000 NEW RESIDENTS.

THEY NEED TO BASICALLY ALL GO DOWNTOWN OR THE CORRIDOR, EVERYWHERE WHERE THE HIGHWAY COMES DOWN NEEDS TO FILL IN WITH PEOPLE.

EAST GENESEE NEEDS TO BE THE CENTER.

>> IF I COULD INTERRUPT YOU.

>> THAT WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARENTS AND CREATE STABILITY FOR THE CHILDREN AND I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO HAVE SECURITY ACROSS OUR CITY AND WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> THANK YOU.

ALFONSO.

>> THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A PRODUCT OF ME.

I'M FROM THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

MY CHILDREN WENT TO THE SYRACUSE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OUTGOING SUPERINTENDENT AND I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT.

SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT GETS HALF OF THE CITY'S BUDGET.

HOW WOULD WE CHANGE THE PENTIUM NOW.

WE HAVE TO REFOCUS ON HOW WE EDUCATE OUR PEOPLE IN THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TOM SAID POVERTY.

CHILDREN DON'T GROW INTO POVERTY BY OSMOSIS.

THAT MEANS THEIR PARENTS ARE IN POVERTY SO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE RESTRUCTURE WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE TO LIFT THE CITY UP OUT OF POVERTY.

BUT IN TERMS OF JUST THE SCHOOL ITSELF, I THINK WE HAVE GREAT TEACHERS.

I THINK WE HAVE GREAT STAFF.

MY DAUGHTER IS A TEACHER AT GRANT.

I TAUGHT IN THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I BELIEVE IN THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO FOCUS HOW DO WE RECRUIT AND GET PEOPLE TO WANT TO TEACH.

THE REGENTS DIPLOMA IS GREAT BUT HAVING JUST A REGULAR DIPLOMA WOULD HELP AND I THINK THE OTHER, WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE VOCATIONAL PROGRAM BECAUSE NOT EVERY YOUNG PERSON IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE IS COLLEGE BOUND OR COLLEGE TEAR.

THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE GREAT WITH THEIR HANDS.

SO IF WE CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY KNOW THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, THE DROPOUT RATE WILL DIDDY CREASE.

>> AND WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE-- WILL DECREASE.

>> I'M A FIERCE ADVOCATE OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IT PRODUCES CHILDREN WHO, WHILE THEY MAY STRUGGLE WITH TEST SCORES, IT ALSO PRODUCES CHILDREN THAT GO ON TO COLLEGE AND DO GREAT THINGS.

IT HAS PHENOM NAT C.T.E.

PROGRAMS IN DIFFERENT AREAS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ALFONSO IS TALKING ABOUT WHO MAYBE MAY NOT BE GOING TO COLLEGE.

IT IS OUTSTANDING.

MR.

BABILON WAS RIGHT.

KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO LEARN UNLESS THEY'RE IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO I KNOW THE DISTRICT HAD A CAMPAIGN TO GET KIDS IN SEATS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THERE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE DISTRICT TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.

I, TOO, HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH JAIME AND ANTHONY DAVIS AND PAM AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL OF THEM.

EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS ARE THE DIRECTS WE ARE GOING NOW AND WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

CHRIS.

>> TIM, WE'LL START THE NEXT QUESTION WITH YOU.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CRIME AND SAFETY.

HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THE SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS AND RECRUITING CHALLENGES THE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS?

WOULD YOU RENEGOTIATE THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT AT ALL TO HELP WITH THAT?

>> UM WOULD I MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO DO THAT.

I WOULD DEFINITELY DO THE WORK WITH THEM.

I WOULD DO A RIDE ALONG ONCE A WEEK WITH POLICE AND/OR FIRE.

I WOULD HAVE THEM HAVE BUY IN ON A PROCESS TO HIRE THEIR OWN CHIEF AND I THINK IT HAS GOTTEN HARDER TO RECRUIT POLICE OFFICERS.

I WOULD TAKE-- AS A RESULT I THINK THE WAY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAD TO HAVE PRIESTS DO LESS BECAUSE THERE WERE FEWER PEOPLE WHO WANT THE TO BE PRIESTS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE THE POLICE OFFICERS FOCUS ON FUNCTIONS THAT ARE INHERENTLY POLICE ORIENTED.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO GET HIRE WOOD HAVE TO MEET THE STANDARD ARTICULATED BY THE FORCE.

THAT WOULD HELP MEET THE CONSENT DECREE WE HAVE FAILED TO ACHIEVE OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY, INCLUDING THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

AND THAT'S A START.

>> REPEAT YOUR QUESTION.

I HEARD IT BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD IT.

>> SURE HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THE SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS AND RECRUITING CHALLENGES THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY HAVE?

WOULD YOU RENEGOTIATE THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT TO HELP WITH THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY I WOULD RENEGOTIATE THE RESIDENT REQUIREMENT BECAUSE IF WE HAVE MORE POLICE OFFICERS THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE CRIME IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO RECRUIT WITHIN OUR OWN HIGH SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS HERE.

AND TOO OFTEN THE SYRACUSE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, FROM MY KNOWLEDGE, BASED ON THE OFFICERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO, WE DON'T DO A RECRUITMENT PROCESS AGGRESSIVELY IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY TO BE PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT POLICE THEIR CITIES.

SO I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE, UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, I'M GOING TO SPEND A MONTH IN THAT DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE MY GOAL, WHEN I BECOME MAYOR OF SYRACUSE, IS TO SPEND A MONTH IN EVERY DEPARTMENT TO SEE HOW IT FUNCTIONS, SEE HOW IT OPERATES AND SEE WHERE WE CAN GET BETTER.

BUT THE MAIN FOCUS PARTICULARLY WITH THE SYRACUSE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FOCUS ON RECRUITING INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE CITY WHO LIVE IN THE CITY, A REFLECTION OF THE CITY, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO LOVE OUR COMMUNITY, LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BECOME POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BETTER POLICE OUR COMMUNITY.

>> SHARON.

>> YES, CURRENTLY WE HAVE A RESIDENT REQUIREMENT THAT THOSE NEW HIRES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LIVE IN THE CITY FOR FIVE YEARS.

I WOULD MAINTAIN THAT.

OUR LATERAL POLICE OFFICERS THAT COME FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES, WE DO NOT REQUIRE THAT OF THEM.

I WOULD ALSO FUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY ARE THE FRONT LINE FOR US, FOR OUR SAFETY.

FUND THEM.

WE DO HAVE A RECRUITMENT PROCESS IT IS CALLED OUR CADET PROGRAM AND IT CAME OUT OF FOWLER.

PUBLIC SERVICE INSTITUTE AT FOWLER ACADEMY.

AND IT ACTUALLY RECRUITS THOSE CADETS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE GONE INTO THE CADET CLASS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OTHERS HAVE DECIDED THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT DO AND THAT'S WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE CLASS IS FOR.

WE ARE ON OUR 12th CAY CADET CLASS IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.

IT IS HARD TO RECRUIT.

AND SO THAT ONUS IS ON US TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT POLICING IS AN HONORABLE PROFESSION.

>> TOM.

>> OKAY FIRST, DAY ONE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT IS GONE.

THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS WASTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW IS INCREDIBLY CLEAR ON THIS POINT.

CANNOT HAVE A RULE, REGULATION OR ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES THE RESIDENCY OF A CITY POLICE OFFICER F. YOU DO, IT WOULD BE INTERPRETED AS LIVING IN THE COUNTY OR AN ADJOINING COUNTY.

THIS IS CLEAR LAW.

IF I WAS MAYOR, AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I WOULD HAVE REQUESTED AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION WHICH THIS MAYOR DID NOT DO.

IF HE DID, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, I'M SURE WOULD HAVE TOLD HIM THIS IS NOT LEGAL.

IT'S NOT ENFORCEABLE.

THEY HAVEN'T DISCIPLINED A SINGLE COP FOR NOT LIVING IN THE CITY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T.

SO THAT'S GONE.

DAY ONE.

I LOVE COPS LIVING IN THE CITY.

I WANT MORE COPS LIVING IN THE CITY.

BUT LETS INCENTIVIZE THEM FOR LIVING IN THE CITY BUT SOME POLICE OFFICERS HAVE ESTABLISHED LIVES.

THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO SELL THEIR HOUSE TO LIVE IN THE CITY.

OTHER COPS DON'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO THE GUY THEY ARRESTED.

THERE ARE LOTS OF INSTANCES OF COPS GETTING ARRESTED.

HEY, I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.

I KNOW WHERE YOUR FAMILY IS.

WE DON'T NEED THAT.

ANOTHER THING I'M GOING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY WILL HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THAT.

>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON AND HAVE I SOME CANDIDATE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WE ARE GOING TO TRY.

WE ARE GOING TO MIX THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT.

SEE HOW THIS GOES.

MAYBE THIS IS THE LAST TIME THIS EVER HAPPENS AND WE'LL START WITH YOU ALFONSO SO WILL YOU GET A CHANCE TO TALK AND THE QUESTION WE HAVE HAS TO DO WITH THE PROPOSAL YOU TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST.

THE IDEA OF A COMMUTER TAX THAT ALIES TO PEOPLE WHO WORK BUT DON'T NECESSARILY LIVE IN THE CITY.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SECOND-SECOND-- SECT SECOND PITCH FOR THE PROPOSAL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY THE COMMUTER TAX.

>> THE COMMUTER TAX WOULD BE EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE THAT GETS A CHECK FROM THE CITY EVERY TWO WEEKS.

BECAUSE THEY DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY.

THAT COMMUTER TAX WOULD BE A PERCENTAGE AND EVERY EMPLOYEE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY THIS COMMUNITY TAX SO THACK HELP PUT SOMETHING BACK INTO THE COFFER BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THOSE EMPLOYEES WORK FOR THE CITY FOR 30 YEARS AND WHEN THEY RETIRE, THEY MOVE TO FLORIDA ARE MIAMI OR WHEREVER AND WE SEND THAT CHECK THERE.

SO FOR 30 YEARS AND THEN BEYOND, THEY'VE DRAWN FROM THE WELL BUT PUT NOTHING BACK INTO THE COFFER.

FOR ME I THINK THAT'S HOW WE CAN HELP GENERATE REVENUE BY USING THE COMMUTER TAX FOR EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE BE IT POLICE, FIRE, SCHOOL, CITY HALL, EVERY PERSON.

BUT ALSO I WANT TO REAL QUICK TO WHAT TOM SAID,.

>> 15 SECONDS.

>> IS THAT WE ARE NOT RECRUITING AGGRESSIVELY IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

I KNOW SHARON TALKED ABOUT THE FOWLER PROGRAM BUT I KNOW SEVEN OFFICERS WHO WERE DISMISSED WITHIN THE RIDE ALONG AND THOSE SEVEN OFFICERS WERE MINORITY OFFICERS WHO WERE DISMISSED IN THE RIDE ALONG.

WE ARE NOT AGGRESSIVELY RECRUITING WITHIN THE CITY.

>> WE HAVE TO MOVE ALONG.

CHRIS HAS A QUESTION FOR SHARON.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN DEPUTY MAYOR SINCE DAY ONE OF THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION.

IF ELECTED TO THE TOP JOB, WHAT WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE DIFFERENTLY THAN MAYOR WALSH HAS?

>> WHAT WOULD I PRIORITIZE DIFFERENTLY?

WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER WITH THE COUNCIL AROUND THE FISCAL STEWARDSHIP OF THE CITY.

IT IS A JOINT RESPONSIBILITY OF US ALL.

I WOULD START BY-- AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION.

IT IS NO SECRET THAT RITA WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL, TO DO A JOINT TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES AND EXPENSES SO THAT AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET, WE ARE ARE ALL SHARING IDEAS AROUND THE FISCAL STEWARDSHIP OF THIS CITY.

I WOULD START MY ADMINISTRATION WITH THAT PROCESS.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION QUESTION FOR TOM.

TOM, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR PATHWAY TO VICTORY?

SYRACUSE HASN'T ELECTED A REPUBLICAN MAYOR IN SOMETIME.

THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING DEMOCRATIC ENROLLMENT ADVANTAGE.

WHAT IS YOUR SHIK SCHTICK.

>> I DON'T WANT TO TALK BAD ABOUT SHARON.

SHE HAD TWO PRIMARY OPPONENTS THAT NO ONE HAS ENDORSED HER.

A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS LIVE.

>> WHATS YOUR PATHWAY FORWARD.

>> THEY'VE COME OVER TO MY TEAM.

PAT HOGUE APRIL SUPPORTERS, THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MY CAMPAIGN AND VOLUNTEERED FOR MY CAMPAIGN.

A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR SHARON AND THEY WILL VOTE FOR ME.

ALSO, WE ARE DOING A JUDGE VOTER TURNOUT FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE CITY.

WE ARE GOING TO GET THEM OUT THERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT IN DROVES.

ALSO I HAVE LETTER IDEAS.

LOOK AT MY WEBSITE, FACEBOOK AND WATCH MY SPEECHES ON YOUTUBE.

I HAVE BETTER IDEAS FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE THAN SHORN DOES F. LUKE AT MY IDEAS WE ARE GOING TO PULL SOME OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOTE.

I'VE GOT BETTER IDEAS AND WE ARE GOING TO WIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TIM, YOU HAVE HEAD YOU WOULD TRY TO STOP THE WORK OF DEMOLISHING AND REBUILDING THE PUBLIC HOUSING AROUND THE EAST ADAMS STREET.

THE PROJECT HAS HAD PROBLEMS.

WE'VE REPORTED ON SOME OF THEM.

WHY DO YOU THINK SCRAPPING THE WHOLE THING IN AN AREA THAT IS DESPERATE FOR INVESTMENT IS A GOOD IDEA?

>> THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY FOR THE FOOTPRINT IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AND DOWNTOWN.

THERE IS LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY.

IT IS BUILT WELL.

IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTED IN AND MAINTAINED.

A GREAT PLACE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.

YOU CAN ARBITRARILY DRAW A CIRCLE AROUND IT AND SAY THE POVERTY LEVEL IS HIGH BUT THAT'S TRUE FOR THE WHOLE CITY.

IF YOU NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU NEED A HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A DISPLACEMENT ORIENT THE STRATEGY.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS, THAT IT NEEDS TO KICK OUT EVERYBODY TO BRING IN A NEW COMMUNITY THAT IS GOING HAVE MORE NOT POOR PEOPLE.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND I THINK IT COMES WITH A HIGH OPPORTUNITY COST.

SO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD BE THINKING OF OTHER SIMILAR BUILDINGS THAT THEY COULD BUY TO MAKE PUBLIC HOUSING AND THEY SHOULD BE MANAGING THEIR PRODUCT AND REALLY COACHING AND EMPOWERING THEIR RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN EVENTUALLY TRANSITION OUT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE A FAIR CRITICISM THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE GET STUCK.

BUT IF IT TRANSITIONED, THAT WOULD CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT HOUSING.

>> WE ARE GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME SHORTLY WHICH MEANS WE'VE GOT SOME FINAL RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS.

WE ARE GOING IS TO START WITH SHARON.

SHARON, WHAT IS THE NAME OR AUTHOR OF THE LAST BOOK YOU READ >> I KNOW HOW THE CAGE BIRD THINGS, MAYA ANGELOU.

>> I READ CASELAW EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I HAVE NOT READ A BOOK FOR PLEASURE IN PROBABLY A DECADE SO I COULDN'T TELL YOU.

>> TIM.

>> KAREN WALL KIMERER AND KHALID BEY.

>> WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE LAST BOOK OR AUTHOR YOU HAVE READ.

>> I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE AUTHOR.

BUT IT WAS "BEHELD THE PALE HORSE."

>> 0 TO 10.

RATE THE JOB MAYOR WALSH HAS DONE.

START WITH YOU, TOM.

>> I GIVE HIM A 4.

>> TIM?

>> 2.

>> ALFONSO.

>> QUESTION MARK.

>> THAT'S A CURVEBALL.

ZERO TO 10 STICKING WITH NUMERICAL DIGITS SHARON?

>> 8.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TONIGHT MY THANKS TO OUR CO-MODERATORS TODAY, COLGATE UNIVERSITY'S NINA MOORE AS WELL AS SYRACUSE.COM CHRIS BAKER WHO IS ALSO A SUNY GENESEO ALUM AND I WANT TO THANK THE CANDIDATES TONIGHT ALFONSO DAVIS, TIM RUDD, TOM BABILON AND SHORN OWENS.

AND THANK YOU, AS WELL, TO EVERYONE WHO IS WATCHING AND REMEMBER THAT ON OCTOBER 25, EARLY VOTING BEGINS AND IT'S ALSO THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE, IF THAT'S STILL ON YOUR TO-DO LIST.

ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 4.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S COVERAGE, VISIT WCNY.ORG AND SYRACUSE.COM.

THEY WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.

ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT WCNY, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.