>> WELCOME TO WCNY'S LIVE COVERAGE OF SYRACUSE MAYOR BEN WALSHS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.

IM DAVID LOMBARDO, HOST OF THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM AND YOURE 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 LEGISLATOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR SHARON OWENS.

>> JEREMY, THE SPEECH 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

SYRACUSE WILL HAVE 2,500 NEW UNITS OF QUALITY HOUSING COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY BEFORE I LEAVE OFFICE AT THE END OF 2025.

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.

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.

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.

>> 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.

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.

>> 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.

HOW MANY MORE HAVE TO DIE?

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

MY HEARTBREAKS FOR THEM.

IM NOT GONNA ASK YOU TO WEIGH IN ON MIDDLE EAST POLICY, BUT 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.

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