COMING UP TONIGHT: WE HEAD OUT TO ITHACA TO SEE HOW A NOT-FOR-PROFIT IS CREATING PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

WE'LL OFFER NEW COMMON CENTS TIPS.

AND IN OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES, WE SIT DOWN WITH SYRACUSE MAYOR BEN WALSH - WE'LL SEE WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE CITY -- INCLUDING WHERE ALL THAT STIMULUS MONEY IS GOING AND THE LATEST NEWS ON THE LOOMING I-81 PROJECT.

ON THE MONEY BEGINS RIGHT NOW • ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE MONEY, WCNY'S NEW FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - THINK OF IT AS YOUR LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS PROGRAM FEATURING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND HAPPENINGS FROM EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I'M DANIEL PLUFF.

DURING OUR SEASON WE'VE BEEN SHOWING YOU WHERE MONEY IS BEING MADE, SPENT AND LOST AND WE FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY.

OUR FIRST REPORT - MONEY IN MOTION - BRINGS US TO AN ITHACA MOTION - BRINGS US TO AN ITHACA NOT-FOR-PROFIT.

LAST JULY, THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS REPORTED THAT NEARLY 44% OF PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY WHO WERE NOT WORKING REPORTED SOME TYPE OF BARRIER TO EMPLOYMENT.

SADLY, THAT PERCENTAGE IS BARELY CHANGED FROM 2019.

THOSE BARRIERS INCLUDE LACK OF EDUCATION OR TRAINING, AND TRANSPORTATION TO NAME A FEW.

THAT'S WHERE CHALLENGE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS COMES IN, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT IN ITHACA.

THEIR MISSION IS TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

A MISSION THAT IS HELPING TO SPUR ECONOMIC IMPACT THANKS TO THE JOBS BEING CREATED.

CHALLENGE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS A NON-PROFIT AGENCY IN ITHACA OPERATING SINCE 1968 WITH A FOCUS ON VOCATIONAL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.

THERE IS A HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE DISABLED POPULATION.

AROUND 20% OF DISABLED PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED.

IT'S PROBABLY EVEN LOWER FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED PEOPLE BUT THE RETENTION RATE FOR PEOPLE WHO DO GET HIRED WITH DISABILITIES IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL WORKER.

IT'S A MUCH MORE CONSISTENT EMPLOYEE A LOT OF TIMES.

WHILE THE MONEY LOOKS LIKE AN INVESTMENT IN INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE AND IT DEFINITELY IS.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT IT'S A HUGE INVESTMENT IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

MOST OF THAT FUNDING COMES FROM O.M.H.

AND OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND IT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FUNDS.

IN A MORE HOLISTIC LOOK AT WHAT IS HEALTH AND WHAT DOES STREAMLINE HEALTH COSTS, EMPLOYMENT IS AN IMPORTANT ONE THAT I'M GLAD IN NEW YORK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES SO 1968 WE OPENED AND IT WAS ALWAYS ENVISIONED AS AN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.

WE HAVE JOBS THAT PEOPLE DID ON SITE BUT EVEN FROM THE BEGINNING THERE WAS A LOT OF FOCUS AND CHALLENGE ON WORKING WITH PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART TO GET PEOPLE WORKING IN BUSINESSES, NOT JUST MAKING A BUSINESS FOR THEM TO WORK AT.

>> OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHALLENGE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE SUCCESS WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE LOOKED FOR SUPPORT AND IT IS A HUGE JOB AND WE HAVE HAD SO MANY FOLKS COME THROUGH THIS RELATIONSHIP THAT HAVE BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL THERE AND GROWN BEYOND THE DISH ROOM INTO AREAS SUPPORTING THE KITCHENS LIKE ANTHONY AND REALLY SUPPORT OUR GOALS HERE AT WEGMANS THAT THOSE VALUES THAT ARE CONSISTENT BETWEEN CHALLENGE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND WEGMANS HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS.

I WAS STRUGGLING A LOT BECAUSE I WAS BY MYSELF AT A YOUNG AGE 17, I HAD NO JOB, NO HOUSE AND CHALLENGE HAS ASSISTED ME WITH JOBS AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THEM HELPING ME.

MY MAIN PRIORITY IS SEASONING CHICKENS.

HAVE YOU TO KEEP UP WITH THEM.

OTHER THAN THAT, I ASSIST WITH PACKAGING.

THEY NEEDED EXTRA HELPING HAND AND FILLING UP SOUPS.

HONESTLY THE BEST JOB I EVER HAD.

ALL THE OTHER PREVIOUS JOBS I DIDN'T WANT TO GET UP FOR THEM AT ALL BUT WITH WEGMANS, I ACTUALLY WANT TO GO EVERYONE IS AWESOME AND UNDERSTANDING.

IT'S AN AMAZING ENVIRONMENT THAT I LOVE TO BE IN.

>> BARRIERS CAN BE VERY HIGHLY INDIVIDUAL.

SOMEBODY CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL AS AN EMPLOYEE IF THEY, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN READ.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE IN A YEAR THAT WE ARE GETTING OUT AND EMPLOYING IN DIFFERENT SERVICES.

A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ENDED UP BEING REALLY, REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THESE EMPLOYEES MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN CONSIDERED THAT THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE LIKE ONE OF OUR JOB DEVELOPERS COME IN.

JOB DEVELOPERS COME IN.

BUT AS A BIG POPULATION OF PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE A LOT OF MISSED POTENTIAL FOR THE OVERALL ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY COMMON CENTS PIECE TONIGHT, THE ON THE MONEY, IT HADN'T BEEN BY MISTAKE THAT WE FOCUS ON THE REAL ESTATE MARKET BECAUSE THE REAL ESTATE MARKET HAS BEEN UNUSUAL FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS IF NOT A YEAR OR SO.

JOINING US TO WALK THROUGH THIS, CHIP HODGKIN'S WITH THE HODGKIN'S TEAM OF HUNT REAL ESTATE.

BEFORE I THROW A QUESTION AT YOU, I WANT TO READ A COMMENT I SAW.

THIS IS FROM FREDDIE MAC JUST RELEASED A SHORT TIME AGO.

FREDDIE MAC SAYS IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE IS AN ESTIMATED 3.8 MILLION, ALMOST 4 MILLION HOMES SHORT OF THE DEMAND THAT EXISTS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU AGREE WITH THAT IF I GO?

>> TOTALLY AGREE WITH IT.

>> AND THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE LOCALLY, RIGHT?

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SUPPLY.

>> IT'S WEIRD BECAUSE EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT EVERYBODY LEAVING CENTRAL NEW YORK BUT THE MILLENNIALS, THIS IS THE LARGEST BUYING POPULATION THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED AND THE MILLENNIALS WANT TO BUY HOUSES.

THEY WANT TO GET OUT OF THEIR BASEMENTS OR BEDROOMS AND OUT OF THE APARTMENTS DOWNTOWN AND ARE BUYING LIKE CRAZY RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HOUSES.

WE HAVE NOT BUILT ENOUGH HOUSING OR APPROVALLING ENOUGH DEVELOPMENTS.

OUR TOWNS NEED TO APPROVE MORE DEVELOPMENTS AND BUILDERS NEED DO MORE.

>> I'M NOT IN YOUR FIELD BUT I GET FEEDBACK ONCE IN A WHILE AND WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE CONSIDERING LISTING THEIR HOME RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS IT WORTH?

>> I GET PHONE CALLS THREE OR FOUR TIMES A DAY.

HOW MUCH IS MY HOME WORTH NOW.

CAN YOU HELP ME FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH MY HOME IS WORTH?

I'M THINKING OF SELLING IT.

I NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH MY HOME IS WORTH BECAUSE I WANT TO BUY SO I NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I'M GOING TO HAVE WHEN I GO TO BUY AND THE OTHER CONCERN IS HOW MUCH IS MY HOME WORTH BECAUSE THE TAXES CAME AND I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH I OWE.

THE TAX ASSESSOR THINKS I OWE THAT AND I DON'T THINK I OWE THAT.

>> THIS IS A TOUGH ONE AND I'LL HAVE YOU BACK IN THE FALL IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND ON THIS AND REFRESH IT BOUGHT HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO GO ON?

>> PROBABLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO PROBABLY NOT A WHOLE YEAR.

THE INTEREST RATES ARE GOING TO REALLY CHANGE THIS MARKET VERY QUICKLY.

>> CHIP HODGKIN'S, YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT THIS SEASON.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> REAL ESTATE MARKET HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND WE'LL CHECK BACK WITH CHIP LATER ON JUST FOR SOME UPDATES.

JUST AHEAD, OUR TECH BYTES FEATURE WHERE WE LOOK AT TECHNOLOGIES BEING DEVELOPED OR USED HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

AND THIS ONE'S A BIT UNUSUAL AND MAY MAKE YOUR SKIN CRAWL -TONIGHT'S TECH BYTES - IS ABOUT TICK BITES.

WE VISITED THE LOCAL LAB THAT IS LEARNING MORE ABOUT TICK-BORNE DISEASE TRANSMISSION THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE MET WITH DR. SARAVANAN THANGAMANI, DIRECTOR OF THE SUNY CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICINE AND VECTOR BIOLOGY LABS - THERE, WE LEARNED ABOUT LYME DISEASE, ZIKA, THE WEST NILE VIRUS AND THE RE-EMERGENCE OF VECTOR BORNE DISEASES IN THE UNITED STATES.

AS WE ENTER BETTER WEATHER NOW IN CENTRAL NEW YORK THIS STORY IS TIMELY.

>> EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO OUT IN THE SPRING AND THAT PUTS THEM AT RISK FOR TICK EXPOSURE.

ALL YOU NEED IS A COUPLE OF WARM DAYS, PEOPLE GO OUT.

TICKS GO OUT BECAUSE THEY WANT OUT OF THE COLD WEATHER.

IT'S A CONFLUENCE OF THE TWO EVENTS.

HUMAN GOES OUT TO GET FRESH AIR WARM WEATHER AND TICKS ARE WAITING FOR THEM MY NAME IS SARAVANAN THANGAMANI.

I'M A PROFESSOR OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY.

I'M FOCUSED ON AND UNDERSTANDING HOW MOSQUITOES AND TICKS TRANSFER DISEASES TO HUMANS.

OUR LAB'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE TICKS ACTUALLY TRANSMIT THE VIRUS WHEN THEY FEED ON US.

WHAT ENTHUSIASM HO TRANSMIT THE PATHOGENS ONLY WHEN THEY ACQUIRE BLOOD FROM A HUMAN SO WE TRIED TO UNDERSTAND WHEN A MOSS OR TICK LANDS ON THE HUMAN SKIN AND TRIES TO TAKE THE BLOOD WHAT REALLY HAPPENS AT THE SKIN LEVEL.

AND IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE EVENT THAT LEADS TO THIS, WE CAN DEVELOP COUNTERMEASURES TO REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION OR STOP THE TRANSMISSION WE ARE DEVELOPING VACCINES AND THERAPEUTICS TO LIMIT TICK-BORNE INFECTIONS.

THE LAB OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE FOCUSING ON TICK-BORNE DISEASES IN NEW YORK STATE.

OBVIOUSLY LYME DISEASE AGENT IS THE TOP PATHOGEN.

APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 30 TO 40% OF THE TICKS WE TEST CARRY LYME DISEASE AGENT.

30% CHANCE OF BEING INFECTED IF YOU ARE BITTEN BY A TICK.

WE USE TWO APPROACHES TO UNDERSTAND DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN NEW YORK STATE.

ONE IS ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE OF TICK AND TICK BORN PATHOGENS AND THE OTHER IS PASSIVE.

ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE IS WHEN A RESEARCHER GOES TO A STATE PARK OR PUBLIC PLACE, THEY USE THE WHITE CLOTSZ CLOTH TO DRAG AROUND RAWND TO FIND THE TICKS.

PASSIVE IS WHERE YOU ASK THE PUBLIC TO SEND THE TICKS TO YOU, IN OTHER WORDS COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE.

WE USE THAT SURVEILLANCE TO RECEIVE TICKS FROM HUMANS THAT ENCOUNTER THE TICK, EITHER ON THEM OR ON THEIR PETS OR IN THEIR GARDEN.

WE PUT THAT TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT FACTORS ARE INFLUENCE BE-- ARE INFLUENCING THE EMERGENCE OF TICKS AND TICK-BORNE PATHOGENS IN NEW YORK STATE.

SO FAR WE HAVE TESTED 22,000 TICKS NEARLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WE ARE THE ONLY LAB THAT ACTUALLY DOES THE TICK TESTING FOR THE PUBLIC.

THERE ARE TWO COMBINATIONS WHY OUR SYSTEM IS VERY UNIQUE.

WE ARE DOCUMENTING THE HUMAN TICK ENCOUNTERS AND PROVIDE THE RESULTS BACK TO THE PUBLIC FOR FREE AND WE HAVE A DISPLAY OR DISSEMINATE THE DATA IN OUR INTERACTIVE MAPPING TOOL ACCESSIBLE BY POLICY MAKERS.

THEY TAKE OUR DATA AND MAKE POLICY DECISIONS WHERE THEY WANT TO MANAGE THE DEER, WHERE THEY WANT TO REDUCE THE TICK POPULATION AND WE PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION WE DECIDED TO CONTINUE THAT NO MATTER WHAT AND WE ARE A STATE INSTITUTION.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE STATE AND THAT'S ONE THING WHY I'M SO EXCITED THAT I WILL NEVER CHANGE THIS INTO A COMMERCIAL PROGRAM.

I'LL FIND MY WAYS TO GET FUNDS I'LL FIND MY WAYS TO GET FUNDS TO OBTAIN THIS PROGRAM AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

>> IF CREAR LIKE MOST YEARS, IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR YOU FOCUS ON THE STOCK MARKET.

IT HAS BEEN VOLATILE FOR SURE.

BUT MOST INVESTORS DON'T SPEND AS MUCH TIME LOOKING AT THE BORND WHICH IS UNUSUAL BOND MARKET WHICH IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE THE BOND MARKET IS BIGGER AND MOST INVESTORS HAVE EXPOSURE TO BONDS.

SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD LOOK AT NUMBERS TONIGHT REGARDING BONDS AND THESE MAY SURPRISE YOU.

THE BOND MARKET HAS HAD QUITE A NICE RUN GOING BACK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH POSITIVE RETURNS IN 42 OF THE LAST 46 YEARS.

THAT'S A RECORD OF NEARLY 90%.

PRETTY GOOD TRACK RECORD.

BEST YEAR WAS 1982 WHEN BONDS PRODUCED 32.6%.

THE WORST YEAR LOST ONLY 2.2% IN 1994.

THAT'S WHEN INTEREST RATES WERE RISING.

KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR A SECOND.

THE AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURN ON BONDS IN THAT PERIOD JUST UNDER 7.5%.

HERE IS WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING.

SO FAR IN MAY, THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF MAY OF THIS YEAR, THE BOND MARKET HAS LOST OVER 10% OF ITS VALUE.

IF THAT CONTINUES, THAT WILL BE ON TRACK FOR THE WORST YEAR IN HISTORY FOR U.S. BONDS.

HISTORY FOR U.S. BONDS.

THAT'S IN LIGHT OF INTEREST RATES POTENTIALLY GOING EVEN HIGHER SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU ARE A BOND INVESTOR THOSE ARE OUR NUMBERS TONIGHT SO MUCH FOR THE BOND MARKET.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND YOU BETTER NUMBERS IF THE MARKET RECOVERS OVERTIME.

WE FINISH UP TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WHERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL - BEN WALSH, SYRACUSE'S 54TH MAYOR AND ITS FIRST INDEPENDENT TO BE ELECTED IN ABOUT A CENTURY, EASILY WON RE-ELECTION LAST FALL.

BUT WITH HIS FIRST TERM BEHIND US, I DID ASK HOW BADLY THE PANDEMIC CHANGED OR EVEN CRUSHED HIS PLANS AND INITIATIVES FOR THE CITY, AND HOW - OR IF- WE CAN CATCH UP FOR ALL THAT LOST TIME - - AND REVENUE.

WE OF COURSE TALKED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES NOW FACING THE CITY, THE REALISTIC WAYS TO ACHIEVE GROWTH AND HOW ALL THAT FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY WILL BENEFIT PROJECTS, CITY FINANCES AND THE PEOPLE OF SYRACUSE AS WELL.

DUE TO TERM LIMITS, THE MAYOR IS DONE AFTER THIS TERM IN OFFICE - NO, I DIDN'T ASK ABOUT HIS "FUTURE PLANS", IT'S JUST TOO EARLY FOR THAT.

BUT - I HAD TO ASK ABOUT THAT UBIQUITOUS, ONGOING PROJECT: INTERSTATE 81 >> YOUR FIRST TERM WAS NOT, I WOULDN'T SAY DOMINATED BUT ALMOST DOMINATED BY THE PANDEMIC.

DID THAT CRUSH SOME OF THE PLANS YOU HAD.

DID THAT SET YOU BACK A BIT.

>> IT SLOWED US DOWN IF I'M HONEST WITH MYSELF AND WITH YOU, DAN.

THE ENTIRE FIRST TERM WAS A ROLLER COASTER RIDE.

THE PANDEMIC CERTAINLY DID SET US BACK BUT DIDN'T DERAIL US AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT GOT ME EXCITED ABOUT RUNNING FOR REELECTION IS ALL OF THE SEEDS THAT WE PLANTED, EVERYTHING WE WERE WORKING ON, WE MOVED FORWARD ON JUST NOT AS FAST AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED.

SO IN MY SECOND TERM NOW, STILL OR DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC BUT I THINK YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, WE ARE ACCELERATING.

>> IF THERE IS ANY POSITIVE, ANY HIGHLIGHT THAT CAME OUT OF THAT PERIOD, COULD YOU LOOK BACK AND SAY WELL HERE IS ONE GOOD THING ANYWAY,.

>> A LOT ACTUALLY.

I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, WE ARE STRONGER.

FROM AN OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY STAND POINT, THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ACCELERATED TO BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY DELIVER SERVICES AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO LONG AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

>> YOU WON REELECTION BY 60% OF THE VOTE.

WASN'T A NAIL BITER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS GOING ON NOW WHERE ON YOUR PLATE SO TO SPEAK AND I WANT TO START OUT WITH SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GLAMOROUS AT ALL BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE SEWERS, THE WATER PIPES.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE PIPES ARE STILL OLD AND IT'S GOT TO BE EXPENSE EXPENSIVE.

EVERY TIME ONE OF THOSE SPRINGS A LEAK.

>> IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO IS BE MORE EFFICIENT WHERE WE ARE INVESTING OUR LIMITED DOLLARS.

YOU HEAR THE TERM DIG ONCE.

IF WE ARE GOING TO REPAIR A ROAD, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, WE ARE TRYING TO ALIGN OUR WATER AND SEWER FUNDING TO GO FIX WHAT IS UNDER THAT ROAD BEFORE WE FIX IT SO WE ARE NOT GETTING A WATER MAIN BREAK, YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS AFTER WE FIX THE ROADS.

>> IS THAT HARD ON THE BUDGET YOU CAN'T PREDICT WHEN THE PIPE IS GOING TO BREAK.

HAVE YOU TO SET ASIDE FUNDS I ASSUME BUT MAN.

>> IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BUDGET FOR.

WE ARE DOING IT MORE, NOT AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE BUT WE ARE DOING A DIG ONCE PROJECT, WEST GENESEE WE ARE DOING IT.

I KEEP PUSHING OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO GET CREATIVE BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO MUCH MORE EFFICIENT WHEN WE CAN DO IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

>> TELL ME HOW THE CITY FINANCES ARE TODAY.

ARE WE IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> VERY GOOD SHAPE RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE THE FISCAL YEAR WITH 100 MILLION-DOLLAR FUND BALANCE.

WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, THAT HELPS A LOT.

THE PANDEMIC SET US BACK.

WE GOT BACK ON TRACK TO WHERE WE WERE BUT WE ARE DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT GETTING THE HEADLINES, MOVING MATERIAL WEAKNESSES AND SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES.

SHORING UP THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FINANCES BECAUSE THE OTHER THINGS ARE GOING TO EBB AND FLOW BUT WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> IT'S A ONE OFF THING, BUT THE FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY HIT THE BOTTOM LINE, RIGHT?

IT.

>> WAS A GOD SEND, RIGHT?

SURE.

>> I SHUTTER TO THINK ABOUT WHERE WE WOULD BE WITHOUT IT.

BUT-- >> HOW MUCH ROUGHLY?

$123 MILLION.

AND WE ARE PUTTING THAT MONEY WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED.

YES, WE ARE ADDRESSING REVENUE SHORTFALLS BUT WE ARE INVESTING IN HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> CAN YOU BANK IT MAYOR?

WAS IT MEANT TO BE SPENT LIKE COULD YOU PUT THAT IN THE BANK JUST THE RAINY DAY SITUATION?

>> SO KIND OF.

AGAIN, WE ARE ALLOWED.

THERE IS A FORMULA WE USE TO IDENTIFY THE REVENUE SHORTFALL THAT WE EXPERIENCED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF COVID AND WERE ABLE TO TAKE THAT AND REINVEST THAT BACK INTO THE CITY FINANCES SO THAT HAS HELPED US TO BUILD BACK OUR RESERVES BUT THE PURPOSE IS TO GET THE MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.

>> THE OTHER SOURCE IS REVENUE SALES TAX AND THE MORE BUSINESSES WE HAVE SELLING PRODUCT... >> RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SALES TAX AGAIN AFTER REALLY BOTTOMING OUT AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN THE ROOF.

>> IS THAT THE BIGGEST REVENUE GENERATOR.

>> STATE AID, SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAXES,.

>> STATE AID YOU CAN'T COUNT ON THAT YEAR OVER YEAR PROBABLY.

>> WE KEEP ASKING FOR IT BUT NO, WHERE WE CAN CONTROL OUR OWN DESTINY, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

IN TERMS OF THE INITIATIVES, SYRACUSE BUILD INITIATIVE, TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT AND GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON SYRACUSE BUILD INITIATIVE.

>> SYRACUSE BUILD IS OUR INITIATIVE TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE THAT CAN FILL JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW AND JOBS WELL INTO THE FUTURE AND WE ARE TRYING TO BE INTENTIONAL IN DOING IT IN A WAY THAT HELPS LIFT UP COMMUNITIES-- MINORITIES FOCUS ON MINORITIES AND WOMEN PRIMARILY IN WHAT, CONSTRUCTION?

SO SYRACUSE BUILD PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON CONSTRUCTION, WE KNOW WE HAVE A 2 PLUS BILLION-DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN INTERSTATE 81 THAT IS GOING TO FILL A LOT OF JOBS.

THESE ARE LIVING WAGE CAREERS NOT JUST JOBS AND WE ARE WARTER INNING DIRECTLY WITH THE TRADES TO PROVIDE THE JOBS.

>> HOW ARE THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES RESPONDING TO THAT?

ARE THEY EMBRACING IT OR GIVING YOU PUSH BACK.

>> THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS WE NEED PEOPLE.

IF THERE IS ANY DELAY IN GETTING PEOPLE TO THEM, THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE CONCERNED BUT THAT'S WHY WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE TRADES.

IT'S THE TRADES THAT ARE DOING THE CURRICULUM THAT ARE DOING THE TRAINING, THAT ARE GETTING PEOPLE FROM TRAINING INTO APPRENTICESHIPS SO BY DOING THAT, THE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY SIGN ON BECAUSE THE TRADES HAVE SIGNED.

>> I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID.

THESE ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS AND IT COULD BE TEMPORARY PARTICULAR JOBS LIKELY TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT.

THESE COULD BE CAREERS BUT BETTER PAY THAN MOST PEOPLE ARE PERHAPS USED TO.

>> AGAIN, THESE LIVING WAGE JOBS, THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO PICK A CAREER, TO HAVE EMPLOYMENT THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE CA ADULT CAREER AND BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

>> INTERSTATE 81.

AM I GOING TO SEE THAT IN MY LIFETIME.

>> I BELIEVE SO.

THE STATE IS GOING TO BREAK GROUND THIS YEAR.

>> ARE YOU HAPPY, ARE YOU CONVINCED THAT THAT FINAL PLAN IS THE BEST?

>> I TRULY BELIEVE AND LONG BELIEF THE COMMUNITY GRID OPTION IS THE BEST OPTION NOT JUST FOR THE CITY BUT THE REGION.

IT'S NOT THE PERFECT OPTION AND THERE ARE STILL OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE TWEAKS AND MITIGATE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

BUT ABSOLUTELY IT'S THE BEST OPTION.

>> IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THE GRID HOW ULTIMATELY WILL THAT CHANGE IN 81 THAT NEW PATTERN BENEFIT THE CITY IN.

>> WELL, WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK WE NEED TO GET CITY RESIDENTS AND LOCAL PEOPLE TO WORK ON THE PROJECT, THE MORE WE CAN DO THAT THE MORE IT WILL MOVE THE NEEDLE AND HAVE LONG LASTING IMPACT.

BEYOND THAT, THERE IS GOING TO BE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO RECONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT DEVELOP NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, ALL OF MAT.

WE NEED TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFIT TO OUR PEOPLE, GET THEM JOBS, GO IT THEM THE UNITS TO LEVERAGE THAT INVESTMENT.

>> ANOTHER INITIATIVE, SYRACUSE SURGE THAT AS I UNDERSTOOD IT WAS MAYBE A LITTLE MORE CONNECTED OR TIED INTO THE WHOLE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR HERE AND THAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME.

WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?

>> SO THE WAY WE DEFINE SYRACUSE SURGE, OUR STRATEGY FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN THE INCLUDE ECONOMY.

SIMILAR TO BUILD, WE WANT TO BE INCLUSIVE ABOUT IT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE HISTORICALLY LEFT BEHIND AND A NUMBER OF TECH SECTORS GROWING RAPIDLY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE ARE NEW YORK STATE FLAGSHIP SMART CITY.

USING THE INTERNET OF THINGS TECHNOLOGY, I.O.T.

TO CONNECT SENSORS TO OUR STREET LIGHTS.

THAT'S JUST WHAT THE CITY IS DOING.

THE WHOLE TECH SECTOR, HAS THAT REPLACED OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR?

>> THEY'RE NOT MUTUAL EXCLUSIVE.

THERE IS HIGH TECH MANUFACTURING HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, DENSITY.

THEY'RE DOING MANUFACTURING DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW ON SALINA STREET.

JMA WIRELESS, THE ONLY 5G MANUFACTURER IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO IT'S CHANGING LIKE ALL INDUSTRIES, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND I THINK THE PANDEMIC HAS OPENED UP THE ENTIRE COUNTRY'S EYES WHAT WE GIVE UP WHEN WE LET COMPANIES GO OFFSHORE AND THE COMPANIES ARE REALIZING IT IT THE HARD WAY.

THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE IS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT MAKING THINGS HERE.

YOU SEE A POLICY AND OPERATIONAL SHIFT IN THE BUSINESSES BACK TO ONSHORE IN THE UNITED STATES WHICH IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US.

>> IS IT DIFFICULT WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT COMPANIES HERE, WHAT IS THE MURDER HURD HURDLE BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS COMPETING THESE DAYS AND I HAD THE SAME CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

ESPECIALLY ON THE TECHNOLOGY FRONT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ARROWS ARE YOU RUL PULLING OUT.

>> THE NUMBER ONE FOCUS IS WORKFORCE AND AGAIN WE HAVE A GOOD WORKFORCE HERE.

WE HAVE INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS IN PLACE TRAINING OUR WORKFORCE.

WE KNOW THAT WE STILL DO HEAR NEW YORK STATE IS A HIGH COST BUSINESS STATE AND SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE WORK WITH THE STATE VERY CLOSELY TO TRY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WORKING FOR US INCLUDING A NUMBER OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY TERM LIMITS.

YOU ARE DONE AFTER THIS.

WHERE IS OUR BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY AS YOU LOOK AHEAD?

>> I THINK IT'S WITH OUR PEOPLE.

AGAIN THROUGH SYRACUSE SURGE, SYRACUSE BUILD THROUGH OUR SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE ARE GIVING THE SKILLS TO OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO HELP DRIVE THE NEW ECONOMY, NEW INVESTMENT AND WE SHOULD ALL FEEL EXCITED ABOUT THAT OUR THANKS AGAIN TO SYRACUSE MAYOR BEN WALSH FOR JOINING US TO OFFER HIS THOUGHTS ON WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE CITY.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK, WE SHINE A LIGHT ON AN ENTREPRENEUR IN DOWNTOWN OSWEGO WHO'S ESTABLISHMENT IS BRINGING IN HIGH PRAISE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.

WE'LL OFFER NEW COMMON CENTS TIPS.

AND FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES -- WE SIT DOWN WITH CENTERSTATE CEO'S BEN SIO TO DISCUSS THE BUILD BACK BETTER REGIONAL CHALLENGE -- A PLAN THAT WOULD LEVERAGE MORE THAN $143-MILLION TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REGION.

AND THERE'S STILL MORE COMING THIS SEASON- IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS, PERSON OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, LET US KNOW - CONTACT US BY EMAILING NEWS AT WCNY DOT ORG.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WCNY DOT ORG FORWARD SLASH ON THE MONEY.

WCNY.ORG/ON THE MONEY MUCH THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT FROM ALL THE OF US HERE AT ON THE MONEY, I'M DAN DANIEL PLUFF.

THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.