[ APPLAUSE ] >> AND THAT WAS SYRACUSE MAYOR BEN WALSH FROM THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE AT THE SITE OF THE NEW JMA WIRELESS PLANT DELIVERING HIS FIFTH STATED OF THE CITY ADDRESS.

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO HOST OF WCNY CAPITOL PRESS ROOM AND THIS IS A LIVE SPECIAL EDITION OF CONNECT NEW YORK BRINGING YOU ANALYSIS AND REACTION TO THE MAYOR'S VISION FOR THE CITY.

JOINING ME IN THE STUDIO IS DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, 2021 G.O.P.

SYRACUSE MAYORAL CANDIDATE JANET BURMAN, GIFFORD SOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DREKOR SHEENA SOLOMAN AND CURRENT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, JULIE McMAHON.

AS THE HIGHEST RANKING JOURNALIST AMONG US HERE TONIGHT, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

IF YOU HAD TO COME UP WITH A HEADLINE, WHAT WOULD BE THE HEADLINE FOR A STORY ABOUT TONIGHT'S SPEECH.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO GREAT WAY TO START OFF.

OTHER THAN THE MAYOR'S NEW BEARD, WHICH MOST OF THE CITIZENRY OF SYRACUSE IS GETTING THEIR FIRST LOOK AT, I THINK THE BIG TAKEAWAY HAS TO BE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN UPDATE TO SYRACUSE SURGE.

THIS IS THE MAYOR'S SECOND TERM IN OFFICE AND WE ARE REALLY SEEING THE FRUITS, THE SORT OF THE SEEDS PLANTED IN 2018-2019, THAT TREE IS BEARING FRUIT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IT FELT LIKE A BIG RIBBON COULD YOU TELLING FOR SYRACUSE AND THE PROJECTS HE HAS BEEN MOVING FORWARD AND TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN SOMEWHAT OF A VAGUE ERR TERMS.

NOW WE HAVE CONCRETE PLANS A LOT ON 81.

THE BIG TAKEAWAY ARE THE PLANS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT FOR SO LOCK, WE HAVE CONCRETE ANSWERS WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD.

>> THE TWO WORDS THAT THE MAYOR USED TO DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE CITY IS RESILIENT AND READY.

AND I'M CURIOUS, WHAT TWO WORDS OUR PANELISTS WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE THE STATED OF THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

JANET TWO WORDS.

ANYTHING COME TO MIND RIGHT AWAY FOR YOU?

>> WELL, TWO WORDS THAT OCCUR TO ME ARE UNREALIZED OPPORTUNITIES.

AND AS EVERYONE RECALLS, MY PRIMARY FOCUS DURING LAST YEAR'S MAYORAL CAMPAIGN WAS ON IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BY THE TIME THE ELECTION OCCURRED, BOTH OF MY OPPONENTS AGREED THAT PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD BE THE FIRST PRIORITY; HOWEVER, THEHEHE MAYOS REMARKS TONIGHT IF YOU LOOK SIMPLY AT THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE DEVOTED TO THE VARIOUS AREAS, PUBLIC SAFETY WAS ONE OF THE LEAST ADDRESSED ISSUES, TAKING ON AN APPROACH WHERE HE ESTABLISHES A MAYOR'S OFFICE AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE, AND THEN OTHERWISE PROCEEDING AS HE HAS DONE, YOU KNOW, WITH ANOTHER GUN BUY BACK AND ACTIONS LIKE THAT, IS NOT A DEMONSTRATION OF HOLDING PUBLIC SAFETY TO BE THE FIRST PRIORITY.

WE'LL COME BACK TO SOME OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMENTS LATER IN THE NIGHT.

SHEENA, TWO WORDS COME UP FOR YOU, ANY PITHY DESCRIPTION YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR TONIGHT'S SPEECH.

>> TWO WORDS THAT COME TO MIND FOR ME IS COMMUNITY COLLABORATION.

I FELT AS THOUGH A LOT OF THINGS HE TALKED ABOUT WERE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AND IT WASN'T JUST CITY OF SYRACUSE LED EFFORTS BUT A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY LIKE CENTERSTATE, LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, BUSINESS OWNERS, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REALLY WORKING ON A LOT OF THE PROJECTSES HE SPOKE BSM THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNT HAS BEEN VERY IMPACTFUL.

>> SENATOR TWO WORDS FOR US ON THE STATED OF THE CITY?

>> PLAYING OFF WHAT SHEENA SAID, I WOULD SAY COMING TOGETHER, THAT THIS MAYOR HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE AND TAKING A LOT OF DISPARATE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDER WAY FOR MANY YEARS AND TURNING THEM INTO MORE UNIFIED VISIONS FOR THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND I THINK HE DESCRIBED THAT PRETTY WELL.

>> THE SPEECH WAS A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE MOST PART BUT DESPITE THE POSITIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY'S STATE, THE MAYOR ACKNOWLEDGED SYRACUSE HAS A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND JANET, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

I WANT TO PLAY A CLIP OF THE SHORTCOMINGS HE IDENTIFIED DURING HIS REMARKS.

>> PARTICULARLY IMPACTS CHILDREN IN CONCENTRATE AREAS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

TOO MANY ARE WITHOUT A REAL PATH TO PROSPERITY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY.

VIOLENT CRIME, ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH TROUBLES ARE RISING.

>> SHEENA, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS FACING THE CITY AND MAYOR WALSH'S RESPONSIBILITIES TO TO TACKLE THEM, WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE NUMBER THING HE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW EITHER ON A MACRO OR MICRO LEVEL.

>> I THINK IT'S YOUTH.

BECAUSE MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE , RIGHT?

SO WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON YOUTH, EDUCATION, PROVIDING THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTUALLY PROVIDING THE WHOLE FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM A LITTLE BIT MORE GUIDANCE BECAUSE YOU CAN PROVIDE KIDS WITH PROGRAMMING HERE BUT IF THEY'RE GOING HOME TO THE SAME SITUATION, IT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE THAT QUALITY OF LIFE, RIGHT?

SO I DEFINITELY WOULD SAY I WOULD FOCUS ON YOUTH.

>> DID WE GET ENOUGH OF THAT TONIGHT FROM THE NARE.

>> THERE-- FROM THE MAYOR.

THERE WAS SOME OF IT, NOT A TON OF IT BUT THERE WAS SOME OF IT WITH THE STEAM SCHOOL.

HE TALKED ABOUT SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT GRADUATION RATES.

I THINK THE YOUTH THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ARE THE KIDS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL, CATCHING THOSE YOUTH FALLING IN BETWEEN THE CRACKS THAT NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE AT HOME OR MIGHT NOT HAVE IT AT COMMUNITY FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT I ALSO STRUGGLE WITH PUTTING ALL THAT ON THE MAYOR, RIGHT?

I STRUGGLE WITH THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE, THAT THE MAYOR CAN'T ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE ISSUES ON HIS OWN, BUT OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR NEIGHBORS NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF OUR CHILDREN.

>> SENATOR, IN THE SPEECH, THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT SOME QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN TRYING TO ADDRESS PUBLIC NUISANCE BUILDINGS AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE STATE SENATE HAS BEEN TAKING THE LEAD IN TRYING TO GIVE MUNICIPALITIES MORE TOOLS TO ADDRESS CODE ENFORCEMENT AS A WAY TO IMPROVE SOME OF THESE CONCERNS.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR THAT READERS RESONATED WITH YOU OR DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH IN TERMS OF USING THE CITY'S BUILDING CODES AS A MEANS OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN SYRACUSE.

>> I WAS HAPPY THAT HE TALKED ABOUT CODE FORM AND BEEFING UP, HAVING ANOTHER ATTORNEY IN THE CITY WHO WOULD DO THAT KIND OF WORK BUT THIS IS LONG OVERDUE.

I WISH THAT HAD BEEN A FOCUS A FEW YEARS BACK JUST TODAY I SPOKE WITH A MAN WHO HAS BEEN LIVING IN AN APARTMENT WITH A SLUM LORD WHO, HE DOESN'T FEEL SAFE IS THERE YET HE CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE TO LIVE AND NO ONE IS ENFORCING THE CODES WHEN HE COMPLAINS WHEN CODE VIOLATIONS.

SO THAT IS LONG OVERDUE.

WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE THE CITY MORE TOOLS.

WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE THE CIVIL RIGHT TO COUNSEL SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING EVICTION HAVE ACCESS TO A LAWYER SO THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE BE MORE STABLE IN THEIR HOUSING BUT I WAS GLAD TO HEAR HIM PUT EMPHASIS ON THAT.

I HOPE HE REALLY FOLLOWS THROUGH BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> JANET, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOCUS AS IT PERTAINED TO HOUSING?

WOULD YOU ECHO WHAT THE SENATOR IS SAYING IN TERMS OF BETTER LATE THAN NEVER?

WHAT WHAT ARE I DON'T ARE THOUGHTS?

>> I AGREEY WITH SENATOR MAY, THIS IS LONG BEEN IGNORED AND THE REACTIVE APPROACH THAT NOT JUST THIS MAYOR OR ADMINISTRATION BUT PAST ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE TAKEN WHERE, YOU KNOW, A CRISIS HAS TO OCCUR WHETHER IT'S THE MURDER OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN IN SKYLINE APARTMENTS.

THE CONCERN IS A NEED TO HAVE CONSTANT ATTENTION AND PRESSURE THERE, CONSTANT MONITORING OF THE SITUATION.

I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF THE RESIDENTS AT SKYLINE OVER THE HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR, AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN.

I MET HIM LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS DOING DOOR TO DOOR AT THE APARTMENTS AND HE WAS SO PROUD OF THE FACT THAT HE HAS LIVED FOR 11 YEARS WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANCE USE, VERY PROUD OF IT VERY HAPPY TO HAVE WHAT, FOR HIM, IS A FAIRLY STABLE LIVING SITUATION AT SKYLINE BUT HE SAYS THE CONDITIONS HAVE DETERIORATED ONCE MORE.

ONCE THE MEDIA ATTENTION IS OFF FROM THESE PROBLEMS, TOO OFTEN THE SITUATION DETERIORATES SO I'M GLAD THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE RESOURCES ADDRESSING THAT BUT I WANT TO SEE MONITORING, I WANT TO SEE PROGRESS REPORTS THROUGHOUT SHOWING THIS IS ACTUALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

>> STICKING WITH QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, JULIE, THE MAYOR HIGHLIGHTED PUBLIC SIDEWALKS IN EFFORTS TO KEEP THEM CLEAR OF SNOW WERE YOU SURPRISED HE BROUGHT THAT UP AND WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE TALK HE HAD ABOUT SIDEWALKS?

WAS THERE ANYTHING NEW OR EXCITING?

>> AGAIN I THINK WE ARE SEEING WHERE HE HAS HAD FOUR YEARS IN OFFICE, SHE HAS HAD TIME TO REALIZE HIS VISION SO YOU SEE THE SIDE BY SIDE PHOTOS AND WE ARE SEEING IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS DEFINED THIS MAYOR SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE IN SYRACUSE, IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

I DON'T THINK IT'S SURPRISING TO SEE HIM RETURN TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HE IS KIND OF KNOWN FOR REALLY APPRECIATING THOSE KINDS OF SORT OF MINUTIA, THINGS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

I WASN'T SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT FOCUS.

I DO TEND TO AGREE THE NEEDS IN SYRACUSE ARE JUST SO HIGH.

YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME TO WORDS BUT WOULD I HAVE SAID NOT BROKE, WHICH IS A REAL DIFFERENT PLACE FOR SYRACUSE TO BE IN THIS YEAR.

SO WE DO HAVE MONEY TO SPEND, FEDERAL SIM PLUS-- STIMULUS.

MAYBE THERE IS THE CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BEFORE.

>> YOU BRING UP THE CITY'S FINANCES AND I'M CURIOUS WHETHER YOU THINK HE GLOSSED OVER THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS THOUGH THAT THE CITY HAS IN TERMS OF BUDGETING THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GLOSS OVER IN LIGHT OF THE FEDERAL MONEY.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE GOT ENOUGH HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS IN THE FUTURE.

I WONDERED IF WE WOULD GET MORE FESS FIST AT THIS.

THERE IS A 39 MILLION POT OF MONEY AVAILABLE.

I LIKE THAT WE ARE HEARING TRANSPARENCY.

I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE COUNCIL INTERACTS WITH THE MAYOR AND HOW THAT POT OF MONEY GETS SPENT.

YOU KNOW, AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR HIM TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE CODES AND SIDEWALKS AND THOUGH THINKINGS THAT AFFECT ALL OF US.

SO ESPECIALLY THE REPORTER, WE LOVE TO HEAR THE SPECIFICITY AND WE GOT A MENU OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE END THERE THAT WAS ALL SORT OF THE RIGHT WORDS BUT IT WILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN WHAT IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE AND PLAYS OUT.

IF YOU WERE IN THE POSITION OF THE MAYOR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SAID ABOUT THE CITY'S STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FINANCES IN TERMS OF SMFERS LONG-TERM ISSUES WE FACE IN TERMS OF A TAX BASE AND REALLY EVER GROWING SPENDING NEEDS?

>> SURE.

ONE OF THE AREAS, ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY, AS I DISCUSSED EARLIER.

>> TWO WORDS.

>> THOSE TWO WORDS.

SPONSORSHIP, YOU KNOW, HE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME TALKING ABOUT PARKS AND WHAT HE WANTS TO DO TO INCREASE SERVICES OFFERED BY PARKS DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU GET PAST THE PUBLIC SAFETY FS SERVICES OF POLICE AND FIRE, THEN WHEN THE NEXT LARGEST ALLOCATIONS IN OUR CITY BUDGET IS FOR PARKS.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY THERE, SOMETHING I PROPOSED LAST YEAR, IS LOOKING TO SPONSORSHIPS, CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS OF PARK FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS.

AND YOU KNOW, CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT FOR YEARS NOW AND THAT'S A HUGE MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FINANCES.

>> SHEENA, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CITY'S ABILITY TO SPEND ON SOCIAL PROGRAMS, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT AS GREAT AS THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT IT DOES SERVE AS A WAY TO TRICKLE DOWN MONEY AND THINGS EVENTUALLY GET DISTRIBUTED BY THE CITY.

IS THERE A GREATER INVESTMENT ON THE CITY'S SOCIAL NEEDS WE SHOULD HAVE HEARD FROM THE MAYOR?

I MEAN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE YOUTH EARLIER.

ARE THERE OTHER SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF SOCIAL PROGRAMS IS THE WORD THAT I WOULD USE BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH.

I THINK THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR YOUTH AND FOR ADULTS.

AFTER BEING SECLUDED FOR SO LONG, WE HAVE NOW DEVELOPED AN INABILITY TO BE SOCIAL WITH EACH OTHER WHEN WE SEE EACH OTHER, YOU ARE NOT SURE WHETHER TO SHAKE SOMEONE'S HAND.

YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE STAYS TO FACE AND THE YOUTH HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE SCREEN FOR SO LONG, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WITH COMMUNICATING WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD SO REACCLIMATING OURSELVES TO SOCIETY IN GENERAL DEFINITELY WE ARE GOING TO NEED HELP.

ADULTS AND CHILDRENNING GOING TO NEED HELP WITH THAT.

WE ARE IN A COMMUNITY THAT OUR PARKS AND EVERYTHING ARE REALLY BEAUTIFUL BUT IN REALITY, WE HAVE NINE MONTHS OF WINTER, RIGHT?

WE HAVE A LOT OF KNOW, IT'S VERY COLD AND EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE SKI AND ICE SKATE, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T DO ANY OF THOSE ACTIVITIES, RIGHT?

>> NOT A LOT OF CITYING IN THE CITY IS THERE AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, ALL OF OUR INDOOR SPORTS ARE ALL IN THE COUNTY, NONE IN THE CITY WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR OUR YOUTH, WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN THE WINTER TIME IF THERE ARE NO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES, BASKETBALL COURTS ARE NOT OPEN INDOOR BASKETBALL COURTS ARE NOT OPEN BECAUSE THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS LIABILITY WHEN THEY OPEN THAT UP AND LET THE PUBLIC IN TO USE THE SPACES.

SO HAVING MORE PUBLIC SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN SAFELY GATHER AND DO SOMETHING BESIDE EAT.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE PANDEMIC AND IN TERMS OF THE MAYOR TOUCHING ON COVID-19 AND THE RESPONSE, HE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TRYING TO INCREASE VACCINATION RATES BY USING TRUSTED COMMUNITY VOICES, TO ENGAGE AREAS THAT HAVEN'T SEEN THE SAME UPTAKE IN THE VACCINE.

HE TALKED ABOUT CITY WORKFORCE BEING HURT BY THIS A LITTLE BIT.

WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HEARD MORE ON THE PANDEMIC AND IF SO IS IT ABOUT THE SOCIALIZATION ISSUES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT OR OTHER THINGS AS WELL?

>> HONESTLY, NO, I WOULDN'T HAVE LIKED TO HAR MORE FROM HIM REGARDING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE WE HEAR ENOUGH ABOUT IT THE MEDIA COVERS IT CONSTANTLY.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> THERE IS A MAJOR FEAR MECHANISM FOR PEOPLE TO BRING OR NOT WEAR MASKS OUTSIDE.

I SEE PEOPLE DRIVE IN THE CAR WITH THEIR MASKS ON IN THE CAR BY THEMSELVES.

I DON'T I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR NOT CONTINUING TO PUT THAT PEER OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN HE SAID 900 PEOPLE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY HAVE PASSED AWAY OUT OF 250,000 PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHO SURVIVED.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHO DIED AND WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

MAYBE AFFECTED BUT NOT GONE TO THE HOSPITAL.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PIECES OF IT.

I FOE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN COVID.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT NOW WHO ARE HOME NOT FEELING THAT GREAT BUT THEY'RE NOT IN THE HOSPITAL, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THAT SO I THINK THAT COVID HAS BEEN PUSHED DOWN OUR THROATS AND IT HAS CAUSED US MAJOR FEAR AND MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

>> DOES ANYBODY ELSE FEEL DIFFERENTLY?

DOES ANYBODY ELSE FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE HEARD MORE ON THE PANDEMIC?

GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.

OKAY.

SOLD.

SO IF I CAN PEEL BACK THE CURTAIN ON OUR EXPERIENCE IN HERE, SENATOR, I THINK I SAW A FIST PUMP DURING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSIT FROM THE MAYOR.

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

ARE YOU PLANNING A NEW LIFE AS A BUS DRIVER?

WAS THAT SOMETHING ELSE?

>> WELL, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO ALBANY WITH THE MAYOR AND TOUR THEIR BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND WHICH IS GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK, TO THE GROCERY STORE, TO THE PLACES THEY NEED TO GO MUCH FASTER AND MUCH MORE RELIABLY THAN OUR SYSTEM IS ABLE TO DO AND I'M THRILLED THAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT THAT THE MONEY IS COMING INTO PLACE WE ARE WORKING AT IT AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEY'RE WORKING AT IT ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND IF WE CAN TRANSFORM THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM HERE, SOMETHING I'VE FORGOTTEN THE NUMBER, 30% OF PEOPLE IN SYRACUSE DO NOT HAVE CARS THEY CANNOT GET TO WORK.

THEY CANNOT CAKE THEIR KIDS TO DAYCARE.

THEY CANNOT GET TO THE GROCERY STORE, THE PHARMACY, UNLESS THEY'VE GOT RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SO THAT IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL TO REALLY BUILD THE WORKFORCE, BUILD, GET PEOPLE INTO JOBS GET PEOPLE REALLY FEELING POSITIVE ABOUT THE FUTURE, PART OF IT DEPENDS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND I DO THINK HE IS SERIOUS ABOUT THAT.

>> LET'S PIVOT TO TRANSPORTATION AND WE HAD A LOT OF TALK TONIGHT ABOUT I-81 AND THE OVERHAUL THERE BUT WE HEARD THE MAYOR SAY THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ARE NOT PERFECT BUT DID NOT OFFER ALTERNATIVE SPECIFICS.

IS THAT IN KEEPING WITH THE APPROACH TO THE OVERHAUL?

LIGHT ON SPECIFICS OR HAS HE FLUSHED THIS OUT PREVIOUSLY AND I SHOULD GIVE HIM MORE CREDIT?

>> >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, TOO I THINK THE PLAN FOR I-81 IS, THERE ARE SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS, SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE MAYOR, I GUESS I WOULD SAY BUT WOULD I NOT HAVE HIM TOO MUCH THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THE VISION ON THAT BUT SOMEWHAT TO SENATOR MAY'S POINT, TOO, OVERSEEING ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SYRACUSE, ESPECIALLY 81, THIS MASSIVE PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO BRING JOBS, GOING TO TRANSFORM OUR CITY CENTER, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT THAT IS WHERE THE MAYOR HAS TO STEP IN AND HAVE A VISION FOR ALL OF US.

I WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE MENTION OF AN URBAN PLANNER AND CONTRACTING WITH SOMEONE WHO WOULD KEEP THAT IN MIND.

IT IS ALWAYS HARD TO HEAR WHEN GENTRY IF I INDICATION IS MENTIONED.

-- GENTRIFICATION IS MENTIONED.

THE IDEA THAT HE IS GOING AVOID-- I DO NOT REMEMBER THE EXACTLY WAY HE PUT IT, HE WILL NOT TOLERATE GENTRIFICATION.

THERE ARE GOOD EXAMPLES IN SYRACUSE LIKE SALT CITY MARKET CELEBRATING ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY THAT SHOW SIGNS THAT HEY, WE CAN LEARN FROM THE PAST AND DO THINGS RIGHT.

BUT THERE IS STILL GOING TO BE THE DOWNSIDES AND TO KIND OF SAY, YOU KNOW, I WON'T TOLERATE IT, I DON'T KNOW HOW REALISTIC THAT IS.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTEND WITH AND WORK THROUGH AND TALK ABOUT AS A COMMUNITY NO MATTER WHAT.

>> THE LANGUAGE HE REFERENCED WAS NEAR COMPLETION OF AN RFP PROCESS TO HIRE AN URBAN DESIGN MASTER PLANNER.

HE SAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCED NATIONAL FIRM TO HELP US REKNIT THE URBAN FABRIC, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS REVIEW TRAFFIC PLANS ALONG THE FULL LENGTH OF THE COMMUNITY GRID IN THE CITY, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH BECAUSE IT INVOLVES THE STATE AS WELL AND WE HEARD FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL THIS MONTH ABOUT THE CONTINUED COMMITMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON THIS PROJECT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS URBAN PLANNER COMMITMENT AS WELL IS THE GENERAL TONE FROM THE MAYOR ON THIS ISSUE.

>> I THINK IT'SNESS THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S PLAN IS WORRISOME BECAUSEITE IS STILL A VERY HIGH SPEED ROAD BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY HIGH SPEED ROAD WHICH DOES NOT LEND ITSELF TO REALLY BUILDING NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND IT AND I THINK THE MAYOR'S BACKGROUND IN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND A LOT OF WHAT HE SAID WAS PARTLY AIMED AT THAT LIKE WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE DETAILS OF THIS SO THAT IT IS A CORRIDOR WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE.

AND I DO THINK-- I AGREE WITH YOU, JULIE BUT I ALSO THINK HIS COMMITMENT WAS THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE DISPLACED BY IT AND I THINK THE CITY CAN TAKE ACTION TO MAKE THAT APRIL EVEN IF RENTS IN GENERAL MIGHT BE GOING UP, THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GRANDFATHERED INTO THEIR HOMES AT THE RATES THEY'RE PAYING NOW.

I THINK THEY CAN DO THAT.

IT'S GOING TAKE A LOT OF WILLPOWER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION OF I-81 AND THE HISTORY OF THE HIGHWAY AND IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE 15th WARD, SOMETHING THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE 15th WARD, SHOULD WE FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE FUTURE BASED ON THE MAYOR'S REMARKS?

>> I AM CONFIDENT IN THE FUTURE.

ONE I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR IN OUR COMMUNITY RECOGNIZING THE PAST OF THE 15th WARD WHY 81 WAS PUT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE, HOW IT DISPLACED AN ENTIRE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY TO BUILD A HIGHWAY.

THEY DECIDED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT TAKING THE HIGHWAY DOWN.

AND THEN, IN TURN, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BEING SPECIFICALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT TRAINING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE FOR THOSE JOBS WHEN THEY TAKE I-81 DOWN AND THEN WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY REDEVELOP IT, RIGHT?

SO IT HAS BEEN VERY COMMUNITY INCLUSIVE, I BELIEVE, GETTING ALL TYPES OF THOUGHTS PROCESSES, PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN I-81 AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH BLUEPRINT 15 I THINK PEOPLE GET THE PROJECTS-- BECAUSE THEY'RE SIMILAR IN PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER BUT I APPRECIATE THE GRASSROOTS APPROACH BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, PARTICULARLY THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, NEVER GETS HEARD AND THEY'VE LITERALLY BEEN GOING DOOR TO DOOR, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE, HIRING FROM THE COMMUNITY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, WHICH HELPS ME HAVE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

>> JANET, THE CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW, AS WELL AS THE WAY THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF I-81 BASED ON THE IDEA OF A COMMUNITY GRID IN THE FUTURE, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS THE DONE DEAL HERE.

DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT THIS MOVING FORWARD OR SHOULD THERE BE MORE WIGGLE ROOM AND MORE FLEXIBILITY TO MAINTAIN A HIGHWAY AKIN TO WHAT WE NOW KNOW AS 81?

>> UNFORTUNATELY IT'S UNREALISTIC TO PROPOSE LOOKING BACK AT THAT DECISION.

WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR NOT, IT IS OUR DESTINY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WHAT WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE 15th WARD.

I PULLED UP A MAP OF THE 15th WARD.

THERE IS NO RECREATION OF A BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN THE 15th WARD.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT OCCUPIES THE 15th WARD RIGHT NOW, IT'S HEALTH CENTER FACILITIES, IT'S GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

IT'S THE EVERSON MUSEUM OF ARTS, THE CIVIC CENTER AND THEN YOU HAVE A SMALL AREA OF PIONEER HOMES, JUST A PORTION OF PIONEER HOMES THAT IS WITHIN THE 15th WARD, SO TO-- THAT IS A MYTH TO PUT OUT THERE LOATS GET OUR EXPECTATIONS REAL HERE.

THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A RECREATION OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT WAS DESTROYED BY 81.

IT'S NOT FEASIBLE.

LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE THE GROWTH OF THE HEALTH SECTOR ALL ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF 81 AND THE GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT SECTOR DOWNTOWN THAT'S JUST NOT COMING BACK WHAT THEY DECIDE TO DO WITH PUBLIC HOUSING TO REPLACE WHAT IS EMPIRE NEW HOMES RIGHT NOW, THE PORTION THAT'S STILL IN THE 15th WARD AND GOING BEYOND IT, THAT CERTAINLY IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

BUT THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY RESTS ON MULTI-INCOME HOUSING NOT CONCENTRATING POVERTY AND IT'S NOT HIGH CLASS GENTRIFICATION.

IT'S GOT TO BE MIXED USE AND I DON'T HEAR ENOUGH ABOUT THE STEPS THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT TYPE OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT EITHER WITHIN THE 15th WARD AVAILABLE FOR REDEVELOPMENT OR GOING ON FURTHER SOUTH ALONG THE COMMUNITY GRID, ALONG THE PATH 81 TAKES NOW.

>> ANYONE WANT TO ADD TO THAT?

WE'LL MOVE ALONG.

SHEENA.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I DIDN'T GET FROM IT THAT WE ARE GOING TO RECREATE THE 15th WARD.

I DIDN'T GET THAT FROM THAT.

AND FROM THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'M AT THE TABLE FOR, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MIXED USE, RIGHT?

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MIXED USE AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INCOME SO LOW INCOME, HIGHER INCOME SO MARKET RATE AND LOW INCOME, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SO UNIFORM THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TELL WHO LIVES WHERE, WHICH I THINK IS A REALLY GREAT APPROACH.

WE DO NOT NEED MORE CONCENTRATED POVERTY AT ALL IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I AGREE WITH THAT 100%.

WE DON'T REALLY NEED ANYMORE LOW INCOME HOUSING, QUITE FRANKLY, IN THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF IT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF HOUSING EATS JUST NOT HOUSING.

THE HOUSING IS IN DISARRAY.

SO HEARING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD HOUSES ALONG THE CITY, I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT IN THE MAYOR'S STATED OF THE CITY AS WELL BUT RECREATING THE 15th WARD, I DIDN'T GET THAT FROM IT AT ALL.

>> I THINK HE SPECIFICALLY USED MAYBE NOT RECREATE BUT REUNITING THE 15th WARD.

I THINK HE SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT.

WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I HAVE FRIENDS WHO GREW UP IN THE 15th WARD AND REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE VISITING THEIR GRANDPARENTS IN THAT AREA.

AND TO PUT THAT MYTH OUT THERE IS DISINGENUINE.

WE WANT TO CREATE THOSE TYPES OF NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ONE RIGHT THERE WHERE 81 GOES THROUGH DOWNTOWN.

>> I WANT TO PIVOT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AS I PROMISED WE WOULD AND SYRACUSE, LIKE URBAN CENTERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAS NOT BEEN SPARED FROM THE UPTICK IN GUN VIOLENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND IN RECOGNITION OF THIS PROBLEM, WE GOT A NEW ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE MAYOR, SOMETHING THAT JANET TOUCHED ON.

HERE IS A CLIP OF WHAT HE SAID.

>> TONIGHT I'M ANNOUNCING THE CREATION OF THE SYRACUSE'S FIRST EVER MAYOR'S OFFICE TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE TO SYNCHRONIZE OUR CITY'S ANTIGUN VIOLENCE EFFORTS.

[ APPLAUSE ] THIS NEW OFFICE WILL WORK ALONGSIDE RESIDENCE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, STAKEHOLDERS AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION EXPERTS TO IDENTIFY FACTORS PERPETUATING GUN VIOLENCE IN SYRACUSE.

IT WILL IMPLEMENT STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS INFORMED BY PROVEN BEST PRACTICES.

>> JANET, YOU EXPRESSED SCEPTICISM AS BEING THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THIS OR MAYBE THE ONLY WAY TO APPROACH THIS.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT RIGHT NOW?

>> HE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDED THAT BY ANNOUNCING ANOTHER GUN BUY BACK PROGRAM.

THAT IS NOT A PROVEN VIOLENCE REDUCTION.

>> I LOOKED AT ALL OF THE STUDY AND RESEARCH AND STUDIEDS ON GUN BIBACKS.

THAT IS JUST ANOTHER PANACEA THERE.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME IN OUR CITY, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT 2021, HOW MANY STABBINGS OCCURRED IN THE CITY, GUN ALSO IS A CONCERN BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY TYPE OF VIOLENT CRIME WE NEED TO DEAL WITH AND IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IN THE CONTEXT OF POLICE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, NOT AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE.

IT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN HOW WE DO POLICING IN THE CITY.

AND YOU POINT OUT THIS TREND IS NATIONAL, VIOLENT CRIME.

THAT'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T CREATE A MODEL FOR HOW WE NEED TO DO POLICING HERE.

THE FACT THAT IT OCCURS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE SHOULDN'T USE AN EXCUSE TO PROHIBIT US FROM GOING FORWARD WITH BOLD PLANS TO ADDRESS IT.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM FOCUS ON IN ORDER TO HAVE A REAL SUBSTANTIVE EFFECT ON THE CITY'S PROBLEM OF GUN VIOLENCE.

>> WE HAVE A VIOLENCE COALITION.

I WAS SURPRISED THAT THEY'RE COMING UP WITH AN INITIATIVE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO BE SEPARATE OR MERGE THEM.

I'M NOT SURE.

I WILL BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING THAT.

AND THEN I WOULD HAVE TO PIGGY BACK ON THE STABBINGS THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.

GUN VIOLENCE IS STILL HIGH, SHOTS FIRED CALLS ARE INCREASING , STABBINGS HAVE BEEN VERY SIGNIFICANT IN OUR COMMUNITY RECENTLY AND PARTICULARLY THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS SOME OF THE MOST STRICT GUN BUYING LAWS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF BUCKNER, YOU FIND OUT THAT MAJORITY OF THE GUNS THAT THEY ACTUALLY TAKE OFF THE STREETS ARE NOT EVEN FROM THE STATE THEY'RE FROM DOWN SOUTH.

HOW DO YOU STOP THE GUN BUYING POLICIES TO BRINGING THOSE GUNS TO UPSTATE NEW YORK WHERE WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING THEM IN THE HANDS OF OUR CHILDREN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE CAN ACTUALLY ADDRESS THAT.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE A BORDER WHERE YOU HAVE METAL DETECTORS WHEN CARS ARE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I REALLY THINK THAT IT IS A POLICE AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE ISSUE.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH HER ON THAT.

OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO START TO SAY SOMETHING WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING WE DON'T SAY ENOUGH.

YOU USUALLY KNOW WHO HAS DONE THE SHOOTING.

YOU USUALLY KNOW WHO HAS THE GUN.

MOST MOMS KNOW WHAT IS IN THEIR HOMES AND IF IT'S MALES WHO ARE DOING IT, BELIEVE THAT THEIR GIRLFRIENDS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, RIGHT?

SO THERE IS NOT PEOPLE ACTUALLY SAYING ANYTHING TO HELP GET THE GUNS OFF THE STREET BECAUSE THE FEAR OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT YOU SHOULD SAY SOMETHING IF YOU SEE SOMETHING.

OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD.

>> SHOULD SHE HAVE SPENT MORE TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE TONIGHT?

>> I DEFINITE WILL I THINK HE SHOULD HAVE SPENT MORE TIME TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, NOT JUST GUN VIOLENCE BUT VIOLENCE AND CRIME IN GENERAL.

I SEE ON WEBSITES AND COMMUNITY NETWORKING EFFORTS OF CARS BEING BROKEN IN ON A REGULAR BASIS, HOMES BEING INTRUDED INTO RK AND I-- AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE A SYRACUSE PURGE HAPPEN, RIGHT TO WHERE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS GO TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM OTHERS.

HOW CAN WE PREVENT THOSE THINGS FROM HAPPENING?

AND THERE IS NOT A LOT THAT THE POLICE CAN ACTUALLY DO BESIDE MAYBE WRITE A TICKET.

THEY MIGHT TAKE YOU DOWN TO THE PRECINCT BUT YOU ARE OUT THE NEXT DAY SO HOW CAN WE,AS A COMMUNITY PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER BECAUSE THAT'S HOW COMMUNITY POLICING USED TO BE.

ELDERS PROTECTED THE COMMUNITY BACK IN THE DAY AND WE ARE NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE.

>> SENATOR, ON THE STATE LEVEL, OBVIOUSLY LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO AGAIN GUNS FROM OUTTHE-- HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP GUNS FROM OUT OF STATE FROM COMING TO NEW YORK AND THERE HAS BEEN A WHOLE HOST OF PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES ADDRESSED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU IN TERMS OF GUN VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE IN GENERAL OR PUBLIC SAFETY IN GENERAL THAT THE MAYOR TOUCHED ON OR THAT THE MAYOR DIDN'T TOUCH ON THAT WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HEARD?

THE ISSUE OF GUNS COMING FROM OUT OF STATE IS A REAL PROBLEM AND CAN'T REALLY-- YOU ARE RIGHT, CAN'T BE ADDRESSED AT THE CITY LEVEL.

I'M PROUD OF A LOT OF THE LEGISLATION WE HAVE PASSED AT THE STATE LEVEL TO TRY TO STEM, STOP THE IRON PIPELINE OF GUNS COMING INTO THE STATE BUT AT THE CITY LEVEL, ON THE ONE HAND, I THINK THE-- IT MAKES SENSE, THERE ARE A LOT OF DISPARATE EFFORTS AROUND THE CITY TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE, TO DO VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION LIKE OGs AGAINST VIOLENCE AND SNUG AND THEY'RE OUT THERE ON STREET CORNERS AND THEY'RE OUT THERE RESPONDING TO.

THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT COORDINATION.

I WAS GLAD TO HEAR HIM SAY THAT.

I THINK THE ISSUE SHEENA BROUGHT UP EARLIER ABOUT MAKING SURE YOUTH HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER IT BE FOR INDOOR EXERCISE OR BEING ABLE TO DO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CURTAILED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC OR BECAUSE OF ISSUES WITH SPACE OR CONSTRUCTION OR, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF REASONS, THINGS LIKE THIS HAVE BEEN INTERRUPTED, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HEARD HIM TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES WE GIVE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER THREAT TO SYRACUSE, AND ALL NEW YORKERS AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD CRANK.

WE HAD A REFERENCE TO PLANTING MORE TREES AND TALK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING FOR THE CITY IN THE FUTURE.

DID THE MAYOR DO ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT THE COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING A CITY LIKE ITHACA LAUNCHING THE COMPLETE ELECTRIC TRIIF I INDICATION OF ALL ITS BUILDINGS, A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

SHOULD WE HAVE HEARD MORE ABOUT THIS EXSTEN EXISTENTIAL THREAT?

>> WE SHOULD HAVE HEARD MORE AND A PROGRAM LIKE ITHACA'S, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN ITHACA BUT ELECTRIFYING BUILDINGS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT A MUNICIPALITY CAN DO TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO POOH-POOH THE PLANTING TREES, EITHER BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THAT ADDRESS THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, NEIGHBORHOODS WITH TREES ARE COOLER.

IT'S A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE THAT PRETTY MUCH VERY CLEARLY THE WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS TEND TO HAVE LOTS OF TREE COVER AND THEY'RE COOLER IN THE SUMMER AND THEY ARE MORE PLEASANT PLACES TO BE AND A LOT OF THE MORE IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR HAVE NO TREE COVER AT ALL AND IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE IN TERMS OF NOT JUST HEATWAVES IN THE SUMMER, BUT IT ALSO DRIVES CRIME, IT DRIVES A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, PUBLIC SAFETY SO I THINK PLANTING TREES, HE TALKED ABOUT PLANTING TREES STRATEGICALLY IN PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE LACKING.

THAT'S NOT A MINER THING TO DO.

IT CAN BE TRANSFORMATIVE.

>> SO JULIE, I MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW THIS IS THE FIRST STATED OF THE CITY FOR THE MAYOR SINCE WINNING REELECTION IN THE FALL, WHICH HE DID WITH VERY STRONG MARGINS AND I'M WONDERING WHAT MIF-- NO SHOT ON YOU.

JUST-- >> SORRY.

WE LOVE HAVING YOU HERE AND I DON'T WANT TO YOU GO AWAY.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE POLITICS OF SYRACUSE MOVING FORWARD NOW, CONSIDERING THE MANDATE HE HAS, WHAT SORT OF PUSHBACK OR BUY-IN DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL ON SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HEARD TONIGHT?

>> SURE, SO I THINK ONE SIGNAL TO ME WAS WHO IS IN THE ROOM AND HAVING A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER AMIR GETHERS INTRODUCE HIM SO WARMLY IS AN INDICATOR WITH THE RELATIONSHIP HE HAS WITH A LOT OF THE COUNCILORS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL SEEMS TO BE VERY COLLABORATIVE OVERALL AT THIS POINT.

I THINK YOU DO HAVE SOME COUNCILORS WHO WILL PROBABLY STEP INTO THEIR KIND OF WATCHDOG ROLE, ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S GOING TO BE SPENT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO I THINK YOU WILL SEE, YOU KNOW, AND WE SEE IT PLAY OUT IN SMALLER CIVIC ISSUES WHERE COUNSELORS ARE PLAYING THE CHECKS AND BALANCES.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THEM STEP INTO THAT BUT THAT ROOM REALLY IS A COLLABORATIVE ONE FROM MY IMPRESSION OF IT AND I THINK WITH THE MAKEUP OF THE COUNCIL AND SOME CHANGES RECENTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE AND MIGHT BE GOOD FOR SYRACUSE THAT SOME THINGS GET DONE QUICKLY EVEN.

>> JANET, DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD BALANCE TO HAVE IN THE CITY?

SHOULD WE HAVE A CITY COUNCIL THAT IS MORE SKEPTICAL OF THE MAYOR AND WILLING TO MAYBE GO TO BATTLE WITH HIM ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW WE ARE REPRESENTED BY A CITY COUNCIL THAT IS FROM ONE PARTY.

SO IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE TYPE OF BIPARTISAN ACTION THAT ACTUALLY CREATES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS.

I THINK THE MAYOR WILL HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL.

SOME OF THE MORE OUTSPOKEN MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL,THE TWO THAT WERE RUNNING FOR MAYOR LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, THEY WON'T HAVE THAT FRICTION ANYMORE; KHALID IS NO LONGER ON THE COUNCIL AND MARK GREEN HAS MOVED TO A COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR.

I DON'T THINK WE WILL MISS OF COURSE A GOOD COLLABORATIVE BIPARTISAN EFFORT AS LONG AS THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS ONE.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOU WERE INTERPRETING WHEN I LOOKED OVER THERE BEFORE.

>> JUST SELF CONSCIOUS.

>> I WASN'T-- >> I THOUGHT YOU WERE MAD AT ME AND I COULD NOT SURVIVE THAT.

>> THE THING IS, THE IMPORTANCE WOULD BE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS WHERE YOU HAVE INVITED SOMEONE FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE TO SPEAK ON THESE ISSUES.

AND AS LONG AS WE GO FORWARD, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ME, ALTHOUGH I'M HAPPY TO DO IT.

BRING IN COMMENTARY FROM PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE ALTERNATE VIEWS.

THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY THE MOST.

>> ONE OF THE BIG TASKS MOVING FORWARD IS HOW THEY DISTRIBUTE A LOT OF OUTSTANDING STIMULUS MONEY AND THE MAYOR NOTED THE CITY HAS ALLOCATED MORE THAN A THIRD OF $123 MILLION THAT CAME TO DISUS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

AND BEE-- WE HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE PLANS FOR ONE TIME FUNDING AND WE'LL AUTO PLAY A QUICK SNIPPET ABOUT THE FUTURE PLANS.

>> IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE ARPA RECOVERY PROGRAMS TO THE COUNCIL AND TO ACTIVATE THE FUND AGO PROVED TO HELP CITY RESIDENTS.

YOU WILL SEE FUNDING PROPOSALS TO STABILIZE AND RENOVATE HOUSING, TO ENSURE CITY RESIDENTS GET OPPORTUNITIES ON THE INTERSTATE 81 PROJECT, TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE MORE PARKS FACILITIES, TO HELP OUR LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY RECOVER, AND TO MODERNIZE OUR SANITATION SYSTEM.

MOYE HOW DOES THAT VISION SOUND FOR YOU.

AT THE STATE LEVEL YOU ARE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING, FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND STIMULUS FEDERAL DOLLARS.

>> PARTICULARLY INVESTING IN JOBS AND IN JOB TRAINING WHAT HE SAID AT VARIOUS POINTS ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING PAID, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GETTING PAID TO LEARN HOW TO DO OR TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR ENTERING THE WORKFORCE.

THAT IS SO CRITICAL BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T ACCORD TO-- CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THE TRAINING IF THEY CAN'T BE PAID WHILE GETTING THE TRAINING.

USING THE MONEY FOR THAT.

THAT'S A SMART WAY TO USE IT.

I RAN INTO A YOUNG MAN THE OTHER DAY WHO JUST GRADUATED FROM THE SYRACUSE BUILD PROGRAM TO BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN.

AND HE WAS SO PROUD AND HE WAS JUST BEAMING THAT HE HAD JUST COME FROM HIS GRADUATION.

I THINK SEEING THAT KIND OF HOPE MULTIPLIED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY IS A GOOD WAY TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

>> SHEENA, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS THE MAYOR IS PLANNING AND IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT THAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM A ONE-TIME INJECTION OF CASHES?

>> I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR HIM SAY CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS I WAS REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH DOWNTOWN HAS BECOME A NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE SEVERAL PEOPLE LIVE THERE, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY GOING TO REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN.

AND NOT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO REVITALIZE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS SO LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE SIDEWALKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS THAT HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, SAFE WAYS TO CROSS THE STREET, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD APPROACH AND THE THINKING ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

QUITE FRANKLY, AND NOT JUST INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> IN TERMS OF GATEWAYS TO THE CITY, WE HEARD TONIGHT THAT THE MAYOR IS LOOKING TO SPEND THE $10 MILLION DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION MONEY FOR THE CITY'S SOUTHWEST GATEWAY.

WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU THINK ARE PRESENTED BY A 10 MILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN THAT AREA?

>> $DEFINITELY JOB OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT?

DEFINITELY JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT I THINK THAT I WOULD NEED TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT INVESTMENT IS GOING TO BE, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN, RIGHT?

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MAKE CAN IT LOOK PRETTY OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, RIGHT?

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES, WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE?

I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE TRAIN GOES OVER THAT PART OF ONONDAGA, RIGHT?

IT DOES NEED SOME ATTENTION FOR SURE, RIGHT, SO I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> SENATOR, THAT MONEY THAT YOU HAD TO APPROVE AT ONE POINT IN THE STATE BUDGET, SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE USED IN TERMS OF GETTING OUR BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

>> I WOULD SAY I WOULD WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE I THINK WEST ONONDAGA CORRIDOR, IT USED TO BE THE GRAND CORRIDOR IN THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL VICTORIAN HOUSES ALONG THERE, MANY OF THEM IN DISREPAIR.

THERE ARE MANY WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS CREATING THE SPA AT 500 AND SALT CITY COFFEE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY INVESTED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BUT THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF EITHER DLAB DATED OR MISSING HOUSING OR BUILDINGS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT'S HARD FOR A FEW ENTREPRENEURS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IF RIGHT NEXT DOOR THERE IS A BUILDING THAT IS FALLING DOWN OR HAS FALLEN DOWN SO TO FILL IN THE GAPS AND TURN IT INTO A COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN BENEFITS THE EXIST EXISTING BUSINESSES AND MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO START BUSINESSES, TOO.

I THINK IT'S KIND OF A NO PRINCIPAL-- A NO BRAINER ACTUALLY.

>> WHAT DO WE THINK $10 MILLION IS GOING TO MAKE THAT LARGE OF AN IMPACT BECAUSE OF THE LARGENESS AND VICTORIAN HOMES AND THAT, TO REPLACE A ROOF IS PROBABLY LIKE 5 MILLION IN ITSELF, BECAUSE THEY'RE HISTORICAL AND WHEN YOU ADD HISTORICAL ASPECT TO A REHAB,THAT'S WHY I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE.

>> WELL, YEAH, SO I THINK THE IDEA IS TO LEVERAGE A BUNCH MORE MONEY TO DEAL WITH, YOU NO-- TO DEAL WITH THE GLARING PROBLEMS SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL COME IN AND INVEST, YOU KNOW, IN NEIGHBORING BUILDINGS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

THAT'S THE PLAN.

>> OKAY.

>> IN TERMS OF INVESTMENTS, JANET, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE GET $10 MILLION FROM THE STATE, AND IN THE MAYOR'S REMARKS, TALKING ABOUT THE SYRACUSE SURGE AND DID A VICTORY LAP AS HE READ THROUGH A LAUNDRY LIST OF INVESTMENTS MADE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

A LOT OF THESE HAVE COME AS A RESULT OF GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE OUTCOMES THAT WERE LISTED BY THE MAYOR, DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE ARE GETTING A GOOD BANG FOR OUR BUCK AS IT COMES TO THE SYRACUSE SURGE?

SHOULD WE BE SURGING MORE THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> THAT'S THE REASON I COMMEND THE MAYOR'S EFFORTS AT TRANSPARENCY AND I WANT TO SEE MORE OF IT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED WITHOUT SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCESSIONS ON TAXES AND THEREFORE, WE NEED REASONABLY EASY TO INTERPRET BALANCE SHEET SO TO SPEAK GOING FORWARD.

WHAT HAVE THE BENEFITS BEEN FROM THIS.

HOW MANY CITY RESIDENTS ARE EMPLOYED HERE?

, YOU KNOW HOW MANY HAVE BEEN THROUGH EMPLOYMENT IN A POSITION TO ACQUIRE HOMES AND PAY PROPERTY TAXES?

SO THOSE TYPES OF RESULTS NEED TO BE GAUGED RELATIVE TO THE FOREGONE INCOME AND TO HELP US MOVING FORWARD.

I MEAN WE CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT DECISIONS MADE IN THE PAST ABOUT THINGS LIKE DESTINY AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT WENT THERE WHEN EVERYONE KNEW WENT YEARS AGO THAT BRICK AND MORTAR RETAIL WAS GOING THE WAY OF THE DINOSAUR.

IT DOESN'T HELP TO US BEAT OURSELVES UP FOR PAST MISTAKES BUT WE NEED TO TAKE A CRITICAL LOOK AT WHAT THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF SOME OF THE MORE RECENT DECISIONS HAVE BEEN AND GUIDE US AS WE GO FORWARD AND TO ESTABLISH GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY ABOUT WHAT THE IDEA COMMITS OUR COMMUNITY TO AND WHAT THE RESULTS ARE GOING TO BE FOR OUR CITY'S FINANCES, I THINK IS IMPORTANT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NARRATIVE SURROUNDING THE SYRACUSE SURGE THAT WE HEARD TONIGHT?

IS THAT THE WAY YOU WOULD FRAIP THE STORY IF YOU WERE WRITING A PIECE FOR CENTRAL CURRENT.ORG OR A FEW MORE CAVEATS?

>> I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY WHETHER THIS IS A TRUE SUCCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THE WAY IT IS SET OUT AND PROMISED TO BE BECAUSE IT WAS ASPIRATIONAL, BECAUSE THE SYRACUSE SURGE WAS SUCH AN EMPHASIS ON INCLUSIVITY AND IT WOULD UPLIFT ALL COMMUNITIES.

SO I THINK WAS WE ARE SEEING FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS WE HAVE TANGIBLE COULD BE CRETE STEPS FORWARD.

IT'S HARD-- CONCRETE STEPS FORWARD.

IT IS HARD TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN A SUCCESS ALREADY.

BUT THE OPENING OF THAT BUILDING DOWN ON SOUTH SALINA STREET IS A BIG DEAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'M HARD PRESSED TO BE TOO CRITICAL AT THIS JUNCTURE BECAUSE IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY WHETHER WE CAN MEASURE SUCCESS AT THIS POINT I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH JANET.

TRANSPARENCY IS KEY HERE AND HOW THE MAYOR MEASURES SUCCESS AND HOW HE IS GOING TO LOOK AT HIS TIME HERE IS A KEY PIECE IN THIS, TOO.

MY TAKE IS IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY BUT I'M WILLING TO SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME SMALL GLIMMERS OF HOPE THAT SEEM TO BE SAYING HE WAS ON TO SOMETHING WHEN HO PROPOSED THIS TO BEGIN WITH.

>> WITH THE CAVEAT THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS PLAY OUT AS IT MIGHT EVENTUALLY, HOW INCLUSIVE DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE SYRACUSE SURGE HAS BEEN?

TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND INTERESTS BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WHETHER IT'S WITH ACCESS TO JOBS OR BEING ABLE TO START THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE PART OF THE SURGE?

>> I THINK THAT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE DECISION MAKING AND I ALSO THINK THAT THOSE COMMUNITIES WERE AT THE FOREFRONT OF SOME OF THE DECISION MAKING THAT WAS MADE FOR SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY PLAN ON IMPLEMENTING I DEFINITELY DO BELIEVE THAT.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD TO REACH EVERYBODY, RIGHT?

AND SYRACUSE SURGE AND I'M LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, IS HARD TO EXPLAIN.

SO WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT, MY FIRST RESPONSE WAS CAN WE PUT THINGS IN LAYMAN'S TERMS SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING.

SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THE APP THAT PEOPLE CAN GET INTO, SEE HOW MONEY IS BEING SPENT, SOME OF THE MORE LOWER HANGING FRUIT THAT HE IS IMPLEMENTING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE I THINK WHILE , WHAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT OUR VOTER TURNOUT IS EXTREMELY LOW IN THIS COMMUNITY, RIGHT, AND I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY LOW BECAUSE OF PEOPLE'S LACK OF TRUST IN POLITICIANS QUITE FRANKLY AND WHAT THEY SAY, IN WHAT THEY ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT, RIGHT?

BUT I BELIEVE THAT HE HAS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED A LOT OF THINGS THAT HE HAS SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO.

AND SO I HAVE HOPE IN HIM ACTUALLY DOING WHAT HE SAYS HE IS GOING TO DO.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU TO MY GUESTS, STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, JANET BURMAN, SHEENA SOLOMAN AND JULIE McMAHON.

IF YOU WANT TO REVISIT ANY OF TENTER'S SPECIAL COVERAGE, VISIT WCNY.ORG.

FOR ALL OF US AT WCNY, I'M DAVID LOM LOMBARDO, HOST OF THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.