Hasahn Bloodworth (front row, second from the right) is pictured with other candidates this election season. He is running in the Democratic primary one of the two contested at-large Common Council positions. Credit: Courtesy of Hasahn Bloodworth

Editor’s note: Central Current is publishing question-and-answer stories for two Common Council candidates — Hanah Ehrenreich and Hasahn Bloodworth. The incumbent candidates, Amir Gethers and Rasheada Caldwell, did not return questionnaires sent by Central Current.

Hasahn Bloodworth, a local social justice advocate, is vying for one of two at-large seats on the Syracuse Common Council.

Bloodworth is running in a June Democratic primary election against incumbent Councilors Rasheada Caldwell and Amir Gethers, as well as with newcomer Hanah Ehrenreich. 

No Republican candidates have announced their candidacy for the two seats. 

Bloodworth is a South Side native, and a founding member of Rebirth SYR, a community organization that advocates for police reform, voting rights, and financial stability in Syracuse. Rebirth SYR was especially prominent during the protests that arose in the city after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. 

Rebirth and Bloodworth attempted to establish a community center on Otisco Street on the Near West Side of the city in 2023 but encountered issues with permitting for the building. The city accused Bloodworth of operating the building as a bar or nightclub, something he did not have the requisite permits to do, according to reporting from Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. The city also found a slew of fire safety violations, resulting in the city declaring the structure unfit for occupancy. 

Bloodworth said that he started hosting parties in the building twice a week to help pay for rent. The money, he added, was also paying for community events and raffles. He settled the lawsuit from the city last year and paid about $900, as ordered by a State Supreme Court judge. 

Central Current asked the candidates six questions facing the city. Bloodworth’s answers can be found below: 

Central Current: “Good cause” eviction protections are up for a vote at the next council meeting. How would you vote on it and why?

Hasahn Bloodworth: I would vote for Good Cause Eviction. It would provide an added level of protection that many residents need because of the history of some landlords that have been retaliatory when residents complain about the condition of a property. 

Also, I would suggest that the council spend time making some edits to the standard law. Each municipality can craft this law to work for them, so we should take the time to make sure it fits Syracuse. 

It says something when Syracuse is the only major city in New York that has not responded with some form of protection for some of our most vulnerable. We need to show with actions that we care for those who rent, as well as the landlords who are doing all they can to provide housing, and to secure their financial future.

Over the last 23 years, the Syracuse Police Department has exceeded its overtime budget by more than $30 million. How would you stop this?

HB: I would not put an immediate stop, but gradually by encouraging recruiting of police from Syracuse for Syracuse. 

I would cultivate the interest in the middle schools, and develop, with the helpSyracuse City School District, a program that would prepare students who want to go into law enforcement at the Public Service Leadership Academy at Fowler High School. 

To just cut the overtime budget would leave our residents without police coverage. We have this high overtime expense because we do not have enough police, but we can fix it by planting the seeds and working for a great harvest. 

It can be done! Other cities have done it. Syracuse can do it as well.

Would you pursue property tax assessment revaluation? Why or why not?

HB: Supporting a full reassessment is needed. Too many have been carrying the weight for those who have not been reassessed. This would equal out the weight and it would work for the betterment of our city.

We have homes in the more affluent communities that need to carry their weight, while those in those neighborhoods in transition will benefit because it could reduce what they are presently paying in taxes. We all must work and sacrifice for the betterment of Syracuse.

Do you believe city spending needs to be reined in? Why or why not?

HB: We need to look at the major costs that are in our city budget and place measured expectations. 

Department heads in charge of these costs need to show in quarterly reports if they are meeting the goals and expectations of their programs and or departments. If they are not, the reduction will not only save the city money, but will streamline our services to the residents. 

We can do this but everyone must be accountable. It makes no sense for programs and or departments to keep being funded when we are not seeing results.

How would you increase revenue to keep pace with city spending?

HB: If we were to renovate homes and buildings that are in disrepair we could see two things: job opportunities, and homes for those in need. 

We then would see those vacant homes and buildings back on the tax rolls and produce a better Syracuse by providing for people. 

We should invest in the people and the property we have by partnering with organizations that are building new homes, and finding subsidies that could reduce the cost of homes. This would allow people to buy homes and become a part of the solution and not the continuing problem.

What would you do to ensure more affordable housing is built in Syracuse?

HB: My answer is intertwined with my thoughts on the aforementioned question. We have too many buildings in every neighborhood that could be and should be used. 

We need to take time to assess and see if it would be cost-efficient to repair. If so, LET’S DO IT! 

People need a place to live, and we have places where they can live! If we put in the work to do the assessment, we very well could find that our answer has been here all the time!

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Eddie Velazquez is a Syracuse journalist covering economic justice in the region. He is focused on stories about organized labor, and New York's housing and childhood lead poisoning crises. You can follow...