Advocacy groups call on Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens to allow public into surveillance tech discussions
Central Current previously reported that three transparency experts believe Syracuse’s Surveillance Technology Working Group appeared to have violated the New York State Open Meetings Law.
CITY AND GOVERNMENT
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has kept the county in a state of emergency for nearly three years. Why?
McMahon has hundreds of times renewed two executive orders barring outside municipalities from funding housing for migrants in Onondaga County. That’s “unconstitutional,” says an NYCLU lawyer.
New York AG appeals ruling that could allow landlords to choose not to rent to Section 8 tenants
Thousands of Syracuse tenants rely on Section 8 vouchers from the Syracuse Housing Authority.
With power in the Onondaga County Legislature, Watts begins planning path forward on county’s housing crisis
Tuesday’s housing summit hosted a bipartisan group of elected officials from across the county. Legislature Chair Nicole Watts hopes it will be a launchpad for a months-long planning process.
FEATURED STORIES
Sean Kirst: In Syracuse, not all car accidents these days get a response from the police
Drivers are basically being asked — after many non-injury collisions — to sort it out themselves. Police blame a shortage of officers.
New York AG’s office bars former Onondaga County jail medical provider from NY jails
Over twenty months, there were four deaths in their care at the Onondaga. County jail. The AG said they violated New York “corporate practice of medicine” laws.
Does Syracuse’s surveillance tech evaluation group have a right to privacy? Experts say no
The city’s Surveillance Technology Working Group has been violating New York’s Open Meetings Law, three experts say. The city contends that’s not true.
More News
Feds to send $850K to Syracuse Housing Authority to support redevelopment of public housing
The money was secured by Rep. John Mannion for the Syracuse Housing Authority in a congressional appropriations bill, his office said.
Landlords could not deny housing to tenants because of their Section 8 voucher. Now they can.
A decision by a panel of judges in New York’s appellate court could affect thousands of Section 8 tenants who depend on federal subsidies to pay for housing.
Syracuse lawmakers ice out Flock Safety in favor of company contracting with ICE
Lawmakers finalized a plan to pivot its provider for license plate readers from Flock Safety to Axon Enterprise, citing immigration concerns. Flock officials called out their reasoning.
Sean Kirst: As he turns 80, Joe Heath needs just one thing to retire as a lawyer
Reflections on years of advocacy for those too often without ready access to the shelter of the law.
‘Hedging her bets’: Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens won’t codify anti-ICE stance
Advocates want to see Owens do as other Democratic mayors have recently done and turn her anti-ICE pledge into policy.
Syracuse Housing Authority counsel clears SHA board chair of conflict of interest amid HUD investigation
The city, a co-applicant to a critical funding grant with Syracuse Housing Authority, was not notified in advance before Executive Director Bill Simmons sent the email to HUD.
Can New York’s program to match campaign contributions help an upstart progressive close a fundraising gap with an entrenched incumbent?
Maurice “Mo” Brown believes so. Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli plans to launch a matching campaign of his own.
Podcast: What’s going on at Syracuse Housing Authority?
A conversation with Central Current reporter Debadrita Sur about the Syracuse Housing Authority and the redevelopment of public housing.
Sean Kirst: To ‘stone thrower’ descendants, Tipp Hill’s green-on-top marker celebrates true story
With even the children of the boys who threw the stones now late in life, a marker will guarantee civic memory.
Sean Kirst: For Saturday’s Tolkien Reading Day, celebrating Samwise Gamgee at the Betts Branch Library
In Syracuse, birthplace of the global event, the humble and selfless Sam seems exactly the hobbit for the moment.
As the cost of Onondaga County’s new aquarium climbs over $100M, legislature fights over donor transparency
Some legislators raised concerns over “famously anonymous” donor rolls.
I-81 contractor denies allegations of discrimination in lawsuit by Black-owned Syracuse trucking company
Larry Stackhouse, the owner of L Stacks Construction Co. LLC, said that I-81 contractors used his bid number to win state contracts but then sidelined him in a January lawsuit.
Sean Kirst: Natasha Alford comes home with gratitude, and a collective message for all of us
As part of the Friends of the Central Library’s celebrated authors series, Alford talked about a literary journey ignited by a Syracuse childhood.
Onondaga County begins using AI to translate, transcribe and summarize 911 calls
County officials say the technology might limit burnout among call takers, but AI researchers are skeptical.
City considering ‘weapons detection’ tech from company connected to Utica stabbing, FTC lawsuit
Public records show the Syracuse Police Department “has done their own research” and found “no red flags” on Evolv. The FTC in 2024 hammered the company for “misleading marketing claims.”
Sean Kirst: On Tipp Hill, St. Patrick’s Day unveiling of marker will be ‘as unique as the light itself’
For centennial of the green-over-red traffic signal, a streetside marker that beautifully tiptoes the line between history and legend.
What Haudenosaunee resistance to reindustrialization means for ancestral lands in the AI age
Haudenosaunee see harbingers of harm in Upstate New York’s reindustrialization akin to the disastrous environmental impact of past industrial development.
One Syracuse lawyer’s relentless battle against ICE
Immigration enforcement agents are changing the rules of engagement. Syracuse lawyer Jose Perez has adapted to meet them.
Sean Kirst: Eighty years after Jackie Robinson’s minor league heroics, a spotlight on his courage and pain in Syracuse
The Montreal Royals, Robinson’s old team, are now the Syracuse Mets — while community elders hope what he endured playing here is not forgotten.
Onondaga County legislators approve industrial wastewater district for Micron
All but two Onondaga County Democrats voted to approve the wastewater district, though they expressed skepticism about the vote over what they deemed a lack of information provided by the county.
Syracuse city clerk helped create ‘unprofessional work environment,’ according to previously unreported documents
The head of the city’s human resources office chastised Syracuse City Clerk Patricia McBride for her conduct. An independent investigation in 2025 found some substance to complaints against McBride.
Central New York folk artists hope to fuel resistance through benefit concert for immigration resource network
The May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society on Wednesday will host the “Songs of Hope and Resistance Benefit Concert” from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Emails appear to undercut SHA board member’s allegation that board chair was ‘pushing so hard’ for contractor
A series of emails indicate that Hueber Breuer was hired by SHA’s development partner nearly 11 months before Ryan Benz was appointed to the board.
In a city of renters, landlords win
Syracuse lawmakers capped a nearly two year back and forth by voting down ‘good cause eviction’ legislation.
SHA Chair Ryan Benz asks city clerk to step down from board over allegation
“I wondered if one of the reasons why Ryan was pushing so hard for [Hueber Breuer was] so they can profit,” said SHA Commissioner Patricia McBride.
Sean Kirst: For Arlene Abend, legendary Syracuse artist, a daughter’s quest to create a living memorial
The hope that Abend — whose welding helped shatter artistic barriers for women — will inspire similar courage and vision in ongoing generations.
Mo Brown launches primary campaign against Bill Magnarelli, a fixture of Syracuse politics
The race pits Brown, an upstart progressive Onondaga County legislator, against Magnarelli, a longtime fixture of Democratic politics.
Landlords, tenants make last cases on ‘good cause’ before Syracuse lawmakers plan to vote
Debate over ‘good cause’ eviction protections has consumed landlords, tenants and Syracuse lawmakers for about two weeks.
SHA Executive Director Bill Simmons accuses board chair of conflict of interest; board chair denies allegations
Simmons sent an email to HUD alleging Board Chair Ryan Benz had a conflict of interest with an SHA contractor, leading to a spat between board members.
Sean Kirst: For two Buffalo families after racist mass killing, Rev. Jesse Jackson saw ‘a torch’ within their burning grief
In Rev. Jesse Jackson’s passing, memories of solace at the hardest moment from a giant of civil rights.
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