Thousands of Syracuse tenants rely on Section 8 vouchers from the Syracuse Housing Authority.
Debadrita Sur
Debadrita Sur is a multimedia journalist and Report for America corps member who reports on the I-81 project and public housing for Central Current. In 2023, Sur graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, where she reported on housing and homelessness, and co-produced a short documentary on food insecurity in the South Bronx.
After graduating, she joined The Buffalo News as a general assignment reporter, where she covered daily breaking news and long-term enterprise stories on pedestrian safety, homelessness in Erie County, and Jewish and Arab families in Western New York reacting to the Middle East conflict, among other topics. She later joined Reach PLC in New York City, where she worked on tight deadlines to cover breaking news on a myriad of topics, but mainly focusing on the Russia-Ukraine war as well as the Trump administration across three publications. Sur grew up in Kolkata, India, and completed her undergraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, while also working for a London-based cultural magazine, Far Out, on the side. Deb speaks Hindi, Bengali, English, and German.
When she’s not reporting, Sur is either reading, trying to recreate her mom’s chicken recipes, making adventure bucket lists, or playing with her cat, Mountain Dew. She can be reached at dsur@centralcurrent.org
Posted inSyracuse Housing Authority
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.
Posted inNews
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.
Posted inSyracuse Housing Authority
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.
Posted inNews
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.
Posted inSyracuse Housing Authority
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.
Posted inNews
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.
Posted inSyracuse Housing Authority
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.
Posted inJustice & Equity
SHA has missed deadlines on the Choice grant by at least a year. Does it matter?
SHA failing to close on a third or fourth phase this year emphasizes the importance of a need for transition at leadership levels, Mayor Sharon Owens said.
Posted inSyracuse Housing Authority
Mayor Sharon Owens is committed to the Children Rising Center project. Can Syracuse make it happen?
Almost a year after the development of the Children Rising Center came to a standstill, Mayor Sharon Owens’ 2026 State of the City address provided a glimmer of hope to restarting the project.