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.
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 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.
Posted inInterstate 81
The I-81 viaduct removal could create 12 acres of valuable land. Stakeholders still disagree on who should own it
City and state officials have disagreed for about two years who should own the land. The state has declined to identify where the land under I-81 will be.
Posted inSyracuse Housing Authority
Mayor Sharon Owens appoints new ally to SHA board to replace administration official
Douglas Reicher was appointed to the Syracuse Housing Authority board after Stephanie Pasquale’s hiring by the city disqualified her from serving on the board.
Posted inSyracuse Housing Authority
New Syracuse Housing Authority board member — at least temporarily — cannot serve
New city Chief Strategy Officer Stephanie Pasquale cannot serve on SHA’s board. It’s unclear whether the city will move to replace her.
Posted inInterstate 81
Owner of Syracuse trucking company accuses I-81 contractors of race-based discrimination in lawsuit
Larry Stackhouse, the owner of L Stacks Construction Co. LLC, invested almost half a million dollars to acquire new dump trucks for the project.
Posted inSyracuse Housing Authority
Section 8 has expanded for Pioneer Homes residents. Is Onondaga County’s housing stock ready?
In August, Section 8 expanded for Pioneer Homes residents. Just five families of 34 who took a Section 8 voucher to temporarily leave public housing have found new housing.