Rep. John Mannion has earned praise and frustration from local Jewish groups for his voting record on Israel, putting a spotlight on his stance on proposed legislation to limit military aid to Israel.
Patrick McCarthy
Patrick McCarthy is a staff reporter at Central Current covering government and politics. A graduate of Syracuse University’s Maxwell and Newhouse Schools, McCarthy was born and raised in Syracuse and attended Nottingham High School.
Before joining the Central Current team, he worked as a writer at Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and wrote concert reviews for syracuse.com | The Post Standard. McCarthy also served as a contributing writer for TriplePundit, a publication focused on sustainability and corporate responsibility. In his role with Central Current, he provides access and transparency to elected officials – helping raise accountability and connecting readers to the decisions that shape Central New York.
Patrick McCarthy can be reached at pmccarthy@centralcurrent.org
Posted inImmigration
She’s lived her life as an American. ICE considers her an ‘alien’
President Donald Trump’s hunt for supposed widespread voter fraud has failed to yield evidence, but it has succeeded in upturning Syracuse resident Marva Cook’s life.
Posted inHousing
New York progressives have a plan to achieve energy affordability: make power public
Central New Yorkers have long struggled with National Grid’s rates. Progressives across the state are pitching public ownership of power.
Posted inNews
Trump’s speech casts a long shadow
For himself and his allies, President Donald Trump has pushed the limits of acceptable political expression. For his opponents, Trump has pushed suppression and surveillance of free speech.
Posted inPolicing
Syracuse’s Flock readers may have been removed, but the readers still flourish in Central New York
Syracuse University and Baldwinsville schools avowed Flock’s merits while Congress heard testimony decrying license plate reader companies.
Posted inJustice & Equity
Without confidence in Le Moyne’s commitments to free expression, Palestinian-American student plans to ensure campus can ‘hear it from the source’
Le Moyne College pledges a commitment to “genuine dialogue,” but a student who has sought an exchange of ideas on Palestine with their school’s leader said she hasn’t found it.
Posted inCNY Decides 2026
Rep. John Mannion declines Central Current debate, appearing to avoid only debate with live audience
Campaign manager Josh Ludden cited a lack of capacity when declining the forum, which appears to be the only local debate that would have allowed constituents to directly question candidates.
Posted inCNY Decides 2026
With two months to go until midterm elections, affordability could define the race for New York’s 22nd Congressional district
As Americans reel from rising costs of living, NY-22 candidates offer disparate plans to increase affordability.
Posted inImmigration
Congress has a plan to fight retail crime. Advocacy groups call it a ‘Trojan horse’ to expand federal surveillance, deportation initiatives
Retail industry leaders and bipartisan federal lawmakers say a new fusion center in the Department of Homeland Security will fight sophisticated crime rings. Civil liberties advocates see a thinly-veiled expansion of ICE’s stated mission.
Posted inEconomic Development
New York paused AI data center development for a year. In the interim, lawmakers want to block tax breaks
Gov. Kathy Hochul has signaled support for a Syracuse-based state lawmaker’s proposal to ban IDAs from floating tax breaks to woo data centers.
