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.
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 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.
Posted inPolicing
A week after waffling, Citizen Review Board to resume investigations into Syracuse police misconduct
The board four months ago paused investigations because of legal advice from the city’s top lawyer. After three attorneys argued the city’s lawyer was wrong, the Common Council directed the board to resume its investigatory work.
Posted inPolicing
Councilor rules out resolution that CRB chairman says is necessary to resume investigations; board to meet Wednesday to discuss future
At the board’s last meeting, residents called on board members to accept the common council’s directive to resume police misconduct investigations, or resign.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
Research, edits and Thurgood Marshall’s voice: How Syracuse officials are using AI
Central Current set out to learn more about the role that AI is playing in local governance, and what Syracuse officials see as the ideal role of AI moving forward.
Posted inNews
Syracuse lawmakers direct Citizen Review Board to resume investigations of police, going against mayor, city lawyers
The decision followed a hearing at which three lawyers and advocates of the CRB pushed back against city lawyers.
Posted inUncategorized
Axon license plate readers go live in Syracuse. State legislator calls it ‘a constant, warrantless surveillance system’
The Syracuse police department confirmed Axon readers became active Monday morning.
Posted inPolicing
Legal experts to advocate for Syracuse to preserve its Citizen Review Board in meeting with lawmakers
The Common Council’s Public Safety committee will host Alan Rosenthal, considered an architect of the CRB, and NYCLU.
Posted inPolicing
Syracuse never posted its license plate reader policy. Chief Mark Rusin plans to change that before activating Axon readers
Rusin said the department is working with Axon to meet requirements laid out four years ago by surveillance oversight experts and authorized by the mayor.
Posted inPolicing
Flock Safety removes its license plate readers, finalizing eight-month breakup with City of Syracuse
All readers have been removed, police and the company said. One lawmaker who led efforts to remove them called on other entities to also cut ties to Flock.
