Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Councilor Pat Hogan and Councilor Chol Majok are vying for the Democratic line in the race for mayor of Syracuse.
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 inHousing
$50M in NY budget committed to state housing voucher program, Hochul and legislators say
Legislators have for years fought for the housing voucher access program. It appears it will make New York State’s budget as President Donald Trump reportedly mulls cuts to the Section 8 program.
Posted inHousing
Trump administration reportedly eying cuts to Section 8. ‘It’d be catastrophic’ for Syracuse, advocates say
Syracuse Housing Authority Executive Director Bill Simmons said deep cuts to the housing voucher program could “absolutely” kill the redevelopment of public housing.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
Syracuse auditor takes aim at tax hike in report about Walsh’s proposed budget
City Auditor Alex Marion also recommended the city police department budget a more accurate number for overtime and called out a discrepancy in rental registry revenue projections.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
Common Council votes for outside evaluation of Walsh’s final budget proposal
The analysis of the budget by the Bonadio Group will cost city taxpayers nearly $21,000.
Posted inPolicing
Syracuse CRB chair, new appointee resign, continuing year of tumult for police oversight board
Bryn Lovejoy-Grinnell had served as the board chair since January 2025. The CRB does not have an administrator.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
Syracuse lawmakers propose auditing Mayor Ben Walsh’s budget
The proposal comes as two members of the council are running for mayor. Walsh’s proposed budget would pull about $27 million from the city’s reserves.
Posted inPolicing
Proposed drones for Syracuse police could be used for ‘low-priority’ calls as working group caves on recs
The city’s Surveillance Technology Working Group initially proposed more stringent requirements on the drones. After police input, they pared the recommendations down.
Posted inNews
Mayoral hopeful tables push to reform Citizen Review Board
Councilor Chol Majok’s legislation is the latest attempt to strengthen the struggling board. Last year, the council tried to gain more oversight over the CRB.
Posted inJustice & Equity
‘The blood in our veins’: Onondagas reignite effort to win back Maple Bay, a foothold on Onondaga Lake
The lake is sacred to the Onondaga, who have not had a foothold on a portion of its shore in nearly 200 years. The county has so far not been willing to give the Nation the land.