New York passed landmark legislation to make polluters pay for climate harm. But a series of Republican lawsuits look to end NY’s Climate Change Superfund before it begins.
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 inGovernment & Politics
We asked the 3 Democratic mayoral candidates your questions. Only 1 responded.
Sharon Owens is the only candidate who responded to the 10 questions, most of which were submitted by Syracuse residents who attended Central Current’s mayoral forum.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
Syracuse police have access to a nationwide network of license plate reader data. Who has access to theirs?
Deputy Police Chief Richard Shoff said the department is looking into whether it opted into sharing its license plate reader data with other police departments.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
Syracuse lawmakers, Walsh spar again over payroll modernization project
The Common Council on Thursday held a committee meeting about an unreleased audit of the project. Mayor Ben Walsh released the report an hour later.
Posted inElections 2025
Watch mayoral candidates clash at Central Current’s 2025 Democratic primary forum (video)
In addition to the video of the forum, you can read the transcript.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
Democratic mayoral candidates spar over budget, housing and more at Central Current forum
The three Democratic candidates for mayor — Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Councilor Pat Hogan and Councilor Chol Majok — will be on the ballot in June. On Thursday, they shared a stage to talk about the challenges facing Syracuse.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
‘This is their budget’: Syracuse lawmakers override mayor’s vetoes, lock in $16M cuts
By overriding Mayor Ben Walsh’s objections, the council preserved cuts to funding for the police and fire departments, code enforcement and more.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
Former city budget director Tim Rudd files paperwork to gain independent ballot line in mayor’s race
Rudd hopes to replace Mayor Ben Walsh, his former boss, as mayor. He reached the requisite number of signatures to gain an independent ballot line. The signatures could still be challenged, however.
Posted inNews
‘An essay will not stop a genocide’: Gazan poet now writing from Syracuse wins Pulitzer Prize
Mosab Abu Toha, a 2023 graduate of Syracuse University’s Creative Writing MFA program, won his Pulitzer Prize for essays that gave readers a window into life under siege in Gaza.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
Did Syracuse lawmakers abuse the state’s open meetings law while making budget cuts?
Two transparency advocates say lawmakers caucusing to discuss amendments to the city’s budget is an abuse of the state’s open meetings law — in part because of the homogeneity of the Council.
