DSA members and progressives pulled off Democrats’ second historic election upset in less than a year. An organized campaign and a rising affordability crisis helped topple a CNY titan.
Eddie Velazquez
Eddie Velazquez is a Syracuse journalist covering economic justice in the region. He is focused on stories about organized labor, and New York's housing and childhood lead poisoning crises. You can follow his work on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ezvelazquez.
Eddie is a frequent contributor to Central Current and can be reached at edvel37@gmail.com
Posted inElections
Brown leads incumbent Magnarelli in Democratic primary for Assembly seat but race is too close to call
If Brown’s lead holds, he could be poised to complete one of the biggest upsets in Central New York political history.
Posted inElections
Jo Bennett wins Democratic primary for Onondaga County Legislature’s 15th District
Jo Bennett beat Bill Kinne, who previously served in the Onondaga County Legislature for more than 20 years.
Posted inJustice & Equity
Parents, community members rally in support of F-M student who read Palestinian poem
At a recent F-M school board meeting, community members spoke out about the district’s response to the reading of a Palestinian poem at Fayetteville-Manlius High School.
Posted inCNY Decides 2026
Meet the 3 Democrats vying for the party line in the race for an at-large seat on the Syracuse Common Council
Councilor Helen Hudson faces two progressive challengers: Cjala Surratt, a longtime community organizer, Moise Laub, a city schools budget analyst.
Posted inCNY Decides 2026
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s case for re-election is intrinsically tied to Micron and housing, local leaders say
While Hochul is not facing a primary challenge, she is gearing up for Republican opponent Bruce Blakeman after the tightest gubernatorial election in nearly 30 years.
Posted inJustice & Equity
F-M administrators tell Palestinian student no political stances at assemblies. Some parents demand an apology
The parents of an F-M student say the district’s response to a Palestinian poem and a video represent a double standard.
Posted inCNY Decides 2026
A progressive upstart faces an entrenched incumbent in the Democratic primary for the New York State Assembly’s 129th District
Maurice “Mo” Brown has called Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli “an obstacle to progress,” while Magnarelli has said his experience benefits Central New Yorkers.
Posted inLabor & Employment
Another Syracuse-area Starbucks will vote on whether to unionize
The workers at the Starbucks on Erie Boulevard East in DeWitt will vote May 6 on whether to unionize.
Posted inCity of Syracuse
New York AG’s office levies $100K in penalties against Syracuse father-son landlord duo over lead violations
Brian and Harry Murphy, a father and son landlord duo, has been under investigation by the AG’s office since late 2023 for renting out properties with rampant property code violations.
