Sean Kirst: At newly-named Haudenosaunee Village, state fair goodbyes softened by all that’s coming next
Organizers say the excitement and pride intertwined with the new name only opens the door to the potential of a 2028 village centennial.
CITY AND GOVERNMENT
McMahon signs term limits compromise, ending spat until November
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon repeatedly pointed out the similarities between the compromise reached through a judge and the one he proposed in late-July.
Syracuse Housing Authority Board Chair Ryan Benz resigns
Former Executive Director Bill Simmons complained to the federal government earlier this year accusing Benz of having an “apparent conflict of interest”— a claim that SHA counsel has dismissed and the developer has denied.
At the New York State Fair, Waymo sells its future as inevitable. Is it?
The company is gaining establishment political support and for a day has its own space at the Great New York State Fair.
FEATURED STORIES
Announcing an expanded twice-weekly newsletter
Central Current readers will now receive two newsletters each week: “Staying Current” and “One Big Story”.
Ahead of budget season, Onondaga County Legislature’s advisory board shares proposed solutions to housing crisis
The board derived its solutions from months of community work. Legislature Chair Nicole Watts hopes the proposed solutions end up in County Executive Ryan McMahon’s proposed budget.
Onondaga County Legislature takes next step in ending term limits spat
The term limits bill approved by the legislature would create a November referendum. The last step for its approval is for County Executive Ryan McMahon to sign off on it.
More News
Sean Kirst: Until its last gasp, a second-hand lawn mower honored work of Syracuse small-engine wizard ‘Dr. Mark’
Fond memories of a throwback repair shop — and its memorable regulars — on Grand Avenue.
In Micron lawsuit, DOJ’s filing raises a question: Does national security trump state environmental law?
The DOJ has been using the threat of national security to pressure courts around the country to rule against environmental lawsuits. Now, that strategy has come to Central New York.
Sean Kirst: To Indigenous elder, what you feel at Lake Ontario is in the name itself
A Mohawk linguist says the essence of the lake — a female entity within his ancient language — is intertwined with the origins of the word “Ontario.”
New York shifts from reactive to proactive on lead safety in homes. Advocates question whether it’s enough.
The state has started ramping up its enforcement of a lead rental registry program approved in 2023 by lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The night mogging, maxxing and the manosphere came to Syracuse
Syracuse’s young men flocked to Clavicular, messiah of the manosphere, seeking ascension.
Sean Kirst: At McChesney Park, a court named for Dennis Bardenett, a coach who ‘always sees the gold’
A packed house honors a Syracuse coach and educator whose warm nature and support have lifted up thousands of city children.
What are the bottlenecks in housing production leading to Syracuse’s housing crisis?
Central Current dove into the issues clogging the pipeline of housing production and what city officials are doing to speed up construction as the region experiences unprecedented need.
Onondaga County officials come to term limits agreement, sidestep ‘democracy question’
Voters will have a chance to choose either 12 or 16 year term limits for the county executive and county comptroller. County officials have agreed that the saga will not create legal precedent.
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.
Crouse Health wins naming rights to Onondaga County’s new aquarium
The hospital paid $1.5 million to officially name the Crouse Health Harborview Aquarium.
New Onondaga County advisory board proposes local development corporation to combat housing crisis
Members of the Housing and Transportation Citizen’s Advisory Board are soft-launching its proposals to solve Onondaga’s housing supply issues.
Onondaga County Legislature to consider resolution about keeping ICE away from election polling sites
The resolution was inspired by ICE’s arrival at the polls during the June primary.
Ryan Shostack gravitated toward birding at a young age. Now he wants to build an inclusive birding community
Ryan Shostack recently created the Facebook group Birders for Inclusiveness in hopes of breaking down barriers to birding.
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.
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.
Upstate’s vision to expand ER involves closing a key street in the city, putting Crouse and Upstate at odds
Upstate University Hospital officials in the last few weeks have started pitching the Common Council on closing one block of East Adams Street to connect the current ER to a new building.
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.
Can AI in the permitting process help solve Syracuse’s housing crisis?
City officials say incorporating AI will help speed up the permitting process for quicker development of much needed housing in 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.
Zelikha Zohra Shoja’s ‘In Search of Bluer Tongues’ weaves Syracuse into the global strands of diaspora
Shoja, a U.S.-based Afghan artist living in Syracuse, will have her experimental film screened at Light Work on Friday.
Democratic Board of Elections commissioner asks judge to review Republican counterpart’s refusal to put term limits law on ballot
Dustin Czarny has challenged the actions of Republican Board of Elections Commissioner Kevin Ryan over his refusal to put term limits on the November ballot.
Onondaga County lawmakers take the first step toward suing the Board of Elections
“We cannot just let a democracy question lie open,” said Legislature Chair Nicole Watts of the decision to obtain approval to sue.
Sean Kirst: After 67 years at Pioneer Homes, Jean Singletary hopes her last great move equates to staying there
Nearing 94, Singletary is an extraordinary witness to many decades of daily life in the state’s oldest public housing complex — which could be gone within two years.
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.
Onondaga County Legislature set to decide whether to sue over term limit referendum
Chair Nicole Watts and Majority Leader Nodesia Hernandez are advancing an item that would allow the legislature to sue.
Could the North Country get its Micron moment?
As the North Country makes a pitch for its role in the Micron supply chain, Micron has responded with donations.
New York is struggling to track its own AI use
Several agencies’ high-profile AI programs do not appear in the state’s AI inventory.
How much did taxpayers pay for former Syracuse Housing Authority Executive Director Bill Simmons to retire?
As part of his separation agreement, Simmons received more than $90,000 for what appeared to be nearly six months of accrued vacation time.
Sean Kirst: What seemed impossible then is about to happen. It’s 25 years since Van Robinson made a public call to pull down I-81
In 2001, Robinson saw forces coming together that would allow his longtime dream to become a 2026 reality.
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.
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