Patrona Jones-Rowser, running as a Democrat, is vying to be the 4th district councilor on Syracuse’s Common Council.
Jones-Rowser is facing Hasahn Bloodworth, who is running on the Rebirth SYR line, a party he created.
Councilor LaToya Allen, who currently holds the seat, decided not to run for re-election, vacating the position.
Jones-Rowser started out as a youth mentor, helping young women during her years as a stylist. Her community involvement grew from that point on, she said. Jones-Rowser, who is a part of several community organizations, believes that housing equity, healthcare, and neighborhood safety are the most important issues to address in the 4th district.
How do you think the city can up its housing capacity? How would you persuade the county and state to solve this problem?
Syracuse doesn’t have an issue with housing capacity, we have an issue with quality housing. With many tenants living in substandard rental units, Syracuse can stand to strengthen its rental registration guidelines and increase capacity within the law department. Housing development is a national issue, with many developers seeking tax incentives, which locks them into building high density housing. These developments rarely cater to families in need of 3 or more bedrooms. The price associated with building new single-family homes is beyond cost efficient, the city and county should look to utilize funding to repair as much of the current housing stock as possible.
Do you think Safer Streets and other anti-violence programs are adequate? How would you tackle juvenile crime and gun violence?
I do believe we need programs to combat crime and gun violence, however I cannot speak to the adequacy of any of the current programs. Many attempts have been made throughout the years, Safer Streets and RISE are two of the newest programs, both working with different age populations. It is too soon to produce data from either program. I would like to see programming that supports parents or guardians of at-risk youth. If we can work with the families to address issues within the home as well as communal trauma and mental health issues, we can then be more proactive in the fight to end gun violence.
How important do you think the lack of reliable transportation is in the southside? How would you fix that?
As far as public transportation, the 4th district has several of the main streets and so I think for us public transportation isn’t an issue per se. I know that routes have changed in the last few years and I know that might take an adjustment for some but other than that the buses seem to run quite regularly, unless of course individuals are taking the bus through the city, through dewitt or cicero, things of that nature. So if they’re going to those further places than that could possibly be the issue, but directly for the 4th district there’s not particularly an issue with public transportation. I will say that I know Centro has an issue with drivers. They are extremely short on drivers and that’s what needs to be addressed before we can address anything with public transportation.
How will you ensure that the outcomes from the I-81 and Blueprint 15 projects are fair and equitable?
I have been very active in keeping up with information or changes with both projects, including familiarizing myself with similar projects in other cities like the LOOP in Rochester and the many projects completed by Purpose Built Communities, which Blueprint 15 looks to emulate. Understanding what has and has not worked in other cities allows me to accurately advocate for residents as well as keep them up to date on changes.
What are the strengths of the 4th district community? How would you use them as district councilor?
One of the greatest strengths of the 4th District is its location. Centrally located to the city center, hospitals, schools, parks and green spaces, the 4th district offers excellent pathways for walkability and the proximity to main street public transportation is often within a five-minute walk. However, the greatest strength of the 4th district is its residents. As district councilor I would seek to strengthen the voices of the residents, ensuring current resources are protected or improved upon and the needs of the community are being met when major change is on the horizon.
Why do you think Syracuse’s lead problem persists? How would you help fight it?
The lead problem in Syracuse persists due to years of lack of responsibility by the city and county to hold landlords accountable to provide safe housing to tenants. The Bureau of Administration Adjudication consistently sees a backload of violations that need to be addressed. Violations such as lead and mold should take precedence if the concern is to protect the quality of life for residents of the city. New EPA regulations can be the catalyst to increase public health, but much more is needed. The city will need greater comprehensive resources as well as change in policies. As the residents of the 4th district are greatly affected by lead, I will continue to focus my efforts on housing improvements.
