Category Archives: Spring 2014

In exchange for his education, DJ Summers carries a $96,000 financial burden upon his shoulders. “Every day, I wake up thinking about those loans,” said Summers, 26, a graduate student in journalism at Syracuse University. “And every night, I go … Continue reading →

For military veteran Glen Wheelock Jr., one of the biggest obstacles in becoming a civilian is losing the precise and structured lifestyle he had in the military. “It was stringent. It was strict. It was calculated. Rigid. We had a … Continue reading →

On a cold, dreary spring Saturday afternoon, a yellow-and-blue Connective Corridor bus pulls away the Irving Avenue edge of the Syracuse University campus. It bears six passengers – all arts students headed for the University’s downtown Warehouse of offices, studios … Continue reading →

To ensure the future of their orchestra, musicians of the startup operation Symphoria agree to be paid last. “The musicians are vested in the organization, so they’re committed both financially and philosophically,” said Catherine Underhill, Symphoria’s managing director. In 2011, … Continue reading →

$132. That’s how much less women earn than men each week in Onondaga County. “Women have never gotten past the subservient stigma,” said Jean Kessner, D-Syracuse, a Councilor-at-Large on the Common Council. “The pay gap exemplifies that.” This number came … Continue reading →

When 85 scholarship football players at Northwestern University cast an historic vote this spring, they potentially drew up the play for unions in college sports. “The basic idea is the players want to have a seat at the table,” said … Continue reading →

Patients should get faster medical care and more places to receive it under a new law that gives increased authority to nurse practitioners, say supporters of the law. “It eliminates barriers that once prevented nurses from working in their full … Continue reading →

Want to be the next “Mr. Smith” to go to Washington? Sure, you’ll need to campaign frequently and raise money — but you’ll also have another obstacle to getting elected: Getting your name on the ballot. Unless you’re planning to … Continue reading →

Fowler High School will begin fading away this fall, but students will be able to choose education paths for public-service jobs with its replacement. “I think it’s something good,” Bob Gardino, a retired teacher and former president of advocacy group … Continue reading →

When a natural gas pipeline is proposed, it digs up an ongoing controversy between environmentalists and pipeline advocacy agencies. “We’re trying to make the transportation route shorter, more efficient for everyone,” said Cathy Landry, communications director for The Interstate Natural … Continue reading →

In early spring of 2012, when Julie McMahon lost her iPhone 4 in a professor’s office at the fourth floor of Newhouse School in Syracuse University, she was in a panic. She had put almost everything in the phone, including … Continue reading →

The electronic cigarettes business in Syracuse is growing– and it is facing new potential taxes. “The business is going fantastic,” said Emily King, owner of the Unique Cigs, a Cicero-based electronic cigarettes specialty store. Unique Cigs started to sell E … Continue reading →

They stand in rain, sleet and snow to protest military drones at Hancock Air Base. They rally to ban fracking in New York. They churn out — in print and in pixels — a newsletter they hope will prick consciences. … Continue reading →

An historic Christian landmark now represents the Syracuse-area’s new population. The former Holy Trinity Catholic Church of the North Side community is becoming  “Masjid Isa Ibn Maryam,” which means Mosque of Jesus, Son of Mary. “A lot of people that … Continue reading →

For more than 3,000 people in Syracuse, the best hope for affordable homes is being on the city’s waitlist for public housing. And for another 7,000 the best hope is the waitlist for Section 8 vouchers for subsidized housing. “The … Continue reading →

Syracuse-area voters likely will have one choice when they cast their ballots for the 50th State Senate seat this fall – incumbent Republican John A. DeFrancisco. But just because he lacks an opponent as of early April 2014 does not … Continue reading →

In the first open race for Onondaga County sheriff in 20 years, voters will have a choice among four candidates. On March 1, the Onondaga County Republican Committee chose DeWitt Police Chief Gene Conway as its nominee. In April, retired … Continue reading →

Voters will again have a choice between incumbent Bill Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, and a Republican newcomer in the race for the 129th State Assembly District in the fall 2014 election. The newcomer is Rick Zaccaria, a Republican businessman from Van Buren. … Continue reading →

State Assemblyman Gary Finch, R-Springport, is seeking re-election for another term and has no challenger in the fall. Finch has been in the State Assembly since 1999. He is also a mortician and owner of Brew-Finch Funeral Homes.  “When I … Continue reading →

A political newcomer is the Republican challenger to Rep. Dan Maffei, D-Syracuse, for the 24th Congressional District seat in the fall election. The challenger is John Katko, a former federal prosecutor from Camillus, N.Y. Katko’s novice status could be a … Continue reading →

Syracuse voters will choose an additional city court judge in the November election. Syracuse is one of 20 cities in New York to add new judgeship positions. The New York State Legislature created the positions to alleviate caseload, according to … Continue reading →

Voters’ only choice for the 128th State Assembly District in the fall election is likely to be incumbent Sam Roberts, D-Syracuse. As of  early April, Roberts’ aide said he suspects that Roberts will run again, although no official announcement has … Continue reading →

Voters in the 120th State Assembly District  are likely to have only one choice in the fall 2014 election: Incumbent William Barclay, R-Pulaski. In an interview in early April, Barclay said he is running for re-election.  “I’d like to still … Continue reading →

A former prosecutor is challenging incumbent Al Stirpe, D-Cicero, for the 127th State Assembly District in the fall. The former prosecutor is Robert DeMarco. In February, he stepped down as an assistant district attorney to work at a law firm … Continue reading →

Before your voice can be heard in this year’s election, you must register to vote. “The biggest problem in New York state is that you have to register several weeks before to vote so we have people show-up last minute … Continue reading →

What if you have registered to vote at Onondaga County but can’t appear at the polls in person on Election Day? How can you vote if you are a student temporarily staying in Onondaga County? Absentee ballots are the answer … Continue reading →

Voters in Central New York will witness one of the most competitive political battles in the country when campaigning for the 24th Congressional District seat starts, say local political science experts. The reason: U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei, D-Syracuse, is seeking … Continue reading →

For the second consecutive election, voters in the 53rd State Senate District could be limited to only one choice at the voting booth in November. As of March 29, state Sen. David J. Valesky, D-Oneida, is running unopposed again. And … Continue reading →

Too few girls and too few minorities are enrolled in technology classes, say educators. “It’s a slow process interesting students who aren’t comfortable with tech,” said Michael Foley, vice president of the Syracuse Teachers Association. The College Board’s Advanced Placement … Continue reading →

When Carmen Puentes was drugged and sexually assaulted, she did not report it to police or Syracuse University officials. “I felt like if I came to someone, especially someone who deals with these kinds of cases, it would be like, … Continue reading →

Tax season and technology are creating more fraud and more problems for taxpayers, say federal government officials and local tax preparers. “Some of the scams we are seeing are pretty sophisticated,” said Peggy Riley, an IRS media relations specialist for … Continue reading →

As a single mother with a low income, Melissa Gardiner was drawn to the Near Westside a year ago by its flourishing arts scene and the possibility to become a homeowner. “I saw that there was a lot of innovation … Continue reading →

In the hydro-fracking debate, the Onondaga Nation is taking a spiritual and cultural stance against the controversial natural gas drilling method. The Onondaga Nation “views hydro-fracking as an obscenity on the land,” said Jack Ramsden, a Syracuse environmentalist and member … Continue reading →

Poorer school districts in the state of New York, such as the Syracuse City School District, deserve more state aid and a new formula for allocating state aid, say frustrated parents and some education officials. “This is Robin Hood in … Continue reading →

They’re controversial, they’re high-tech they’ll soon be in Central New York skies as the result of a recent Federal Aviation Administration decision. They are unmanned aerial vehicles — or UAVs, often called drones. Central New York has been chosen as … Continue reading →

Low-cost health plans run by cooperatives are among new options for the uninsured, say insurance executives and health care experts. “It’s cost-effective coverage that people never had before,” said Eboni Britt, the marketing manager of the benefits administrator POMCO Group, … Continue reading →

A lesser turnout this year has Syracuse Winterfest looking for taxpayer help, say organizers. “We have looked into federal and government funding but we haven’t found anything to fit our niche,” says Bill Cooper, president of Syracuse Winterfest. This year’s … Continue reading →

Despite their support for the goals of the Common Core, some Central New York lawmakers say New York’s program is off to a rough start and needs work. “In general, I think the policy is a good policy,” Assemblyman Al … Continue reading →

Some students will not have to take the tests from the controversial Common Core standards, after complaints from parents, faculty and elected officials caused the state to accept the testing delay. “Some of the complaints have been that the tests … Continue reading →

For Colleen Kattau, a Cortland-based singer-songwriter, music and politics intersect harmoniously. “I love music that means something,” she said in a recent phone interview. “But sometimes folk music, like the protest music, can be telling you how bad everything is. … Continue reading →

For Aziza Mohammed, her work helping the uninsured get medical care is an obligation of her Muslim faith. “My parents always do things for people without expecting things from others,” said, Mohammed, health plan enrollment specialist for  the Affordable Care … Continue reading →

Don Stevens smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 18 years. Today, he smokes just one. “I’ve been using e-cigarettes for five years— before most people even knew what they were— and then it just grew and became a passion of … Continue reading →

Technology sheds more light than ever on government, say open-government advocates and public officials. “It empowers people,” said Gabriela Schneider, communications director for the Sunlight Foundation. The Sunlight Foundation is a nonpartisan nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit’s overarching … Continue reading →

For local music and cultural festivals, the ghost of the Great Recession is still a haunting presence. “Every year is a struggle and somehow you get there,” said Kevin Ryan, attorney and board member of the Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade. … Continue reading →

For runaway slaves, the AME Zion Church in downtown Syracuse was a stop on the underground railroad. Now it is among the sites in Syracuse that is a tourist attraction during Black History Month. AME Zion Church was the first … Continue reading →

Looking for a lively debate about a controversial issue? Want to know more about a political candidate? Interested in registering to vote? Try the League of Women Voters. “Our goal is to inform and encourage active participation of people in … Continue reading →

Chad Messie had nowhere to turn after loosing his home, his four young children, his partner of 17 years and even his job to alcohol abuse. “I basically lost everything.” Messie said. Now, Messie is among the unemployed Central New … Continue reading →

Health insurance has come to at least 1,200 uninsured Onondaga County residents in the last five months, say state and local officials. That local enrollment has helped make New York the most successful state in running a health care exchange … Continue reading →

Cleaner electricity, cleaner landfills and lower bills for Onondaga and Cortland Counties are among the benefits of a proposed “Ash for Trash” program, say local officials. “We see this as pretty amazing,” said Kristen Lawton, spokesperson for the Onondaga County … Continue reading →

For some New Yorkers suffering from painful illness, relief through medical marijuana will soon be a possibility. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is invoking a 1980 state department of health law, which would allow 20 hospitals across the state of New York … Continue reading →

For the 43-year-old Tuan Nguyen, the challenge is the uncertainty about whether he belongs in America or in Vietnam. When he tried to go to college in Vietnam, he said, “They kicked me out because I was an Amerasian.” Now … Continue reading →

To make up for lost school days from cold weather,  some Syracuse-area school officials are considering cutting into spring break. “One of the days added back could be the Thursday or Friday before spring break, or any day of spring … Continue reading →

The Bees of Baker High in Baldwinsville will be renovating their hive soon. Voters in the Baldwinsville Central School District voted 1,100 to 134 on Feb. 11 in favor of a referendum to overhaul Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium.  The approved measures will … Continue reading →

For Hari Bangaley Adhikari, a devout Hindu from Bhutan, the doorway to a good life in Syracuse has been Catholic Charities. “They help me so much, “ Adhikari said. A representative from Catholic Charities asked him to work with the … Continue reading →

More Syracuse students are eating breakfast than ever before, say school officials. “It’s a dramatic increase,” said Ken Warner, food and nutrition director for the Syracuse City School District. In the 2012-13 school year, the number of low-income students eating … Continue reading →

To avoid running in the red, the Everson Museum of Art faces a year of austerity and intensive work. “We as a board and a staff at the Everson Museum will be working double time during 2014 to ensure that … Continue reading →

When Mayor Stephanie Miner’s political campaign wanted to engage with supporters online, her staff posted a virtual birthday card for her on her Facebook page. “We encouraged people to sign it, include a person message and share it,” said Kyle … Continue reading →

For social activist and Green Party member Ursula Rozum, her Pete Seeger moment came in 2013. “He was only a few feet away from me,” recalled Rozum, “and he started playing Woody Guthrie’s ‘This Land Is Your Land.’” By then, … Continue reading →

The mayor of Syracuse has a special group of advisors with just one job: to make sure women’s voices are heard. “Our overall mission is to support the issues of women in our community,” said county legislator Peggy Chase, D-Syracuse, … Continue reading →

Now the days of looking for loose-change for the parking meter are coming to an end. Soon you’ll be able to pay some parking meters through your smartphone. In her State of the City speech on Jan. 23, 2014, Mayor … Continue reading →

Students in Syracuse city schools would receive iPads, SmartBoards and access to high-speed Internet under a new bond measure proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In his 2014 budget, Cuomo has proposed a referendum on an initiative called Smart Schools. The … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14-POS-Mei-1.mp3] “First thing is, I expect this affordable care to fail. There are a lot of young kids they are still not going to enroll in Obamacare. The next thing would be medical marijuana. It would be be a great … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POS-McDonald.mp3] “I think like our governor and a lot of these other people should get more of the people’s opinion before they go passing a lot of these different things. One obviously was that big Safe Act which was not … Continue reading →

“I think they need to reinvest in healthcare.The Affordable Healthcare Act, it’s obviously not working. It’s not doing what they said: be more affordable. It’s actually more expensive for many people.” (Matt Reschke, 31, of Syracuse, library technician at Bird … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POS.mp3] “The government should protect and help those who cannot protect themselves or help themselves or who are the most needy: Low-income people, disabled people,  children, the disadvantaged.” (Lesley Pena, 27, of Syracuse, producer at WSYR, Democrat)   “I’ve always … Continue reading →

“Technology expansions— I don’t like the idea of technology advancing so quickly, instead of being on pace with what we’re doing right now. Maybe cut down on Internet time and kind of make people get out in the real world. … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POSGiles.mp3] “People come from all different kinds of backgrounds. So anything our community can do to even out the playing field for people – whether it’s because they grew up with certain family issues or they suffer from historical race … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POS-Vekonda.mp3] “So you think that it’s vital they would try to steer their children here in the city of how important education is – because all I see is like there’s a lot of young girls pushing strollers, there’s a … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14-POS-KristenEskow1.mp3] “What are they going to do with drones? All this flying stuff. I would really like the benefits to it. And then there’s also the Big-Brother aspect – are they going to be watching us? So, I mean, it … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POS-Shantinique.mp3] “There’s a lot of people in the city living in sub-par housing, and there’s areas that need gentrification. The government needs to make sure that education and job training is available for all people. Lastly, the public transit system … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POS-Avery.mp3] “Definitely student loans would be a big one. They’re kind of outrageous. The interest rates are really high. It would be nice to get lower interest rates on private and federal loans.” (Laura Massa, 23, of DeWitt, event planner … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POSCarolineStrange.mp3] “One of the things I think is there should be more relief programs for student loans, especially federal student loans.  I personally would like to advocate for loan forgiveness. I think that the state of the economy, particularly when … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POS-Shantinique.mp3] “I am concerned, because they always get caught up in all these scandals. And I feel like they’re more concerned with these scandals than they are with doing their job. And they’re more concerned with keeping their job than … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POS-JoeInfantino.mp3] “Just try to keep the politics and fighting out of it. Try to keep taxes down, which everybody tries to do that. And be concerned for trying to get more jobs for people to work, you know? See what … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/S14POS-Pablo.mp3] “I feel that underprivileged and homeless people should be entitled to housing in the U.S. It would take a lot of people off the streets and there would be a lot less problems and crime. And just in general … Continue reading →