Category Archives: Spring 2013

Bob Andrews recalls a speech that gave him a blueprint for how he would run his political campaigns. The speech came in the late 1990s from then-former Florida Congressman Louis Frey at Colgate University. He learned, Andrews says, that talking … Continue reading →

Peggy Chase grew up around politics. Two of her great-uncles were town supervisors and her mother was a good friend of Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner’s grandmother, a longtime local political activist. But the moment Chase realized she wanted to get … Continue reading →

Drug abuse and addiction research. Undergraduate tuition. Women’s business ownership assistance. Those are among the more than 300 grants from the federal government to Syracuse University, a private institution, in last year, according to data from the Sunlight Foundation. It … Continue reading →

For some, hydrofracking means more jobs, more fuel and more money. For others, it means temporary jobs, environmental damage and decreased property value. Those are the two views of the economic potential of the controversial gas-drilling method called hydrofracking, or … Continue reading →

Mixed martial arts is still caged in the New York State Assembly, as supporters and opponents once again battle over legalizing the professional sport. The state Senate has approved the legalization of the controversial sport for the third year a … Continue reading →

Syracuse University spent $90,000 on lobbying federal officials in the first quarter of 2013 — more than any other quarter on record dating back to 1999. The $90,000 total for the first three months of this year was $20,000 more … Continue reading →

To avoid the bankruptcy that killed the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, the newly formed Symphoria will have to grow a grassroots network of small donors, say experts on funding for the arts. “Government agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts … Continue reading →

In the money campaign, County Legislator Danny Liedka is far ahead of his competition and his colleagues in fundraising. As of April 24, Liedka, R-East Syracuse, had raised more than $7,300 in the past year, according to campaign finance reports … Continue reading →

Turning over mental-health patients’ records to the state government is unlikely to prevent gun violence, say many mental health professionals. “There is not enough science and evidence out there indicating that people with mental illness are involved in more violence … Continue reading →

  After celebrating the renewal of the federal Violence Against Women Act, some Syracuse anti-violence advocates are now lobbying local politicians to pass two pieces of legislation that they say are crucial to protecting victims and increasing the reporting of … Continue reading →

Derelict building still plague Syracuse despite years of government work, money and programs. “Practically each solution the city has come up with has made it worse,” said Phil Prehn, community organizer with Syracuse United Neighborhoods. But he and government officials … Continue reading →

For gay parent Dan Cutler, trips to the mall sum up a major challenge for raising his daughters. “They are twins. They are not same race as us, and we are two men. We got a lot of questions like: … Continue reading →

“I don’t have problems with gay marriage at all. But I would like to see it not be in a Catholic church. If they want to get married, wherever. But to me, where I grew up, the Catholic church is … Continue reading →

When Harry Lewis joined the Southeast University Neighborhood Association in 1988, he felt a connection with the association’s desire to uphold the quality of life in the university area. “The unity in number of people to create or help to … Continue reading →

Surveillance cameras on the Near Westside of Syracuse are helping to make criminals uncomfortable, say many city officials and neighborhood residents. The areas with the cameras right now have seen a reduction in overall crime, Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler … Continue reading →

So you think you can solve your community’s problems? You want to run for public office? A candidate for office, says the New York State Board of Elections, is anyone who declares an interest in public office, such as a … Continue reading →

Voters of Central New York will choose two State Supreme Court Justices on the ballot this November in the 5th Judicial District of New York. Both incumbents, Republicans John Centra and Anthony Paris, are seeking re-election for a second term. … Continue reading →

From traffic tickets to criminal charges, from leasing disputes to domestic violence, the Syracuse City Court judges make those crucial decisions every day. And on Nov. 5, city voters will choose a new city court judge to succeed retiring Judge … Continue reading →

For city voters, early choices for the two at-large councilor seats in the November 2013 elections include five Democrats. They are the incumbents Jean Kessner and Lance Denno; Pamela Hunter, who was appointed to a partial term and lost an … Continue reading →

There’s at least one option for Syracuse voters when it comes to who will fill the mayor’s office – reelect Mayor Stephanie Miner. But just because Miner lacks a challenger as of March 30, it doesn’t mean she has a … Continue reading →

Voters will choose occupants for all 17 seats in the Onondaga County Legislature on Nov. 5. But as of March 30, they will have choices of candidates in only two seats: Districts 9 and 11. In District 9, incumbent Bob … Continue reading →

For public school students and their parents, some newcomers hope to be elected to the Syracuse School District in November. Of the seven seats on the Syracuse City School Board, three are up for election on Nov. 5. As of … Continue reading →

Your vote counts. “There is not a reason for you not to vote,” said Rae Rohfeld, co-president of League of Women Voters of Syracuse Metropolitan Area. It encourages voters to use their right to vote. Oct. 12, 2013, is the … Continue reading →

For most city voters, choices for the Syracuse Common Council in the 2013 fall election are limited so far. All five Common Council districts are up for election on Nov. 5. In addition, voters will choose two Councilors-at-Large and the … Continue reading →

*Editor’s note: On April 2, 2013, Democrat Gary Morris announced he will run for Common Council president. Morris, 45, is a Syracuse real estate broker who ran for Onondaga County clerk in November 2012, but narrowly lost to Republican Sandy … Continue reading →

Skateboarders will finally have a place to roll, jump and fly in Eastwood this fall after eight years of delays. One of those who will celebrate is Neil Kraus, 22, who has been on the neighborhood SkatePark Research Committee since … Continue reading →

For many ex-offenders, criminal records are a sentence for life even after they served sentences and paid fines, say supporters of a proposed law to limit employers in asking about criminal records. “People with criminal records have difficulties of returning … Continue reading →

When Carl Schramm was in his 20’s, people didn’t go to school to become entrepreneurs. Anyone with an idea could start a business, hoping for success even without a support network to fall back on. “These days, people set out … Continue reading →

For aspiring restaurant and retail-store owners, a two-year old economic development fund is available to help their businesses. “It could be a start-up company or it could be an existing company that wants to expand,” said Peggy Adams, client manager … Continue reading →

Potentially cheaper fishing and hunting licenses are getting a mixed reaction among Central New York sportsmen. “It’s kind of a double-edged sword,” said Brain Eisch, president of the Salt City Bassmasters, a bass anglers’ organization based in Syracuse. He is … Continue reading →

At the Rahma Health Clinic on Syracuse’s South Side, the sick and ailing come by late every Wednesday and early every Saturday for help. “This is a ZIP code that lacks basic health care services,” Shafquat Fazilli, Rahma’s health administrator, … Continue reading →

This is not how 27-year-old Hadeel Alhaddadeh expected her new college life to start. It was in July, 2012, and Alhaddadeh had just began her graduate study at Syracuse University. She was doing homework at around 3 a.m. in the … Continue reading →

Private jet owners are  hoping to lease part of Syracuse Hancock International Airport as a lure to other fly-through business people. The Syracuse Jet Association plans to build a new hangar and office space for visiting businesspeople who arrive by … Continue reading →

For many Westside Latino residents of Syracuse, walking into the office of La Liga is the beginning of a new life. “Being unemployed for a really long time makes people suffer low self-esteem and stop trying. We help them be … Continue reading →

To protect ash trees against a small bug, local government is going on the offensive, hoping that it won’t soon be on the defensive. The bug is the emerald ash borer. It is capable of major damage to the local … Continue reading →

Suppose they gave a rebellion and nobody showed up. That’s sometimes what happens in the new social media world of activism. “When you don’t have the face-to-face aspect, you don’t feel obligated to go, you don’t feel inspired to go,”  … Continue reading →

Imagine Syracuse at your fingertips. That’s what will happen with a new system of kiosks scattered between downtown and Hancock International Airport, say tourism officials. “The system is dynamic and highly visual,”  said David Holder, president of the Syracuse Convention … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Toure_LukeDoughertySouthsideTNT.mp3] When a frustrated resident complained about projects being ignored at a recent Southside neighborhood meeting,  Luke Dougherty sought compromise: He pursued the concerns of Charles Pierce-El, a community activist and president of the South Side Homeowner Association, with questions … Continue reading →

Need to mail a bill in on time? Waiting about your college acceptance letter? Have to send out flyers for your charity organization? The way you do all those things is going to change under the United States Postal Service’s … Continue reading →

Derrick Johnson still remembers 20 years ago when his grandfather forgot to turn off an electric paint stripper and accidentally set on fire the wooden wall of his home at Ashworth Place in Syracuse. Firefighters from nearby Fire Station No. … Continue reading →

Wanted: Referees and umpires for high school sports. “If we don’t start really replenishing our numbers, we’re going to be in trouble,” said Cathy DeGarmo,  a field hockey umpire for Central New York high schools for more than 30 years. … Continue reading →

To get cleaner water around Syracuse, one of the newest solutions is porous street pavement, say government officials and environmental experts. “You have an influx of water that goes into the stone and over time it would perk back into … Continue reading →

At least there are no more cuts. That’s the reaction from higher education officials and advocates to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposals for financial aid in his latest budget. “It’s gotten to the point that if there are no new cuts, … Continue reading →

Scott Betters, 19, of North Syracuse has been out of job for almost two years. “It is really tough to get a job right now,” said Betters. “People don’t like to hire new people and seasonal jobs are filled up … Continue reading →

Brand new signs to help people navigate downtown Syracuse  more easily will highlight the second stage of the Connective Corridor project. “We’re going to be putting in place basically a downtown signage system that tells people how to get from … Continue reading →

For Jay Williams, a possible increase in the minimum wage could be a way to make her two jobs help her finally meet her expenses. “I have rent, cell phone bill, I’m planning to buy a car, and step-kids,” said … Continue reading →

When Lori Covington started attending the Southside’s Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today meetings in 1998, she witnessed a lot of complaining and little action. “I wasn’t seeing any progression forward,” said Covington, the coordinator for the Southside Family Resource Center of P.E.A.C.E. … Continue reading →

For LaFayette gun shop owner Tony Steiner, the new state gun law is a threat to his business. “The rules and regulations are going to dramatically affect my business in a negative way,” said Steiner, co-owner of AKS Firearms. “Seventy-five … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/POS-audio.mp3] “Taxes being lowered would be great, because I know taxes went up this year. Healthcare reform, because my grandmother has Medicare and she still has no idea what she’s doing with it. And unemployment. It’s still high. It’s not … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/S13-POS-Michael.mp3] “I got a raise and my checks are lower than they were before with my raise. It was only about a five-dollar difference. To some people, five dollars is five dollars. To me,  it’s not much but, you know, … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/S13-POS-Dara.mp3] “Taxes – going  up. Will they go down? Will it ever get resolved? Is there going to be money when I retire? Will I have enough money to pay for my daughters to go to college next year?” (Sharon … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/S13-POS-Heather.mp3] “I think that something that needs to be worked on is just, like, agreeing with each other from both sides. That’s, like – the most frustrating thing is that nothing can get done because everyone’s arguing about the things … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/S13-POS-Samantha.mp3] “I’d like them to pick a direction and stick with it. And accomplish something at this point. I really don’t care what it is. Just pick something and fix it. If it be healthcare or if it ends up … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Toure_POSInterviews.mp3] “It’s the young kids that’s having babies. Babies having babies. It’s not right. They need to do something about that. You know, I’m looking at kids that I taught in swimming class. They’ve got kids that’s older than my … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/S13-POS-Maya.mp3] “Obviously the economy is job one. I mean all of our problems are linked somehow to a faltering economy. So if we can get jobs, if we can get the economy moving again, everything else tends to take care … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/S-13-POS-Tyler.mp3] “What I’d really go for is a president who would get up and say he’s closing all our U.S. factories in China and India and Mexico, and bringing the jobs back to the United States. You know, everything I’m … Continue reading →

[audio:https://democracywise.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/S13-POS-Li.mp3] “The gun law, approve that. Take the gun out of streets and disarming them. And I just want more jobs for the young people. They need training for employment, for better jobs.” (Tom Manning, around 50, of Syracuse, supervisor … Continue reading →