You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Syracuse' tag.
I went to a meeting of FOCUS Greater Syracuse today–one of the many good government groups that try to make an impact on our city. They have their meetings at the ungodly hour of 7:30 AM and the mostly older and white folks run around wearing buttons emblazoned with B+. For years I’ve always joked about creating a C – button for the cynics in the crowd.
Anyway, I went to hear Jerry Grant, the author of the book Hope And Despair In The American City. His book details two communities dealing with segregation and how it has an impact on education. In Raleigh in 1976, the city faced falling property values and a failing school system that threatened the nascent Research Triangle tech business (since businesses would not locate to areas without good schools for employees kids and potential new hires.)
So, despite opposition, Wake County created a county-wide school system. In addition, the district set a goal of limiting rates of poverty in all schools to below 40% to achieve a mixture of economic classes within each school. The sub-title of this book is “Why there are no bad schools in Raleigh”, but it is also a truism that there are no “poor” schools either–the kind of school where just getting kids’ boats to stop rocking from the effects of poverty is considered a victory, the kind of school that doesn’t have the resources–either in cash or in human capital–to truly educate children.
If Raleigh is the poster child for hope in this book, as evidenced by increased test scores and home values, Syracuse is the poster child for despair–the declining rust belt city whose affluent and middle class folks have largely fled to the suburbs, leaving behind a school system where 80% of the children come from families whose low income qualifies them for free and subsidized lunches from the federal government.
The book really hit home for me. I was educated in the affluent Fayetteville-Manlius school district, yet ended up living and working in the Syracuse neighborhoods Mr. Grant writes about.
At the question and answer session after Mr. Grant’s talk, a parent with kids in the city school district showed that attitudes about suburban schoolkids are just as stereotypical as those held by others about city kids:
“I’d never have my kids educated in Fayetteville,” she said, “they’re like cookie-cutter kids, all the same.”
Jerry Grant had a few strategies that he presented as a way to start punching gateways through the invisible wall that he states has been built between the city and its suburbs Among those are:
1) a voluntary busing program between the city and suburbs similar to a long running voluntary busing program in Boston. In Boston this program, while perhaps helping to forestall calls for consolidation, has also developed a powerful network of allies in both the city and suburbs, a cadre of advocates for desegregation that is sorely lacking in Syracuse.
2) Create two powerful charter schools–one a University Arts High School with teachers from many disciplines at Syracuse U. and another a high school that recruits hundreds of local businesses and non-profits to offer internships to augment traditional educational offerings. Each of these schools would have up to 49% of its enrollment from outside the city–creating two integrated and attractive schools.
The hard work is all ahead of us. Jerry Grant wrote this book because of his desire to jump start the discussions that need to happen in Syracuse to talk about the patterns of segregation that have led to ineffective education and a perpetuation of terrible and grinding poverty in the city. The commitment of the city government, Syracuse University and the city school district to the Say Yes To Education program is a good start. But we have a long way to go if Syracuse wants to stop being the model for Despair in the American City.
It was troubling to see only two African-Americans in a mostly full Common Council chamber and also troubling to note that this conversation, so well received in downtown Syracuse, probably would receive a frosty reception out in Fayetteville and Liverpool and Clay and Dewitt and Skaneateles etc. So let’s break out of our middle-class, good government cocoon, schedule some meetings at a decent hour and try to drag some suburbanites into the mix.

Stephanie Miner took 50% of the vote in a three way race–a very
solid showing–and became the first woman elected Mayor
in a Big 5 city in New York State. So much for my lawn sign jinx.
After only backing losers for years I’m 3-0 in the last three races
Obama, Maffei and now Miner.
All three of those politicians are strikingly similar, despite the
obvious differences. Young, smart, policy wonk-ish. All of the
them, even Obama who has become an icon of cool, place substance over
image. Plans are clearly articulated and well
thought out.
New politics? It’s about time.
An Interesting little discussion has begun over at Sean Kirst’s blog entitled Is Facebook Killing Blogging?
It developed out of a phone conversation that I had with Sean about a totally different topic, but morphed into whether or not folks are more likely to post onto Facebook or Twitter than craft a blog post these days. I believe that is the case and I think Brian Cubbison (in the post’s comments) hit on the reason–technology creates easier mechanisms to use–and technology is moving fast these days. As a result, people re-tweet Twitter entries or use the Share This function on Facebook, they do not take the time to write a blog post.
Remember when bloggers were considered half-baked, ill-informed folks writing in their pj’s in their parents’ basements? Now bloggers are practically novelists compared to the folks cranking out 140 character tweets and 25 word facebook status updates.
Believe me, I’m fine with that. I’ve tried both new formats. I’ve largely rejected Twitter and wholeheartedly embrace Facebook. My blog still gets updated regularly for the same reasons it’s always been there–to work through my thoughts on an issue and force me to correct the typos. It’s also a neat way to keep a record of my thoughts, a digital diary of sorts.
The only times I’ve gotten large numbers of people to read this thing of mine is when I’ve inadvertently hooked into an internet meme–the “Jesus Christ was a community organizer” thing being the most prominent example, resulting in 333 hits on a single day. Usually, my hits are in the teens to twenties, but also sometimes in the single digits. Rarely will anyone post a comment.
Contrast that with the fact that I have 83 Facebook friends that presumably get my updates (granted I don’t know how many have turned my status feed off on their Wall, although I suppose I could figure that out.) A better base audience, even if it will never bust loose much further. However, even though I publicize my blog on FB–I don’t think many have made the cyber-commute over here.
To that extent, I’ll probably modify my blogging modus operandi–fewer post where I let people know news updates about things such as Bruce or the Red Sox–those can safely go to FB. I’ll do more longer pieces over here, pieces that do not presume an audience of anyone but myself.
One last note–FIVE pieces on individual candidates positions on the Mayoral race in Syracuse and not one has a readership of over 5 people? No comments? That was surprising.
One final note: Many thanks to the bloggers at the Post Standard: Brian Cubbison, Sean Kirst and Mark Bialczak, as well as independent blogger Ellen at NYCO’s Blog CNY who collectively drive about 99% of my blog’s traffic.
Fifth in a series. The community organization I work for organized an issues forum with the three candidates running for Mayor of Syracuse. These highly subjective and biased ruminations on the candidate’s remarks (I have endorsed and volunteer for Stephanie Miner) are solely those of your humble blogger and may not be reproduced without the expressed, written consent of Major League Baseball. Or if you buy me a nice present. Or if you ask nicely.
Here are the current perceptions of neighbors living in the south, southwest and near-west sides about the crime in their neighborhoods, even after all the efforts of concerned neighborhood residents, the current administration and the police department: Hundreds of drug houses and corners with open sales of illegal drugs; frequent gun shots; loitering gangs on corners and at vacant houses; poor or no response to 911 calls–especially to non-emergency/quality of life issues and to ANY issue on weekends; vandalism and property destruction; reckless driving and speeding–both cars and 2-3-4 wheeled motor bikes.
Two questions: First, please give us your definition of community policing. Second, as Mayor, how will you use your definition of community policing to make our neighborhoods safer?
Otis Jennings: Otis believes that real community policing would mean having a police force that builds realtionships with the neighbors and engages the community. Mr. Jennings believes that one way to deal with crime in our neighborhoods is to increase the number of police on the force. He mentioned that there is a class of potential officers currently undergoing training and that the incoming federal stimulus money will enable the city to start another class this coming year. He committed to maintaining the police force at this higher number of officers, even after the stimulus money has been used up in three years. Oh, and he feels our pain. Someone busted into his car and stole his GPS device while he was out campaigning.
Stephanie Miner: Stephanie believes that true community policing results when neighborhood residents have developed relationships with police officers that they know and trust. When this trust level increases, information is shared more freely and crimes are solved more easily. Too much emphasis on crime suppression has led to an atmosphere of fear and distrust of the police. Too many residents are unwilling to share information with police officers. In addition, Stephanie believes that the poor response time of the police is due to their traveling from call to call dispatched from 911. Ms. Miner believes the city could improve response times by using the kind of technology that will enable the police to better analyze crime data, systematically identify problem spots and more efficiently deploy police officers.
Steve Kimatian: Steve believes that community policing results when uniform police officers are working in a community on a regular basis–to the extent that they are known by residents as the neighborhood beat cop. Steve has an overarching philosophy of zero tolerance for what may be referred to as petty crimes: noise, parking trash. He wants to establish a baseline of order in the community, so that residents respect and maintain their property and neighborhood out of respect for their neighbors. Mr. Kimatian also has a five point crime program, but only discussed one point–a youth curfew. He believes that there are too many kids out late at night and they can be exploited by gangs. Steve acknowledged that not all kids can be taken home because of problems there, so he would invest in a counseling/service center where kids can be evaluated and referred to needed services.
Steve Kimatian
Fourth in a series. The community organization I work for organized an issues forum with the three candidates running for Mayor of Syracuse. These highly subjective and biased ruminations on the candidate’s remarks (I have endorsed and volunteer for Stephanie Miner) are solely those of your humble blogger and may not be reproduced without the expressed, written consent of Major League Baseball. Or if you buy me a nice present. Or if you ask nicely.
The organization I work for asked each candidate to respond to a 50-odd answer questionnaire on neighborhood issues. We then crafted an individual question to ask each candidate at the forum based on one of their responses.
Steve Kimatian: In your cover letter and in the margins of the questionnaire, you state that you agree in principle with 14 of SUN’s specific proposals, but cannot make promises about funding and staffing levels due to the economic problems facing the city. Do any of these proposals dealing with housing and crime strike you as so important that you will commit to them now, borrowing from other programs if necessary?
Steve stated that while there were certainly issues he would support by putting additional funding into their budgets, he still could not give specific commitments to dollar amounts or staffing levels until actually staring at the budget spreadsheets. Later in the evening, he referenced the demolition of vacant houses and the counseling component for his youth curfew plan as ideas that he would transfer money to from other parts of the budget.
Otis Jennings
Third in a series. The community organization I work for organized an issues forum with the three candidates running for Mayor of Syracuse. These highly subjective and biased ruminations on the candidate’s remarks (I have endorsed and volunteer for Stephanie Miner) are solely those of your humble blogger and may not be reproduced without the expressed, written consent of Major League Baseball. Or if you buy me a nice present. Or if you ask nicely.
The organization I work for asked each candidate to respond to a 50-odd answer questionnaire on neighborhood issues. We then crafted an individual question to ask each candidate at the forum based on one of their responses.
Otis Jennings: You would give owners of properties with large and illegal trash set-outs a 24 hr. notice before having DPW clean up the mess and fine the owners. 24 hours is a long time for wind to blow trash around, animals to rip through bags and neighbors forced to put up with the problem. Trash smells like hell in the hot summer months. Why give problem properties a break? They don’t give neighbors a break!
Otis responded that he believed that it was a requirement to give a homeowner a 24 hour notice before picking up trash and fining them. However, he stated he was “not married to that.” I will pick things up immediately if I find it is legal to do so. Otis also asked for neighbors’ support in calling in violations to the city and expressed his desire to clean up the city.
Stephanie Miner
Second in a series. The community organization I work for organized an issues forum with the three candidates running for Mayor of Syracuse. These highly subjective and biased ruminations on the candidate’s remarks (I have endorsed and volunteer for Stephanie Miner) are solely those of your humble blogger and may not be reproduced without the expressed, written consent of Major League Baseball. Or if you buy me a nice present. Or if you ask nicely.
The organization I work for asked each candidate to respond to a 50-odd answer questionnaire on neighborhood issues. We then crafted an individual question to ask each candidate at the forum based on one of their responses.
Stephanie Miner: You oppose SUN’s call to increase Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for both the SHARP handyman grant program and the Urgent Care owner-occupant loan program for emergency repairs. We live in economic times when credit is tight and incomes are stagnant. These programs have been called the loans of last resort for many families. How do you propose to help families stay in their homes if you oppose increases to these historically underfunded programs?
Stephanie replied that her answers didn’t reflect a disinclination to help families struggling to finance home repairs, but her desire to systematically change the entire Community Development Block Grant program. A new administration will have the chance to make the program more efficient, fund more direct housing issues and decrease the city’s reliance on the money to fund City hall salaries and overhead. She said no to our requests for these programs because she wants to create something better.
First in a series. The community organization I work for organized an issues forum with the three candidates running for Mayor of Syracuse. These highly subjective and biased ruminations on the candidate’s remarks (I have endorsed and volunteer for Stephanie Miner) are solely those of your humble blogger and may not be reproduced without the expressed, written consent of Major League Baseball. Or if you buy me a nice present. Or if you ask nicely.
The neighborhoods on the south, southwest and near-west sides of Syracuse make up only 15% of the city’s households, but our neighborhoods harbor 45% of the city’s vacant houses. There are over 1,500 vacant houses in the city, an increase of nearly 40% from the totals reported just four years ago. The city’s responses to the problem are clearly not working. Vacant houses are places to buy, sell and hide illegal drugs and weapons. Vacant properties are illegal dumps for trash and junk cars. Vacant houses draw youths who loiter, fight and make noise into the early morning hours. The vacant houses are targets for arson, depress home values and make it hard for neighbors to get homeowners insurance.
As Mayor, what will you do to reduce the number of vacant houses in our neighborhoods, adequately maintain the vacant houses remaining and rehabilitate more vacant houses for new owner/occupants?
Stephanie Miner was incredibly impressive on the housing issues presented to her, not surprising since during her time on the Common Council she has worked closely with our organization and others to improve the flawed Community Development Block Grant program that funds most housing work in low income city neighborhoods. Stephanie emphasized that we can’t demolish our way out of the problem and stated that the city needs to prioritize rehabilitation of properties over new construction. Stephanie also made an eloquent appeal to value the beautifully constructed older homes in our neighborhoods, (“that which makes us unique”) even if it may cost a little more in the long run. To this end, she also feels that the city should invest in deconstruction of houses, saving what we can of our houses rather than carting everything to the dump.
Otis Jennings bombed on this issue–he praised Roy Bernardi’s tax auction of delinquent houses as a means to deal with vacant houses. The auction was something I dedicated 6 years of my organizing life to kill, a program that decimated our neighborhoods. The auction disproportionately hurt the low income folks that could not afford to pay off their back taxes or negotiate a payment plan with the city–resulting in a net transfer from owner/occupants in low income neighborhoods to investor/speculators. Otis also said he would implement the recommendations of a 2005 ESF study on vacant houses. I’ve never heard of the study and he didn’t explain even one provision it contains.
Steve Kimatian name checked the Flint land bank as a way to deal with vacant houses, but he had no seeming recognition that land banks require state approval to create and Governor Patterson has already vetoed a land bank bill once. Steve also seemed to be gung ho for demolition, especially of dangerous homes and those contributing to crime. Steve promised to immediately demolish those houses that were in dangerous condition or a focal point of criminal activity. He also promised to meet with neighbors and listen to their ideas for saving some houses from demolition. However, Steve’s main points on vacant housing seem to involve a back hoe and a wrecking ball.
"Turn off the lights, the party’s over . . ."
Originally uploaded by Phil At Sun
As good a visual representation of the changing of the guard as you’re going to get. The empty suits, image politicians and party hacks can call it a day. Joe Nicoletti? Three strikes and you’re out. Van Robinson? Council President has no power–especially if you opposed the Mayor. Bea Gonzalez? Retired. She has more power and influence at SU, anyway. Joan Christensen? No juice in Albany since she crossed Shelly Silver in the Bragman coup.
The torch has been passed to a new generation. Obama, Maffei, now Miner. The smart people are taking over–let’s hope there’s enough city left to save.
Since I actually received a request from a long-time reader and fellow blogger asking me to continue discussing the upcoming Syracuse Mayoral campaign, here we go:
1) Joe Nicoletti probably figures he can’t win many votes in the liberal heartland of Syracuse, the University eastside, home of the powerhouse 17th Ward Democratic committee. But he does know how to get some cash out of the area. Check out this article about a city/county kerfluffle over zoning off-campus student housing in the University.
The money quote for politics fans:
Several SU-area landlords have contributed to mayoral candidate Joe Nicoletti’s campaign, but not Stephanie Miner, the Democrats’ designated candidate. On the council, she supported the new law; at least three officials from the neighborhood association have donated to her campaign.
2) A friend forwarded me an e-mail being sent to Otis Jennings supporters, asking them to attend a recent fundraiser at the Dinosaur. Now I thought the Mayor of Syracuse mainly dealt with deploying the city employees who maintain roads, police our streets, pick up trash, put out fires and keep our parks clean.
But apparently, the Mayor of Syracuse also sits athwart our degenerate culture and protects the godly from the evil secular humanists. Some choice tidbits from the e-mail:
If you and I can be honest, we have to admit that we all complain about our liberal government, and how wasteful and ungodly it has become, but we do very little about it. It’s true, isn’t it? Well Otis has tossed his hat into the ring, and is diving in after it! He’s in it up to his eyeballs, and there’s no turning back.
I believe it is the responsibility of faith-filled, patriotic Americans to back people like Otis, and thus impact a godless culture that suffers from a lack of strong moral leadership.
Well, in recent decades, people who defy Biblical principles have “come out of the closet” to challenge those beliefs, and sadly, not enough of us said anything to oppose them. The result is, today what was once shameful and destructive to children and families, is fast becoming the law of the land. And there are tidal waves of new hedonistic rhetoric that push the limits even further spewing out of every media outlet imaginable. Worse yet, in an unbelievable reversal of roles, people of faith are now the ones being invited to go “into the closet.” We’re being told not to dare speak of God and righteous values in the public forum again!
3) (Full disclosure: this blog has endorsed and volunteers for the Miner campaign.)
ElectWomen Magazine has named Stephanie’s campaign as the 4th hottest woman candidate race in the country.
