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Aquarium opponents hold rally to show disapproval before committee meeting 

A demonstrator displays a sign that reads, "The aquarium economics are a fantasy," at a rally outside the Onondaga County Courthouse against an aquarium proposed for the Syracuse Inner Harbor, July 25, 2022.
Emma Murphy
/
WAER News
A demonstrator displays a sign that reads, "The aquarium economics are a fantasy," at a rally outside the Onondaga County Courthouse against an aquarium proposed for the Syracuse Inner Harbor, July 25, 2022.

Onondaga County lawmakers and residents on Monday rallied against a proposed multi-million dollar aquarium at Syracuse’s Inner Harbor. The group demonstrated at the County Courthouse to mark their opposition ahead of a key meeting this week.

Plans for the project advertise a modern building on Onondaga Lake with exotic marine life inside. Supporters say the attraction would bring tourism and boost the local economy, but opponents argue it’s an improper use of public dollars. County lawmakers are set to discuss the project at a committee meeting Tuesday.

County Legislator Mary Kuhn, who has been against the project since the start, said at the Monday demonstration that the aquarium could be more harmful to the community than Destiny USA and the adjacent hotel — which received significant tax subsidies.

“The issue here is that there’s been a lot of taxpayer dollars that have gone into projects that have not produced what they were said to produce. My  belief is that this will be another one, only, we don’t own the mall, we don’t own the hotel, we will own the aquarium. It will be built with taxpayer dollars. It will be sustained with taxpayer dollars,” Kuhn said.

Opponents also argue that with Syracuse’s high poverty rates many local residents wouldn’t be able to pay the almost $22 entrance fee. County Legislator Peggy Chase said she thinks the dollars would be better spent on direct economic relief.

“I think we need to use the $85 million and invest in our residents, invest in healthcare, invest in mental health, invest in our infrastructure that’s falling apart. And I know they’re not glamorous things but at least they would be things that would help our constituents,” Chase said.

Rising inflation and outdated construction figures have also raised concerns that the project might cost more than the $85 million stated. Kuhn said she worries that taxpayers would continue to cover the aquarium’s maintenance because proponents have overestimated tourist numbers.

But critics say they’re not completely against the idea of a wildlife museum at the Inner Harbor. Onondaga Lake is a sacred place for the Haudenosaunee and they suggest including an aspect that honors them.

Kuhn said there’s already a tourism market focused on local wildlife.

“We’ve had wonderful eco-tourism over the past couple of months with the eagles. I’ve talked to people from Ohio, from Pennsylvania, from Canada, and they’re staying at our hotels, they’re eating at our restaurants, taking pictures, promoting Onondaga County,” Kuhn said.

The Ways and Means Committee will meet about the project on Tuesday.

This story has been updated with more details following the event.