Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens outlined a series of priorities at her first State of the City address Thursday night at Nottingham High School. Some ideas build on successes of her time with the Walsh Administration, but others offer a glimpse of her own vision for the city.
Owens delivered the obligatory declaration to start her speech.
“I am proud to report that the state of our city is growing, diverse, and ripe for opportunity for all,” she said.
Owens said her vision is for Syracuse to be the best place to raise a family, build a life, and grow a business. To do that, she said the city must continue to improve existing housing stock and build new. Owens said they’re working with the state and housing partners on creative ways to fast-track construction.
“We know that incentivizing and incorporating modular manufactured homes construction will reduce overall construction costs, reduce the need for public funds, and dramatically reduce the time it takes to construct a new home," she said.
Owens is focusing on what she calls one of her core values: Providing superior constituent service. She said she’s creating a team of Constituent Assistance Resource Employees, or CARE to address human service needs.
"The CARE Team will include key staff members who will work alongside our dedicated City Line staff to provide comprehensive responses to these issues," she said. "This human-centered approach will provide a single point of contact for residents to obtain guidance on available city services or other government and or community resources."
She also wants to boost new businesses by creating a district and nightlife coordinator.
“It will support efforts that intersect between entrepreneurism, nightlife, public safety, and public arts, helping make Syracuse a place where residents, including young adults, want to stay and visitors want to experience," she said.
Owens also took time to address the ongoing and increasingly violent federal immigration crackdown nationwide and here in Syracuse. That was a topic she said Nottingham students brought up repeatedly when she met with them ahead of her address.
“Let me reiterate tonight that the men and women of the Syracuse Police Department sworn to protect and serve the people of Syracuse will not take on the role of immigration enforcement," she said to a 15 second standing ovation and whoops of support.
"We have seen neighbors wrongfully detained right here in our community, families torn apart, and fear spread through this community as well," she continued. "Most recently with the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, it is cruel and unacceptable. And that's why I will continue to show up at rallies, to raise my voice, and to stand with those who are targeted when our neighbors are treated unjustly. Silence is not an option," she said.
Owens urged the state to pass the New York for All Act, which prohibits law enforcement statewide from enforcing federal immigration laws, and limits agents from entering property without a signed judicial warrant.
