Syracuse Speaks

The food scene in Syracuse is quite different from what it was even 5 years ago. Take Syracuse’s downtown dining week for example: Back in 2015, 26 restaurants participated. This year, there are 46.

At the end Syracuse University’s last semester, racist crimes took hold of the campus community. What does it take to make higher education institutions more inclusive?

Facing breast cancer means different things to different people.  That was the mission of – and the takeaway from – the production of TitBits: Breast Cancer Stories in which 8 people share how they were affected (listen below).  Patients, doctors, caregivers all recount personal and emotional details of their stories.  Excerpts of the production aired on WAER as an episode of Syracuse Speaks.

Climate change can feel like a distant, heady topic. While fully understanding the nuances of the science behind it can be complicated, its effects are very real. And it is impacting people globally and in our community.

Central New Yorkers faces an election in November with dozens of local offices on the ballot for positions that decide things such as tax rates, education policy, and district lines. But voter turnout in elections with primarily local races has been historically low. In light of this, community groups and political researchers are asking what will get people engaged?

We can't avoid aging. 

But as we grow older our physical health, our cognitive ability, and our living situation can start to change. Financial health is also important, as it affects where we live and the choices we can make to age as happy and healthy as possible.

Nearly a quarter of Syracuse residents move at least once a year, which is more than twice the national average. In some parts of the city, that number can rise to as high as 35%. All of this moving can cause physical and mental health issues. It can also erode a greater sense of commuity. 

CNY Speaks is the new public affairs program from WAER that aims to discuss  issues and stories that matter to members of the Central New York community. The show debuted with a roundtable discussion about the future of I-81. WAER News Director Chris Bolt and Host/Reporter Katie Zilcosky facilitated a roundtable discussion to outline the timeline for a decision regarding the highway and how it could end up impacting the surrounding areas. 

Joining the WAER staff was Yusuf Abdul Qadir, Director of the Central New York Chapter  of The New York Civil Liberties Union, Jonathan Link Logan, Director of Northside UP at Centerstate CEO, and Dr. Anne Mosher ,Associate Professer and Chair of Citizenship and Civil Engagment at Syracuse University.