Syracuse Speaks

Central New York has progressed through the four phases designed by the state to restart the economy. But where do we go from here?

  The 2020 Primary in New York this year fell in the midst of a global pandemic and a reckoning on police brutality in America. Voting by mail occurred in record numbers due to the threat of COVID-19 and youth in Syracuse led rallies for the current racial justice movement.

Syracuse like many other communities across the U.S. has been a scene for large, emotional and diverse protests over police treatment of people of color. On this special edition of Syracuse Speaks, WAER News Director Chris Bolt is joined by Yusuf Abdul-Qadir, Director of the Central New York Chapter of the NYCLU, Pastor Erik Eure from The Promise Land Church, and Sam Rowser, Executive Director of On Point for College.

Many parts of society have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and education has not been spared. Schools faced closures, then ascrambled to find ways to teach remotely. This followed by uncertainty about letting students back into classrooms.

Life for Central New Yorkers in the age of COVID-19 has forced many members of the community, local businesses and nonprofits to readjust their priorities and lifestyles.

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?