Syracuse

SPD Outfits 220 Officers With Body Cameras As Part Of Police Reform Commitment

By Katie Zilcosky • Jan 8, 2021

All uniformed police officers in Syracuse are now equipped with body cameras. A total of 220 cameras have been issued to police officers and are to be on whenever any law enforcement activity occurs.

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1:57

Police Chief Kenton Buckner announced that over 200 police officers will be equipped with body-worn cameras.

Common Councilors Reevaluate Budget After Being Left Out Of Federal Aid Package

By John Smith • Dec 22, 2020

The Finance Committee Chair of the Syracuse Common Council plans to hold discussions soon after it’s been made clear local governments won’t be getting any of the $900 billion in federal COVID aid. Michael Greene says both sales tax revenue and state aid are way down and that ultimately impacts the city’s budget.

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1:34

Syracuse Common Councilor Michael Greene said the omission of aid to local governments in the latest COVID-19 stimulus bill is another challenge for the city's current budget.

Updates On Syracuse Police Reform Include New Position, Surveillence Policies

By Katie Zilcosky • Dec 4, 2020

The City of Syracuse’s most recent action on police reform includes a new position in the police department and an executive order on surveillance technology. Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens announced Friday Deputy Parks Commissioner Jimmy Oliver will become the Syracuse Police Department’s Director of Community Engagement.

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2:18

Syracuse's latest police reform includes the creation of a new position within the department: Director of Community Engagement.

City Limits: Racial Justice Means Changing The Process At The CNY Community Foundation

By Katie Zilcosky • Nov 30, 2020

Central New York Community Foundation / cnycf.org

Millions of Americans flocked to city centers across the country demanding racial justice after the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis. As a response to the call, the Central New York Community Foundation launched its Black Equity and Excellence Fund.

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3:58

WAER's Katie Zilcosky reports a new fund from the Central New York Community Foundation is supporting racial justice and modifying its typical process to be more equitable.

Syracuse Basketball Cleared to Open Season Against Bryant University

By John Lichtenstein • Nov 25, 2020

Regardless of the outcome of Friday’s season opener against Bryant, the fact Syracuse will be playing at all should be considered a victory.

As of this writing, over 35 programs across the NCAA have been put on pause and/or have cancelled competition due to COVID-19 complications. This does not include the 10 programs that have already cancelled their seasons entirely (Bethune-Cookman, Maryland Eastern-Shore, and the Ivy League).

Return To In-Person Learning For Orange Zoned SCSD Uncertain Ahead Of Holiday Weekend

By Katie Zilcosky • Nov 25, 2020

Local officials are working with the state to find a way to get orange zone schools back to school in person on Monday. This includes almost all of the Syracuse City School District. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has made in-person a priority through the yellow, and now orange zone, designations. McMahon says instead having students transition to remote learning until all buildings are tested, they want to resume in-person instruction Monday with promise of all buildings tested by the end of the week.

Onondaga County Yellow Zone Expands, Parts Transition To Orange Zones

By Katie Zilcosky • Nov 23, 2020

Onondaga County’s yellow zone has expanded and parts of it have transitioned to an orange zone as coronavirus cases continue to rise. Most of the city of Syracuse in addition to parts of Dewitt, Lyncourt and Solvay are in the designated orange zone. Orange zone rules go into effect Wednesday, and includes the closure of high-risk, nonessential businesses such as salons and gyms.

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2:32

The State Department of Health designated parts of Onondaga County an Orange Zone due to higher daily coronavirus case numbers and positivity rates.

Homelessness is Declining in CNY despite COVID-19

By Mary Rand & Scott Willis & Sydney Pollack • Nov 18, 2020

Homelessness is declining in Central New York despite the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an annual report put together by the Housing and Homelessness Coalition of Central New York, there has been a five year decrease in total homeless numbers and first-time homelessness.

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Homelessness is down in Central New York according to an annual report, due in part to a ban on evictions during the pandemic.

Peace Activists and Veterans Gather in Downtown Syracuse to "Reclaim Armistice Day"

By Scott Willis & Mary Rand • Nov 11, 2020

About two dozen peace activists gathered in downtown Syracuse yesterday to reclaim the original meaning of Veteran’s Day. The Syracuse Peace Council and Syracuse Veterans for Peace chose the site of a World War One memorial in Billings Park to “reclaim Armistice Day.” U.S. Navy veteran Roger Misso says he wants the public to think of veterans as peacemakers.

SU Cluster Prompts Administration To Change Approach To COVID-19 Management

By Katie Zilcosky & John Smith & Dan Wehrle • Oct 8, 2020

A recent increase of COVID-19 cases among SU students is changing how the university responds. The cluster emerged after some students visited another college and then attended an off campus party. Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie says the university led an education campaign early on.

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2:34

Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie said Syracuse University is increasing student monitoring via its public safety officers in order to better contain the coronavirus on campus after a recent cluster pushed case numbers to single day records on the campus.

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