Latest news with #BenWalsh
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Syracuse boosts Creekwalk safety with security cameras
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The City of Syracuse is upping its safety for those along the Creekwalk Trail. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced on Thursday the completion of phase one of the Creekwalk Security Camera Initiative. The City said that by installing 20 new cameras at strategic locations along the pathway stretching from Onondaga Lake to Downtown Syracuse, the initiative aims to create a safer and more enjoyable experience for all users of the trail. 'Our primary goal is to increase safety along the Creekwalk,' said Mayor Walsh. 'Security cameras will serve as both a deterrent to unlawful activities and a vital resource for law enforcement, providing valuable video documentation when necessary.' The city also said key locations for these cameras include the newly established Inner Harbor kayak launch and three locations near the Inner Harbor Amphitheater. Syracuse Police will oversee the operation and monitoring of the cameras. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mayoral candidate scrutinized for using Syracuse-owned equipment for campaign event
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — It's not a typical campaign issue, but there's scrutiny over the podium and sound system used at a Syracuse mayoral candidate's campaign event on Friday afternoon. It appears City of Syracuse government resources, specifically equipment and staff, were used by Councilor Pat Hogan in his capacity as a candidate for mayor. Greg Loh, the city's chief policy officer and spokesperson for Mayor Ben Walsh, confirmed the use of a podium and sound system to NewsChannel 9. Loh claims a representative of the Hogan campaign told a city hall security officer that a podium and sound system was needed for use outside the building's front entrance. 'Based on that request, the CSO (officer) called maintenance staff and had them set up the equipment and podium up,' Loh said. At the federal level, a similar infraction would seem to violate the Hatch Act. 'The Hatch Act is a federal law that limits the political activity of federal employees while at work, wearing a government uniform, using government equipment, or in a government vehicle,' said the American Federation of Government Employees. It's not clear if the use of government equipment, in this case, is a violation of local election law. 'It's a commonsense expectation that city resources should be only used for city business,' said Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York. The group describes itself as a good-government watchdog designed to protect democracy and the ethical and efficient functioning of government. 'It's a reasonable exaptation on the part of the voter and Syracuse taxpayer that equipment provided to elected officials will not be used for campaign purposes,' Lerner added. City Auditor Alexander Marion said that elected officials have high ethical standards and he would like to remind them to follow these rules. 'City officials must hold themselves to a high ethical standard, and I would remind all elected officials of their obligations to follow ethics rules,' said Marion. 'I would also use this moment to call for updating the city's 30+ year old ethics code and improve training for city officials.' Jordan Lally, speaking on behalf of Pat Hogan's campaign, said, 'During preparations for the event, City employees generously offered the temporary use of certain equipment, which our campaign staff accepted. We extend our sincere thanks to these dedicated public servants for their professionalism and support during the setup process.' 'An elected official should know not to make such a request for a campaign purpose or to accept such an offer if made,' said Loh. Loh, speaking to NewsChannel 9 in his official role with the current mayoral administration, is also an active supporter of Hogan's mayoral primary opponent, Sharon Owens, the city's deputy mayor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mayor Walsh announces Furnace Brook restoration project
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Sediment removal work in Elmwood Park to restore the Furnace Brook will begin on June 2, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced on Thursday. Furnace Brook, a stream originating in Onondaga Hill, flows through Elmwood Park's cascading waterfalls before joining Onondaga Creek. The city said that the project is to return the brook to its previous state prior to flooding from Tropical Storm Fred in August 2021. The work will include sediment removal, repair of the channel walls, and the restoration of the park turf. 'We are committed to improving the environmental health of Furnace Brook,' said Mayor Walsh. 'This dredging project is crucial for restoring the natural flow of the brook to maintain its beauty and ecological significance in Elmwood Park. We appreciate everyone's patience as the work begins.' The project is expected to be completed by October. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Syracuse's Common Council cutting expenses for dozens of departments, clashing with Mayor Walsh
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A rare public rebuke by the Syracuse Common Council outright rejected Mayor Ben Walsh's city budget plan. The councilors, offering their cut costs, slashed nearly every department. Thursday afternoon, the city's councilors approved 87 amendments in their special meeting, claiming that the mayor spent more money than the city could absorb throughout his term. The council also said it doesn't need to raise taxes to control costs. One of the most significant projects approved included a $4.5 million bond for a sidewalk improvement program. On the other hand, the council trimmed more than $3.5 million from the police department, $2.4 million from fire services, and millions more from public works, parks and city administration. New Yorkers can now get weather alerts via text messages Syracuse's Common Council cutting expenses for dozens of departments, clashing with Mayor Walsh Your Stories Q&A: Is my Social Security number shown when a store scans my REAL ID license? CNY vets disagree with POTUS renaming Veterans Day Deputy accused of Utica fire indicted for attempted murder Councilor Pat Hogan, who is running for mayor, defends the cuts, saying they are necessary for the city to survive. 'We know we're going to have to deal with that structural deficit, and that's something that weighs on us, said Hogan, '120 million dollar fund balance, but the mayor's proposal would have taken 27 million dollars of the fund balance.' Mayor Walsh, in a press conference shortly after the meeting, acknowledged the council cuts, which he said were somewhat of a surprise to him because he hadn't heard from the councilors that they wanted any changes during the month they had been reviewing it. 'This approach doesn't protect the city,' Walsh said. 'If this is how a council runs a city, I hope it's not the future.' Surrounded by department heads, Walsh warned that the reductions would directly affect city services, particularly public safety. Police Chief Joe Cecile highlighted one potential impact. 'The Armory Square detail that we deploy on busy weekend nights—under this budget, that'll be gone,' Cecile said. A document showing the council's full funding cuts proposed in the meeting can be found below. 05.08.2025-special-meeting-agendaDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sustainable Syracuse: Building a greener Syracuse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)—The City of Syracuse is making a long-term commitment to sustainability with the new Sustainable Syracuse initiative, which aims to help reduce emissions, improve energy use, and prepare the city for the impacts of climate change that the world has been experiencing. On Earth Day, Mayor Ben Walsh announced the plan, describing it as a community effort to build a more inclusive and environmentally resilient Syracuse, especially given the recent extreme weather. 'The whole purpose of this planning is to look into the future far beyond where any of us is at this moment. We are planning for future generations, so we're going to accomplish a lot before I am done,' said Syracuse City Mayor Ben Walsh. Sustainable Syracuse: Building a greener Syracuse NYS lawmakers pass 7th budget extender Red Hot Chilli Pipers to perform at the NYS Fair 'Hamilton' the musical coming to Syracuse's Landmark Theater 6 injured after woman strikes horse on Alderman Road in Macedon Syracuse's Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a blueprint for reducing its carbon footprint and adapting to environmental challenges over time. The other plan, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (GHGI), will track and list the sources of emissions across city operations and the community as a whole. That includes fuel consumption, energy use, waste, and even the reasons behind our travel. The last time the city created and completed this list was in 2010. With the new data, the city will be able to see how far it has come and identify where to focus next. The city has already seen improvements since implementing earlier green investments, such as switching more than 17,000 streetlights to LEDs back in 2020, which saved about $3 million. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
