>> >> DAVID: TONIGHT ON WCNY WE'RE BRINGING YOU A LIVE CANDIDATE CONVERSATION FEATURING THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN HOPEFULS VYING TO BE THE NEXT LEADER FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE ♪ ♪ >> DAVID: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL LIVE FORUM - FEATURING DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE JUNE 22ND SYRACUSE MAYORAL PRIMARY - HOPING TO TAKE ON INDEPENDENT, INCUMBENT BEN WALSH IN THE FALL.

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO, HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, AND I'LL BE YOUR CO-HOST FOR TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.

>> CHRIS: AND I'M CHRIS BAKER - A REPORTER AND EDITOR WITH SYRACUSE.COM AND THE POST STANDARD - SERVING AS THE OTHER CO-HOST FOR THE EVENING.

>> DAVID: WHILE TONIGHT'S CANDIDATES ARE VYING TO REPRESENT DIFFERENT PARTIES IN THE FALL - WE'RE HAVING THEM SHARE ONE STAGE THIS EVENING - IN THE HOPES OF TRANSCENDING POLITICAL RHETORIC AND FOSTERING A CONVERSATION THAT LETS VOTERS GET TO KNOW THESE MAYORAL HOPEFULS AS INDIVIDUALS AND POTENTIAL LEADERS.

TO THAT END - WE HAVE PREPARED A VARIETY OF TOPICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL AND PERSONAL QUESTIONS.

CANIDATES WILL HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION - WITH ADDITIONAL TIME, FOLLOW UPS AND REBUTTALS LEFT TO THE SOLE DISCRETION OF YOUR HOSTS.

AND WE WILL BEGIN AND END OUR EVENING WITH BRIEF REMARKS FROM THE CANDIDATES >> CHRIS: SO WITH THE AGENDA OUT OF THE WAY, LET'S ACTUALLY MEET THE CANDIDATES VYING TO BE MAYOR: THEY ARE SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCILOR KHALID BEY, SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCILOR MICHAEL GREENE, ECONOMIST JANET BURMAN, AND ATTORNEY THOMAS BABILON.

INCUMBENT MAYOR BEN WALSH, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A PRIMARY, DECLINED AN INVITATION TO JOIN US TONGIHT.

>> DAVID: BASED ON A COIN TOSS WE HELD OFF STAGE, WE WILL START OUR OPENING REMARKS WITH AND GO ACROSS THE STAGE.

YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU.

WELL, MY NAME IS THOMAS BABILON AND I WANT TO BE YOUR NEXT MAYOR.

I'M AN ATTORNEY.

I PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE FOR 10 YEARS.

DURING THAT TIME PERIOD I PERSONALLY ADVISED THREE DIFFERENT MAYORS EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT HEAD AND MOST MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.

I REPRESENTED THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY AND THE CITY LAND BANK.

DIRECTED COMPLEX LEGISLATION AND DRAFTED A 10-YEAR RENEWABLE PLAN I ALSO RAN THE CITY'S HOUSING DIVISION FOR TWO YEARS.

SO I FEEL THAT I'M THE MOST EXPERIENCED CANDIDATE ON THE STAGE TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE CITY OF SYRACUSE A FRIENDLIER, CHEAPER AND EASIER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK AND I THINK I CAN DO THAT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES OR BUDGET.

ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO MAKE THE CITY OF SYRACUSE THE MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY CITY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

I'VE GOT IDEAS AND PLANS TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE IN BOTH THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THANK YOU.

>> JANET, YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS.

>> MY VISION FOR OUR CITY INCLUDES SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND A VIBRANT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CITIZENS.

I INTEND TO USE MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO ENSURE THAT CITIES-- CITY'S ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN A COST EFFECTIVE AS WELL AS COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TOO MUCH MISTRUST AND FEAR IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.

I'M GOING TO REVERSE THAT TREND.

AND THE THEME FOR MY CAMPAIGN LEADS US TO MY PHILOSOPHY.

SYRACUSE UNITED.

>> MIKE, YOU HAVE REGOT 90 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT MY NAME IS MICHAEL GREENE, COUNCILOR AT LARGE.

CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I GREW NEWSPAPER CENTRAL NEW YORK AND ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

AFTER COLLEGE I MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY WHERE I WORKED FOR ALMOST A DECADE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR WORKED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AGENCY, PORT AUTHORITY AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE BACK HOME WITH MY WIFE EMILY WHERE WE LIVE ON CUMBERLAND AVENUE WITH MY DAUGHTER RILEY AND OUR DOG KIP AND IN 2018 IN JANUARY I JOINED THE COMMON COUNCIL AND HAVE SERVED AS A COUNCILOR AT LARGE SINCE THAT TIME AND WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

THE REASON I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR, IN MY OPINION, THE POLICIES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ARE LEAVING BEHIND PEOPLE AND ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND IF WE ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE CITY WE NEED TO CHANGE THE POLICIES IN PLACE.

THE STATUS QUO IS NOT WORKING.

I PUT TOGETHER A POLICY PLATFORM, THE CITY FOR ALL OF US, 14 DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT WOULD GO ABOUT CHANGING EVERYTHING FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO TRANSPORTATION TO POLICING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

I'M SOMEONE THAT SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMON COUNCIL I HAVE BEEN FEARLESS WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING STANDS AGAINST AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST EVERYTHING FOR VOTING AGAINST THE POLICE UNION CONTRACT TO FIGHTING AGAINST CENTERSTATE C.E.O.

ASKING FOR A SWEETHEART DEAL IN REAL ESTATE DOWNTOWN.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE A MAYOR THAT HAS A CLEAR POLICY VISION OF MAKING THIS A FAIR PLACE AND SOMEONE IN PLACE THAT IS FEARLESS WHEN IT COMES TO ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS.

>> YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS AS WELL.

>> APPRECIATE THE INVITATION.

MY NAME IS KHALID BEY.

I'M A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR HOPING TO GET YOUR VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDACY GOING INTO THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

I HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR 10 YEARS AND IN THAT TIME ON THE COUNCIL, I HAVE WRITTEN WHAT I WOULD CALL GROUNDBREAKING AND GAME CHANGING LEGISLATION FROM ALLOWING PERSONS REENTERING PEOPLE FROM THE PRISON SYSTEM TO EMPLOYMENT, OBLIGATING PERSONS OR COMPANIES THAT CONTRACT WITH THE CITY TO HIRE FROM WITHIN THE CITY.

DISORDERLY PROPERTY OWNERS ORDINANCE THAT TARGETED GAMBLING HOUSES AND TROUBLING PRTS PROPERTIES AS WELL AS INSPECTIONS THAT HELD LANDLORD ACCOUNTABLE AND PROTECTED TENANTS FROM ABUSES.

I'M A GRADUATE OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND PROUD TO BE A GRADUATE OF CORCORAN HIGH SCHOOL.

I ALWAYS PROMOTE MY COUGARS.

I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR SIMILARLY BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES WE'VE EXPERIENCED UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, I THINK, CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF UNACTIVITY IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS BUT ALSO I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS REQUIRED TO KEEP OUR CITY STRONG , TO EMPOWER FAMILIES FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND I HOPE TO GET YOUR SUPPORT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION.

>> VERY GOOD.

WE'LL START WITH THE QUESTION AND THE FIRST QUESTION WILL GO TO YOU, KHALI DI.

IF YOU ARE ELECTED MAYOR, WHAT IS THE FIRST JOB YOU WILL FILL IS THAT YOUR PRIORITY AND WHO IS YOUR IDEAL CANDIDATE?

WE'LL START WITH _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AND YOU HAVE , THE FIRST JOB I WILL FILL IS THE POLICE CHIEF.

I HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION WHO THAT PERSON IS YET BUT GIVING IT HEAVY CONSIDERATION.

THE POLICE CHIEF IS THE FIRST JOB I WOULD FILL.

>> WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATION IS OF AN IDEAL CANDIDATE?

>> FOR ME, THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AND INTERESTING IN PUSHING THE CONSENT DECREE THAT WE HAVE BEEN OBLIGATED TO OPERATE UNDER FOR YEARS BUT FOR SOME REASON, WE HAVEN'T ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN TO EXECUTE EFFORTS TO HIRE PEOPLE FROM WITHIN THE CITY.

I THINK RESIDENCY IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT ALSO TO REWRITE OUR POLICY TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS WEAPON THE USE OF FORCE POLICY.

>> I WOULD FILL A POSITION CALLED THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND FUNDAMENTALLY RESTRUCTURE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BY HAVING A COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT OVERSEES THE REFORM IN THE DEPARTMENT AND I WOULD KEEP POLICE CHIEF THAT WOULD BE RUNNING THE DAY-TO-DAY DEPARTMENT.

THE CIVILIAN WOULD BE SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT ISN'T A CAREER POLICE OFFICER SO THINK ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR OTHER TYPE OF LAW EXPERIENCE.

THAT'S ESSENTIAL BECAUSE AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T VOLUNTARILY REFORM ITSELF.

YOU NEED SOMEONE WITH AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE THAT WOULD LOOK AT HOW THE COMMUNITY INTERACTS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PUSH REFORM ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

THAT'S ESSENTIAL FOR REFORM AND ALSO FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT.

WE SAW DURING COVID WHERE THE DEPARTMENT HAD PEOPLE WORKING OVERTIME WHILE ALSO HAVING OFFICERS STAYING HOME AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT'S BAD MANAGEMENT AND IT'S HARD TO BE A POLICE CHIEF THAT RUNS A DEPARTMENT AND PUTS THOSE POLICIES IN PLACE.

WE NEED A COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT'S A CIVILIAN.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY FIRST PRIORITY.

MY FIRST HIRE WOULD BE THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOLLOWED THEREAFTER BY THE THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF POLICE IS SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A CLASSIC COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL I HAVE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT HOW WE MEADE NEED TO INCREASE STAFFING LEVELS WITHIN THE POLICE TO ENABLE US TO STAWJ POLICE IN IN CONSISTENT NEIGHBORHOODS SO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, TO DEVELOP GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH BUSINESS OWNERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND THAT ISN IMPORTANT MODEL FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR CITY THAT I EXPECT MY CHIEF OF POLICE TO BUY INTO.

>> TOM?

>> I HAVE A WHOLE BURCH OF HIRES I BELIEVE I'M GOING TO HIRE ON DAY ONE.

SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARDS TO THIS, I WILL SAY THE FIRST PERSON I BELIEVE I'M GOING TO HIRE WOULD BE THE DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

AND THAT'S PAUL DRISCOLL.

PAUL HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF MINE FOR MANY YEARS.

HE IS A FORMER DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

EXCELLENT GUY.

THE BEST PERSON I'VE EVER SEEN HIM DO THAT JOB.

THE REASON I WANT HIM THERE IS BECAUSE I HAVE A VISION TO MAKE HOME OWNERSHIP ACCESSIBLE TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO OWN A HOME IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COVID RELIEF FUNDS, OTHER FUNDS IN THE CITY.

WE GOT OUR HUD FUNDS THAT COME IN ANNUALLY.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME, THE CITY CHANGES DIRECTION FROM HOME OWNERSHIP TO LARGE APARTMENT BUILDINGS WHERE THEY DIRECT THEIR HUD FUNDING.

I THINK SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES OR TWO-FAMILY HOMES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, STRUCTURE OR THING TO BUILD UP A NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN YOU HAVE OWNERSHIP IN A HOME, YOU TAKE PRIDE IN THE HOME.

IT BUILDS EQUITY FOR THE HOMEOWNER.

>> I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF THERE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TURN TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

THIS SPRING, THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR CUOMO LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR ADULT SALES OF MARIJUANA TO BEGIN POTENTIALLY NEXT YEAR.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE MARIJUANA PLAYING IN THE CITY?

WE'LL START WITH MIKE, YOU'VE GOT 60 SECONDS.

>> I SUPPORT THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

I THINK IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

FOR TOO LONG WE'VE CRIMINALIZED MARIJUANA AND IT HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

IN AN EFFORT TO DO GUN SUPPRESSION, PULLING PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH SIDE AND WEST SIDE AND GIVING THEM APPEARANCE TICKETS FOR MARIJUANA ARRESTS.

THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED PEOPLE OF COLOR.

IT WAS A REALLY BAD POLICY IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE STATE ATTORNEY WOULDN'T EVEN PROSECUTE THE TICKETS.

SO WHAT THE FUTURE OF SYRACUSE SHOULD BE IN REGARDS TO MARIJUANA IS EMBRACING LEGALIZATION.

WE SHOULD ALLOW SALE WITHIN THE CITY AND WE SHOULD BE, IN PARTICULAR, TRYING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE CITY TO OPEN UP SHOPS, TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THE REVENUE FROM THAT IN THE CITY AND ALSO USE THE SALES TAX FROM IT AS WELL.

>> JANET, YOU HAVE 60 SECONDS.

>> THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA RESOLVES SOME PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH HISTORICALLY, YOU KNOW, SUCH AS THE RACIAL PROFILING OF MARIJUANA ARRESTS AND TICKETING IN OUR CITY.

AND IT BRINGS USAGE OUT OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR INTO AN ACCEPTED PART OF OUR DAILY LIFE.

HOWEVER, IT COMES WITH ANOTHER SET OF PROBLEMS.

AND WE WILL HAVE TO BE VERY CONCERNED WITH PREVENT PREVENTING SALES TO MINORS.

WE WILL HAVE TO BE VERY CONCERNED WITH ADDICTION PROBLEMS BREAUXING IN OUR COMMUNITY GROWING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PARTICULARLY WITH REGARDS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ASPECTS AND SALES TO MINORS IT Y THEME OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUPPORTING AN INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF POLICE STAFFING IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO NEED POLICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT HAVING SALES TO MINORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> TOM, 60 SECONDS.

>> THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA, I THINK, IS A GOOD THING ALL AROUND, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET THE SHOPS IN THE CITY.

IT'S GOING TO BRING A DIRECT REVENUE STREAM TO THE CITY THAT I THINK WE NEED.

DEFINITELY ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF MORE MONEY INTO THE CITY.

BUT THE IDEA THAT MORE KIDS ARE GOING HAVE ACCESS TO MARIJUANA, I THINK, IS RIDICULOUS.

I MEAN ANYONE WHO HAS A KID IN SCHOOL OR ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN IN HIGH SCHOOL KNOWS THAT MARIJUANA IS EASILY AVAILABLE IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL IN EVERY SINGLE STREET CORNER.

I MEAN IT IS.

SO THE IDEA THAT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR KIDS TO GET IT NOW THAT IT IS LEGALIZED BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I WAS A KID YOU CANS IT WAZ EASIER TO GET WEED THAN BEER.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORRY B.

BUT YEAH, IT'S GOING TO DEFINITELY GOING TO BE GOOD FOR NEW YORK ALL AROUND.

PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO BE HARASSED, AS MICHAEL POINTED OUT, FOR DOING SOMETHING THAT IS BASICALLY PROVEN TO BE LESS HARMFUL THAN ALCOHOL.

I'M IN FAVOR OF IT, THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT REVENUE STREAM FOR THE CITY AND I'M PROBABLY OUT OF TIME.

>> I'M A SUPPORTER OF LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

PRIMARILY, OF COURSE, IS WHAT IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON.

PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR MARIJUANA FOR YEARS.

JUST RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON.

SO IT'S NOW, I GUESS, A NEW PHENOMENON TO PEOPLE.

BUT ALSO THE ECONOMIC EXTREMES, THE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY CANNOT BE DENIED, NOT ONLY FOR POTENTIAL SMALL BUSINESSES OR BUSINESSES WHO MAY BE IN THE BUSINESS OF OPERATING A DISPENSARY BUT REVENUE STREAMS FOR THE CITY.

VERY SMART MOVE.

VERY SIMILAR TO WHEN CIGARETTES WERE LEGALIZED AND WHAT IT DID FOR THE ECONOMY AND WHAT IT DID FOR PRIVATE FAMILIES WHO MAY HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A BUSINESS.

SO I THINK RIGHTS GREAT FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE FOR SURE AND CERTAINLY GREAT FOR THE STATE.

>> A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

NOW THAT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA USE HAS BEEN LEGALIZED IN NEW YORK, CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU'VE CONSUMED MARIJUANA SINCE IT BECAME LEGAL IN APRIL OR PLAN TO CONSUMING IT ONCE SHOPS OPEN UP POTENTIALLY IN 2022?

ANY HANDS?

GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.

SOLD.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT QUESTION.

WE WILL START WITH JANET.

WHAT DOES STRUCTURAL RACISM MEAN TO YOU AND HOW CAN IT BE ADDRESSED IN MAJOR INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS CITY GOVERNMENT.

JANET, 60 SECONDS.

>> WE'VE SEEN EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURAL RACISM THROUGHOUT MODERN HISTORY.

I THINK THE AREA WHERE IT'S HAD THE MOST SEVERE IMPACT HAS BEEN IN HOUSING.

THE PRACTICE OF RED LINING THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE LATE PART OF THE 20th CENTURY IN THE 60s, 70s AND INTO THE 80s, GROSSLY DISADVANTAGED AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES.

THEY WEREN'T PERMITTED TO GET MORTGAGES, TO ACQUIRE HOMES AND RESULTING FROM THAT, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO BUILD EQUITY.

SO YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A RESULTING WEALTH GAP FROM THAT TIME PERIOD.

I AM CONCERNED THAT GOING FORWARD, WE ARE SEEING A DIFFERENT KIND OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM WITH REGARDS TO DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS ON THE SOUTH SIDE ABOUT WHAT THE NATURE OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY IS AND HISTORICALLY, AND NOWADAYS, IT'S BEEN DRIVEN BY DEVELOPERS MAKING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES.

>> TOM.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS STRUCTURAL RACISM CURRENTLY IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE OF COLOR ON THE COMMON COUNCIL, PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT ARE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

I DON'T THINK THAT NECESSARILY STRUCTURAL REIGN IS A PROBLEM IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT TODAY.

HOWEVER,LY SAY THAT STRUCTURAL RACISM HAS AFFECTED THE CITY HISTORICALLY.

WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, HIGHEST POVERTY RATES IN THE COUNTRY AS JANET SAID, IT WAS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET HOMES AND GET THE EQUITY AND PULL THEMSELVES OUT OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

PERHAPS THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM HISTORICALLY.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOK BACK HISTORICALLY AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW DID WE GET INTO THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WHERE WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH POVERTY RATE, YOU KNOW, MAINLY CONCENTRATED AREAS WHERE MINORITIES LIVE.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADDRESS THAT.

BUT HOW DO WE-- I DON'T THINK WE FEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE CITY OTHER THAN PERHAPS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MINORITIES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I SAID THIS PREVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY SCHOOLS.

>> HAVE I TO CUT YOU OFF THERE, SORRY.

>> CA-- STRUCTURAL RACISM.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT RED LINING IN THE 50s AND 60s AND WHAT LED TO THE VERY POVERTY THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

ABSENT TO THAT DENIAL TO ACCESS TO MONEY TO MAINTAIN HOUSING AND THE LIKE, PARTICULARLY IN THE 15th WARD OF THE CITY.

OUR CONDITION WOULD PROBABLY BE A BIT DIFFERENT TODAY.

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO THE INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM.

THE DEVELOPING OF NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR NEAR STREARL PARK INDUSTRIAL PARKS AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

NOWHERE MATTER WHERE YOU GO IF THE CITY, OFTEN TIMES YOU HAVE HEAVY INDUSTRY, THERE IS USUALLY A HOUSING PROJECT NEARBY AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.

NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO BREATHE THAT BUT APPARENTLY IT IS ASSUMED THAT WE DO.

EVEN THE VIADUCT SPEAKS TO AS MUCH.

YOU LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY THE VIADUCT SHOULD STAY, DESPITE THE DAMAGE IT HAS CAUSED TO PEOPLE, DESPITE THE DAMAGE IT HAS CAUSED TO THE HEALTH OF MANY PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS, DESPITE THE DIVIDE THAT IT CREATED ECONOMICALLILY, SOCIALLY AND SO FORTH, PEOPLE DISREGARD THAT AND PROCEED ANYWAY.

>> I WOULD RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH TOM THAT THERE IS NOT STRUCTURAL RACISM IN OUR CITY.

YOU CAN LOOK AT OUR POLICIES.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST HAVING REPRESENTATION.

IT'S THE POLICIES IN PLACE IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY POLICY PLATFORM THERE ARE FIVE SUBHEADING, HOUSING POLICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRANSAND CLIMATE CHANGE.

EACH OF THOSE FIVE, STRUCTURAL REALM HAS RACISM HAS A ROLE.

RED LINING IS ONE IN HOUSING THAT MADE OUR CITY SEGREGATED.

WE HAVE THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR.

POLICING, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE PRACTICES IN PLACE DISPROPORTIONATELY CALLING PEOPLE OVER OF COLOR IN NEIGHBORHOODS IS RACIST.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF TAX BREAKS FOR PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, CORPORATIONS.

AGAIN THE MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES TEND TO NOT BE INCLUDED ON A LOT OF THOSE POLICIES.

TRANSPORTATION.

WE DON'T PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND 25% OF THE CITY DON'T HAVE A CAR, DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND THE LAST THING IS CLIMATE CHANGE.

A FEW YEARS AGO TALKING ABOUT ONONDAGA CREEK AND HOW THAT IN PEOPLE FEMA'S MAP, ONE OF THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR CITY IS IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

EVERY POLICY IS RELATED TO STRUCTURAL RACISM.

>> NOW WE ARE GOING MIX THINGS UP AGAIN WITH SOME CANDIDATE SPECIFIC POLICY QUESTIONS.

THIS TIME WITH PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE MIND AND KHALID, WOO EEL START WITH YOU HERE.

YOU TALK ABOUT KNOWING PEOPLE OF COLOR MISTREATED BY THE POLICE BUT YOU STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING POLICE LEADERSHIP WITH A BACKGROUND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO EMPOWER SOMEONE WHO COMES FROM YOUR STATEMENT, IF AND NOT ENABLE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> EDUCATORS HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING TO TEACH EDUCATORS, JOURNALISTS HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING TO TEACH JOURNALISTS AND THAT SAME RESPECT, SOMEBODY FROM THE SAME PROFESSION HAS A GREATER EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY HANDS ON EXPERIENCE, PARTICULARLY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A PERSON MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING IN A MOMENT WHERE THINGS ARE HEATED TO PUT A CIVILIAN IN THAT PREDICAMENT IS TO PUT A PERSON THERE WHO MIGHT CAST JUDGMENT WITHOUT REAL UNDERSTANDING.

THAT HAPPENS ANY TIME YOU HAVE CONTRAST BETWEEN PEOPLE.

IT'S INTERESTING THOUGH, THAT THERE IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT THERE IS A DISCONNECT SOMEHOW BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A VALUE TO POLICE.

I ALWAYS SAY THAT PEOPLE OFTEN TIMES DON'T LIKE TO SEE THE POLICE COME IN UNTIL THEY NEED THEM.

ONE THING IS FOR SURE.

I HEARD GUNSHOTS IN THE DISTANCE FROM MY HOUSE THAT REQUIRES A POLICE PRESENCE.

I'M NOT AS A CIVILIAN GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

HAVE YOU TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO MANAGE POLICE.

SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS SPECIFICALLY, AGAIN AND I'M BEING PURPOSEFULLY REDUNDANT, UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY DEAL WITH FROM ONE CIRCUMSTANCE TO THE NEXT.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN IN THAT PREDICAMENT, YOU CANNOT GUIDE THEM IN THOSE MOMENTS.

>> MIKE, THE NEXT QUESTION GOES TO YOU, ALSO ON THE TOPIC OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

IN TALKING ABOUT POLICE REFORM, YOU CALLED FOR CIVILIAN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER TO OVERSEE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHY ISN'T IT ADD DWUT HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR SERVE AS THE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY AS OPPOSED TO ADDING ADDITIONAL LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY?

>> THE MAYOR HAS BEEN LARGELY SOMEONE WHO LETS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RUN ITSELF.

I THINK YOU SEE THAT IN THE POLICIES AND REFORM.

YOU LOOK AT THE RIGHT TO KNOW POLICY WHERE THE MAYOR SIGNED AND EXECUTIVE ORDER IN I BELIEVE JUNE AND IT WASN'T UNTIL JANUARY THAT THEY GOT AROUND TO PRINTING THE BUSINESS CARDS TO DO IT.

THE MAYOR IS NOT ON STATE STREET EVERY DAY, NOT MANAGING THE DAY-TO-DAY DEPARTMENT.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE POLICY ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE AT HOME DURING COVID, IT SEEMED CLEAR FROM THE REPORT THE MAYOR DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING O.

THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR SEEMS TO FIND OUT AFTER THE FACT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CIVILIAN IN THERE THAT WILL IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES SEEING THE POLICE OFFICERS EVERY DAY AND MANAGING THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT GETTING DONE.

>> ARE YOU SAYING YOU WOULD BE THE SAME HANDS OFF MAYOR THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED BEN WALSH BEING?

>> I WOULDN'T BE A HANDS OFF MAYOR BUT I WOULD BE SURE TO HAVE SOMEONE REPRESENTATIVE AS A CIVILIAN THERE EVERY DAY FOCUSED ON POLICE REFORM.

THE MAYOR HAS BROAD RESPONSIBILITIES AND YOU CAN'T JUST FOCUS ON POLICING.

YOU NEED SOMEONE TO DO IT FULL TIME.

>> JANET, AS PART OF THE EMPHASIS YOU MADE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU HAVE CALLED FOR THE CITY TO INVEST IN MORE POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH, ACCORDING TO YOUR PLAN WOULD BE PARTIALLY PAID FOR BY SHIFTING MONEY OUT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

HOW MUCH WOULD HAVE TO BE DIVERTED AND WHY CAN THESE AREAS OF THE CITY'S BUDGET AFFORD TO BE CUT?

>> I'M AN ECONOMIST AND I'M USED TO LOOKING AT BUDGET.

ANY GOVERNMENT BUDGET YOU CAN LOOK AT IN DETAIL, LINE BY LINE, PROGRAM BY PROGRAM, DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT, AND IDENTIFY AREAS OF LOWER PRIORITY.

THIS IS WHERE FUNDS CAN BE STRIPPED FROM THAT DEPARTMENT AND REALLOCATED TO WHERE IT'S MORE NEEDED.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET OURSELVES UP AS A SAFE CITY IF WE INVEST SUFFICIENTLY IN OUR POLICE IN PERSONNEL AND IN TECHNOLOGY AND IN LEADERSHIP AND THAT'S WAS WE NEED TO DO.

>> HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD BE DIVERTED AND WHY CAN THOSE AREAS AFFORD TO BE CUT?

>> >> SPECIFICALLY WHERE WOULD I CUT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY BUDGET, OKAY POLICE IS THE LARGEST COMPONENT AFTER THE CITY SHARE OF SCHOOL FUNDING AND FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAVINGS IN ALL OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAVING WITHIN POLICE I'M SURE AS WELL.

SO EFFICIENT USE OF THE FUNDS, DELIVERING SERVICES IN A COST EFFECTIVE MANNER WHICH SHOULD NOT BE A PRIORITY FOR THE MAYOR FOR SEVERAL TERMS NOW, YOU KNOW, THAT HAS TO BE THE FIRST PRIORITY OF CITY GOVERNMENT.

COST EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES AUXILLARY POLICE OFFICERS IN NEW YORK CITY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CURB THE SPATE OF VIOLENT CRIME AND THERE HAVE BEEN HIGH PROFILE SCANDALS INVOLVING AUXILLARY OFFICERS IN ILLINOIS.

WHY SHOULD SYRACUSE EXPECT A BETTER OUTCOME WITH YOUR PLAN?

>> YOU GIVE ONE EXAMPLE OF ILLINOIS WHEN IN REALITY, ALMOST EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY, YOU COULD PROBABLY POINT TO 50 EXAMPLES OF ACTUAL POLICE OFFICERS WITH SCANDALS TALKING ABOUT ONE SCANDAL IN ILLINOIS.

THESE ARE TRUSTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THEY ARE VETTED, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A PROCESS.

THEY'RE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SENDING JOE SMITH OUT ON THE STREET TO POLICE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THESE ARE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED AUXILLARY POLICE OFFICERS.

NOW THE REGULAR POLICE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CURB THE VIOLENT CRIME IN NEW YORK CITY EITHER SO WHEN YOU SAY AUXILLARY POLICE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IT.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE AUXILLARY POLICE AND THE REGULAR POLICE AUXILLARY POLICE WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR POLICE OF THE CITY.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT I'M TALKING ABOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS I AGREE WITH MAYOR WALSH WE NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REGULAR OFFICERS, AT LEAST 400, PERHAPS MORE.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER CITIES ANOTHER QUESTION BY A SHOW OF HANDS.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU SUPPORT REQUIRING POLICE OFFICERS TO LIVE IN THE CITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL.

>> TOM, DO YOU WANT 15 SECONDS?

>> I MEAN YOU CAN'T REQUIRE THEM TO LIVE IN THE CITY, WHICH IS THE POINT.

THAT'S WHY I CAN'T RAISE MY HAND.

STATE LAW PROHIBITS IT.

>> SO WOULD YOU SUPPORT AMENDING STATE LAW?

>> I WOULD SUPPORT AMENDING THE STATE LAW.

>> IF WE AMENDED THE STATE LAW, WOULD YOU SUPPORT THIS AS WITH EL?

>> NO, I WANT TO MAKE OUR CITY A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.

NOT WHERE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO LIVE.

>> SO GOING BACK TO SOUR OTHER QUESTION.

ACHIEVING HERD IMMUNITY IS A KEY THRESHOLD FORE MERGING FROM THE FOR EMERGING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

WHY OR WHY NOT.

STARTING WITH TOM, 60 SECONDS.

>> I DID THE RESEARCH MYSELF.

YES.

THE SIDE EFFECTS SEEM TO BE SMALL.

I'VE GOTTEN THE COVID VACCINE, MY DAUGHTER HAS GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

YOU KNOW, IN THE SAME THING, I SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET IT.

IF YOU-- IT'S A MEDICAL DECISION.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T WANT TO GET THE VACCINE, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO THAT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CORRECT MEDICAL DECISION FOR MYSELF AND I GOT IT FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY DAUGHTER.

>> KHALID SAME QUESTION.

>> I BELIEVE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE ANSWER.

HAVE I NOT RECEIVED THE VACCINE AND I BELIEVE WE ARE APPROACHING HIPPA VIOLATIONS WITH THE QUESTION WHY.

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THAT'S NOT HOW HIPPA WORKS.

>> YOU THE DOES WORK THAT WAY WHEN YOU ARE ASKING A PERSON'S PRIVATE HEALTH.

>> YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO ANSWER IT.

>> I HAVE ANSWERED IT A COUPLE TIMES.

I HAVE NOT GONE INTO THE DETAIL.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS WHAT I HAVE SAID BEFORE.

THAT MY HEALTH IS NOT RESPOND WELL TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

THAT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE AND I WILL SAY WHAT I SAID BEFORE.

IF IT WAS AN ONLY OBLIGATION THAT I GET COVID OR BE MAYOR, I WOULD WOULDN'T BE MAYOR.

LET'S BE CLEAR.

>> YES, I DID RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

COVID IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTED MY FAMILY PERSONALLY.

MY GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY FROM COVID.

FOR ME, IT WASN'T-- IT WAS AN EASY DECISION.

I LISTENED TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT RECOMMENDED THE VACCINE.

IT IS SOMETHING I DID THE FIRST DAY I WAS ELIGIBLE TO DO IT.

AS MAYOR, IF SOMETHING SIMILAR PANDEMIC WERE TO HIT, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE LEADERSHIP IN PLACE THAT WOULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND LISTEN TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO LISTEN TO THEM AS WELL AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO IF ELECTED.

>> JANET, SAME QUESTION.

>> YES, WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME UP, I SPOKE TO OUR DAUGHTER, WHO IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR AND SHE ADVISED THAT WE GO AHEAD WITH IT.

AND I ASKED HER WHICH VACCINE AND SHE SAID WHATEVER YOU CAN GET.

AND SO WE DID.

>> SO WE ARE GOING TO TRANSITION AGAIN.

THIS TIME TO A COUPLE OF SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS.

WE ARE GOING TO MIX UP THE ORDER AGAIN, STARTING WITH TOM THIS TIME.

SHORT BEING THE PREROGATIVE WORD HERE PEOPLE.

TOM, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU VISITED THE STATE FAIR AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO OR SEE WHEN YOU ARE THERE?

>> WELL, I GO TO THE STATE FAIR EVERY YEAR.

SO OBVIOUSLY I DIDN'T GO LAST SUMMER.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 2019.

AND MY FAVORITE THING HAS GOT TO BE THE FREE CONCERTS AT CHEVY COURT.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING I'M LOOKING AT.

WHO IS COMING AND WHERE AM I BRINGING MY FAMILY TO SEE A FREE SHOW.

FREE CONCERTS AT CHEVY COURT.

>> JANET?

>> I LIKE THE ANIMALS.

>> AND THE LAST TIME WERE YOU THERE?

>> 2019.

>> MIKE.

>> I WAS THERE 2019, THE LAST YEAR IT WAS OPEN.

THE FAVORITE THING TO DO IS DRINK CHOCOLATE MILK.

I DON'T DRINK IT ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR.

WHEN YOU GO TO THE FAIR HAVE YOU TO DRINK IT.

MY DAUGHTER IS ONE THIS YEAR AND I'LL HAVE HER TRY CHOCOLATE MILK.

>> 2018, THE LEMON CORN ON THE COB.

THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN GET IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CHALID, WITH YOU ON THE FIRST ONE.

IF THE PRIMARY ELECTION CAME DOWN TO A KARAOKE CONTEST, WHAT SONG WOULD YOU SING?

>> GOOD ONE.

WHAT SONG WOULD I SING?

THIS IS TOUGH.

THIS IS NOT A QUICK ANSWER, CHRIS.

THAT'S NOT FAIR.

I MIGHT HAVE TO SING ONE OF MY OWN SONGS.

>> OKAY.

>> I HAVE ENOUGH.

>> OKAY.

MIKE.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE IT DOESN'T BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, KHALID HAS A BACKGROUND IN MUSIC.

I'M A BIG FAN OF HAMILTON SO WOULD I SING YOUR-- WORK TOWN.

>> CARLY SIMON SONG, THEME FOR WORKING GIRL.

CALLED NEW JERUSALEM.

>> IF THE PRIMARY CONTEST WERE TO COME DOWN TO A KARAOKE MATCH, I WOULD CONCEDE.

>> I MEAN WE ARE RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND SO I CAN'T ASK ANYONE TO SING RIGHT NOW.

TOM, WHO IS YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ATHLETE.

>> THIS IS INCREDIBLY EMBARRASSING BUT I DON'T WATCH SYRACUSE SPORTS.

>> IT'S HONEST THOUGH.

>> I MEAN YEAH, IT'S HONEST.

>> JUST CONCEDE NOW.

>> I'M NOT A SPORTS GUY.

I WATCH A LITTLE NFL FOOTBALL BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T REALLY WATCH SPORTS.

>> JANET?

>> JIM BROWN.

>> VIRGINIA TECH GAME WHERE THEY WON AT THE BUZZER.

>> MCPHERSON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT TAKES US BACK TO OUR MORE SERIOUS QUESTIONS HERE AND WE WILL START BACK WITH KHALID.

LIKE MANY AGENT AGING UPSTATE CITIES, SYRACUSE HOUSING STOCK IS IN NEED OF SERIOUS INVESTMENT.

WHAT IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WHILE ALSO MODERATING THE EFFECTS OF GENTRIFICATION.

WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

I APPRECIATE IT.

HOUSING IS VERY IMPORTANT.

ONE IN TWO FAMILY HOUSING SPECIFICALLY.

WE SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT RED LINING, WHICH IS WHAT ULTIMATELY CAUSEDDED THE DETERIORATION OF MANY OF THE STRUGGLING NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR CITY.

THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THAT IS TO REINVEST IN THE VERY SAME NEIGHBORHOODS.

FORTUNATELY WE HAVE THE TYPE OF AGENCIES NOW THAT SUPPORT MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE GETTING ACCESS TO FIRST TIME HOME OWNERSHIP.

THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY BUILD EQUITY IN FAMILIES IS VERY KEY TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS.

IT'S ONE EFFORT THINGS THAT I HARP ON QUITE A BIT.

THERE WAS A SECOND PART TO YOUR QUESTION.

>> WHILE MODERATING THE EFFECTS OF GENTRIFICATION.

>> IT'S A MATTER OF TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE NOW.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AND I'LL BE QUICK.

THERE IS ALWAYS AN EFFORT TO DRAW NEW, WHICH WE SHOULD ALWAYS DO.

LOOK TO IMPROVE OUR POPULATION BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN HERE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.

>> MIKE.

>> HOUSING PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN MY POLICY PLATFORM.

CITY FOR ALL OF US.

IT HAS TWO MAIN COMPONENTS HERE.

ONE TO PROTECT THE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRONGER CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S ONE THING WOULD I LIKE TO DO, TAKE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT, REPORT TO THE MAYOR, EMPOWER THEM TO MAKE SURE THE SLUM LORDS ARE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.

HAVE YOU TO BUILD NEW HOUSING STOCK.

PART OF IT CAN BE REZONE SYRACUSE.

SOMETHING THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE AT THIS POINT.

PASSING THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO BUILD MORE HOUSING AND MORE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THE OTHER THING THE CITY CAN DO IS TAKE A DIRECT ROLE IN BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BEE OWN DIFFERENT FIRE HOUSES THAT ARE ABANDONED, PARKING LOTS THAT ARE VACANT.

NO REASON THE CITY CAN'T PUT OUT AN RFP AND DIRECTLY ASK THE DEVELOPER TO BUILD 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THOSE LOTS.

THE LAST THING WOULD I SAY AS A PROTECTION AGAINST GENTRIFICATION.

I HAVE A PLAN TO PUT A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, LAND PERMANENTLY OWNED BY THE COMMUNITY.

THEY WOULD OWN THE LAND AND HOUSING BUILT ON TOP OF IT.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T GET GENTRIFIED AS A CITY.

>> JANET.

>> I DON'T THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING HOMES.

THAT'S WHAT THE MARKET IS FOR.

I DO BELIEVE THE CITY SHOULD STEP IN FOR ABANDONED PROPERTIES, PROPERTIES THAT HAVE FALL N INTO COMPLETE DISREPAIR AND AREN'T REHABITTABLE, CONDEMN THEM AND CLEAR THEM AND THEN MAKE THAT LAND AVAILABLE.

BUT AS FAR AS BUILDING HOUSES, IT'S ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG THING.

MAYOR WALSH IS HOPING TO DEDICATE $13 MILLION TO BUILD 50 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

OKAY, IF DO YOU THE MATH QUICKLY, THAT'S $256,000 PER HOME.

OKAY.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN AFFORD A HOME AT THAT COST FIRST OF ALL?

SO WE HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE IT.

SECONDLY, WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH IS BECAUSE GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING HOMES.

THAT'S WHAT HOME BUILDERS ARE FOR.

SO I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF NOT ALLOWING DEVELOPERS TO COME IN AND GET THEIR WAY WITH REGARDS TO WHAT THEY BUILD IN THE CITY... >> AND I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF.

>> AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO CANDIDATES.

>> LASTLY, TOM.

>> SO FIRST I WANT TO AGREE WITH KHALID.

THE ONE AND TWO FAMILY HOMES ARE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT TO CONCENTRATE ON.

I THINK OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CREW NEED TO FOCUS THAT BECAUSE IT'S A WAY TO BUILD EQUITY, GET SOME INCOME FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, GET THEM OUT OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

THAT'S THE WAY MIDDLE-CLASS AND POOR PEOPLE SAVE MONEY.

THEY BUY A HOUSE.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THAT.

IS I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH JANET.

WE GET HUD FUNDS EVERY YEAR SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO NEW HOUSING.

WOULD I NOT RECOMMEND OF ANY POINT OF REJECTING THOSE FUNDS AND NOT BUILDING ANY PUBLIC HOUSING OR NOT BUILDING HOUSING FOR PEOPLE.

I THINK WE HAVE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT ENABLE PEOPLE TO GO IT INTO FIRST HOMES FOR FIRST TIME.

GREAT HOUSING PARTNERS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE ABLE TO REHAB HOMES AND GET PEOPLE INTO THEIR OWN HOME AND BUILD EQUITY.

LAND TRUST IS PROBABLY THE WORST IDEA OUT THERE.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH A LOT OF THE REST OF THE PLAN, TOO, BUT THE CITY HAS SO MANY NOT FOR PROFITS ALREADY.

HE IS RECOMMENDING PUTTING A NOT-FOR-PROFIT IN CHARGE OF SOME OF THE MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WHERE WE WILL RECEIVE NO TAX INCOME FROM THAT.

THAT'S A RIDICULOUS IDEA.

>> I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF.

>> JANET WOULD YOU LIKE 15 SECONDS TO RESPOND?

>> I WOULD.

WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC HOUSING, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING THAT BUILT WITHIN THE CITY AND USING HUD FUNDS FOR THAT EFFORT.

I SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, DRAW UPON SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT IN AREAS LIKE EASTWOOD WHERE YOU HAVE STEVE SKINNER BUYING DILAPIDATED HOMES, RESTORING THEM AND AT THE SAME TIME REACHING OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE SAME BLOCK TO SEE IF HE CAN HELP IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTY.

>> THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR YOU.

YOU GOT NAMED AS WELL WOULD YOU LIKE TO REBUTT.

>> COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IS BASED ON AN EXAMPLE THAT WORKS IN ROCHESTER WE KNOW IT'S A MODEL THAT WORKS AND I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO CONTROL OUR OWN DESTINY IN BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> SPEAKING OF DESTINY, DESTINY USA NO LONGER PLAYS THE SAME ROLE IN THE REGION AS IT DID FIVE YEARS AGO LET ALONE 10 YEARS AGO.

WHAT SHOULD IT LOOK LIKE 10 YEARS FROM NOW AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO ACHIEVE THAT VISION.

>> DESTINY IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE WRONG APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SYRACUSE.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY GAVE MAMMOTH TAX BREAKS TO DESTINY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR FOR A GENERATION.

WE NEED TO NOT REPEAT THAT MISTAKE.

GOING FORWARD, DESTINY IS HERE AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH IT.

I THINK OVER TIME, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE MAYOR HOPEFULLY IT'S ME, IS MEETING MONTHLY WITH THE OWNERS OF DESTINY'S TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A PLAN.

WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS TO SEE IT TURN INTO A NEXT SHOPPING DOWN ABANDONED.

ULTIMATELY YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A REDEVELOPMENT THAT INCLUDE SOME MIXED USE, PERHAPS SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PER MAPS OTHER COMMUNITY PERHAPS OTHER COMMUNITY SPACE BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT UNFORTUNATELY THE RETAIL SPACE THAT EXISTS IN DESTINY IS PROBABLY TOO BIG FOR OUR REGION GIVEN THE TRANSITION TO ONLINE SHOPPING.

THAT'S IMPORTANT, TOO, THAT THE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING MORE ON OUR LOCAL BUSINESS CORRIDORS, SOUTH SALINA STREET, GRANT BOULEVARD INSTEAD OF THE MALL.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO MAKE SURE GETS REDEVELOPED IN A WAY THAT'S EQUITABLE.

>> JANET, YOUR TURN.

>> I HAVE FAITH IN THE OWNERS OF DESTINY THAT THEY CAN COME UP WITH IDEAS FOR REPURPOSING THE SPACE THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER LEASE TO BIG BOXES DEPARTMENT STORES.

I DON'T SEE A NEED FOR THE CITY TO GET INVOLVED IN PROVIDING ANY FURTHER TAX INCENTIVES FOR THEM TO RECONFIGURE THE MALL.

>> TOM.

>> I THINK THAT PART OF THE DECLINE OF DESTINY CAN BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE COVID PANDEMIC AND THE CLOSURE OF THE BORDER WITH CANADA.

I THINK YOU KNOW, LARGE AMOUNT OF DESTINY'S CUSTOMERS CAME FROM CANADA AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME HERE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

SO I THINK WHEN THE BORDER OPENS UP, I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET INCREASED TRAFFIC AT DESTINY.

I THINK WE ARE SEEING INCREASED TRAFFIC AT DESTINY.

I HAVE BEEN THERE PROBABLY THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH TAKING MY DAUGHTER SHOPPING.

A LOT OF STORES HAVE CLOSED BUT THAT'S TRUE EVERYWHERE.

YOU LOOK DOWNTOWN, THERE ARE SHOPS THAT WERE OPEN FOR DECADES, RESTAURANTS OPENED FOR DECADES THAT ARE NOW CLOSED.

SO PEOPLE STILL NEED TO BUY THINGS.

PEOPLE STILL WANTED ENTERTAINMENT.

PEOPLE ARE GOING GO TO DESTINY.

THEY'RE HAVING SOME FINANCIAL TROUBLES, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS THE BANK IS GOING TO WORK IT OUT WITH DESTINY.

WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FORECLOSURE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT THE FUTURE OF DESTINY IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MORE ENTERTAINMENT AND A LOT OF STORES ARE GOING TO START OPENING UP ONCE PEOPLE START GETTING VACCINATED AND ONCE WE GET MORE IMMUNITY TO THE VIRUS.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START GOING OUT MORE WHICH THEY'RE ALREADY DOING AND I THINK THAT SALES TAX IS GOING TO COME BACK.

I ALSO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, MICHAEL IS WRONG IN THAT HE SAID, WASN'T THE GREATEST PILOT AGREEMENT I'LL AGREE WITH THAT BUT DESTINY IS THE HIGHEST SALES TAX GENERATOR IN THE WHOLE COUNTY.

>> WE LEAVE YOU THERE.

>> KHALID, YOUR TURN.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T ADD ANYMORE INCENTIVES TO WHAT DESTINY HAS NOW.

CERTAINLY WITH THE MARKET CHANGING, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF ONLINE SHOPPING.

I'M INCLINED TO THINK THAT OVERTIME, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL DO THE SAME THING THEY DID WITH BOOKS.

FIRST eBOOKS WAS THE THING, THE NEW THING BUT MOST PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO STILL HOLD A BOOK IN THEIR HAND SO BARNES & NOBLE STILLS SURVIVES.

I THINK THERE MAY BE UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THEY MAY HAVE TO RETHINK THEIR OPERATION AND THEIR STRUCTURE.

SHOPPING CENTERS ARE GOING UP AND THEY'RE DRIVING.

YOU LOOK AT CITIES LIKE ATLANTA AND THE METROPOLITAN AREA WHERE THEY MOVE AWAY FROM MALLS AND CREATED SHOPPING CENTERS AND ENTERTAINMENT SPACES.

SINCE IT'S ULTIMATELY THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT DESTINY IS IN, RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT, IF IT'S REQUIRED, IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE, THEY MAY HAVE TO RETHINK THE STRUCTURE AND GO BACK OR MOVE TOWARDS THE MORE SHOPPING CENTER ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND NOW WE HAVE SOME MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR EACH OF YOU.

WE ARE GOING TO START WITH KHALID.

YOU HAVE BEEN DISMISSIVE OF THE IDEA THAT A MAYORAL CANDIDATE SHOULD RELEASE A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THE CITY PRIOR TO TAKING OFFICE ARGUING THAT INCUMBENT BEN WALSH MIGHT USURP YOUR IDEAS.

IF THE PLANS ARE GOOD AND IMPLEMENTED, WHY DOES IT MATTER WHO GETS CRED IT?

>> WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO GETS CREDIT.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

SECOND THING, WE ARE NOT RUNNING FOR CITY MANAGER.

RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN OUTCOMES.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A MAYORAL CANDIDATE OUTLINE THEIR ENTIRE PLAN WHILE THEY'RE CAMPAIGNING.

>> THERE ARE WHOLE PLATFORMS THAT ARE SPECIFIC.

>> PLATFORMS BUT NOT DETAILS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT.

THE DETAILS TEND TO COME LATER.

>> OKAY.

>> AND I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO TO STATE A STRUCTURE OF WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO, WHICH IS WHAT I'VE DONE, AS OPPOSED TO SPELLING OUT ALL THE DETAILS OF HOW TO EXECUTE EVERYTHING, YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN CAMPAIGNS.

>> OKAY.

>> NEXT QUESTION-- >> AND IN SHORT, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO DOES IT.

>> NEXT QUESTION GOES TO MIKE.

CONSIDERING THAT YOU AND MAYOR WALSH ARE ALIGNED ON A VARIETY OF POLICIES, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE MUNICIPAL SIDEWALKS AND BUS RAPID TRANSIT, IF YOU WIN THIS PRIMARY, HOW WILL YOU DIFFERENT WAIT YOURSELF IN A-- DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF IN A GENERAL ELECTION.

IS IT JUST ABOUT THE D NEXT TO YOUR NAME.

>> IT'S ALSO ABOUT SPECIFICS OF MY POLICY PLATFORM.

I'M GLAD THAT THE MAYOR PUSHED MUNICIPAL SIDEWALKS IN YEAR.

ITS HIS THIRD YEAR, AN ELECTION YEAR.

HE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT EARLIER.

BUS RAPID TRANSIT IS SOMETHING HE HAS TALKED ABOUT BUT WE JUST HAD A BUDGET THIS YEAR.

HE DIDN'T PUT ANY MONEY IN FOR IT.

WE JUST RELEASED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY.

DIDN'T PUT ENOUGH MONEY IN TO DO IT.

SOMETHING HE HAS TALKED ABOUT, NOT SOMETHING HE IS PRIORITIZING.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IN MY POLICY PLATFORM THAT ARE DISTINCT FROM MAYOR WALSH AS WELL F. YOU LOOK AT HOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REFORMING THE POLICE, THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE I'M CLEARLY DIFFERENT FROM THE MAYOR ON.

TALKING ABOUT A CIVILIAN COMMISSION IN PLACE, EMPOWER THE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD.

KEY DISTINCTIONS AND LOOK AT HOUSING.

YOU LOOK AT THE SKYLINE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE THE MAYOR HAS BEEN VERY REACTIVE AND HAS NOT BEEN PROACTIVE IN TERMS OF SOLVING THAT.

WOULD I HAVE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR.

I THINK CLEARLY IF YOU GO THROUGH MY ENTIRE POLICY PLATFORM THERE ARE KEY DIFFERENCES BUT POLITICS DO MATTER.

WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE, REPUBLICAN COUNTY LEGISLATURE.

AND THE MAYOR IS NOT SOMEONE THAT HAS STOOD OUT AND SAID HE WANTED TO ELECT A DEMOCRAT.

WOULD I DO THAT.

>> JANET.

YOU HAVE EXPRESSED SHOCK AND ALMOST SURPRISE AT THE CITY'S INABILITY TO RESOLVE THE DECADES OLD THREAT OF LEAD PAINT IN CITY HOMES.

IF YOU WERE MAYOR, WHAT WOULD YOU DO THAT IS ALREADY BEING DONE AT THE CITY OR FEDERAL LEVEL TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

>> I'M NOT A PATIENT PERSON.

AND A PROBLEM LIKE THIS THAT HAS LINGERED FOR SO MANY YEARS, FOR DECADES, EVER SINCE I MOVED HERE 31 YEARS AGO, IS UNACCEPTABLE.

SO THE HALLMARK OF EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IS SETTING CLEAR GOALS AND THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, TIMETABLES, OBJECT ITCHES TO GET THE JOB DONE-- OBJECTIVES TO GET THE JOB DONE.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO ON THE LEAD ABATEMENT PROBLEM.

>> YOU IDENTIFIED THE CITY BUREAUCRATIC RULES AND HINDERANCE TO BUSINESSES AND JOB GROWTH IN THE CITY.

SAYING LIKE THE CURRENT MAYOR AND HIS PREDECESSORS, THAT WILL YOU CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE.

WHY SHOULD VOTERS TAKE YOUR CLAIMS SERIOUSLY WHEN SO MANY MAYORS BEFORE YOU HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AND EVEN SEEN THE ADDITION OF MORE BUREAUCRACY IN.

>> FIRST OF ALL,I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROSECUTING A LOT OF THIS STUFF.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN I WENT INTO COURT AND I HAD TO PROSECUTE A GARAGE FOR STAYING OPEN TOO HOURS LATER THAN WHAT THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR THOUGHT WAS HIS GRANDFATHERING, IT MADE MY STOMACH TURN, YOU KNOW.

HE WAS HIRING ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE WANTED TO STAY OPEN LATER I.

WAS RIDICULOUS.

WHEN HAVE I TO HEAR ABOUT HOW A PIZZERIA WAS CLOSED FOR THREE MONTHS BECAUSE THEY HAD CLOSED FOR SIX MONTHS TO REDO THE PLACE AND WHEN THEY WANTED TO OPEN BACK UP, ZONING CAME IN AND SAID WELL YOU LOST YOUR GRANDFATHERING BECAUSE YOU WERE CLOSED FOR SIX MONTHS AND THIS IS NOT ZONED-- IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I SEE BUSINESS OWNERS HURTING.

I'VE HEARD SO MANY STORIES OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BEING HARASSED BY CITY GOVERNMENT.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

I USED TO BE THAT PERSON.

I USED TO BE THE GUY.

I WOULD BE ARGUING WITH CITY HALL SAYING WHY ARE WE HARASSING THESE PEOPLE?

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

THEY WOULD SAY WELL, BECAUSE WE CAN OR THAT'S WHAT WE THINK WE NEED TO DO.

RIDICULOUS.

TRUST ME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE.

I HAVE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF.

>> IT WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE UNFORTUNATELY.

WE HAVE LIMITED TIME LEFT SO WE'LL PIVOT TO SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS AGAIN AND START WITH KHALID WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE STATE LAWMAKER FROM THE SYRACUSE AREA.

>> I DON'T HAVE A FAVORITE STATE LAWMAKER.

>> WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH?

>> I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF THEM OVER THE YEARS.

>> JOHN MANNION, AL STIRPE.

>> THEY OVER LAP IN MY DISTRICT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE A FAVORITE.

>> MIKE.

>> MY FAVORITE IS RACHEL MAY.

I RESPECT THAT SHE IS PROGRESSIVE AND FEARLESS AND I SUPPORT HER.

>> JANET.

>> WELL, ALL OF MY STATE REPRESENTATIVES ARE DEMOCRATS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING ABLE TO WORK ACROSS PARTY LINES AND I HAVE DEVELOPED GOOD RELATIONSHIPS OVER THE YEARS WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>> SO DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ONEN?

>> NO.

>> TOM.

>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE?

>> STATE REP, PLEASE.

>> I GOT TO GO WITH JANET.

I DON'T HAVE ANY FAVORITES.

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE STATE REP THAT I CAN LOOK TO RIGHT NOW AND SAY THAT I'M PARTICULARLY HAPPY WITH.

>> OKAY.

MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED LEAST FAVORITE MAYBE.

>> I WOULD HAVE HAD SOMETHING FOR YOU?

>> WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME FOR THOSE BUT WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE LAST SHOW OF HANDS.

IN RECENT MONTHS.

GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO HAS COME UNDER FIRE FOR ALLEGED MISCONDUCT BY HIM AND HIS ADMINISTRATION.

BY A SHOW OF HANDS, WHO THINKS HE SHOULD RESIGN?

ANY DEMOCRATS?

THAT'S A NO.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR CLOSING REMARKS.

WE ARE STARTING WITH KHALID.

90 SECONDS.

>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE DIRECTLY.

I'M HOPING TO GET YOUR VOTE ON JUNE 22 TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE GOING INTO NOVEMBER.

MY ISSUES ARE YOUR ISSUES AND WE TALK ABOUT HOME OWNERSHIP, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WITH WE TALK ABOUT ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT RIGHT NOW, BEING AS CLOSE TO 14 TO 14.5% UNEMPLOYMENT, THAT'S ABOUT 20,000 UNEMPLOYED ABLE BODIED PERSONS TO EMPOWER THOSE PERSONS TO GET BACK TO WORK, TO STABILIZE THOSE FAMILIES IS MY PRIMARY FOCUS.

IT'S REALLY TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES.

WHEN YOU STRENGTHEN FAMILIES YOU STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOODS YOU STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES AND YOU STRENGTHENEN OUR CITY.

I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER ME FOR THE ELECTION.

>> I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO RESIDENTS DIRECTLY, LEARNING ABOUT WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE AND LEARNING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES AND TO ME, THIS CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO AND PUTTING FORWARD POLICIES THAT WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.

I'VE GOT MY POLICY PLATFORM.

CITY FOR ALL OF US.

14 CLEAR POLICIES.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF I'M ELECTED MAYOR AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PROGRESSIVE VISION OF HOW SYRACUSE CAN BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE FOR EVERYONE AND I'M EXCITED TO MOVE THIS CAMPAIGN FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY GET TO WORK ONE DAY.

>> JANET.

WE ARE ABOUT TO GO THROUGH A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION THAT IT HAS EXPERIENCED AND THAT'S WITH THE TAKE DOWN OF THE INTERSTATE 81 VIADUCT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG PROJECT.

TIGHTS GOING HAVE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

AND IT'S THE TYPE OF SITUATION THAT WILL THAT HAVE I EXPERIENCE LEADING THROUGH P IN BUSINESS XZ IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND AS PRESIDENT OF CHARITIES THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION SMOOTHLY AND FAIRLY AND I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO A TIME WHEN WE DO HAVE A UNITED SYRACUSE AS ECHOING ON MY PREVIOUS POINT THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE A SAFE SYRACUSE.

THANK YOU.

>> TOM.

>> OKAY, SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME FOR THE LAST HOUR.

I REALLY WISH WE GOT TO ANSWER THE SAME QUESTIONS.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DIDN'T.

I DON'T HAVE A 14-POINT PLAN.

I HAVE ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS,000-POINT PLAN.

I APPRECIATE MICHAEL HAS A 14-POINT PAGE, A PAGE EACH OF ONE OF HIS ISSUES THAT HE DOESN'T GO SPECIFICALLY INTO DETAIL HOW HE IS GOING TO DO IT OR PAY FOR IT.

HE WILL RAISE OUR TAXES.

I'M NOT GOING TO RAISE TAXES OR RAISE THE BUDGET.

BEN WALSH HAS RAISED THE BUDGET AND I THINK BY $20 MILLION SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE.

IT'S LIKE 8%.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

THE CITY COUNCIL JUST PASSED A HUGE TAX RAISE, A HUGE TAX HIKE ON HOMEOWNERS.

SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, $100 A YEAR.

SOME PAY ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, THAT'S A 10% TAX INCREASE THAT CITY COUNCIL JUST PASSED ON A CITY HOMEOWNER.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

RIDICULOUS.

WE PAY TOO MUCH TAXES RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T NEED TAXES RAISED A SINGLE DOLLAR.

ADDITIONALLY, I AM THE MOST EXPERIENCED CANDIDATE.

I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'M THE MOST EXPERIENCED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AND I'LL ARGUE THE MOST EXPERIENCED CANDIDATE ON THE PANEL TODAY.

I HAVE 10 YEARS OF INSIDE KNOWLEDGE OF CITY GOVERNMENT.

KHALID.

MICHAEL, YOU GUYS ARE PART TIMERS.

YOU HAVE BEEN THERE 10 YEARS, KHALID, I RESPECT YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

MICHAEL THREE YEARS, TOO EARLY.

JANET, YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN CITY GOVERNMENT AT ALL.

I'VE GOT IDEAS FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU ASK ME ABOUT ANY CITY ISSUE AND I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT.

>> AND AT THE NEXT DEBATE WE'LL HEAR THAT.

SO AFTER YOU SPEEDSTERS RUSHED THROUGH THAT, LUCKILY TOM GAVE US MORE TO CHEW ON.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEND 30 SECONDS REBUTTING THAT, KHALID.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE CONTROVERSIAL WOULD BEG TO DIFFERENT THAT WE ARE PART TIME.

THE OTHER THING THAT HAS TO BE UNDERSTOOD, ME AND TOM HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS AND HE TALKS ABOUT EXPERIENCE.

WOULD I BEG TO DIFFER F. WE WERE RUNNING FOR CORPORATION COUNCIL, AN ELECTED OFFICE, WOULD I AGREE WITH HIM BUT IT'S NOT.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT HAS TO BE CLEAR WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MAINTAINING GOVERNMENT, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING DELIVERABLES TO PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT A HORSE AND PONY SHOW.

THERE IS NO GIMMICKS TO BE INVOLVED YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE MONEY.

THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IN THAT RESPECT, ONE THINGLY SAY ONE THINGLY SAY.

I DO MY BEST NOT TO AGREE WITH ANYBODY UP HERE EVEN THOUGH I MAY AGREE WITH THEM.

THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE PREDATORY.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE CONTINUE TO TACK FEES ON PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOME.

>> MICHAEL, YOU GOT A GOOD SHOUT OUT.

WOULD YOU LIKE 30 SECONDS.

>> I'M RUNNING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

ON THE FIRST DAY WHEN I ANNOUNCED MY CAMPAIGN, A NOUNSED MY POLICY PLATFORM AND CHRIS BAKER ASKED ME WAS IT WOULD COST.

I GAVE AN EXACT ANSWER.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT.

IT'S VERY CLEAR AND I'M THE KIND OF CANDIDATE THAT IS RUNNING ON MY IDEAS.

I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT ANYONE ELSE'S IDEAS.

I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT THE PROGRESSIVE VISION IS AND I WILL DEFEND IT ALL DAY.

>> JANET, YOU GOT A PASSING SHOUT OUT.

YOU CAN TAKE THE LAST 15 SECONDS OF THE NIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RELEVANT EXPERIENCE TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF MAYOR.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT EXPERIENCE IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT EXPERIENCE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE DEMONSTRATING EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND I HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN GOVERNMENT AND IN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT FOR THE CITIZENS OF SYRACUSE.

>> AND THAT CONCLUDES WCNY'S SPECIAL CANDIDATE CONVERSATION.

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO ALONGSIDE SYRACUSE.COM'S CHRIS BAKER.

WE WANT TO THANK THE CANDIDATES FOR JOINING US AND REMIND EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE THAT PRIMARY DAY IS ONE WEEK AWAY AND THE POLLS ARE OPEN NOW FOR EARLY VOTING.

AND FOR MORE NEWS ABOUT THIS RACE AND EVERY RACE UNTIL ELECTION DAY, CHECK OUT THE WORK CHRIS AND HIS COLLEAGUES ARE DOING AT SYRACUSE.COM.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.