♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO A LIVE ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM FOR THE DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL HOPEFULS IN SYRACUSE.

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO, HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM AND CONNECT NEW YORK.

AND ALONG SIDE ME TONIGHT IS JULIE TIGHE, PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND - WHICH HAS PARTNERED WITH WCNY TO BRING YOU THIS SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

AT THE NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND, OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER NEW YORKERS TO BE EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AT THIS CRITICAL TIME.

AND WHILE COMBATTING THE CLIMATE CRISIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A JOB FOR OUR FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS, WE KNOW THAT MUNICIPAL LEADERS - LIKE MAYORS - PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SHAPING THE ENVIRONMENT WE INHABIT AND LEAVE BEHIND.

SO THAT'S WHY WE BELIEVE IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR VOTERS TO LEARN WHERE CANDIDATES STAND ON THE ISSUES - AND THEN VOTE.

>> AND JOINING US IN THE STUDIO ARE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WHO WILL APPEAR ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT IN JUNE, AND THEY ARE COMMON COUNCILOR CHOEL MAJOK, COMMON COUNCILOR PAT HOGAN, AND DEPUTY MAYOR SHARON OWENS.

BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE RECENT PASSING OF VAN ROBINSON, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE COMMON COUNCIL, WHO DEDICATED DECADES OF HIS LIFE TO THE RESIDENTS OF SYRACUSE.

AND NOW TO TONIGHT'S FORUM, WHICH - AS THE RESULT OF A RANDOM ASSIGNMENT - WILL BEGIN WITH AN OPENING REMARK FROM DEPUTY MAYOR SHARON OWENS.

DEPEND UT MAYOR, HAVE YOU 60 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU.

AND THANKS FOR INVITING US HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE, WHETHER NATURAL OR MANMADE, IMPACT US, WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE EACH DAY.

FROM EXTREME TEMPERATURE LOWS AND HIGHS.

PARTICULARLY IN THE CITY OF THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY IN INCOME LEVELS AND HOW OUR CITIZENS AND OUR BUSINESSES ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THESE CLIMATE CHANGES.

MUNICIPAL DPOFT PLAYS A BIG ROLE-- GOVERNMENT PLAYS A BIG ROLE HOW WE ARE ABLE TO IMPACT THIS.

FROM HIGHWAYS GOING THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE IMPACT OF LEAD AND TOXINS IN OUR HOMES.

IT IS OUR JOB TO ENSURE WE ARE ON A PATH TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND OUR IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR CLIMATE.

WE ARE UP FRONT, WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND HOW IT IS IMPACTING US.

>> COUPLEMAN MAJOK, HAVE YOU 60 SECONDS.

>> I'M Dr. CHOL MAJOK.

I'M A HUSBAND, A FATHER, AND A SYRACUSEAN.

TONIGHT I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.

I'M A FELLOW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, BORN IN SOUTH SUDAN AND RIGHT HERE GREW UP RIGHT HERE IN THE BRIGHTON NEIGHBORHOOD.

WENT TO COLLEGE HERE AS WELL AS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE WITH A DOCTORATE IN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.

AS AN AN EXPERIENCED DOCTORATE HOLDER, I BRING OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE MUCH AND AS WE TALK ABOUT CLIMATE TONIGHT, I WANT TO ASSURE EARN THAT CLIMATE CRISIS ARE REAL.

AND IT'S TIME TO TACKLE THEM.

AS YOUR NEXT MAYOR, I WILL TRANSITION THE CITY OF SYRACUSE INTO HEAT BOMBS, SOLAR SYSTEMS AND IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES AND THE AGENDA OF THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

COUNCILOR HOGAN.

>> I'M PAT HOGAN, A SEVEN-TERM CITY COUNCILOR WHERE I'M PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THAT BODY AND FORMER CHAIR OF THE PARKS COMMITTEE AND CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

I'M ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE ONONDAGA COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND ALSO CHAIR OF THE GREATER SYRACUSE LAND BANK.

BUT MY GREATEST JOB WAS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT.

AND I SAW THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT URBAN PARK SYSTEM HAS BOTH ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO UPGRADE AND KEEPSAKE READ OUR CITY ARE GOING TO CATCH UP AND DEVOTE AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR OWENS.

>> THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WHICH INCLUDES ME ABSOLUTELY SEES THE NEED FOR LEAD REMEDIATION AND NOT ONLY FOR LEAD PIPES BUT ALSO FOR LEAD PAINT WHICH IS IN OUR OLD HOUSING STONG.

WE HAVE $20 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE BEYOND OUR LED PIPE REMEDIATION ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, FOR PROPERTIES, AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY.

>> I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU AND HAVE YOU TAKE THIS QUESTION AND COME BACK TO DEPUTY MAYOR OWENS WHILE WE RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

PLEASE TAKE THE QUESTION FOR US.

>> SURE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, A COUPLE OF THINGS, TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS LEAD IN OUR COMMUNITY.

FIRST, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS EDUCATION.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEIR WATER AND LEAD PIPES, AND AS WELL AS PAINT IN THEIR HOUSES.

THEY ARE ABLE TO BETTER AND PROACTIVELY HELP THEMSELVES.

THAT'S ONE.

NUMBER TWO, THIS IS A WORK YOU CANNOT DO ALONE.

PARTNERSHIP IS VERY CRITICAL.

SYRACUSE IS AS A HUGE, HUGE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

IT REQUIRES A LOT OF RESOURCES BUT WITH PARTNERSHIP, WITH THE EDUCATION, AND IMPLEMENTING THAT WITH STRONG LEADERSHIP AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOT HIVE LIFE WE ARE TRANSPARENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AROUND THE DATA WE COLLECT AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A HICCUP RECENTLY WITH OUR CITY.

WHERE WE HAD FALSE DATA BEING REPORTED.

UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE EDUCATION IS THERE AND WE ARE WORKING WITH OYER PARTNERS TO REMEDIATE THAT.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR, NOW THAT YOU HOPEFULLY HAVE A WORKING MICROPHONE, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A STAB AT THIS.

>> >> I HOPE I I HAVE FIVE MORE SECONDS.

>> 75 SECONDS SINCE YOU WERE ADDRESSED A COUPLE TIMES THERE.

>> LEAD POISONING IS PERSONAL TO ME.

MY SON AT AGE 2, WE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE ONONDAGA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ELEVATED LEAD LEVEL MUCH THIS IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME.

THIS IS NOT-- THE CITY IS NOT NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.

IT IS THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND THOSE IN OUR CITY WHO ARE BEING POISONED BECAUSE MY SON WAS BY LEAD TOXINS IN WHAT WE BELIEVE WAS THE PAINT.

SO THE CITY, THROUGH THE FUNDING THAT THE COUNSELOR MENTIONED BUT ALSO THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDING, THE E.P.A., WE ARE REPLACING LEAD PIPES ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, WHICH IS NEW FOR THIS CITY.

WE ARE GOING FULL HEAD AT THIS.

WE DO COLLABORATED.

WE ARE OUTSOURCING OUR WATER TESTING SOY THAT WE CAN HAVE A SKILLED AND TRAINED COMPANY DO OUR WATER TESTING.

AND WE ARE WORKING WITH ONONDAGA COUNTY TO REMEDIATE AND ABATE WHEN NECESSARY LEAD IN THE PAINT IN THE WALLS, IN THE DOORS AND THE FRAMES OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

>> SO, BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LAST PERSON TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, HE WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO ANSWER THIS.

BECAUSE THERE ARE A FINITE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, SHOULD CERTAIN HOUSES OR COMMUNITIES BE PRIORITIZED WHEN IT COMES TO EFFORTS TO REPLACE LEAD PIPES IN SYRACUSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THERE ARE HOUSES AND PROPERTIES THAT WERE BUILT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE 1970s, RIGHT, EARLY 20th-- EARLY 20S SO THEY HAVE A HUGE LEAD ISSUE.

THOSE COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED.

NUMBER TWO TO THAT, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES HERE AND INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS THAT ARE VERY FINANCIALLY STRAPPED AND THEY DON'T HAVE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE.

AND THERE ARE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THOSE HOUSES.

AS A FATHER THAT IS RAISING A YOUNG FAMILY, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO INVEST IN THOSE YOUNG FAMILIES, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE HEALTHY AS WE KNOW THAT LEAD HIT HARD YOUNG FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

SO CHILDREN SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED.

NUMBER 2: AGING HOUSING THAT WERE BUILT BEFORE 120s AND THEY HAVE HUGE LEAD PIPE IN THEM SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED AS WELL.

>> COUNCILOR HOGAN.

>> I THINK THE CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE FIRST UP.

THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THIS BUILDING RIGHT HERE AND THE NEAR SOUTH SIDE, 70% OF OUR HOUSES IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WERE BUILT BEFORE 19 SEVENTH.

HERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT MUCH IS THE CAPACITY ISSUE.

WE HAVE TO HIRE CONTRACTORS AND LOCK UP CONTRACTORS BECAUSE EVERY CITY IS LOOKING TO DO THIS.

EVERY SINGLE CITY SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TO US LOCK UP CONTRACTORS SO THEY CAN DO THE WORK.

IT'S NOT ONLY A MONEY PROBLEM.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEED AN AGGRESSIVE MANAGEMENT ON THIS SITUATION.

WE WORRY ABOUT IT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE ALSO HAVE WATER SYSTEM THAT FRANKLY LEAKS A LOT, TOO.

IT'S AGING INFRASTRUCTURE COMBINED WITH MONEY BUT ALSO COMBINED WITH THE CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY GEOGRAPHIC.

BUT IT'S ALSO THE AGE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INHABITING THE HOUSES BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT OF LEAD ON THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

WE ALSO NEED TO HELP OF THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFYING THE TYPE OF PIPING GOING INTO THE HOUSING NOW.

AND SO AT THE CITY WEBSITE THERE IS INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW YOU CAN IDENTIFY WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A LEAD-BASED PIPE SO THAT WE HAVE A FULL INVENTORY OF WHERE THE LEAD PIPES ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ENSURING THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE HAVE BEEN PASSING OUT FILTERS.

MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE IN HOMES, AGAIN, LEAD PIPES BUT LEAD PAINT AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN.

>> SO WE ARE GOING TO TURN A LITTLE BIT TO I-81 WHICH I KNOW HAS BEEN A REALLY HOT TOPIC HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

IT'S ABOUT TO HAVE THE SORT OF OVERHAUL OF I-81 AS IT GOES THROUGH THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT FOR THE ADJACENT COMMUNITIES.

BUT IN THE SHORT-TERM, DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE, WHERE IT'S HAPPENING AND IF SO, HOW CAN IT BE MITIGATED.

DEPUTY MAYOR, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> THE AREAS PARTICULARLY LIVING NEXT TO THE VIADUCT A STONE'S THROW FROM THE HIGHWAY ELEVATED HIGHWAY, HIGHEST REPORTS OF C.O.P.D.

IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ABSOLUTELY ARE GOING TO CHEER WHEN THAT HIGHWAY COMES DOWN.

IT IS ALSO THE REMEDIATION PROCESS THAT IS GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN TO MITIGATE THE AMOUNT OF DUST AND BEBRING THAT IS GOING TO I AM PACK THE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT, PARTICULARLY WITH HEPPA FILTERS AND OTHER MECHANISMS TO REMEDIATE HOW MUCH THEY'RE GOING TO BE IMPACTED, EVEN DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER JOE.

>> IT IS TRUE-- COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK.

>> IT IS TRUE THAT WITH I-81 THERE ARE A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHED ON OUR PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY.

ASTHMA IS ONE OF THOSE HEALTH ISSUES.

THERE ARE FAMILIES AROUND I-81 THAT, AS WE SPEAK, HAVE EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS ASTHMA ISSUES.

NOW MOVING FORWARD, AS WE TAKE IT DOWN, THERE IS ALSO GOING TO BE AIR ISSUE.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE PUT UNDER CONTROL AIR POLLUTION.

ALSO BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH STATE AS WELL TO FIGURE OUT MASKS THAT PEOPLE CAN WEAR TO HELP THEM AROUND THAT AREA BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE HIGH POLLUTE APARTMENT AROUND THAT AREA.

SO THOSE FEW THINGS WE PLAN-- AND THEN MOST IMPORTANT THING IS EDUCATION.

BEING ABLE TO HIT THE DOORS AND GROUND EDUCATING PEOPLE THAT AS MUCH AS WE ARE DOING TO REMEDIATE THIS ISSUE, THERE IS A HIGH LEVEL OF RISK OF POLLUTION AND HEALTH ISSUE THAT ARE INVOLVED SO PROTECT YOURSELF AND GIVE THEM THE MECHANISM TO DO SO.

>> COUNCILOR HOGAN.

>> YES, NOT ONLY WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED BUT ALSO WE HAVE 1500 UNITS IN PUBLIC HOUSING WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, TOO.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FAMILIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND MOVED INTO PROPER PLACES WITH VOUCHERS AND ALL THAT AND WORK WITH S.H.A., SYRACUSE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HAVE ALL THE ENTITIES, STATE AND CITY ALL ON BOARD AND TO MANAGE THAT PROPERLY.

IT'S GOING TO BE-- IT'S A HUGE PROJECT.

IN ADDITION, THE CITY COUNCIL A COUPLE YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, ISSUED A PROCLAMATION SAYING THAT 14 ACRES OF PROPERTY THAT 81 SORT OF SITS ON, THAT IS STATE PROPERTY.

WE WANT THAT PROPERTY.

THE CITY DOES SO WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DEVELOP THAT PROPERTY.

AND KNIT TOGETHER THE UNIVERSITY AREA AND DOWNTOWN.

>> SO I WANT TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE LONG FORM QUESTIONS AND BY A SHOW OF HANDS, I WANT TO KNOW DO YOU COMPOST AT HOME?

IF YOU COMPOST, RAISE YOUR HAND.

>> OKAY.

>> HE HAS SEVEN KIDS, HE HAS TO.

>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPOSTING SYSTEM.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> I LIVE-- MY BACKYARD IS OPEN TO A WOOD.

WHAT I DO, IF THERE ARE LEFTOVERS, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, FOOD, I WILL PUT IT BACK THERE SO MANURE, THE VEGETATION IN THE BACKYARD CAN BE NURTURED BY GOOD NUTRIENTS SO I PUT IT IN THE BACK.

>> IF THAT IS ACCEPTED AS COMPOSTING, THEN I DO THE SAME THING.

>> JULIE IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERSON.

>> IS THAT-- IT'S NOTED GOING TO THE GARBAGE.

>> WELL, I GOT A 14 WEEK OLD PUPPY AND SORT OF, HE TAKES CARE OF EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE FOOD SCRAPS THEN.

>> BEING CREATIVE.

>> SO HERE IS ONE WE KNOW EVERYBODY CAN ANSWER.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PARK?

>> BURNET.

>> BARRY.

>> UMWOOD.

>> COMING BACK TO THE LONG FORM SNOOZE FEST QUESTIONS.

I WANT TO TURN NOW TO MICRON AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HOGAN AND THE ADDITION OF MICRON TO THE REGION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MUTT A STRAIN ON THE REGION'S RESOURCES IN ADDITION TO ALL THE POSITIVE ELEMENTS OF THIS PROJECT.

SO HOW SHOULD THE CITY MANAGE THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR ENERGY, WATER, AND OTHER RESOURCES.

>> WELL, AS CHAIRMAN OF ONONDAGA COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, THAT IS THE AGENCY MANAGING THE MICRON PROJECT AND I'M VERY AWARE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT THAT WE ARE DOING OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF.

YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS IN THE PAPER ABOUT US NOT RELEASING IT YET.

BUT YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS A PROJECT THIS BIG, HAVE YOU TO MAKE SURE EVERY T IS CROSSED AND EVERY I IS DOTTED AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF EVERY SINGLE THING LIKE YOU MINGED.

-- MENTIONED, IT AFFECTS THE PEOPLE IN FROM PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO AIR QUALITY TO EVERYTHING A HUGE PROJECT AND TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT IS DONE RIGHT.

>> WHAT CAN YOU DO... >> THE FIRST THING I SAID, WHEN WE, I THIS I WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OUT THERE.

THAT OUR CITY RESIDENTS, THE FOLKS THAT SOMETIMES ARE OVERLOOKED GET A CHANCE AT THOSE JOBS OUT THERE.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE FRANKLY, IT'S SUCH A HUGE PROJECT WE ARE GOING TO NEED THAT TO WORK AND WE HAVE TO WORK WITH CENTRAL.

THE CITY HAS A FEW-- WE HAVE MEMBERS ON THE BOARD THAT WE CAN APPOINT AND THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME INFLUENCE ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR, WHAT CAN THE CITY DO TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MANAGING THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR OUR RESOURCES?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING THE CITY CAN DO IS ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS TO REVIEW THAT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY AND CONTINUE TO PUT THE PRESSURE TO HAVE IT RELEASED IMMEDIATELY TO GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO EVALUATE HOW THESE IMPACTS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ARE GOING TO, AFFECT THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY ADJACENT TO MICRON.

I'M A PRO-MICRON INDIVIDUAL.

I BELIEVE IT IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT INDUSTRY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE US WITH WELL NEEDED JOBS.

BUT THE REASON MICRON CAME IS BECAUSE OF OUR POWER GRID AND OUR WATER SOURCES.

SO IT'S THAT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY REALLY LAYS-- THAT'S PART OF THE STUDY AND LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND AS MAYOR, WE SHOULD BE ENSURING THAT THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ARE SOUND AND NOT IMPACTING US AND RIGHT NOW, AS DEPUTY MAYOR, AS CITIZENS ALL OF US, WE SHOULD BE GETTING A LOOK AT THAT IMPACT STUDY RIGHT NOW.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK.

>> I AM EXCITED FOR MICRON TO GET HERE, VERY EXCITED.

AT THE SAME TIME I'M WORRIED.

BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THAT WE WILL NOT MANAGE WELL THE INDUSTRIALIZATION AND WASTE WATER AND RUNOFF AND I'M AFRAID THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH ONONDAGA LAKE IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH MISMANAGEMENT.

THAT IS WHERE MY FEAR IS.

BUT I'M EXCITED.

BUT AS LONG AS WE DEVELOP A SYSTEM TO MANAGE THAT, I THINK WE WILL BE ON THE PATH WHERE WE ELEVATE PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAKING SURE THAT OUR ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED BECAUSE WE SHOULD NEVER SACRIFICE OUR ENVIRONMENT.

SO LONG AS THE INDUSTRIALIZATION IS MANAGED, WASTE WATER IS MANAGED PROPERLY, AND RUNOFF IS MANAGED PROPERLY WITH THAT MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE.

I THINK WE WILL BE OKAY.

>> COUNCILOR HOGAN, YOU PROBABLY WANTED TO ADDRESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.

>> THERE WILL BE A 45-DAY PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT IT AND ALSO BE A PUBLIC HEARING, TOO.

SO IT IS GOING TO BE WELL REVIEWED.

>> ON THAT POINT, SHOW OF HANDS SH THE REPORT IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED IN JUNE.

IF YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE RELEASED NOW, FEEL FREE TO RAISE YOUR STILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK, DAYCARE, BACK AND FORTH TO HOME.

SO ENSURING THAT.

REALLY PROVIDING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EV CHARGERS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE ELECTRIC CARS THEIR CHOICE, HAVE ENOUGH OF AN INVENTORY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION EFFORT JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN NEAR THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN, INCLUDED EV CHARGER APPLICATIONS IN THAT PROCESS.

WE ARE WORKING ON, RIGHT NOW, A GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY PLAN AT THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE NOW.

>> COUNCILOR.

>> TILL TELL YOU THIS.

OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMIT IN SYRACUSE IS ATROCIOUS.

AS SOMEBODY THAT GREW UP ON THE BUS LINE, IT NEEDS TO BE BETTER AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVEN'T DONE MUCH TO ADDRESS THAT.

YES, B.R.T., BUS RAPID TRANSIT IS GOING TO BE HERE NEXT YEAR BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF POVERTY THAT THE COMMUNITY IS IN.

SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, MY PLAN AS MAYOR, TO TRANSITION US TOWARD A SPACE WHERE THERE IS ZERO EMISSION TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT MEANS STARTING WITH MUNICIPALITY, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC WORK VEHICLES ARE ELECTRIC AND MAKING SURE THAT WE IMPLEMENT THAT, MAKING SURE THAT OUR BUILDING ALSO REFLECT THAT, BUT OVERALL, TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS A CHALLENGE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BETTER.

>> COUNCILOR HOGAN.

>> WELL, I GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL FORM OF TRANSPORTATION WALKING.

THE MUNICIPAL SIDEWALK PROGRAM WAS ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT THE MAYOR CAME UP WITH AND I SUPPORTED HEAVILY.

ADA CORNERS, I THINK ONE OF THE GREAT ADVANTAGES OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE IS THE DENSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE HAVE AND WE HAVE WALKABLE ACCESSIBLE NEIGHBORHOODS.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOT AWARE OF A LOT OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY SENIOR CITIZENS, THEY LOSE THE ABILITY TO DRIVE SOMETIMES BEFORE THEY LOSE THE ABILITY TO WALK.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS.

AND ANY TIME WE CAN PUSH THIS FORWARD, I JUST GOT THE LIST OF THE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DONE.

BELIEVE ME, I GET TONS OF CALLS FROM CITY CONSTITUENTS SAYING WHEN IS MY SIDEWALK GOING TO BE DONNA AN THE WAY WE FINANCED IT WITH THE BONDING AND ALL THAT WHERE IT WASN'T ALWAYS ON THE ONUS OF THE HOMEOWNER, COST THEM A $20,000 BILL AND NOW IT'S A SIMPLE FEE.

IT'S A GREAT THING FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED YEARS AGO AND I'M GLAD WE ADDRESSED IT NOW.

>> A ROBUST CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE CITY'S ROLE IN BUILDING UP A MEANINGFUL NETWORK ACROSS THE CITY OF SYRACUSE THAT PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.

WE'LL START WITH YOU COUNCILOR.

>> START WITH MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS AND OUR GARAGES, YOU KNOW, FOR DOWNTOWN, TO DRAW PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND BE ABLE TO PLUG IN.

I MEAN I'VE OFTEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT MYSELF.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE A REGULAR CAR.

I DON'T HAVE A HYBRID OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I HAVE NO PLACE TO REALLY PLUG IN.

I LIVE IN A VERY DENSE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

I THINK WE START IN THE CITY IS THERE WHERE WE HAVE SPACE TO DO IT AND SUPPORT CHARGING SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.

I THINK WE CAN USE THE INDUCEMENTS WE HAVE AND TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR DEVELOPERS TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> EV CHARGERS ARE THROUGH, AND HAVE I TO GIVE CREDIT TO OWEN KEARNEY, OUR DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABILITY WHO KEEPS THIS TOPIC IN THE FOREFRONT FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

EV CHARGERS ARE IN THE FOREFRONT AND BEING PRESENTED TO OUR OWN GARAGES RIGHT NOW.

WE JUST NEED TO ACT UPON IT TO BEGIN THIS PROCESS.

AGAIN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ENSURING IN THE PARKING LOTS, BUT ALSO ON THE STREET, ON THE STREETSCAPE.

TO THE COUNCILOR'S POINT AROUND ZERO EMISSIONS WE NEED A STRATEGY FOR THAT.

AND THAT IS WHAT THE CITY IS WORKING ON AS WE SPEAK.

WE'VE RFPED, CONTRACTED OUT AND THAT PROCESS FOR A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND I GREENHOUSE PLAN INVENTORY-- A GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY IS UNDER WAY RIGHT NOW.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK.

>> WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, YOU WILL SEE, ESPECIALLY AROUND DOWNTOWN AREA, A LOT OF GAS STATIONS, RIGHT?

MY PLAN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY GAS STATION, AS WE PHASE THEM OUT, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE EV CHARGING STATIONS THERE.

NUMBER 2, MAKING SURE THAT PLACES THAT ARE HEAVILY ATTENDED LIKE CHURCH, CONVENTION CENTER, AND ALL THE PUBLIC SPACES THAT ARE UTILIZED HEAVILY, THAT WE FIRST PUT EV CHARGING STATIONS THERE.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE WE GO.

NUMBER TWO TO THAT, WE GOT TO GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADDRESSING CLIENT ISSUES HAS TO BE TAKEN TO NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS IS WHERE IT HAPPENS.

THIS IS WHERE THE MOST IMPACTFUL ACTION CAN TAKE PLACE.

NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> SO WE ARE GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF A LIGHTNING ROUND.

AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK.

DO YOU USE A WATER BOTTLE WHEN YOU ARE OUT CAMPAIGNING OR A REREDUCABLE WATER BOTTLE.

>> AN INSULATED WATER BOTTLE YES.

NOT PLASTIC.

>> I WERE I MY WATER BOTTLE FROM HOME.

>> SURE.

>> AND I WANT TO TURN NOW TO... >> SHE IS ALWAYS ON ME ABOUT THIS WHEN I'VE GOT MY PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT IS PERSONAL TO ME AND THIS IS RETURNING CANS AND BOTTLES THAT HAVE A DEPOSIT ON THEM.

MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY KIND OF RIDICULE ME BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS COLLECTING THEM AND HANGING ON TO THEM.

SO I'M CURIOUS.

DO ANY OF US RETURN CANS AND BOTTLES THAT HAVE A DEPOSIT ON THEM.

FEEL FREE TO RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU DO THAT.

YOUR SODA, YOUR BEER.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU DO THAT.

>> RETURN FOR THE NICKEL DEPOSIT.

>> GIVE THEM TO MY KIDS FOR THE SCHOOL FUNDRAISER.

>> MY HUSBAND GIVES THEM TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO COLLECT THEM.

>> GOTCHA.

>> SAME THING.

KIDS COME BY THE HOUSE, THEY'RE COLLECTING FOR SOMETHING AND I GIVE THEM THE CANS.

>> I WILL SWING BY TONIGHT ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN.

>> I HAVE A BAG FOR YOU.

>> EXCELLENT.

>> PORCH FULL OF BAGS.

>> BACK TO THE LONG FORM QUESTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE TOWARDS A RENEWABLE GRID IS HAVING IMARET ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS.

AND AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE HAPPENING BUT THEY FACE PUBLIC CRITICISM.

AS MAYOR OF SYRACUSE WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BATTERY STORAGE PROJECTS IN THE CITY?

AND WE ARE STARTING WITH... >> DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> OKAY, THANKS.

>> I WOULD.

BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT, THE PHENOMENON IMPACT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

ONE OF THE THINGS AROUND BEING ABLE TO INTRODUCE NEW TECHNOLOGIES ENSURING THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT IS REALLY IN TANDEM WITH THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE MOVEMENT AS WELL.

MANY PEOPLE THAT WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY BASED ON THE INCOME LEVELS THAT WE HAVE HERE, WE DON'T SEE THEM DRIVING ELECTRIC CARS.

WE DON'T SEE THEM WITH SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR HOUSES EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE PROGRAMS.

THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ECONOMY, THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY AFFORD THIS GREAT-- I BELIEVE THAT THE INDUSTRY IS GOING TO CATCH UP.

IT ALWAYS DOES.

IT IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION JUSTICE MOVEMENT AND THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE MOVEMENT ARE IN TANDEM TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A BIGGER POOL OF INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED THESE ECONOMIC, THESE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO BRING IN.

>> OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK.

>> I TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, AND JUST TELLING THE TRUTH, AS I CITY, WE ARE NOT VERY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUS.

WE ARE JUST NOT.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY WE PROCESS BATTERIES AND THE TOXICITY THAT IS IN THEM, I AGREE THERE SHOULD BE A WAY WHERE WE IMPLEMENT, WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE AND FOLLOW WITH EXAMPLE, WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THEIR BATTERIES IN THE CITY AND STORE THEM THERE AND GIVE THEM FOR RECYCLING OR WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE HIGHLY TOXIC AND WE NEED TO BE BETTER AT THAT BECAUSE THEY IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT A LOT.

>> SO THIS IS MORE ABOUT LIKE LARGER BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS THAT CAN HELP WITH PROVIDING DEPLOYMENT OF ENERGY WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE A VARIABLE SYSTEM.

SO WHEN SOLAR AND WIND ARE NOT BLOWING, YOU USE BATTERY STORAGE TO HELP THEM SORT OF RETAIN THAT ENERGY AND IT CAN BE DEPLOYED WHEN IT'S NEEDED OPPOSED TO, I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR HOMEOWNERS.

I LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CONFUSE THAT WITH E-BIKE BATTERIES, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE THIS IS A TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HELP GET MORE GREEN ENERGY DEPLOYED BY SORT OF LEVELING OUT THE GRID, SO JUST AS OPPOSED TO THE TYPES OF BATTERIES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHICH, THEY'RE SIMILAR BUT THE PURPOSES ARE DIFFERENT.

>> AND YOU KNOW, GOING TO THAT DIRECTION, SYRACUSE IS A VERY SNOWY CITY AND IT'S COLD.

SO HAVING AN ACTUAL SPACE TO HAVE BACKUP OF SUCH, IT WILL BE NEEDED HERE.

I WOULD SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO I'M SORT OF PRACTICAL AND COMMONSENSE TYPE GUY.

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT-- WE HAVE TOOLS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT.

WHEN YOU TALK TO BUSINESS PEOPLE, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY MAKE SOME MONEY.

SO WE HAVE DONE THIS, WE HAVE GIVEN ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO SOLAR ENERGY BUILDINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE DO THE SAME THING WITH THEM.

WE OFFER THEM A PILOT AGREEMENT.

WE ABATE THEIR SALES TAX.

WE OFFER THEM MORTGAGE RECEIVING INCENTIVES.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GOT ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO DO THAT TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY.

AND THEN YOU LOBBY THE STATE FOR THAT.

YOU LOBBY THE STATE FOR ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESS PEOPLE TO TRY THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> STICKING WITH ENERGY ISSUES.

AT THE TATE LEVEL, THE-- STATE LEVEL, THE GOVERNOR IS EXPLORING THE USE OF NEW NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENTS TO POWER THE ENERGY INTENSIVE PROJECTS POPPING UP AROUND THE STATE INCLUDING POTENTIALLY RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WITH MICRON.

SO MY QUESTION IS WOULD YOU SUPPORT HAVING A NEW NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE OR THE SURROUNDING AREA IF YOU ARE MAYOR?

COUNCIL MEMBER HOGAN, YOU WENT LAST SO FIRST HERE.

>> DISPOSAL IS THE BEEN.

-- THAT HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM OF THE NUCLEAR WASTE.

I WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR, NO.

>> I WOULD NEED TO FOE MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL AND HOW IT WOULD IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY BEFORE I WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER.

>> I WILL BE SURPRISED WHY WE WOULD BE MOVING TOWARD NUCLEAR WAY LIKE THAT WHEN THE COUNTRY IS TRYING TO TRANSITION IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

WE ARE TRYING TO GO TO FIRST CENTURY ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

THAT'S JUST SENDING US BACKWARD AND I DON'T THINK I CAN STAND WITH THAT.

AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, UNLESS SOMEBODY GIVES ME SOME REAL DATA AS TO HOW THIS IS ENERGY EFFICIENT, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT BUT I WOULD SUPPORT A POWER INITIATIVE THAT IS 21st CENTURY DRIVEN.

>> SO TOTALLY TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM ENERGY, SYRACUSE IS NO STRANGER TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER TIME BUT IT CAN DAMAGE THE ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE A PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WHEN IT COMES TO THE USE OF ROAD SALT AND COUNCILMAN, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH YOU.

>> I WATCH A LOT, YOU KNOW, IT IS SURPRISING TO SAY THIS BUT ASIAN COUNTRIES ARE MOVING INTO A DIRECTION FASTER THAN WE ARE AS AMERICANS.

AND IF WE SALT, YES, SALT IS HELPFUL TO SNOW AND ALL OF THAT BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE WATER SYSTEM, WHEN IT GETS INTO STORMWATER, SEWAGE AND ALL OF THAT, IT'S NOT HEALTHY BECAUSE WHEN IT GO ET CETERA INTO THE LAKES, YOU ARE OR DEALING WITH NITROGENS THAT CREATE ALGAE BLOOM AND IT KILLS OUR CRITTER LIFE.

SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT AND DO AND FOLLOW-- IT KILLS OUR AQUATIC LIFE.

AND WE SHOULD LOOK FOR NEW MODELS ESPECIALLY THAT THE ASIAN COUNTRIES ARE USING SO I WILL BE REALLY FOR THAT.

INVESTING INTO THE DIRECTION THAT CONTINUES TO PHASE US AWAY FROM THIS INTO MUCH BETTER SYSTEM.

>> I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER WAY AROUND IT YET.

MAYBE THERE WILL BE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN PUT TO USE AND WE CAN CERTAINLY BE A PILOT FOR THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE WINTERS WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO KEEP THE TRAFFIC GOING AND IT'S DANGEROUS NOT TO SALT THE ROADS.

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> ONE OF OUR OWN CITY EMPLOYEES DISCOVERED ENVIRONMENTALLY ORGANIC SUBSTANCE TO MELT SNOW AND ICE AND WE USE IT AROUND CITY HALL.

IF YOU GO AROUND CITY HALL ON A SNOWY DAY, THEY HAVE BEEN OUT AT 5 AND 6 CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND IT LOOKS, EVERYTHING LOOKS PURPLE AND PINK BECAUSE IT HAS MELTED IT.

THE QUESTION IS HOW CAN WE EXPAND THAT ON A LARGER SCALE TO POSSIBLY USE THAT MAYBE ON OUR EMERGENCY ROUTES FIRST, BUT REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT AROUND MAYBE SCHOOLS, MAYBE AROUND SOME OF OUR EMERGENCY ROUTES.

IT'S ALWAYS-- IT HAS NOT DONE ANY DAMAGE AROUND CITY HALL.

IT REALLY HAS-- AND IT DOES MELT THE ICE AND THE SNOW.

AND THE BEST PART ABOUT IT, IT WAS AN INGENIOUS IDEA FROM A CITY STAFF PERSON.

>> TRACK OF YOUR ROAD SALT USAGE IN THE WINTER.

SO RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WOULD SUPPORT MAKING THAT INFORMATION PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY?

FANTASTIC.

I'LL LET THE SYRACUSE STANDARD KNOW AND THEY'LL PROBABLY BE BOTHERING YOU ABOUT THIS IN A FEW MONTHS.

>> SO, WE WANT TO ASK ANOTHER LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTION.

WE ARE WONDERING WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO GET AROUND TOWN?

>> YOU LOST, RIGHT?

YOU LOST YOUR WAY HERE?

>> I DID.

I LOST MY WAY.

WHO ANSWERED LAST?

DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> YOU CAN GO FIRST HERE.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO GET AROUND SYRACUSE.

>> I WALK BECAUSE I NEED TO EXERCISE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK.

>> I WALK WHERE I CAN AND I RIDE BIKES WITH MY KIDS NOW IF YOU MEET THE NUMBER OF KIDS I HAVE, IT'S LIKE A LINE OF BIKES SO WE RIDE A LOT OF OUR BIKE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I'M LUCKY, I LIVE IN TIPPERARY HILL.

I HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PLACES TO WALK TO.

THE PARK, COFFEE SHOP, RESTAURANTS.

I WALK A LOT.

>> AND ONE MORE LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER HOGAN YOU ANSWERED THIS ONE EARLIER, BUT DO ANY OF YOU OWN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR A HYBRID VEHICLE?

FEEL FREE RAISE YOUR HAND IF DO YOU.

>> NOT A BEEN.

>> YOU SNOW, I DRIVE LESS THAN 10,000 MILES A YEAR.

I DRIVE BUT I DON'T DRIVE A LOT.

AND BUT IF I COULD HAVE A PLACE TO PLUG IN, I WOULD BE OKAY.

>> GOTCH ARC.

WE'LL CHECK WACK IN WITH THEY HAVE THE NEW PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

>> AGAIN TO MY COMMENT BEFORE, LAST SUMMER WAY WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR AND I WAS LOOKING AT AN ELECTRIC CAR AND I DID THE RESEARCH ON THE POWER PACK WOULD I HAVE TO HAVE THE CHARGING AT MY HOUSE.

THE CHARGING UNIT WAS PRETTY ECONOMICALLY EFFICIENT BUT THE CARS WERE JUST TOO EXPENSIVE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK WOULD YOU LIKE 15 SECONDS TO COMMENT ON THAT?

>> FOR ME, I WILL BE REALLY ELATED TO SEE A DAY WHEN SYRACUSE HAS EVS CHARGING STATIONS AROUND AND WE ARE PHASING OUT GAS STATIONS.

THAT WILL BE A DAY I'M REALLY GOING TO BE HAPPY AND WHEN WE DO THAT, IT WILL ENCOURAGE NEIGHBORS TO REALLY START INVESTING INTO ELECTRIC CARS.

>> JULIE IS GOING TO TAKE US BACK TO LONG FORM QUESTIONS AND THIS IS GOING TO COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK.

>> THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.

>> NO PROBLEM.

>> IN SYRACUSE, LIKE CITIES AROUND THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY, THERE HAVE BEEN COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT HAVE BORN THE BRUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE OF POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS MAYOR TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVING FORWARD AND TO ADDRESS PAST WRONGS?

>> WELL, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SAY EDUCATION.

EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A CULTURE IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE LIFE AND THE FUTURE OF SOMEBODY IS DETERMINED BY THEIR ZIP CODE AND THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH; WHICH INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS BECAUSE EDUCATION CAN HELP UPLIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY AND OUT OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

INCENTIVE AS WELL, INCENTIVIZE PROGRAM THAT ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT THEM AND UTILIZE THEM AS WELL.

>> GET RID OF HEAT ISLANDS.

THERE ARE CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS CITY WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY NO TREES AND WE HAVE A CITY COUNTY ARBORIST WHO HAS DONE A WHOLE STUD OWE THIS AS FAR AS THE 10° AND 11° HOTTER ALL THE TIME.

WE PLANT TREES SO WE WILL START DOING THAT BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE MOOD OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN IT'S HOT LIKE THAT HOT AUGUST NIGHT AND YOU GOT STILL HEAT PERMEATING UP FROM THE SIDEWALKS THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT DURING THE DAY.

WE ARE GOING TO GET RID OF HEAT ISLANDS.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> FIRST THINGLY DO IS WHAT I'M DOING NOW, WORKING WITH THE D.O.T.

TO TAKE THAT HIGHWAY DOWN FROM AROUND THAT COMMUNITIES IN OUR CITY.

TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES AND RECONNECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE OTHER THING IS PURSUE WITH ALL FER CONVENIENCY OUR BROWN FIELD PROGRAM.

AS THE COUNCILOR MENTIONED WE HAVE EXISTING GAS STATIONS BUT WE HAVE REMNANT OF BASS STATIONS ALL OVER THE CITY.

ENVIRONMENTAL REMNANTS OF A TIME GONE BY WHERE GAS NATIONS ARE WHEREVERRER BUT OUR COMMUNITY STILL SUFFER FROM THEIR IMPACT.

DEVELOPMENT CAN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE COST OF REMOVING OLD TANKS, SOME OF THEM STILL FILLED WITH SUBSTANCES.

PUSHING THE BROWN FIELD PROGRAM TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN WHAT ARE MAINLY THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> BEER GOING TO TURN TO BUILDINGS NOW AND GIVEN THE DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT NOW IN SYRACUSE AND THE DEMAND INCREASE WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE WITH THE MICRON DEVELOPMENT.

HOW WOULD YOU MEET THE CURRENT AND FUTURE HOUSING DEMANDS WHILE NOT PROMOTEING SPRAWL THAT INFRINGES ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND UNDERLINED LAND CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

DEPUTY MAYOR, WHAT WOULD DO YOU ON THOSE FRONTS?

>> BUILDING HOUSES THEY SHOULD BE BUILT TO ENERGY STANDARDS, NEW YORK STATE, I'M REALLY THANKFUL WE ARE IN NEW YORK STATE BECAUSE THOSE STANDARDS EXIST PARTICULARLY WHEN PUBLIC FUNDING IS SOBERED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, PARTER IN LIKE THAT WE HAVE BUILD NOW WITH TANKLESS WATER HEATERS INSTEAD OF LARGE TANKS THAT WERE THE TRADITIONAL TANKS FOR WATER HEATING.

OUR ENERGY, ELECTRICAL EFFICIENCIES WE ARE PUTTING IN OUR HOMES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT ENCOURAGING SPRAWL, BUT ENSURING THAT WE ARE IN SYRACUSE IN THE FOREFRONT OF THIS AND THE WASTE GOING INTO OUR SEWER SYSTEMS OUR IMPACT FOR SUPPORTING HOMES THROUGH OUR RECYCLING AND WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM IS HELPING US ENVIRONMENTALLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD.

NO ONE CAN ARGUE THAT NOT ONLY DOES THE CITY LOOK BETTER NOW THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED THAT PROGRAM, BUT THE TRASH AND DEBRIS THAT WAS ALL OVER THE CITY BEING SWEPT INTO OUR SEWER SYSTEMS WAS A DETRIMENT TO OUR LONG-TERM ABILITY.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER.

>> SO I BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING RISES AND FALLS ON LEADERSHIP.

WITHOUT PROPERLY LEADERSHIP, ALL THESE ENVIRONMENTAL VISIONS AND GOALS ARE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE NEED LEADERSHIP THAT ONE.

NUMBER TWO, UNDER LEADERSHIP, THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER ENFORCEMENT AN IMPLEMENTATION.

TO DEPUTY MAYOR OWENS POINT ABOUT BEING BLESSED TO LIVE IN NEW YORK, WE ARE FAR AHEAD THAN A LOT OF STATES, AND WE HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE.

WE JUST NEED AT A LOCAL LEVEL, BOLD LEADERS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THOSE AS WE BUILD HOUSING, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE IMPLEMENTED INTO THE BUILDING OF HOUSING.

SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, SOLAR SYSTEM, HEAT PUMP, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE THERE AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE IMPLEMENTATION TAKES PLACE SO THAT WE CONTINUE TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT SPRAWL SPECIFICALLY THOUGH?

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT SPRAWL AS WE LOOK TO MEET THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEMANDS?

>> WELL, WITH SPRAWL, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN AN URBAN CITY, RIGHT, AND AS MICRON MOVES IN, THERE IS GOING TO BE A POPULATION INCREASE.

TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DENSITY AND HOW WE BUILT, MAKING SURE THAT WE MAXIMIZE SPACES RATHER THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD TWO FAMILY HOUSES, APARTMENT SPACES THAT ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND CAN TAKE MORE PEOPLE SO THAT WE HAVE MORE DENSITY AROUND AND BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT.

>> IF I MAY.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOGAN.

>> WE DON'T HAVE SPRAWL HERE IN SYRACUSE.

WHAT WE DO IS TRY TO ACQUIRE SO MANY PROPERTIES UNDER THE LAND BANK THAT I'M CHAIR OF THE LAST 10 YEARS WE HAVE REHABBED 1400 PROPERTIES-- 1400 HOUSES.

RIGHT DOWN THE STREET HERE ON DELAWARE AND GRAY STREET WE HAVE ACQUIRED A LOT OF THE PROPERTIES WHERE WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH HOUSING VISIONS AND OTHER ALIGNED AGENCIES TO BUILD HOUSING AND WE ACQUIRE THESE PROPERTIES WHEN WE HAVE THE MONEY, THE LAND BANK GETS MONEY FROM ALL SORTS OF REVENUE STREAMS INCLUDING THE CITY, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES ON IT AND WE WORK WITH HOME HEADQUARTERS AND HOUSING VISIONS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT IT COSTS $400,000 TO BUILD A LOWS IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

SO YOU ARE TALKING WITH THE INCOME LEVEL FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, YOU CAN WRITE A MORTGAGE MAKE FOR 180,000 BUT THE REST IS SUBSIDY.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A SUBSIDY.

WE HAVE A NEW DEVELOPER IN TOWN, WHO IS NOT ACTUALLY NEW, HE USED TO WORK FOR HOME HEADQUARTERS, HE STARTED-- HE IS GOING TO BUILD A COUPLE OF HOUSE ON THE OUTER STRATHMORE AREA AND IT IS GOING TO BE MARKET RATE HOUSING.

I THINK THERE IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US IS TO ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM MICRON BECAUSE WE WILL BUILD NOT ONLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PER SE, BUT HOUSE IS THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD HERE IN THE CITY.

>> SO WOULD YOU SUPPORT CHANGING THE ZONING TO ENCOURAGE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.

>> WE ALREADY CHANGED THE ZONING.

>> WE HAVE A BAD QUESTION.

SORRY.

>> BUT I WILL ADD THAT OUR ZONING LAW NOW ALLOWS FOR PERMITTING FOR SOLAR, WIND AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SOURCES.

>> AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP THOUGH ON THE ZONING QUESTION, THERE WERE SOME ADVOCATES WHO FELT LIKE THE ZONING COULD HAVE BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN IT WAS, AND GRANTED IT WAS A BIG CHANGE OF PACE.

SO FOLLOWING UP ON THE ZONING QUESTION, WE'LL START WITH YOU COUNCILOR HOGAN, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THE ZONING EVEN MORE.

>> WE ALL WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE CHANGED ZONING SINCE 1967 SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL INSISTED ON AND WAS IN MY COMMITTEE, I INSISTED ON IS THAT WE BE FLEXIBLE AND NIMBLE SO WHEN THINGS CAME UP, WE COULD CHANGE THEM FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S A LOT EASIER TO CHANGE THE NEW ZONING LAW THAN IT WAS THE OLD ZONING LAW.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR AND THEN TO YOU COUNCILOR.

>> ILL I WILL ADD THE NEW ZONING LAW ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY GARDENING, URBAN COUNTY AN AGRICULTURE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT IN THE CITY WE HAVE FOOD DESERTS SO IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS WELL AS INCREASING THE FLEXIBILITY OF ENERGY OPTIONS IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK.

>> WHEN WE WORKING WITH THE REZONE, ONE OF THE PUSH BACK THAT THE COMMUNITY CAME AFTER WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE FLEXIBLE WITH AREAS THAT ARE SINGLE-FAMILY TO ALSO INCLUDE TWO-FAMILY HOMES.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE PUSH AND WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS HERE THAT ARE VERY SINGLE HOME DRIVEN.

AND ONE OF THE PUSH WAS-- AND THEY ARE IN BETTER AREAS THAN SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS PUSH WAS THAT THERE SHOULD BE TWO FAMILIES THAT LITTLE THE TINTER RIGHT THERE.

>> WE ONLY HAVE TIME FOR A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS BUT ONE OF THEM IS, YOU KNOW, WE, ONONDAGA COUNTY HAS A GREAT RECORD OF RECYCLING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COULD ALSO BE HANDLED IS LEFTOVER FOOD, RIGHT?

AND IF FOOD IS NOT DONATED OR RECYCLED, IT CAN END UP IN THE LANDFILL GENERATING METHANE GAS.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS MAYOR TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WASTE THAT ENDS UP IN LANDFILLS.

>> STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK.

>> AS SOMEBODY THAT IS A BIG, BIG SUPPORTER OF URBAN FARMING, I THINK WE, AS WE GROW AND WE EXPAND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACCOMMODATE URBAN FARMING, MANURE IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED.

AND FOOD WASTE IS A HEALTHY WAY, AS I SAID EARLIER, WITH COMPOSTING, IS A HEALTHY WAY TO GENERATE THE MANURE FOR, TO HELP OUR PLANTS AND OUR FOOD AND OUR CITY.

SO IT IS-- I WOULD SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOGAN.

>> I'M NOT SURE ON THE FOOD WASTE EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WASTE GENERATED BY THE CONSTANT DELIVERY DRIVERS I SEE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU KNOW, WITH PACKAGES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ORDERING FOOD OUT AND THAT GENERATES A LOT OF TRASH, WHICH BOTHERS ME QUITE A BIT.

BUT AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S EDUCATION.

WE ARE CERTAINLY GOING THROUGH THE PHASE WHERE WE JUST EDUCATED FOR OUR RECYCLING CARTS WE JUST PUT IN AND OUR NEW GARBAGE CARTS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PROCESS OF EDUCATION AND IF WE CAN FIND AN AGENCY LIKE THE FOOD BANK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO TAKE IN THE EXTRA FOOD, SURE, THAT'S OKAY.

WE CAN PLUG IT RIGHT INTO OUR SYSTEM.

BUT I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE TRASH THAT'S GENERATED.

>> TYPICALLY ABOUT 40% OF WHAT GOES INTO THE WASTE STREEP IS FOOD.

A LOT OF IT ARE THINGS YOU CAN'T-- NOT DONATABLE FOOD LIKE OBVIOUSLY HAVE YOU RINDS FROM VARIOUS VEGETABLES AND FRUITS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY EDIBLE, BUT CERTAINLY WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE FIRST DONATION OF FOOD, AND THERE IS A STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES THAT WEGMANS HAS BEEN A LEADER ON THAT BEFORE THERE WAS A STATE LAW FROM THAT PERSON.

THIS IS MORE ABOUT WHAT DO WE AS CONSUMERS DO AT HOME WITH OUR WASTE AND TRYING TO GO IT THAT OUT OF THE WASTE STREAM BUT THE PACKAGING IS ALSO A PROBLEM.

>> I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION.

I ADMIT TO THAT.

>> ALL GOOD.

>> I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT QUESTION ON THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN ON CITY COUNCIL.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE 30 SECONDS TO ADDRESS THE FOOD AND REALLY ANALYZING WHAT THE WASTE IS AND ENCOURAGING ANALYSIS OF HOW MUCH FOOD THEY HAVE AND WHAT THEY USE AND WHEN THEY DON'T USE IT AND HOW IT CAN BE DPRBT DISTRIBUTED TO THE FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN AND HOUSEHOLDS OF THE STRICTD THAT I'M SURE CAN USE IT.

DISTRIBUTING TO OUR PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY FOR FOOD BANKS AND FOOD GIVE AWAYS ET CETERA, THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL AS MYSELF, YOU KNOW, IN MY OWN HOME, MY HUSBAND AND HE IS GOING TO KILL ME, BUT MY HUSBAND WHEN HE GOES AND SHOPS I'M LIKE YOU DIDN'T NEED THREE LOAFS OF BREAD.

WE JUST NEEDED ONE LOAF OF BREAD SO JUST PERSONAL HABIT AS WELL.

>> I WILL PICK UP CANS AND BOTTLES ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN AND GRAB SOME BREAD FROM YOUR FREEZER.

WE HAVE 15 SECONDS FOR THIS.

>> WE WASTE A LOT OF FOOD AND I WAS EXES POSED TO THIS IN COLLEGE AND WHILE WE ARE WASTING FOOD, PEOPLE ARE STARVING.

IT'S SUCH A COMPLEX-- SO BEING ABLE TO BALANCE THAT UTILIZING IT SO IT DOESN'T GET INTO OUR STREAMS AND WE UTILIZE IT IS THE BEST WAY TO GO.

>> THIS IS OUR LAST QUESTION OF THE EVENING.

AND IT HAS TO DO WITH GREEN SPACE AND HAVE YOU 45 SECONDS THIS TIME.

DEPUTY MAYOR.

IF YOU ARE ELECTIONED MAYOR, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO CREATED NEW GREEN SPACE LIKE PARKS WITHIN THE CITY'S BOUNDARIES.

45 SECONDS.

>> SO FIRST OF ALL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON OUR EXISTING PARKS AS PART OF THE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT OUR CITY.

OUR NEW ZONING LAW ALSO DESIGNATED WAS WE CALL OPEN SPACES NOW WHERE WE SEE OUR CREEK WALK AND OUR GREEN SPACES THAT AREN'T DESIGNATED PARKS BUT THEY'RE GREEN SPACES, WOODED AREAS THAT PEOPLE LIKE, CONTINUING TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND THE SANCTITY OF OF THOSE SPACES TO ENSURE OUR WATERWAYS AND GREEN SPACES NOT ARE NOT DESIGNATED PARKS BUT GREEN SPACES THAT PEOPLE ENJOY.

WE PROTECT THEM AND KEEP THEM AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT OUTSIDE OF THE PARK ENVIRONMENT.

SO AS MAYOR, I ABSOLUTELY OUR PARKS, INVESTING IN THEM, CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THEM AND FUNDING THEM.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MAJOK, 45 SECONDS.

>> WE DO HAVE AS DEPUTY MAYOR SAYS, WE HAVE PARKS BUT THE PROBLEM WITH OUR PARKS IS THEY'RE VERY UNDER UTILIZED.

UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, WHAT I WILL IMPLEMENT IS ALSO PLANTING EDIBLE PLANTS IN THE PARK SO ATTRACT-- TO ATTRACT THE USE OF PARKS AROUND THERE.

SO THAT IS IMPORTANT.

AS WELL AS WE HAVE VACANT LOTS THAT SOMETIMES ARE OVERGROWN AND UNDER UTILIZED, BEING ABLE TO TURN THOSE AND ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY AS I SAID EARLIER, URBAN FARMING, TO USE THEM AS GARDEN AND CONTINUE TO PROMOTE PLANTING GREEN PLANTS SO THAT ALSO HELPS OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE AIR AND ALL OF THAT.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS I WOULD IMPLEMENT.

MAKING SURE THAT THE PARKS ARE UTILIZED, NUMBER TWO EDIBLE PLANTS AND MAKING SURE THAT VACANT LOTS ARE UTILIZED.

>> THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOGAN.

>> MY GOOD FRIEND I WOULD DISAGREE THE PARKS ARE UTILIZED.

BURNET PARK ON THE SUMMER EVENINGS HAS THE POOL OPEN AND KIDS PLAYING BALL, SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL.

KIDS PLAYING GOLF AND PEOPLE LIKE ME WALKING AROUND THE PARK.

AND PEOPLE OF UKRAINIAN HERITAGE PICKING BERRIES OFF THE TREE TO BAKE PIES.

I MEAN EVERYTHING GOES ON UP THERE AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT NOW ADAYS IN OUR SOCIETY NOWADAYS, WHERE SOCIALIZATION TAKES PLACE ON A LEVEL LIKE THAT.

PEOPLE ARE NOT ON THEIR PHONES.

THEY'RE WALKING THEIR DOGS AND HAVING FUN.

CITY PARKS WE HAVE A THOUSAND ACRES OF CITY PARKS.

I'M AN OLD PARKS GUY AND I THINK WE CAN INCREASE THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE INNER HARBOR AND RIGHT OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LIGHT PARK EXPANDING AND WE ARE INTO A TRAIL WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO FROM THE WEST SIDE TO DOWNTOWN WITH BY BIKE OR WALKING.

THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

>> SO BEFORE I LET YOU ALL GO, I'M SORRY, HAVE I TO ASK ONE PERSONAL.

>> YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO RESPOND ON THAT.

WHAT DO YOU DEEP KEEP THE THERMOSTAT ON IN THE WINTER.

>> 68.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE THE THERMOSTAT ON.

>> 67 BECAUSE I MADE TWO.

>> 70.

>> I'M COMING TO YOUR HOUSE IN THE WINTER.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT'S FORUM.

MY CHANGES TO COMMON COUNSELOR CHOL MAJOK COMMON COUNCILOR PAT HOGAN, AND DEPUTY MAYOR SHARON OWENS FOR SHARING THEIR TIME WITH US.

AND OF COURSE I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY CO-HOST, JULIE TIGHE, PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND.

AS A REMINDER TO VIEWERS, PRIMARY DAY IS JUNE 24TH AND EARLY VOTING IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON JUNE 14.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S COVERAGE, VISIT WCNY.ORG.

ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT WCNY, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO, THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.