WAER 88.3 News | NPR from Central New York

Syracuse’s Creekwalk trail is now 2.2 miles longer after officials cut the ribbon Wednesday on the extension from Armory Square to Kirk Park in the heart of the city’s south side. It’s been more than six years in the making from the planning stages, funding, community meetings, and environmental reviews to, finally, design and construction.

Central New York teens have the chance this summer to participate in a STEAM summer day camp that results in helping someone in need. It’s called “Hand in Hand”, where students entering 7 th through 12 th grades will work in teams to design and fabricate prosthetic hands for local youth and seniors using 3-D printers.

The City of Syracuse is ramping up its efforts to reimagine Columbus Circle downtown after increasing pressure from many in the community over the weekend to remove the statue there. Mayor Ben Walsh has formed the Columbus Circle Action Group to make recommendations for a comprehensive education and learning site at the circle.

Phase 4 of New York’s reopening strategy started in Onondaga County Friday. Some of Central New York’s arts and recreation businesses will now be able to once again open their doors. However, gyms, movie theaters and malls were not a part of the phase.

Over 40,000 immigrants live in the Syracuse-metro area. They speak a variety of languages, work as essential employees, and often don’t have the same access to information and resources that other populations do. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these factors make them vulnerable.

The anticipated financial impact of dozens of new clergy sex abuse cases has prompted the Syracuse Diocese to file for reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Bishop Douglas Lucia made the announcement Friday, saying the diocese has over 100 lawsuits pending against it.

Anyone who has celebrated or honored Juneteenth in the past, can’t escape that this year the holiday, and the injustices it exposes, is seeing more attention. Marches, rallies, and protests over racial police practices have also shined a light on racial inequities in education, the economy and other parts of society. I had a chance to talk with Ruthnie Angrand who’s on the Syracuse Juneteenth Committee. They would normally be holding a commemorative dinner, a Juneteenth parade and festival in Syracuse, which has become one of the larger such events in the state. She says state, county and city proclamations of Juneteenth as a holiday, coupled with recent racial equity pledges by many companies and institutions, heighten the significance. “Corporate Polices, government policies focus no equity in a way we never have been able to before,” Angrand said. “There are documents we can point to, holidays and commemorations we can point to that say, ‘don’t forget, you said this; you said this

Monday’s US Supreme Court ruling protecting LGBT employees from discrimination based on sex is being felt here in Central New York…even if state and local laws are already in place. Kim Dill is executive director of SAGE Upstate , serving the region’s older LGBT community, most of whom are retired.

How should the reopening of the economy affect New York’s nursing homes? There are concerns that care for residents has suffered during the COVID pandemic shutdown.

None of the three Syracuse Police officers first to arrive on the scene of Thursday morning’s officer-involved shooting had body cameras, highlighting the ongoing effort to secure the devices for all uniformed officers. Mayor Ben Walsh has made it a priority of his administration, aggressively seeking grants and dedicating city matching funds.

Syracuse police continue their investigation into the officer-involved shooting early Thursday morning that injured a 23-year-old man. Officers responded to Mark Ave when the department’s shot spotter technology indicated multiple shots fired.

The independent panel that investigates allegations of police misconduct in Syracuse is also trying to change the relationship between police and the community. The Citizen Review Board’s primary role is to review complaints and make disciplinary, policy, training, and other recommendations to the police chief. But CRB administrator Ranette Releford says there also has to be a change in the mindset of officers, understanding that black and brown communities feel fear anytime they call the police. "They have a fear that they won't be listened to. They have a fear that they will be mistreated. There is an overall cultural shift that needs to occur. It also has to do with demeanor...how officers speak to invididuals they come into contact [with]." Toward that end, CRB Chair Peter McCarthy says Syracuse Common Councilors will be considering an ordinance called “right to know” pushed by the NYCLU. " It would require officers, when they stop somebody, to identify themselves, let the person

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

The untimely death of George Floyd on May 25th has impacted communities across the country, and many have taken to the streets to protest the actions of those involved. Today starting at Noon, NPR will bring live coverage of the funeral for George Floyd. The service will be held at The Fountain of Praise in Houston. The video stream is expected to begin at Noon. If it is after Noon and the video does not appear, try refreshing your browser.

Mayor Ben Walsh was among a diverse group of hundreds of people wearing masks who marched through downtown Syracuse Thursday calling for state passage of about a dozen police reform bills. The group then gathered in Forman Park for one of eight “Let us Breathe” press conferences held across the state condemning the death of George Floyd and other African Americans at the hands of police.

City and County leaders are hoping the community is ready and willing to find productive ways to get past the pain and frustration caused by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. Largely peaceful protesters filled the streets near Syracuse Police headquarters over the weekend, with the exception of Saturday night when a handful of people broke windows and looted some stores.

The House has passed a bill aimed at giving businesses in Central New York and across the nation more time to take advantage of the popular Paycheck Protection Program. The current deadline to bring workers back online is June 30 th , but many CNY businesses might not be fully operational by then.

Syracuse restaurants and neighborhood stores might have an easier time expanding their take-out and curbside business thanks to a city project that starts Wednesday. Mayor Ben Walsh is implementing some parking changes that will help people practice contact-less delivery when patronizing a local business.

Memorial Day is supposed to be a somber holiday in Central New York and elsewhere. But this year it had even more of a solemn feeling, as the specter of COVID 19 deaths hung over the remembrance of the country’s war casualties.

The Syracuse-area’s most vulnerable residents are feeling the impact of COVID-19 the most, and faith leaders are trying to ensure people don’t fall through the cracks.