WEBVTT 00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:11.439 My name is Noah Chrysler, this is Good News York, 00:00:11.740 --> 00:00:15.019 and this is the 2026 Syracuse Mayor's Ball. Come 00:00:15.019 --> 00:00:34.090 on! This event is meant to bring together some 00:00:34.090 --> 00:00:36.929 of the community leaders here at Syracuse to 00:00:36.929 --> 00:00:38.670 get together for a night of entertainment. There's 00:00:38.670 --> 00:00:40.689 some cocktails, there's some local food. Looks 00:00:40.689 --> 00:00:42.789 like everybody's having a lot of fun and we're 00:00:42.789 --> 00:00:44.670 gonna have a lot of fun too. I'm in a rental 00:00:44.670 --> 00:00:46.810 tux. Danny's looking great. He's got his gear. 00:00:47.109 --> 00:00:50.750 We're having a blast. Tonight is about showing 00:00:50.750 --> 00:00:55.570 off the talent of Syracuse. From the music, to 00:00:55.570 --> 00:01:13.079 the artists, to the vendors, to the food. hosting 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:15.640 us and then I told her I'm going to say five 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:17.480 seconds worth of words and then I'm getting out 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:20.760 of the way because if you know me, I'm going 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:25.040 to be right there. So have a go, get the shoes 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:28.319 on, enjoy some great food and let's have fun, 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:33.439 Syracuse. I have known Mayor Owens since I was 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:37.079 about 10 years old. I've known her almost my 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:40.099 whole life. We attended the same church. Tell 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:42.129 us about Mayor Owens. What's she like, you know, 00:01:42.310 --> 00:01:45.069 at the function? Like, what is she the cool and, 00:01:45.209 --> 00:01:46.969 like, you know, what is she like behind the scenes? 00:01:46.989 --> 00:01:49.790 Is she fun? I tell you what, she's a lot of fun. 00:01:50.170 --> 00:01:53.349 She's also a complete and utter professional. 00:01:53.609 --> 00:01:56.370 And I love that about her. My wife works for 00:01:56.370 --> 00:02:00.430 her at the Southwest Community Center. And she 00:02:00.430 --> 00:02:03.950 did so many great things there that got her to 00:02:03.950 --> 00:02:07.049 the point that she's here now. And I don't know 00:02:07.049 --> 00:02:09.539 anyone else more deserving, honestly. Wonderful. 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:11.159 Can you tell me about some of those great things? 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:13.280 That's wonderful. I want to know more. Yeah, 00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:15.699 I mean, if you look at the programs that they 00:02:15.699 --> 00:02:18.419 have at the Southwest Center, she was very instrumental 00:02:18.419 --> 00:02:21.740 in actually implementing a lot of those programs. 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:24.560 She's a person that cares deeply about the city 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:27.460 of Syracuse, and you can tell. And she cares 00:02:27.460 --> 00:02:31.599 about, you know, not just the city, but the underserved 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:34.219 communities in the city and the folks that really 00:02:34.219 --> 00:02:38.039 need assistance and help. She cares deeply. You 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:41.180 know, that's a passion of hers. And so I'm just 00:02:41.180 --> 00:02:44.400 super proud to be here in this moment and to 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:48.080 celebrate, you know, the first black woman, first 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:50.580 black mayor of the city of Syracuse. This is 00:02:50.580 --> 00:02:53.400 like such a historic thing. And and I'm just 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:54.960 I'm just proud to be a part of it, honestly. 00:02:54.979 --> 00:02:57.360 And just just a fly on the wall. I feel like 00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:59.780 a fly on the wall right now. I'm I'm just here. 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:02.139 You know, I love it. Awesome. Is there anything 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:04.319 that you are especially looking forward to tonight 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:05.560 or what was your favorite part of the evening 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:08.960 so far? I want to see Mayor Owens on the dance 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:11.680 floor getting busy. I don't know if anyone else 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:13.520 said that, but I'm going to dance with her. If 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.680 I see her on the dance floor, you better believe 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:17.159 you're going to see me on the dance floor with 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:18.979 her, OK? What brings you here tonight to the 00:03:18.979 --> 00:03:21.460 Mayor's Ball? Oh, well, Sharon. I shouldn't call 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:24.219 her Sharon anymore. I should call her her honor. 00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:29.419 Her honor has been just a wonderful mainstay 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:33.020 in doing wonderful work in Syracuse, as you know, 00:03:33.020 --> 00:03:36.030 and I've been very supportive of her. for all 00:03:36.030 --> 00:03:38.250 of the years that she's done various things in 00:03:38.250 --> 00:03:41.129 Syracuse. And so we're very excited that she 00:03:41.129 --> 00:03:43.370 is the mayor. Matter of fact, about four years 00:03:43.370 --> 00:03:46.150 ago, I mentioned to her about running and that 00:03:46.150 --> 00:03:49.150 she should run for mayor. And she wasn't sure 00:03:49.150 --> 00:03:51.550 that she was going to do that. Oh, yeah. But 00:03:51.550 --> 00:03:54.169 I was sure that if she ran, she would win. So 00:03:54.169 --> 00:03:56.310 we're here to celebrate. Very cool. Very cool. 00:03:56.509 --> 00:03:58.430 So you were deputy mayor for a long time. Yes. 00:03:58.650 --> 00:04:00.750 Not in Jersey City, New Jersey. Have you heard 00:04:00.750 --> 00:04:03.879 anything about Hudson County? politics not not 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:06.340 particularly maybe a little bit okay well i will 00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:08.900 just so as deputy mayor in jersey city did you 00:04:08.900 --> 00:04:11.060 learn anything to anybody lines of wisdom that 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:13.659 you want to pass on the mayor owens here oh absolutely 00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:16.839 uh... the the most important thing is to remember 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:21.800 what got her because what gets her here will 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:25.100 keep her here and uh... you know the lot of people 00:04:25.100 --> 00:04:27.540 will come and pull on her for various kinds of 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:29.720 things with different interests but she's got 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:33.660 to make sure that She did to get her here the 00:04:33.660 --> 00:04:36.040 interests of the city and the interests of the 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:39.839 people at large and the least one Because though 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:41.740 those who are influential and those who are rich 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:44.579 and powerful they can fend for themselves But 00:04:44.579 --> 00:04:46.980 it's the least ones that have difficulty making 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:49.779 and government has to help them. I am here with 00:04:49.779 --> 00:04:52.560 Senator Rachel May How are you doing this evening? 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:57.759 Fantastic what brings you to the mayor's ball? 00:05:02.129 --> 00:05:05.430 and just thrilled that she's our new mayor, and 00:05:05.430 --> 00:05:08.490 I knew it was gonna be a fun time. Awesome, fantastic. 00:05:08.769 --> 00:05:11.230 So from your experience as a senator, you know, 00:05:11.350 --> 00:05:14.170 is there any advice that you would give Mayor 00:05:14.170 --> 00:05:16.290 Owens as she, you know, she's just kind of started 00:05:16.290 --> 00:05:17.930 out here. Any advice that you have for her during 00:05:17.930 --> 00:05:21.550 her term? You know, I've only been doing this 00:05:21.550 --> 00:05:26.290 for seven years myself, but I will say, you know, 00:05:26.350 --> 00:05:28.930 there are gonna be setbacks, but you just... 00:05:30.490 --> 00:05:33.250 Remember who you are always make sure you're 00:05:33.250 --> 00:05:36.170 doing you're following your own instincts and 00:05:36.170 --> 00:05:39.209 she's got great instincts So I have faith in 00:05:39.209 --> 00:05:42.370 her very calm. Is there anything going on in 00:05:42.370 --> 00:05:44.209 Syracuse that more people should know about? 00:05:46.350 --> 00:05:48.610 Oh My goodness, I feel like there are a lot of 00:05:48.610 --> 00:05:53.490 things I was just talking with the with Pam from 00:05:53.490 --> 00:05:58.730 the symphony Because they're getting ready to 00:05:58.730 --> 00:06:03.379 open the auditorium in the STEAM school which 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:06.560 was a famous auditorium back in the day and they're 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:09.139 restoring it so it's going to be this spectacular 00:06:09.139 --> 00:06:13.459 venue so they want to play concerts there and 00:06:13.459 --> 00:06:15.879 I think the students will be able to do their 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:18.639 performances there it's going to be a fantastic 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:24.040 new addition to the city's entertainment world. 00:06:24.509 --> 00:06:26.930 I'm really excited about that. It's kind of under 00:06:26.930 --> 00:06:30.149 the radar right now, but it's it's coming. Awesome. 00:06:30.250 --> 00:06:33.730 Very cool. So I watched Mayor Owens state of 00:06:33.730 --> 00:06:36.009 the city and there was a lot of exciting things. 00:06:36.449 --> 00:06:38.509 What is one of her projects that you're like 00:06:38.509 --> 00:06:41.290 looking forward to seeing take place here in 00:06:41.290 --> 00:06:43.949 Syracuse? Well, I do a lot of work on housing 00:06:43.949 --> 00:06:50.139 and we really need more housing. housing in places 00:06:50.139 --> 00:06:52.439 where people want to live, where it's near public 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:54.740 transportation and that sort of thing. And I 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:57.459 think she really gets that. And we're going to 00:06:57.459 --> 00:07:00.939 be working together well to make sure that that 00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:03.920 development happens right here. It happens for 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.920 the good of the people who are here, not for 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:10.420 the good of, you know, investors in overseas 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:13.500 or something like that. I really think we're 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:15.839 on the right track for that. Very calm. Okay 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:17.740 give me the cheat codes if I'm trying to get 00:07:17.740 --> 00:07:20.339 housing built in a city what is like if you had 00:07:20.339 --> 00:07:22.019 to give me one piece of advice for how to do 00:07:22.019 --> 00:07:23.740 that and get it done and make sure it's really 00:07:23.740 --> 00:07:26.519 good and really nice what is some cheat codes 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:30.600 that you got for me some advice? Well that's 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:34.000 a good question I mean I think the city is streamlining 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.899 its permitting process it's trying to make it 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:39.560 just faster but we at the state are doing the 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:41.120 same thing we're trying if you want to build 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:45.399 a big building You should have to go through 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:47.399 all the local permitting, but you shouldn't have 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:50.279 to go through state environmental quality review 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:53.920 if it's already permitted and it's in the kinds 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:56.100 of places where we want new housing. So we're 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:59.220 working on, and the mayor I know is also working 00:07:59.220 --> 00:08:01.259 on bringing down some of the barriers to doing 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:03.879 that. Very cool. Very cool. Well, wonderful. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:05.879 Is there any other messages that you want to 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:08.439 send to the people of Syracuse or to the mayor 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:15.120 here tonight? This is a city that's on the rise 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:18.139 and you can see it here tonight and it's pretty 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:20.579 exciting. So we are here with Mayor Owens. Mayor 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:22.579 Owens, how are you doing tonight? Oh my goodness, 00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:25.740 this is great. We started upstairs and we're 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:29.420 down here now. We got great music going on, great 00:08:29.420 --> 00:08:32.620 DJ, new band coming up. Everyone, the best part 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:34.440 about this for me is that people who have never 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:37.000 been to the most are here for the first time 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:39.059 and I hope that means they're going to come back. 00:08:39.179 --> 00:08:41.080 Absolutely. I haven't been here since I was a 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:43.720 kid, and it's amazing. Many people don't realize 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:46.039 that they use it for venues like this, so I hope 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:48.179 that this really garners business for the most. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:51.059 Absolutely. Fantastic. OK, cool. So what is tonight 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:53.080 all about, and what do you hope people will walk 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:56.259 away feeling? Tonight is about coming together, 00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:59.179 the eclectic diversity of Syracuse. We have people 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:01.840 from all walks of life. This is the feel when 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.950 I talk about the vibrancy of... Syracuse, when 00:09:04.950 --> 00:09:07.350 I talk about the nightlife coordinator and the 00:09:07.350 --> 00:09:09.590 vibrancy of Syracuse, this is what I'm talking 00:09:09.590 --> 00:09:12.149 about. Maybe not dressed up like this all the 00:09:12.149 --> 00:09:15.799 time, but having eclectic... different nightlife 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:17.980 opportunities for people. This is what I'm talking 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:20.399 about. I love it. Fantastic. Cool. So for some 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.220 people watching this, this might be their first 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:24.960 time meeting you, right? So what do you want 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:27.259 them to know about the type of mayor that you're 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:29.019 trying to be for the city of Syracuse? So the 00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:31.220 type of mayor that I'm going to be is the Sharon 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:33.399 that I've always been. I've been in the community 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:37.299 for almost 40 years. I was not looking for government. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:39.659 Government found me and found what I was doing 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:42.549 in community. I could do for government. So working 00:09:42.549 --> 00:09:44.830 for eight years, for three years, and then eight 00:09:44.830 --> 00:09:46.610 years for Mayor Walsh, I know where all the light 00:09:46.610 --> 00:09:49.690 switches are, so I don't need to find the right 00:09:49.690 --> 00:09:52.590 room. I have a great team, and we're hitting 00:09:52.590 --> 00:09:55.090 the ground running. Wonderful. Wonderful. So 00:09:55.090 --> 00:09:56.909 I watched your State of the City address, and 00:09:56.909 --> 00:09:59.769 it was wonderful, but I noticed that you dedicated 00:09:59.769 --> 00:10:02.470 it to your mom. Your pastor, L. Daniels, your 00:10:02.470 --> 00:10:04.350 mom. So I was wondering, what is something that 00:10:04.350 --> 00:10:06.129 she might have taught you that you still use 00:10:06.129 --> 00:10:10.179 today? Never forget about the people. If we are 00:10:10.179 --> 00:10:12.240 blessed, and I have been blessed to be able to 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:14.779 do many different things, it is always not for 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:18.480 myself, but for other people. And my green tonight 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.960 is because this was her favorite color. Oh, cool. 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:23.039 How sweet. That's very sweet. All right, here 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:24.899 we go. What are some of the big projects that 00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:26.480 you're most proud of right now, and what should 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:28.919 be people watching out for next? Well... people 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:31.840 should be watching now um housing absolutely 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:35.379 we're looking to break ground at the um old developmental 00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:38.600 center that's going to be 200 new units up there 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.179 town homes up there we're looking to hopefully 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:45.580 move forward quickly on the uh um the golf course 00:10:45.580 --> 00:10:47.980 on the southern tier to get projects going there. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:51.220 I just found out from the superintendent that 00:10:51.220 --> 00:10:54.399 10 % of our kids are actually classified homeless. 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:57.019 So we're going to really hone into how we could 00:10:57.019 --> 00:11:00.539 get them out of hotels into stable housing. Wow, 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:05.159 fantastic. So I did some time in Atlanta. I lived 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:06.940 there for a few years. And while I was there, 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:09.799 I got really big into roller skating. So I'm 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:12.539 wondering, you know, this summer, when can I 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:14.019 expect to be roller skating in Clinton Square? 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:17.600 I'm working with the parks commissioner now and 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:19.879 we're hoping that this summer that we will have 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:21.720 figured out. I kind of put it out there and now 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:24.299 she has to figure it out. But I want to do, I 00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:27.220 want to see a disco ball and some lights. and 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:29.059 roller skating. Beautiful. Cool. Last question 00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:31.539 here. What's something that you want to say directly 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:33.080 to the people of Syracuse that might be watching 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:35.720 this? To the people of Syracuse, for many, we 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:38.279 have always been the center of New York State. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:42.259 But now we are central to the vibrancy and what's 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:45.639 happening in New York State. We no longer are 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:48.379 the afterthought. We are the beforethought. And 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:51.519 we should embrace that and move our city forward. 00:11:52.110 --> 00:11:53.730 Fantastic. Mayor Owens, thank you very, very 00:11:53.730 --> 00:11:55.690 much for your time. I appreciate it. Ladies and 00:11:55.690 --> 00:11:57.230 gentlemen, thank you so much for watching. If 00:11:57.230 --> 00:11:59.190 you enjoyed this video, make sure you follow 00:11:59.190 --> 00:12:02.129 our page, Good News York. Make sure you subscribe 00:12:02.129 --> 00:12:04.590 on YouTube. And boy, oh boy, it really helps 00:12:04.590 --> 00:12:06.870 us out if you could share this video with your 00:12:06.870 --> 00:12:09.490 network on Instagram, on Facebook, wherever you 00:12:09.490 --> 00:12:12.789 are, on TikTok. Do it there. You can share it 00:12:12.789 --> 00:12:15.549 all over. Help us out. Thanks so much. Have a 00:12:15.549 --> 00:12:18.330 great day. I'm gonna go hang out with the dinosaurs.