Politics & Government

The Chair of the Syracuse Common Council's Finance Committee is concerned the Mayor may be relying too much on the city's reserves in her budget proposal. Councilor Kathleen Joy and her colleagues began budget hearings Wednesday to go over the $660 million spending plan line by line.  Joy says using 20 million dollars in rainy day funds doesn't seem to address past warnings from the Mayor herself.

Women might be the key in passing an increase to the federal minimum wage – or at least that’s how New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is trying to frame the wage legislation to her congressional colleagues.  She highlighted the issue Tuesday on “Equal Pay Day,” the date to which women would have to work to match the pay men got for the same job last calendar year.  

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner releases her budget proposal Tuesday, and it includes five million dollars to hire more police officers and firefighters.  As many as 25 new police officers and 25 firefighters could be on the streets starting next year.   Miner says it's about balancing retirements and new positions with overtime costs.    Miner says the city can’t hide behind its money troubles and do nothing.   Common Council majority leader Helen Hudson says unless the state or federal governments provide more resources, that’s all they can hire for right now.  

Rallies are being held in Syracuse and across the country today in reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down overall limits on political contributions.  The 5 to 4 ruling in McCutcheon vs. FEC allows a single donor to give up to $3.5 million per election cycle to a political party.  The court’s majority said the previous $123,200 cap violated the First Amendment.  

Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a last-minute campaign push in East Syracuse Tuesday, advocating for a property tax freeze plan that could benefit many Upstate home owners.  He’s been touring the state leading up to the April 1 budget deadline, encouraging residents and supporters to pressure state legislators to approve his proposal.