OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mayor Ben Walsh Hosts the Bob Lonsbury Show on October 31, 2025

Public Meetings — Friday, October 31, 2025
BodySyracuse, New York
SessionPublic Meetings
DateFriday, October 31, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:00:53

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good afternoon.

0:03

This is Mayor Ben Walsh sitting in for Bob Lonsbury.

0:06

Welcome to the Bob Lonsbury Show on News Radio 570 W S Y R.

0:12

Bob's taking a few days off.

0:13

I'm sitting in, happy to be with you all for the next three hours.

0:17

Quick preview of the interviews.

0:19

We are stacked with interviews for all three hours.

0:21

We are going to start out with my good friend County Executive Ryan McMahon, followed by Center State CEO president Rob Simpson, Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecil, actor, comedian, and my cousin Tom Kenny, otherwise known as the voice of SpongeBob and many more.

0:38

Four o'clock hour, we are going to talk to the principal of the new Steam School and a new uh student as well.

0:44

Then we're going to open up the phone line.

0:46

So bring it.

0:47

Then we're going to talk to SU Women's Basketball coach Legget Jack and hear about the season coming up and uh what we can be excited about cheering on SU Women's Basketball.

0:56

And uh we're going to finish up the hour with more open phone lines.

1:00

So again, bring it.

1:02

5 p.m.

1:02

Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens is stopping in.

1:04

We're going to talk to uh two guys, uh Chairman Tim O'Donnell uh of the Syracuse Pond Hockey Classic and uh our other friend Joe Friscello who uh is involved with as well.

1:15

And then uh we're gonna hear from Common Counselor Rita Paniagua, who is running for common council president.

1:19

So again, uh lots of guests coming up.

1:23

I want to give a shout out to our producer Kyla, who's joining me in studio as well as Anna McGau uh from our communications team.

1:30

And also joining me in studio is our first guest, County Executive Ryan McMahon.

1:34

County exec, how are you?

1:35

I'm great.

1:35

Thanks, Mayor.

1:36

Appreciate being here.

1:37

How am I doing so far?

1:38

You're doing good.

1:38

And also I'm honored to share the microphone with the great Tim O'Donnell.

1:42

Yeah, well, you know, he's kind of a big deal, as you know.

1:45

So uh let's get into it.

1:47

Um, you know, you often say that we in this region in Syracuse, Central New York, Onadaga County.

1:54

Uh, we're in a moment.

1:55

I think you feel it.

1:56

I certainly feel it.

1:57

Hopefully, our constituents feel it.

1:59

Um, how would you describe this moment for our region?

2:02

Well, I think overall, right now we've experienced uh a period of time where you've had an alignment of leadership, as we've talked a lot about a lot.

2:11

Definitely.

2:12

And that makes it easier for investment.

2:14

It makes it easier to do big projects, and it also sends a signal to other partners at federal levels of government, state levels of government that they want to participate.

2:24

And so I think we've had a good run with that.

2:26

Obviously, we have this historic mega project happening right now.

2:31

Um, and that is driving um a tremendous amount of interest from around the globe to look at our community.

2:38

It's like kind of really interesting.

2:40

Like how did Syracuse, New York, Onattaga County, Central New York win this project against these other communities that are branded and brand name communities.

2:49

And um certainly uh as we we move forward, um, the supply chain companies, the other manufacturing companies, um, the housing opportunities that will be here.

3:00

Um, we're going to see billions and billions of dollars of investment, um, which represents opportunity for people across the board, across the community throughout central New York.

3:09

Yeah, it's really exciting.

3:11

And you know, you and I grew up here uh as uh many of our listeners did.

3:15

We've seen uh the downtimes.

3:17

I think we've all certainly earned the good times that are coming.

3:20

But I think for those of us that have been around for a while, you know, some people are naturally skeptical.

3:25

Um, you know, we're the term I like to use is we're um you know economically traumatized.

3:29

We've gone through some tough times as a community.

3:31

So, you know, for those that that may not be true believers yet, uh maybe just a quick update on on where we are with uh with Micron.

3:38

Yeah, so right now we're finishing up the environmental review.

3:40

Um, that review, which is the driver to get permits to start construction, um, will be complete in the next few weeks.

3:47

Right.

3:47

Um that sets a timeline after a 30-day review period from the federal government, which is also doing a review to give the decision of record.

3:55

That decision of record should be essentially uh ready in the second to third week of December.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████16%
Economic Development████████████12%
Public Safety████████████12%
Technology and Innovation███████████11%
Sports And Recreation██████████10%
Education Funding█████████9%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Arts And Culture████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Mayor Ben Walsh Hosts the Bob Lonsbury Show on October 31, 2025

Host Mayor Ben Walsh interviewed nine guests over three hours on News Radio 570 WSYR, covering regional economic development, public safety, education, and community events.

Discussion Items

  • County Executive Ryan McMahon provided updates on: the Micron project (environmental review concluding in weeks, federal decision in December, groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for third week of December); the Onondaga County IDA's 51.5 billion item for Micron's first phase; and the Inner Harbor aquarium (completion and public opening in June/July 2027).
  • Rob Simpson, Center State CEO, discussed the Inspire Innovation Hub (90,000-square-foot business incubator housing 38 companies) and the On-Ramp workforce training program at the former Sears building at 1300 South Salina Street.
  • Police Chief Joe Cecil reported crime statistics: overall Part I crime down 26.4%, property crimes down 27.4%, violent crime down 21.2%, homicides down 40%, stolen vehicles down 45.5%, and victims shot or killed down 15%. He credited ten-hour shifts, technology (body cameras, drones), and good police work.
  • Tom Kenny discussed his career, the upcoming SpongeBob film “SpongeBob 4: Search for SquarePants” (theater release December 19), and his plans to perform in Syracuse again.
  • Principal Dan Straub and freshman Logan Capers highlighted the new STEAM High School, its career and technical education programs (animation/game design, semiconductor manufacturing, etc.), and the mascot chosen: the “Steam Storm.”
  • Coach Felicia Legette-Jack discussed the upcoming SU women’s basketball season (first regular-season game November 4 against Stony Brook) and the importance of winning for the Syracuse community.
  • Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens spoke about her mayoral campaign, her family’s support, and her oversight of the police department, emphasizing the department’s handling of 2020 social unrest and continued investment.
  • Tim O’Donnell and Joe Fruscello announced the Syracuse Pond Hockey Classic will be held on January 24 at Clinton Square; registration opens around Thanksgiving.
  • Common Councilor Rita Paniagua discussed her background, priorities as incoming Common Council President (updating committees, improving communication between the mayor’s office and council).

Key Outcomes

  • Micron Phase 1 construction expected to begin in December 2025 after federal permit.
  • Inner Harbor aquarium to open summer 2027.
  • STEAM High School has chosen its mascot: the Steam Storm.
  • Crime continues to trend downward across all major categories.
  • Syracuse Pond Hockey Classic set for January 24.
  • Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens and Councilor Rita Paniagua are running for mayor and council president respectively. Mayor Walsh expressed support for both.
  • Mayor Walsh thanked his guests, the production team, and the Syracuse community, concluding his term.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. This is Mayor Ben Walsh sitting in for Bob Lonsbury. Welcome to the Bob Lonsbury Show on News Radio 570 W S Y R. Bob's taking a few days off. I'm sitting in, happy to be with you all for the next three hours. Quick preview of the interviews. We are stacked with interviews for all three hours. We are going to start out with my good friend County Executive Ryan McMahon, followed by Center State CEO president Rob Simpson, Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecil, actor, comedian, and my cousin Tom Kenny, otherwise known as the voice of SpongeBob and many more. Four o'clock hour, we are going to talk to the principal of the new Steam School and a new uh student as well. Then we're going to open up the phone line. So bring it. Then we're going to talk to SU Women's Basketball coach Legget Jack and hear about the season coming up and uh what we can be excited about cheering on SU Women's Basketball. And uh we're going to finish up the hour with more open phone lines. So again, bring it. 5 p.m. Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens is stopping in. We're going to talk to uh two guys, uh Chairman Tim O'Donnell uh of the Syracuse Pond Hockey Classic and uh our other friend Joe Friscello who uh is involved with as well. And then uh we're gonna hear from Common Counselor Rita Paniagua, who is running for common council president. So again, uh lots of guests coming up. I want to give a shout out to our producer Kyla, who's joining me in studio as well as Anna McGau uh from our communications team. And also joining me in studio is our first guest, County Executive Ryan McMahon. County exec, how are you? I'm great. Thanks, Mayor. Appreciate being here. How am I doing so far? You're doing good. And also I'm honored to share the microphone with the great Tim O'Donnell. Yeah, well, you know, he's kind of a big deal, as you know. So uh let's get into it. Um, you know, you often say that we in this region in Syracuse, Central New York, Onadaga County. Uh, we're in a moment. I think you feel it. I certainly feel it. Hopefully, our constituents feel it. Um, how would you describe this moment for our region? Well, I think overall, right now we've experienced uh a period of time where you've had an alignment of leadership, as we've talked a lot about a lot. Definitely. And that makes it easier for investment. It makes it easier to do big projects, and it also sends a signal to other partners at federal levels of government, state levels of government that they want to participate. And so I think we've had a good run with that. Obviously, we have this historic mega project happening right now. Um, and that is driving um a tremendous amount of interest from around the globe to look at our community. It's like kind of really interesting. Like how did Syracuse, New York, Onattaga County, Central New York win this project against these other communities that are branded and brand name communities. And um certainly uh as we we move forward, um, the supply chain companies, the other manufacturing companies, um, the housing opportunities that will be here. Um, we're going to see billions and billions of dollars of investment, um, which represents opportunity for people across the board, across the community throughout central New York. Yeah, it's really exciting. And you know, you and I grew up here uh as uh many of our listeners did. We've seen uh the downtimes.

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