Are we okay?

Okay, so are we gonna do Donna or not?

Are we gonna have her on or not?

And you make it with her, we're good, but you know you let us know, okay, if she needs to good morning, everybody.

Thank you for joining us and being joined.

Okay, here we go.

But um Hannah Erin Ray Aaron Rake.

Counselor Rasita uh Counselors, Rashida Scoutwell, Show Majok, Mimi Monto, and Corey Williams.

Thank you for joining us.

Uh we are about to start our interviews for the vacancy that's available.

What we're gonna do is we're gonna go around the table.

Each counselor we're ask will ask two questions.

And if we have enough time at the end and you still want to ask a third question, then that'll be the time to do that.

Um we do have one of our counselors, if we are able to figure it out on a Zoom call, so you let us know if she when she's ready.

Okay.

So do I have time for table setting in the beginning?

Just an introduction.

Absolutely.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, so then this will be your time.

Oh okay.

Well, there we are.

Um good afternoon, or I should say good morning.

I'm getting ahead of myself.

Um, counselors, many of you I know I've worked with or been in community with in the past and been in conversation with over the last couple weeks, and I appreciated all those conversations.

Um speak into the mic, understood.

I should know this.

I'm in the arts and culture.

Just move it right in front of me.

Got it.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um, so yeah, so my name is Chaila Sarat.

I grew up here in Syracuse, New York.

I'm a proud alum of the Syracuse City School District, and I also uh graduated from the College of Vigil and Performing Arts at Syracuse University.

I've spent the past 25 plus years working in arts and culture um with various arts organizations across Syracuse, New York, as my pride and joy.

Um also I've had the privilege of serving on various boards.

So um the Interface Works Community Folk Arts Center, New York's Council on the Arts.

I currently serve on the CNYCF Black Equity and Excellence.

I am the um program committee chair for the Gifford Foundation, and I also serve on the downtown committee and for a statewide commission uh focused on um uh advancing APC for the creative sector.

I have notes here in front of me.

One thing you'll know about me is I do a lot I do a lot of homework.

Which high school did you graduate from?

Which high school did you graduate from?

Well, Nottingham High School.

Go bull, go bulldoze all the way.

Um I wasn't gonna put that in, but I appreciate the question.

No barking, I'm just gonna throw that out.

No, not this early in the morning.

Um so uh you know, the question I know you have a lot of questions for me, but um want to start with one that was asked.

I'm smiling because I know my mother is here, and it's one that she posed to me is why?

Why run?

Why now?

Why pursue this common council seat?

Um my approach to governance is shaped by both experience and family legacy.

My grandmother, Ruth McCray, was a ship fitter in Norfolk, Virginia in the 1970s, and she was the first black woman president of the boilermaker union local 684.

She organized for fair wages, safer work conditions, and contrast reflecting workers' needs.

Her leadership taught me that equity is realized through collective action, collective action, policy, and accountability.

A lesson I bring to public service.

The opportunities I have been afforded have prepared me for this council seat.

I'm ready to use what I've learned to create opportunity for for communities across Syracuse, advancing a vision of opportunity, equity, and growth for a city that it stands at a pivotal moment.

So uh the question was also asked.

I I got the designation yesterday, but there was a party that I was already part of, and that is the party of pragmatism.

So many different spaces, you know, there are these big ideas, but it's always thinking about how do we think about all the different intricacies of realizing something.

Donna has joined us.

So she can she can talk?

Okay.

Okay, so we're are you set or are you still going?

I have just a little bit more.

Okay.

Um so just again for table setting, um, some of the things that I'm focusing on in this campaign will be infrastructure, public service, housing and neighborhood stability, economic and workforce development, protection and of undocumented immigrant communities, youth and family support, and of course, arts and culture.

Can't get away with not having arts and culture there.

Um, with that, I welcome your questions.

Thank you.

Um, did you want to start?

Or we can go this way or that way.

It doesn't matter.

I'll tell you what, let's let's um start with Donna.

Yes who is over here.

We can't see her, but we are we gonna be able to hear her.

Can she can she hear us?

She's giving a thumbs up.

Okay, so Donna, please ask your questions.

Two questions for now.

Okay, we can't hear her.

Yeah, I can just barely hear.

Why don't you go to someone else, Council?

Okay.

So while we set up Donna, let's go to um Mr.

Corey Williams.

I know when you and I last spoke, um, kind of the the focus of our conversation was around policy.

And much of our work here on the council deals with our financial affairs.

Um kind of the two main priorities are financial affairs and being legislators passing local laws.

Um often policy falls to the purview of the administration.

Um how do you how would you seek to forge that alliance?

Or you know, how would you approach policy given that we're legislators, not policymakers.

I think that um what I would call in here is my experience working with a lot of different boards, right?

In that some of this um is still remaining in conversation with our constituents and thinking about how do we balance and leverage you know um our charge to advance policy, of course, within the charge of the city charter.

Um, but also making sure that we are in constant conversation and have a healthy tension between the common council and the mayor and the other aspects of our legislature here.

Um but I think that it's going to be interesting because we are visioning and thinking about new things in the city.

And I think what is interesting is so often, as I have found, and I think I mentioned, is that there are these big ideas, these legislative ideas or policy ideas.

Um and what I focused on, and why I I mentioned here infrastructure, is I think that foundationally it's thinking about how do we set ourselves up to make sure that we can lean into those uh apparatus or those policies that are coming from other parts of our legislature.

Then I think my second question would just be about your vision.

Um you could immediately change one thing in our city.

Well, where would you go to one thing that I would change?

With no restrictions.

With no restrictions, um with no restriction, one thing that I would change.

I think as a small business owner and being in conversation with different individuals and with the downtown committee.

So frequently, as I said, it's the minutiae, right?

It's those things that are touchstones for individuals in our community.

Um, as you said, there are the big policy things that we parse out in this room.

Um, but I feel like it's how do we have effective communication internally and externally, so that those things that you are working on, there are so often there are things that you do here that the community doesn't necessarily know about.

For example, in every room that I am, there is a conversation regarding permits and codes, but I know that you have rolled out a mechanism by which people can track those things.

So I think the one thing I would change as an infrastructure that it better communicates the good work and uh things that you are affording here.

Thank you, President Paniagua.

Shayla, first of all, thank you for being here and thank you for going through the process that you've gone through the last couple of months.

I I know how heavy it can be uh on our personal lives and our uh energy levels.

So, as you probably have seen in the news, uh good cause eviction is at the front of the minds at least of many of these counselors.

That policy, it came up a year ago and was withdrawn and is back in front of us again.

Um it has been couched both in the media and amongst many people as it being a piece of legislation that pits landlords against tenants, and you know, I will take personal uh offense to that because I think it's much bigger than that.

But my question for you is if you are to be appointed to the council and that is in front of you, how would you vote on good cause eviction?

Oh, you how about I'm gonna rephrase?

Yeah, rephrase it.

Yeah, I just wanted to make sure that um that type of question could not be asked, how would you raise it?

Okay, so why don't you tell me how you feel about good cause eviction legislation in the state of New York?

Okay.

Um so I think it's interesting too because it's been a long time coming, right?

This first conversation is what, 2017.

Um, and I've been watching the spirited conversation online.

And first I want to you know commend you, because I think that is the civic work that needs to be happening, is being in conversation with our constituents about all the nuances, landlords' tenants, and all the infrastructure that uh will make this an effective policy.

Um and because it is so nuanced, I decided I'm gonna write it down so there was clarity.

Um I support the intent of good cause protections.

Rents in Syracuse have risen faster than incomes, and nearly 60% of residents and are renters who deserve stability and fairness.

At the same time, policies must account for the legitimate costs faced by responsible landlords and encourage and encourage, sorry, and recognize that housing stability is fundamental to long-term wealth building.

Good cause requires balancing the interests of tenants, landlords, and the systems that enforce housing policy.

It affects both the housing market and the courts, making strong code enforcement funding for advocacy, uh, sorry, making strong court enforcement, funding for advocacy and support services and transparency essential.

Leveraging tools like the recently passed LLC Transparency Act can increase accountability by protecting landlords who act in good faith.

Small landlords are critical to neighborhood stability and often represent an accessible pathway to first generation wealth building.

Policy should avoid intentionally pushing them out or accelerating corporate consolidation.

Passage is only the beginning, continued engagement and data review, and public oversight are essential.

Thank you.

So the end of the I got you the first time I rephrased.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Um thank you.

So uh Chaila, my other my next question is is broader than that.

It's a it's it's in regards to what I think is the biggest part of our job.

So we sit here and we do the all this business part, you know, looks like a lot of fun.

But I think our biggest job is getting out there in the public and actually meeting with the people that live in the city that you know have the struggles that they have and have the opinions.

I think we in this national circus that we're in right now.

I think we very often we fail to listen.

Um how do you see not just voter engagement but just engagement with the residents of the city of Syracuse?

Like what are we what are we doing wrong and what are we doing right and how do we get better?

Um so it's interesting.

So in my work, I said at the top of this conversation that I worked in marketing and public relations.

And how I always started that work was who are your people, where do they gather, and who was their messenger?

Because sometimes it isn't you, right?

Who do you identify that is the person that can help offer entree to have real critical conversations in that community and understand that it might have it might take time, right?

And also the other thing, again, knowing that my mom is sitting at the back of the room, is that something she always said is that be leery of those who always will invite you to their house but will never go to yours, right?

So I think part of that wrapping that into civic engagement is thinking about how do we show up for the community, how do we educate a community?

How do we think about, you know, I recognize the other day that my daughter takes social studies studies, but she doesn't have civics, right?

So there's this give and take that we have to do of showing up or making sure that we sit in the gap and that we are uh being intentional listeners and that we're not doing harm.

Counselor McGill.

Sheila, I want to thank you for raising your hand and wanting to serve because I think sometimes um you don't know until you come to a place like this to know the importance of public service and what it the amount of circumce it takes, right?

So I want to thank you for wanting to join the craziness.

All right.

Um thank you for that.

The my question, I guess uh, Madam President said that uh each one of us two questions.

My question is around workforce development.

What would be one of your policies, or at least a policy that you would support that is either currently being implemented by the city, or something that you would passionately get behind.

I read your resume, so I knew this question was coming.

So again, I I wrote some things down in in conversation with that.

Um I said I like to do homework.

Um with the growth in construction infrastructure projects, advancing manufacturing, and the emerging drone industry, Syracuse has a significant workforce development opportunities.

Programs that operate that are operated by SUNY EOC, OCC, ONRAP, MACNE, Center State CEO, and community center partnerships are already preparing residents for these careers.

But some of these initiatives have been only operating for a few years.

The common council should work to establish clear benchmarks for success, measuring job placement rates, wage growth, retention, and long-term effectiveness of these programs.

Through municipal budget process, we can support effective programs, ensure alignment with employment demand, and prioritize equitable access to that uh so that city residents benefit directly from economic growth.

I'll also put a plug in because um I benefited from and my business in downtown Syracuse, um, expanding the opportunity to microcapital for small businesses.

Um I wanted to have a follow-up that, but that would burn my question.

Uh my second question.

So I'm gonna leave that maybe when I have an opportunity later, I'll come back.

Yeah, you'll have um my other question is you know, we are such in a tumultuous we are in a very tumultuous times around the treatment of immigrants and perception of immigrants, um, and the overall feelings or the or the social feeling, political feeling, economic feeling of who immigrants are.

Uh immigrants are in a times where they need our support, right?

And you know, with there's there's a snowball effect in how one group is treated and in how it affects similar groups, right?

My question to you is with such time like this, what do you see, or what effort do you see is the most effective or at least uh would help immigrant community at this moment as especially sitting as a counselor.

Okay, I won't touch the technology.

Um I pause because of course, as you know, this is very personal to me, right?

I'm married to a first-generation American, right?

My husband, Dr.

Imad Rahim, came here at a very young age with his family, uh survivor of the Khmer Rouge.

And um he speaks extensively about coming to a sanctuary city and how he was resourced here and the different communities that mentored him and helped him so that he could lean into his passion so that he could now be the educator that he is today.

I want to say that I'm extremely proud of this city.

I was proud to sit over at Nottingham High School and hear from our mayor that she is supporting and wants us all to stand for New York State for all.

I was proud to see that also echoed here in this chamber.

I think that is very important that we continue to amplify those efforts.

I also think that I'm very proud to know and have seen the work of the initiatives of Councillor Monto and Counselor Williams around the surveillance and uh and camera of the the surveillance of our license plates.

Um I think that we need to continue to interrogate systems that make us all vulnerable, right?

To that end, I think that in beginning to do research around the work that they were doing, I began to look at different studies.

And there are concerns, there are concerns around um the use of generative AI, right?

In the use of gender AI for the SPD and for our government entities, and how that too can make our private information vulnerable and by extension and make our immigrant population vulnerable as well.

I think that we first lean into those things that are happening in other places.

I had the privilege of sitting on a panel to support and uh advocate for the RAIS Act, which was a beginning policy about uh putting some guardrails around generative AI, and thankfully Governor Hochel did pass that.

But how do we continue to look at these other legislative places where we can leverage those conversations and amplify and be firm, be firm and not wavering that we are a sanctuary city, that we will continue to protect people and we will leverage all aspects of our legislation to make sure that people feel welcome, supported, and safe.

Are you upset?

I got two questions in.

Thank you.

We'll come around again.

Um Shaylan.

Um my questions are more around, you know, the the um the work done in council.

So if as someone that is new to council, how would you quickly build a policy knowledge, relationships that are needed to make sure that procedures are in place and understood?

So how would you how would you go about that effectively?

So you could be effective from day one, let's say.

Well, like what I did today, or what I did in preparation here is homework, right?

I know that you have study sessions, I know that there's corp counsel, I know that you have your own legal counsel.

I know that there are very knowledgeable, knowledgeable and skilled people in this building.

Um, this is some of the lessons that I've learned from working with Gifford Foundation about succession planning and leaning to those who have more institutional and uh knowledge and asking them, asking questions.

So in my store um uh in in Bank Alley, I often tell people that you don't have to know anything, but you should have radical curiosity.

You should be amenable to learning.

So I think coupled with doing the homework, I should be okay.

Excellent, thank you so much.

And being the fact that this is an a position in the counselor at large, how would you ensure that your decisions or the way you're you're approaching a legislation would impact this the whole city?

I think that goes to the question that was asked earlier regarding community engagement is that I'm very much aware.

So, again, working in marketing and public relations, I still have spreadsheets of where the TNT meetings are, where the neighborhood meetings are, you know, having stuff served um in the Strathford Neighbor Association.

Um, there are a lot of different um community groups as well.

So I think making sure I'm plugged in and identifying um what's most important and uh also sometimes too again identifying those uh crit uh those uh trusted messengers to bring information to me as well.

Excellent, thank you.

Counselor Copeland.

So I'm really upset because they took every last one of my questions.

I asked you why to go first.

It's fine.

No, so first I want to say um I haven't had a chance to really have a conversation with you, but as a fellow Naughty and Bulldog to Bulldog, yeah, I I I love this, right?

I love it.

Patch I will start, I will bark.

I will do all of that because that's what we do.

Um I love the patch and I love um nature.

So I only really have one question, and you answer one of the major questions about what drove you and why you want to be and where you're at, right?

But the other part is being on a common counselor at large, we have a diverse group of people, right?

Very strong people, passionate people, people who have um different backgrounds from different um parts of the community.

How do you work with others and like what is your style?

What is your way of dealing with not just us, but then it's also city hall.

Um it's interesting.

I think that answer partly comes from my organizing um days, is that I I believe in a participatory process.

I believe in deep listening.

Um it brings to mind so in serving uh as the program committee chair at Gifford, um, or in other different spaces, like there are instances in which I realized that um I had high absenteeism.

And so the the onus is on me to understand what what is the dynamic, what is going on within that, within that structure, and to figure out how then can I fix it.

So I think that also, too, in a leadership position is not always looking outward, but also trying to understand what are you maybe doing as a leader that needs to be changed to be more effective.

I think it's also interesting too that so often, and I think it's speaking to what Councilman Majuk said is that this notion of difference is bad, right?

And so what I've often expressed is that it is necessary, it is necessary to have these diversity of voices and interests at the table for us to actually be of service to the constituents because we are representing their interests and not our own.

Donna Morse questions.

Thank you.

Go ahead, you go.

Yeah, but we'll get to her last year.

Thank you very much.

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, I'm done because I took my other words out of that last month.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

Counselor.

And I I think just as as we try to get Donna on, I I think the other thing that I'll add to that is that what I also expressed in that group is that the equity is in different individuals being at the table.

Right?

Without that, it can't be homogenous.

I think we're working on Donna.

So I have one question, dovetailing off of what Councillor Williams had asked.

Um the city budget is $340 million, excluding the school district's budget.

What is the largest budget you've worked with?

The largest budget that I've worked with is um I was part of a um initiative called the Creators Rebuild New York.

Um I was the residency of uh the I was the regional advisor for Central New York and the Finger Lakes.

So this is in the height of the pandemic, there was a complete erosion of funding for the arts and culture sector, and so there was a real need to be in service to them.

And so uh my charge was to help be a fiscal steward for um it was 125 million dollars for an artist employment and guaranteed income program in which artists could get 65,000 for two years, and then the guaranteed income was a thousand dollars for 18 months.

So my charge was making sure a stewarding individuals, artists through that process, but also making sure that the allocations were done properly and efficiently.

Thank you very much.

And I also want to say and a very interesting point learned in that is that sometimes money can do harm and you have to mitigate it because we realized that there weren't individuals leaning into this opportunity and we couldn't figure out why.

And ultimately it means that if you I lived in subsidized housing and all of a sudden your income goes up 65k, you have a problem.

If you have fixed income and all of a sudden your income goes up 65K, you have a problem.

So it's thinking about how do we remain in that participatory process and listening, active listening, when our intention is to do our intention is to do something helpful to make sure that we are not all also doing harm.

Thank you.

My last question is do you feel that the common council should uphold the will of voters and support an appointment that reflects their votes?

Say that again.

Do you feel that the common council should respect the will of voters and uphold an appointment that supports their votes?

Yes, because they represent the interests of those who voted for them.

Thank you.

Um Counselor Moore said she had one question in here is uh related to workplace development.

Um she wanted to know um what is your understanding of who is okay?

You don't have to speak to the magnet.

What is your understanding of who is being left behind as it relates to workplace development?

Thank you.

And why and why?

Um I think that part of this that it's a multifaceted conversation, right?

I mean, we had a conversation earlier about our new American and immigrant community, and there are um there are digital divides, there are language divides, there are things that have to be mitigated for those who are coming here to our sanctuary city that we have to think about intentionally.

It's also thinking about something that came up at the 17th Ward conversation and interview is that we have to think about our youth, and we have to think about making sure that the coffers within what is in the within the purview of the common council, right?

I know our charge is not the Circuit City School Board, but how are we making sure that we are supporting the youth so that they too can lead into their passions and then have these opportunities in workforce that are coming through Mike Ron and all the other proximity uh opportunities they'll be coming in the next couple years.

Okay, so is that the only question she had?

Yes.

Okay, okay.

All right, so do we have time for another round?

And we do, right?

Until what time are we allowed to look at?

Okay, so um do you want to have anything else?

She might want to I did, I did ask her.

I wouldn't have to go.

Yeah, no, no, I'm talking about is there because I know earlier you were able to read, but if there was anything else that you might want to do.

Oh, that I wanted to share.

Yeah, I bet you might want to share.

Um let's see.

Well, I did I did well, it's interesting that you you're asking this question because I used to live on Westcott Street, and I know that there was youth programming that you do over the basketball court every summer.

And so um thinking about that, it was raised here that we're we're in a very particular kind of political moment, right?

That we have seen a retraction of funding and at the federal level, and that means that it then does impact impact programming that are supporting our youth.

So I think about that part of the reason that I am here in this seat is that I went through the media unit, Metropolitan School for the Arts, ECHO, okay.

I mean, I'm aging myself, it's called Westcott Community Center now.

Um, community folk art center.

Um so making sure that how do we show up?

How do we now show up?

That the federal government has now slashed a lot of programs.

How do we make sure that in this chamber we can make sure that youth are still getting what they need?

And it's not just about the youth, right?

It's about parents knowing that when they are at work that their children are safe.

We know that a lot of these spaces aren't just about recreation, they're not just about the arts and culture.

They're also sites where wraparound services are happening, lead testing is happening as well.

So that's the other thing that I'm thinking about is how do we show up for them?

I'm thinking about this nightmare, you know, and that I know that came directly from youth.

So, how do we lean and make sure that we are also listening to their concerns as well?

Can I ask a feel-good question?

So you know, the city gets beat up a lot.

Um, we get it it's easy for people to point out our problems versus all the things that are great about it.

So, my my feel good question is tell me why you love this city and why you you decide to stay here instead of fleeing like many many whale.

No.

Hmm.

Why stay here?

Um is that my mom?

Did my mom just laugh?

Your mom's laughing.

I think this is a phenomenal city.

It is a phenomenal city.

And I have the privilege, because again, I am situated, my business is situated downtown.

I have all the different individuals who live downtown, but also the people who come through for our theater, for the arts and culture and business.

And the realities are is that we have a lot to offer.

We have to be better at storytelling, right?

I think that there are things that we have to work on, but I think that there is so much here.

There's a there's a there's a gem here that just needs some polishing.

Um the realities are too, we moved away for a bit, but you know what?

It's very, very cost effective to live here in this city, right?

And there are beautiful neighborhoods and beautiful people, and we show up for each other.

I know that's the Westcott nation in me, right?

So I think that we're a dynamic city and we're poised for something pivotal.

And the only thing that people ask when they say, Well, what about our new mayor?

And what about Zambdani?

And what about all these things?

And what I say is that I think we have to be amenable to error.

I think that sometimes we keep having this kind of sysyphist of pushing up the same rock, right?

But we also have to be open to that.

Sometimes we're gonna throw spaghetti at the wall and it's not gonna work, but that means we're now we've learned something and we pivot.

So I'm amenable to the city being in a time of transition.

Thank you.

Counselor Williams, do you want to do the other questioning?

I did, I don't want to take us back down though.

I feel like that was so lovely.

And then you Yeah, I mean, I I guess I will.

So you referenced surveillance technology.

And you know, I think that's what occurred in Minneapolis kind of laid bare the challenges that we're currently having with the Fourth Amendment in this nation.

Um for a while, myself, Councillor Monto, other counselors have have been grappling with surveillance technology and how to effectively utilize it or not.

In the city.

And the other day, as we shifted from one LPR vendor to another, um related to concerns around data privacy and maintaining you know, privacy for our residents.

Um, we had individuals in the council chambers that didn't like the concept of of LPRs in general.

Um, we we have to balance public safety and civil liberties.

Um do you can you provide thoughts on how you would approach that challenge and we're on kind of the spectrum you might fall.

Um I I did think about this, and it was kind of an extension of the conversation regarding the RAIS Act, Flock, um, Axia and Contract, Generative AI, and I'll I'll share that with you.

Um, but I think the realities are is that we lean into data and we lean into that it is an evolving conversation because the realities are is that we do want people to be safe, right?

But we also want to make sure that we are interrogating, as you are counselors are doing, interrogating these contracts to make sure that indeed they are not sharing information that will make uh individuals in this community be um put them in harm's way.

Um so but I'll read this link because I know it's much more succinct.

As a common counselor, I'd push for a continued cautious approach to the use of generative AI and technologies, um particularly in our infrastructure.

Any deployment must include strong guardwails, prevent misuse of data, data mining, data scraping, protect individual privacy, and address the risk of algorithmic bias that can disproportionately impact vulnerable communities.

And I and I thought of that because I remember being in conversation.

I don't know if people remember that when they first had technology where doors would open, that because it had been graphed only onto white faces, that people were walking and the doors weren't opening because there is algebraic bias built into this technology.

So national and civil liberties organizations have raised concern that unregulated AI and in official reporting systems can embed bias, introduce factual error, and undermine transparency, requiring human review, impact assessment, and civil rights auditing protects both residents and the integrity of our government functions.

So I would say we need to continue interrogating these systems.

But I in the conversation that I I have had with people in the community is that there is a call for more time and space to be in conversation with you around these issues.

Thank you.

Counselor Majok, you wanted to do that.

Yes, I and Shayla problem know this was coming.

Um I said earlier that I'm gonna follow up on the workforce development question.

And over the years that I have been in workforce development, one of the criticism that I have heard in the workforce development I had also experienced is this idea that we help people get into training programs.

Once they get into training programs, they get certificates.

Once they get into training programs, they get certificates, and then when it's time to capitalize on that certificate, as as it was the intent of the investment, there is no outlet.

There is no opportunity to really apply the the theory that we just that was just given to them, right?

And in this city, we keep investing, we keep putting the state, the federal, the city, county, everybody.

There's a whole bunch of avenues where resources are coming from getting poured into training programs.

And that in itself is problematic.

So I want to go back to your metric approach that you said earlier.

What does a good metrics of workforce development look like in terms of with with for us as a city and and have you seen any of it that has worked tangibly?

I mean, I think I'll return to the answer that I gave earlier, some of it, and that some of these programs are still relatively new.

Um my question would be is that are there benchmarks?

Are there mandates regarding uh ROI?

Are there assessments built in and surveying?

Is there a circling back?

So I I think often so I hear the question regarding, but I guess it's that are we then having a structure that already mandates that those particular entities, organizations, or projects, initiatives require reporting.

I think so often, again, it comes to that big idea.

We have a big idea, we roll something out, the certificate program, it's gonna show up in community this particular way, but we didn't also set up an infrastructure of sustainability and a metric of accountability.

So I think that would be the answer is making sure that if we're going to have these opportunities to then make sure that indeed there's also career career tracking.

Um I think so often that there's this other thing too that in these different rooms, yes, we want to have an expansion of workforce development and opportunities, but I also think we need a diversification too.

Um so that people can also have other opportunities.

So I think for me, I my question would be back to the council is that when these opportunities roll out for these certificate programs or similar, are there already built in to them metrics of accountability reporting and data data?

Are there any you want to go ahead?

So first I want to say your energy is awesome, right?

I think it's from the Bulldog Life, right?

So something special.

Something special.

One of the things that I will say that as a common counselor at large, right?

The passion I had when I first came in, right?

And I'm just gonna reflect it on me, then I'm gonna give it back to you.

I was like, I'm gonna do A, I'm gonna do B.

This is what C gonna do.

I'm gonna change the world, I'm gonna bring you.

I'm gonna ALHR, I'm gonna help the DPW.

I had all these visions, right?

Because, you know, I had something that had been watching and studying, working in a community, been a part of, you know, historical things in this community, all my life, considering my family, right?

But when I got on the council, I realized that my two pieces that I really only could help control was legislation, right?

And financial basis, right?

Which sort of put me in a big shot, like whoa, right?

And then I had to realize that not only that is there was a nine party body, including a president, that now we have um our own uh group of what which you're gonna be on fire is if you are on DPW or fire or um finance, whatever it is.

Um how in that process, right?

And I'm asking this because I just I think you are very, very intelligent, and I think you're very passionate.

Right.

I see, I see you.

Okay.

How does that how do you look at that as a common counsel at large?

How do you address that and still be able to deal with doing the work, right?

Because the actual what the community thinks we can do versus what we really can do, and what is our actual task in the charter to do our like this, right?

When I was saying it.

So you're making me worry over there, Corey Grace laughing.

This is kind of where I was going with that initially.

That's true too.

You're packed like when I tell you, I'm like that too, like I'm on go time, right?

Um, like again, I think that was where how we were, you know, part of it, right?

I'm not gonna say it again because they get mad over here, but um the vote all thing.

But how do how do you you know, like how do you feel about that?

Are you asking about balancing time or balancing not time, balancing passion because you're unreality?

Oh, that's easy.

I'm a that's I'm a business owner, right?

I mean, there's a difference between you know, when people come into the store and they're like, oh, this is amazing.

Are you a hobbyist or are you an entrepreneur?

I clean this store, I do taxes, right?

There's the reality of the work, and of course, there's the passion, and you have to have a balance between the two.

But I also think it's about mitigating expectation, right?

Sometimes you have to tell people listen, there's the minutia of the job, right?

And I know because I've seen people yell at all of you online when the snow doesn't happen or the garbage doesn't happen, right?

There's the minutiae of the everyday, and there's a larger expectations of things that you have to do, right?

Like one of the things that I I didn't get to talk about, um, which is very exciting is that at four o'clock, right?

Pam Hunter is gonna be uh at caucus talking about the I had it written down here is the lead replacement act, right?

And she's gonna be in conversation about the release of those funds.

And so there's like all these kind of infrastructural things that can happen here at the common council level to make sure that we're ready.

Pragmatism, right?

To make sure that it's efficient once it arrives, right?

Because we have 600 black children a year, 600 children, black children a year who are disproportionately affected by this.

So I know you hear my passion, but guess what?

It also means going out.

Someone here asked me about and being in community and saying it this is gonna take till 2037, 2037.

We want to deliver something that's gonna reduce harm.

We also have to make sure that we're in conversation about what it's going to look like along the way.

So I think I don't I don't know how to reduce my passion.

Oh, never reduce it.

I would never tell you that because that isn't no one can ever tell me that I'm gonna walk on my head up and I'm gonna have that same energy.

Never that since I was never saying, Oh, just saying like how what is your thought process because when you actually get in the seat if you know if that's what the will the will is, and it's just the reality versus sometimes the actual work that we actually have the ability to do in the charter, yeah, and that we can actually do without also disrespecting our other council.

Right, you know, and this is something that I've navigated in working on boards, right?

There are expectations, I mean, you have to be there are so many times.

It's and it's hard, it is hard, right?

There are things that have come before, boards that I've sat on, it is not mission-aligned.

So, much like you have a charter, I have to, it is not within the purview of what we do within this organization, right?

So you have to think about yes, we are passionate about this thing, but how what other avenue?

Where can I direct you and be resourced elsewhere?

Because this is not within our charge.

And I've seen it also happen as well, again, that people have come in and they've had conversations with you, or they're upset with you, or they're upset in other spaces.

I'm like, but that person doesn't do the thing that you think they do, right?

So it's all again, we can mitigate some of that through education, particularly around civic engagement.

So we've come to the to I'm sorry, I'm okay.

Are you okay?

Oh, yes.

Okay, so we've come to 1115.

Uh, we're gonna give you a couple of minutes to make some closure, um, and then we'll have to move on.

So go ahead.

Um there's anything else you wanted to say that we didn't ask.

The only thing I think the only thing is I had a question for all of you.

I know that some of you are new to the council and you have been there for been here for a while.

But what has been most moving, or what has been most important to you in the in this role.

I like hanging out with Rashida.

Honestly, this has been the most exciting amount of information about local government than I have been able to access.

And I feel on a daily basis like I'm redoing my master's thesis, and that's not the fun part.

But the fun part is taking this information, being able to talk with people about it and really synthesizing what the needs of the community are with the different weighted perspectives on how we should go about fulfilling those needs.

And honestly, it's been a tremendous and exciting experience so far.

And I'm looking forward to the next four years.

Well, one of my biggest um pieces of being on a common council is being a voice for those who can't be a voice, but also being able to go back, and I'm big on youth, right?

So being able to go back in places and spaces and prepare our young people for what's next.

And making sure they get the message because a lot of times there are deliverers to our families, right?

They're the ones that are talking to their parents, or they're up next, right?

We know that what was going on in our climate and our world, right?

So making sure that they're involved, making sure they know what's going on, what's next, being a voice for them, but also just being there, showing up for them and letting them say, Hey, I hear you, I see you.

I might can't change it, but it's taking note, and I'm coming back to the place and spaces, and that's for their entire 140, 139,000 people in the city of Syracuse.

I'd say that, you know, the the years that I've been here, um, like Rashida was saying, it's all about bringing that voice of the most challenged to the table that would probably if we if we're not representing them, you know, and they will never be heard.

So that's super important for me.

And and the other thing is being able to really work with my my colleagues and and the city uh to find solutions to things that would be enhancing the quality of life of our residents.

You know, it was um for me.

It was very hard getting here, right?

And what I what for me, you know, getting here in itself, just to sit here, it's a statement in itself.

Uh it it's for me.

It proves that tenacity has a space.

And going back to what Rashida and uh Rita said as as well as counselor uh Anna, you know, they're more is said without saying, right?

So for me, it's it's it's it's paving the way, being here, creating a space where people, when they look up, they see you don't have to tell them what is possible, and that tenacity has the ability to get you there, and that has been very fulfilling for me.

You know, I'm to fortify, I think what counselor caldwell, the the place that she was going, talking about walking in here with the passion that you're going to change the world.

And um, you know, I'm uh I'm a studier of American history and a lover of politics.

And when you come, you have to run for these offices to get here, and you have to talk about politics and you have to talk about what is right for voters.

It has changed how I talk about politics now locally, because once you get here, it has become very clear to me how much the minutia of someone's day matters to them and how important it is for a constituent to actually get contact with their elected representatives.

The idea that someone would say, I called six times and I couldn't get Jimmy Monto keeps me up at night because they're going to get me because that that's what I believe in.

I woke up this morning at 7.16 a.m.

to a phone call that was a Buffalo number.

And if this woman is watching this, I I hope you got your cat taken care of.

But she literally she had a kitten in her backyard and she didn't know how to rescue it.

She needed a cat carrier because she was allergic.

And literally, all I did was make another phone call to a cat lady in the neighborhood who went to her house with a cat carrier and got that might seem like the smallest scale thing to so many people, but to her, I picked up the phone.

Um, and I'm forever different how I talk to people that want to run for office when they call me as the chair of the party and say, I really want to get involved.

My conversations are what exactly what Rashida just said.

You're gonna come in here swinging for those fences, but let me tell you something.

You know what your call is gonna be?

Some lady's got a kitten in her backyard, and you better figure out how to get that cat out of there.

So I'm gonna admit something publicly that I didn't think that I was going to admit.

Um I cry at every swearing-in ceremony that I go to.

I do.

Uh it it's often an opportunity to reflect on the weight and the gravity of the job that our elected officials are being asked to do.

And it has truly been a privilege to sit up here with such a passionate and committed group of people that don't always agree, but we agree on one thing.

We agree on the the idea that our government can make life better for our constituents.

And we might have you know different pathways on how we get there, different thoughts and perspectives.

Um but at the end of the day, we all believe in the institution.

We believe in our city.

We want a better Syracuse moving forward.

And I think that um, you know, what I'm fortunate to be able to say is that the depth of relationships that I've been able to forge within my community, my neighborhood as a district counselor has been really special.

And I think that dealing with the minutiae, you gain an appreciation for you know the rhythm of life in in our neighborhoods that is much different than you've probably ever been able to see before.

Um I hope that cat's not on my porch right now, by the way, so you know.

Uh did Donna have something to offer in the interest of time.

We have to just chunk with Donna.

Yeah, we're we're behind.

Yeah, she's good.

She says she's good.

Thank you.

Are we all set?

We don't say okay.

So thank you so much for joining us today.

And thank you, all of the counselors, for your questions and engagement with uh Shala.

So uh we're gonna conclude this meeting.

Motion to adjourn.

So we move.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thanks for your time.

Thank you.