Settle down, settle down.

We're gonna start our meeting.

Okay, wait, I need glasses.

All right.

All right, so let's uh please rise for the pledge of allegiance and remain.

Remain standing for the vocation.

It's a very powerful origin.

One nation is law with liberty justice for all.

In the name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful.

We thank you, oh God, for gathering us in a place of public trust and service.

You have honored every human being with dignity and entrusted communities to the care of those who lead them.

Guide the members of this council with wisdom and humility.

Help them listen to every voice, especially those who struggle to be heard, and grant them the courage to choose what is right over what is easy.

You teach us in the Quran, in Allah Ya Murabil Adli Wal I Hassan, indeed, God commands justice and excellence.

Make justice the foundation of decisions made here, and compassion, the spirit behind them.

Remind us that our city is a strengthened by its diversity, neighbors of different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, and that serving people is among the highest forms of service to you.

Bless this city with safety, cooperation, and mutual respect, and allow today's work to benefit all who call this community home.

Amen.

Yes, madam president Councillor Cartwell.

Councilor Machot.

Here, Councillor Aaron Wright.

Here Councillor Nave.

Councilor Moore.

Present.

Councillor Williams.

Councillor Jones Rowser.

Councilor Mato.

Yeah.

All present.

Thank you.

May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the our last meeting?

So move.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

So let's get into the agenda.

All in favor?

I hope.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um, Councillor Aaron Rick.

I'm sorry, wait, I'm sorry.

I I gotta go to the petitions.

Any petitions?

No, madam president.

Committee reports.

Yes, committee report.

On Thursday, the 19th of February, 5 p.m., the neighborhood preservation committee held a town hall style committee meeting regarding good cause eviction.

Anyone else?

Okay.

Any communications.

Yeah, we do have one.

Let's see here.

From the honorable Bill Magnum Raleigh, a letter acknowledging on the receipt of resolution number three.

Yes, yeah.

Six.

Thank you.

Councillor Aaron Rick.

Madam President, I hold this item.

Not on here yet.

Okay.

We're not on here yet.

We're still doing reports.

Uh I don't have to.

She didn't call your name yet.

Oh no, I'm sorry.

I didn't say anything.

So you're you're holding.

I am.

Well, you have you're not there yet, Rita.

I mean, President.

There's some more com there's more communications or reports or something.

No, but she didn't call anything yet.

I did.

Counselor Aaron Rick.

Oh, Aaron for this one.

Yeah.

Okay.

For uh, so no, she says the majority for item eight A, local law of the city of Syracuse to opt into good cause eviction.

I am holding this item.

Okay.

We move on.

If there's uh motion that we go ahead and move this item.

I second.

All in favor?

Okay.

Codwell.

Counselor Codwell.

To hold it.

No.

Yeah, which one is the motion to present the item?

Yeah.

Now somebody has to introduce it.

Yeah, that's um.

Okay, so oh, right.

So we um so the motion was made to hold the item.

It was second it.

And so um, so now we go into making a uh the vote on an item.

It wasn't second.

Introduced it.

Remove it.

Okay.

Now she has to introduce it.

Now you have to introduce it.

I'm sorry, go ahead.

Make a motion to introduce item 8A to go forward for on this agenda.

Okay.

We need a second.

Now all in favor.

I'll in favor for what though.

You need to go one by one because they're not only on the local non-local law, that's what I said.

Okay, I'll go.

We're voting on it.

We're not voting on the motion to okay, Councilor Cartwell.

No.

Councilor Machok.

Yes.

Counselor Aaron, right?

Yes.

Counselor Nave.

No.

Counselor Moore.

No with a statement.

Okay.

Counselor Williams, yes.

Yes.

Counselor Jones Rouser.

Also no with a statement.

Counselor Mato.

Yes.

The item fell.

It's a tie vote, so item fell.

You can go back to those who have a statement if you like.

So yes, I'd like to make a statement.

Can you hold for a minute?

So what's the vote right now?

The vote is a tie vote, and the items fell.

It's defeated.

So counselor Moore.

Counselor Moore.

Good afternoon.

Um I have changed my stance on this a couple times, and I want to explain why I landed where I did.

I support tenant stability.

I support fairness, but I also support responsible implementation and sound governance.

This proposal would apply to landlords who own two properties or more.

That is a significant expansion of state law, and it carries real potential consequences for housing supply, small property owners, court operations, and neighborhood stability.

We must also be honest about something else.

Syracuse already requires rental registration.

And here in Syracuse, we have not consistently enforced that law.

Before expanding regulatory mandates, we should demonstrate that we can effectively enforce the laws already on the books.

Passing additional requirements without enforcement capacity risks creating policy on paper that we cannot implement in practice.

Before I was excuse me, before I was going to cast this vote, I had three questions that did not get answered.

Does code enforcement have the staffing budget and operational plan to manage increased inspections and complaints?

Can housing court absorb additional caseload without significant delays for that hurt both tenants and landlords.

What measurable impact will this expansion have on small two property landlords who make up this meaningful portion of our housing stock?

What is the concrete plan to enforce existing rental registry and housing code laws before layering on new mandates?

Because those answers have not provided.

Not because I oppose tenant protections, but because I believe major housing policy decisions must be grounded and verified capacity data and enforceability.

Thank you.

Yay, hey, thank you.

Councilor Jones Brousser.

After a series of committee meetings, public hearings, and one-on-one dialogue in 2024, the council somewhat decided to hold off enacting the legislation in an attempt to capture the data from municipalities that aligned with Syracuse, particularly multiple um upstate municipalities like Rochester, Binghamton, and Buffalo.

Many of you have assumed that the council have had secret meetings surrounding this legislation.

The truth is that the data that was just made available, the data was collected and delivered, summarized as well to my colleagues.

However, it appears that we have chosen to ignore the data.

This is a move that in any other scenario wouldn't would be frowned upon.

But to the residents of Syracuse, the facts across New York State, 57 counties, 62 cities, 532 villages, 933 towns that totals 1,525 municipalities show that all that all have seen a slight decline in evictions in the eviction rate, uh, with only those 17 municipalities enacting good cause.

The slight decline, less than 5% from 2023 to 2025 in all but one downstate county, which was Orange County, which can be attributed to whole uh the landlords holding properties vacant in that particular county.

Um the number is significantly lower than the GCE enthusiasts have had you all to believe.

This legislation is not the grand savior of tenant protections.

In fact, you already have that in the past legislation, the Tenant Safety Act 7D warranty of habitability, and in the past protections of housing stability and tenants' protections acts of 2019.

Rental increases, rents rose sharply in 2023, but since the rents across all 57 counties, 62 cities, 532 villages, 933 towns, with a total of 1,525 municipalities have held steady with mild increases.

That's allowable under GCE.

Understanding that tenant wages have not increased to meet the market, but neither has the product the cost of product inflation for those homeowners.

If you take a deep dive into GCE's tenant protections, you'll find that of the 3,000, I'm sorry, 34,575 rental units in Syracuse, only about 8 to 9,000 are actually protected under this legislation.

To put it mildly, if you hit the lottery for 35,000, you're only gonna walk away with 9,000.

All right.

To break that down even further, if you reside in any of the 88 or more complexes of public housing and scattered sites, you are not protected under GCE.

If you are one of the 3600 and rising Section 8 uh housing choice voucher recipients, you may or may not be covered under GCE.

If you reside in a property built from 2009 to date, you are not protected under GCE.

If you reside in one of Syracuse's reportedly 800 luxurious luxury units, condos, co-ops, you are not protected under GCE.

If you reside in a multiple family unit where the owner a lot, where the owner also lives in that property, you are not protected under GCE.

That list goes on.

There's multiple other dormitories, um, boarding homes, all of those if a that aren't protected.

As of 2026, there are 1,400 units available for rent.

That's since January.

1,400 units available for rent.

If GCE was to pass, though the that number would hold steady and rise because management properties and landlords would then provide stricter screening and increased red tape for tenants.

The data also shows based on the trends of 2024, Syracuse has a vacancy rate of one of 9.1%.

Again, if DCE was to pass, then that would also increase.

The data shows that the investors with significant with significant portfolios will offload any of their properties.

That's the data.

Okay, this is data.

Last but certainly not least, the return of rent increases.

Every vacant unit protected under GCE would then have a price tag that residents will that would make residents stretch to the bring.

Again, this is not speculation.

We won't be able to say unintended consequences because if we looked at the data, we know what the consequences are.

Good cause eviction will harm residents more than it will help.

Madam President, if I I have more.

I'm not there.

Okay.

Does a disadvantage to our local investors?

The Syracuse, the solution to solving our housing issue is not passing toothless legislation, but by making the demand needs through encouragement of new development, finding funds to shore up our current housing stock, increased participation on the rental registration through landlord incentives.

Yes, I said it, and most importantly, educate tenants on their rights.

Many of the advocates have spoken about New Jersey adopting uh GCE decades ago, but I implore you all to look at the fair rent commission that new hand um New Hartford, Connecticut also adopted decades ago when they were stretched with um severe housing shortage.

As a counselor who represents all city residents, and one who remains intentional on living in the community, that others would flee.

GCE allows my neighbors, my family, my friends, and my constituents will affect.

I'm sorry, all of those.

I unequivocally believe those effects will have a negative impact to all.

And for those who believe that GCE will make landlords fix their properties, that is not in GCE.

So with that, as you say, I already voted no.

What's it, Donnie?

Rita, could you make an address?

Yeah, but please address so that two who can get the words.

Okay, let me go first.

Address yeah, and then no, not that part, but you know what I mean.

Right.

Just the language.

So that everyone can get their words out.

Just be in order.

Okay.

So even before we go, we move forward.

I'm gonna ask for our council, city council to please uh join us in the mic.

Uh Barry, Joe Barry.

There is a common thought that I can break this tie, I cannot.

The charter doesn't allow me to do that as council president.

I can only on tie ordinance and resolutions.

It does not speak to local law.

This is local law.

And Joe, if you could please explain to our yes, uh, Joe.

The municipal home rule law that provides for local laws to be enacted, does not provide for the council president to break a tie.

Thank you.

Okay, so Donna, do you do you wanna carry?

Did you say more comments?

She already did.

You already did.

So I was just gonna say, as president, to look to address the crowd about us being respectful.

That's what I was gonna have you to say.

But I can say I have no problem.

As common counselor at large city serial accused majority leader, I know we are very emotional about everything, right?

And but it is very imperative that when we're in the chambers that we are respectful to all, all of us, all of us to deserve respect as well as you guys.

So when we're in here, we expect the same.

Thank you.

Uh Counselor Arinish.

I would like to thank all of the advocates and people who work on behalf of our community, particularly trying to keep housing stability the forefront.

Housing is absolutely a crucial issue, and that is why I believe good cause eviction was put in front of us as a helper and a stabilization.

Now, Councilor Jones Rouser is correct.

This is not the panacea to solving all of our housing or tenant or landlord issues, and I think that we have a lot more common ground than we are giving ourselves credit for.

But I would like, as part of my statement, to ask all of you who are seated in this room who've taken time out from your day to attend this public hearing.

This sorry, this council voting business, which is a weird and sometimes isolating process, to raise your hands if you know of somebody or who or if you yourself would have been protected by good cause if we had enacted it today.

Thank you.

Madam President, I would like to go ahead.

Take a minute.

You know, as an elected official, I took a bow to get into politics for specific reason that I truly believe that we have a power to look at the look at the individuals that are lower in our communities.

People who are in the bottom.

Leading from that perspective of the person from the bottom, always get us there better as a community.

And obviously, I took politics to do that in the other space that I could have done that, which is to circumfice and to protect, was to be in the military.

And I guess I somebody told me a long time ago I was too tall to be in the military.

But I took this job to be able to lead from that perspective that when we protect and lead from a space of the bottom going up, that as a community we get there together rather than from the other space.

And by being able to pass good cause, it brings the pendulum back to the center.

Or at least, at least.

It brings the pendulum back to that center if it if it doesn't for majority.

And I always believe that protecting one person in this community is better than none.

And for me, I believe that passing good cause would have done that for us.

We are the poorest, one of the poorest cities in the nation.

All that data matters.

But we are Syracuse.

New York City does not have the impoverished neighborhoods like we do.

New York City doesn't have to, doesn't have residents that pay over 60% of the income that they make from making $18 an hour.

We are unique as a city.

And we have a responsibility, especially as an elected official, to be able to make sure that that pundulum doesn't swing too far away from the bottom.

And I voted for this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Go ahead, Council Cup.

Thank you, Madam President.

So I want to say to everyone, as a person that voted no against good cause, I want to say my family was the family that stayed in a public housing.

I have family members that still are in housing bad.

But good cause did not address that.

So let's look at the history.

And I explained to people about the history where we came, why we are where we are here.

Sherry Hill, Kennedy Square, Pioneer Homes, Marberry Square, Skyline, Vincent, those were all affordable housing for people that help people to have some more safe to say, which are now elasticated.

No one are living, no one is living there.

So this didn't just happen today.

A lot of people are complaining about poor housing.

Good cause doesn't address poor housing.

A lot of people are complaining about uh making sure that people have, you know, a rape.

It alleviates some people and then puts other people.

We're gonna do it.

It should be a communication where it's leveled out as a community.

We shouldn't have one versus the other a bias.

And that's what I see that good cause is.

What needs to happen is Syracuse needs to have a legislation that affects Syracuse that is created around so that we can all have somewhere safe to live, a fair housing.

I believe that if the tenants come together, the law department, the judges, the rental, everyone come together, housing come together.

We can come up with something that works for our city, not that works for other cities.

And I believe we can do it if we only come together, not based on what other municipalities do, not based on people are you know being upset.

Because when we're upset, we make a motion, right?

We do things that we might not understand.

But guess what?

My family is outside too, right?

We have we all have family that are dealing with it.

And yes, I don't agree on a lot of things, but if we can't get anything changed until we come together and make sure we make legislation that fits for Syracuse New York.

And yes, we are the poorest, right?

And there's a lot of things that came about to make us come this way.

This didn't happen today.

This happened, it's been going on for years.

So until we come together, agree to disagree to come up with a rate that makes sense for us to come together with rental, with with homeowners or or small businesses, we're gonna continue to have this problem.

We're gonna continue to have this problem.

It's all comes once we come together as unity, and that's why my vote said no.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Any other counselors have comments?

All right.

Okay, so I'm gonna I'm sorry.

Are you done?

Yes, you doing new business?

New business, yes.

Okay, go ahead.

I'm back again.

Thank you.

Um President Uh Penyagua, President Tay.

I would like to make a motion today to appoint Helen Hudson for the vacant position at large.

Second.

Okay, we're gonna go down and on this again.

Councillor Cardwell.

Yes, Councilor Michelle, yes, Councilor Aaron Wright.

I abstain.

You cannot extend.

I can't abstain.

Why?

I can abstain from this vote.

You cannot abstain.

You have to vote.

You have to vote.

No.

You only can't personal confidence.

If there's a personal conflict, you will have to have to vote, Counselor.

You have to vote as a legislator.

You have to vote.

Your pages are obstacle unless yes, you get on the conflict or something like that.

My abstention is rooted in the fact that I do not believe we've had taken enough time to truly investigate this process.

The council is not met to review the interview information or had any discussion about the appointment in uh unilateral way.

We don't discuss votes.

So what's your vote, Council?

I vote no.

Thank you, Councillor.

Counselor Nave?

Yes.

Councillor Moore.

Yes.

Counselor Williams, yes.

Councilor Jones Rousser.

Yes.

Counselor Mato?

No.

The mo the motion passes with a um with a six to two vote.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, all right.

So then moving on, uh, resolution um item nine, approving the appointment of various persons as commissioners of deeds.

It's ready.

I introduce honors for its adoption.

All in favor, aye, opposed, unanimous.

Counselor Catwell.

Thank you, Madam President.

Again, blesses to all today.

I have item number 10, and I would like to introduce it and urge their adoption.

Any objections.

Any objections?

Item 10.

Any objection.

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Councillor Aaron Rick.

No, it's uh no, it's counselor.

It's me, madam.

Oh, I'm sorry, it's counselor major.

I I skipped the page.

Thank you, madam president.

I have item 11 to 16.

I would like to introduce them and urge the adoption.

Um any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor, aye.

Opposed, unanimous.

Item 12.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 13.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 14.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 15.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 16.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Councillor Aaron Rick.

Yes, thank you, President Penagua.

I have items 17 through 20.

Six.

That I introduce and urge their adoption.

Item seven.

Thank you.

Item 17.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 18.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor?

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 19.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 20.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 21.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 22.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 23.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 24.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

I abstain.

Thank you.

24.

24.

Okay, thank you.

Item 24.

Wait a second.

Um 24.

24.

Okay.

You abstain.

Yeah.

Unless I have to vote on it, I abstain.

Yeah.

I have uh my kids are already enrolled in this camp and I didn't know it was coming up on the agenda.

So I'm going to abstain to prevent any ethical concerns.

Okay, the most I mean the um item passes with a seven to one vote.

And a seven and zero vote.

Um counselor and right.

Thank you.

Item 25.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor, I oppose is unanimous.

Item 26.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor, I oppose.

Counselor Neve.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'm honored to present resolution 27 honoring Carmelita SAP Walker for her extra extraordinary service and contribution to the Syracuse Common Council office and for the city of Syracuse for 30 years, and I asked for its adoption.

You guys can do whatever you want.

Carmelita.

Can you come forward?

Say a few words.

Good afternoon.

And this is the first time I ever had to do something like this, but I um feel very honored to be recognized for things that I've done through the year.

And one person I'm gonna share this honor with is my mother who's not here, but I used to always say when I got a call, that if my mother this was my mother calling, how would I want her to be received and respected and helped?

And that's what kept me going every day and doing my job and doing it the way I did it.

And I didn't do it for me, I did it for the counselors, because they were elected officials.

And I wanted them to shine.

So whatever I could do as a person, that's what I did for the years, and I and I really thank you all for feeling that I deserve this kind of recognition.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item 27, any discussion, any objections, please call the roll.

All in favor, I oppose.

It's unanimous.

Congratulations, Carl.

Congratulations, Carmelita.

Councillor Moore.

Thank you, Madam President.

I have item 28.

I um would like to enter it and urge its adoption.

Item 28.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor?

I oppose unanimous.

I think oops, counselor Moore.

Oh, that's me again.

Counselor Moore, take it on.

Yes, I thank you again, Madam President.

Um, before I read the resolution and um that I'm asking us to adopt today, I just want to, if you indulge me for one minute.

Um, far too often the public only sees the badge.

Today I want to talk about the heart behind it.

I have a few recent stories that our chief shared with me that show what true community policing looks like for our city.

On January 22nd, a resident called 911 and she found her husband unresponsive after EMTs had done all they could.

Two officers arrived.

One of them didn't just stand there and file report, he walked past everyone in the home, went straight to the grieving wife, and simply held her in his her his arms while she cried.

A week later, officers Roth and Henry stopped back at the home to check on her.

That's the level of empathy that stays with a person forever.

On January 30, Officer Thorette responded to a call for an illegal eviction.

She didn't just clear the call, she stayed and called codes and fire department to investigate.

Because she took the extra step, two residents and their two dogs were saved from being left in the freezing cold without heat or electricity.

That same day, Officer Aidan Wheeling went looking for a student named Kyle, who had been missing from school for 14 days.

After many unsuccessful attempts by others, Officer Welling didn't just locate him, he stopped to have a real conversation.

He asked Kyle if he wanted to go to school, waited for him to get dressed, and provided him a ride.

He walked into school with Kyle to make sure he was connected with a counselor when he got there.

So finally, today, um, we're here to recognize someone that's been in the national news, um, Officer Jamie Pastorelli, and I'll read the um resolution.

Where is on December 13th, 2025, while on his routine patrol, Officer Jamie Pastorelli noticed a city resident, Ms.

Rhea Holmes struggling with her groceries while walking?

He offered her a ride to help to get her out of the cold.

And where is Officer Pastorelli took her to Oakwood Cemetery where she had mentioned she was going to visit her late husband's grave, not realizing at the time it was a prelude for a far more desperate situation?

And where is in the days that followed, Officer Pastorelli learned Mrs.

Ms.

Holmes had fallen into homelessness and had been sleeping on the grave of her late husband, vowed not to let that continue, and sprang into action.

And where is Officer Pastorelli knew she needed somewhere safe to stay, so he immediately arranged for temporary housing, initiated community outreach to find available resources, and launched a GoFundMe in a fundraising effort for Ms.

Holmes.

And where is through his acts of kindness and compassion, Officer Pastorelli caught the attention of a tiny home for good, a local organization, which was able to help transition Ms.

Holmes into a home that she can call her own, fa finally safe and warm.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Syracuse Common Council, as duly elected representatives of the proud citizens of the City of Syracuse, do hereby applaud Syracuse Officer Jamie Pastorelli for his selflessness and compassion, which reflect the highest standards of public service and community policing, and Officer Pastorelli gracefully exemplifies the values of the Syracuse Police Department.

Counselor Councillor, you do have a response from um Sergeant.

Okay.

Okay.

Um I also want to read a letter from our Syracuse Police Chief.

Dear Councillor Moore, I write to express my strong support for the proposed proclamation honoring Officer James Jamie Pastorelli of the Syracuse Police Department for his exemplary service, humility, humanity, and profound impact on a member of our community.

In late 2025, a compassionate encounter between Officer Pastorelli and 55-year-old woman Rhea Holmes evolved into a remarkable demonstration of empathy and community partnership.

Ms.

Holmes, grieving the loss of her husband and struggling with the aftermath of losing her home, had been sleeping beside her husband's grave in Oakwood Cemetery, a situation that remained unnoticed for months.

Rather than treat this as a routine call, Officer Pastorelli took decisive empathetic action, recognizing her vulnerability in Syracuse's harsh winter, he privately secured immediate shelter for Ms.

Holmes and then mobilized his local contacts to seek longer term solutions.

Through his outreach and advocacy, alongside support from community partners, Ms.

Holmes received temporary housing from Lemoyne College and was ultimately placed into permanent home with the assistance of a local nonprofit.

Today she has stability, comfort, and dignity, all because one officer chose to look beyond protocol and see a human being in need.

The story is more than a news article.

It's a testament to what compassionate policing and community collaboration can achieve.

Officer Pastorelli's actions embody the highest ideals of public service, seeing all members of our community responding with heart and working tirelessly to bring about positive change.

His approach did not simply resolve a call, it restored hope, reinforced community trust, and rallied institutions to support one of our most vulnerable neighbors.

For these reasons, I respectfully urge the adoption of a proclamation that recognizes Officer Pastorelli for his extraordinary kindness, leadership, and commitment to community's well-being.

Highlights the value of compassionate law enforcement and strengthening public trust and community resilience.

Encourage other members of our community, public safety, nonprofits, and civic leaders alike to pursue collaboration, humane solutions for individuals and experience that are experiencing hardship.

In honoring his actions, we not only celebrate one officer's remarkable impact, but reaffirm Syracuse Police Department's commitment to dignity, compassion, and service for all residents.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully, Mark M.

Russin, Chief of Police.

So I just want to close with this, and then I would like if Officer Pastrolli Pastrelli or I'm sorry.

Um and Miss Rhea would like to come up to the mic and say something quick.

I would love you to do that.

Thank you for those kind words, Counselor.

It's pastorello.

I'll forgive you, though.

That's all right.

No, I just want to say uh thank you for this honor and recognition of of my friend Rhea and I.

Uh you know, I talked to hundreds of people in the community about Rhea, not one single person had anything bad to say about her.

And I said you really can't find anybody else like that.

And uh yeah, it's so it's just something else here.

I want to thank uh Linda Lamira, Lemoine College, uh, Andrew Lunata, and his team from a tiny home for good.

Really, the community as a whole, uh, near and far, you know, literally all over the world, uh, made this happen for Rhea.

And I just want to say, you know, that's what the police are about.

Uh, I'm proud to be a Syracuse City Police Officer and uh enjoy serving the citizens.

Thank you.

I just I just want to add to that it's really commendable the way you go beyond duty to engage with the community and bring wellness to to our residents.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And also Pastor Ball, I I was very happy to have met you two weeks ago for lunch.

And uh I still owe you a lunch.

That's all right.

I'll take up on it.

I won't forget.

Okay, thank you.

Ms.

Ria, would you like to say anything?

Want to say something?

All right.

Rhea's being shy today.

I don't know.

Ms.

Holmes, welcome to the Common Council.

Thank you very much.

Ria.

Okay, so did we vote for this?

No.

So item 29.

Any discussion?

Any objections?

Please call the role.

All in favor.

Aye.

Oppose.

Unanimous.

Councillor Williams.

Thank you, Madam President.

I have items 30 through 35.

I would like to introduce their adoption.

Item 30.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the role.

All in favor.

Aye.

Oppose.

Unanimous.

Item 31.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the role.

All in favor.

Aye.

Oppose.

Item 32.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the role.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

It's unanimous.

Item 33.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed.

I think 34.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the role.

Aye.

Opposed.

Item 35.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the role.

Aye.

Opposed.

Councillor Jones Rousser.

Thank you, Madam President.

I have items 36 through 39.

Items 36 is being withdrawn.

Item 38 and 39 will be held.

Item 38.

Councilor.

37 is to.

37 is the urge the adoption.

Yeah.

Item 37.

Um I introduce and urge its adoption.

Uh, and we will it's for a public hearing um for March 9th at 5 30 p.m.

Okay on the CDBG block grant.

Uh you ready right?

38 and 39 is held.

Um item 36 will be withdrawn.

Item 37.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 38 will be held.

Item 39 will be held.

Councilor Monto.

Thank you, President Paniagua.

I have items 40 through 45.

Item 40 will be held.

Item 41 will be held.

Item 42, I will introduce and urge adoption.

As well as 43, 44, and 45.

Introduce and urge their adoption.

Thank you.

Item 40 will be held.

Item 41 will be held.

Item 42.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Yes, President Paniagua.

I'll just read a short piece from this from the letter.

Um for the past 11 years, Dr.

Linda Lemura has served as President of Lemoyne College, overseeing a period of significant growth and transformation.

During her tenure, the college welcomed some of the largest classes in its history, elevated its athletics program from Division 2 to Division 1, and made substantial infrastructure investments across its 160-acre campus.

In 2014, she became the first female lay person to lead a Jesuit institution in the United States.

She secured major naming gifts for the Purcell School and Professional Studies, the Carroll College of Arts and Sciences, and the McNeil Institute for Risk and Uncertainty.

She launched the college's first two doctoral problems and added more than 20 endowed professorships, chairs, and faculty fellowships.

Under her leadership, Lemoine strengthened its role within the Salt Springs neighborhood through the Lemoyne Area Neighborhood Development Strategy, developed in partnership with the City of Syracuse, as well as the purchase of approximately 40 surrounding properties and efforts to establish a neighborhood association.

A Syracuse native, Dr.

Lemura has served as co-chair of the Regional Economic Development Council, contributing to regional workforce development initiative initiatives.

Designing a section of Springfield Road as Dr.

Linda Lemura Lane will serve as a meaningful tribute to her leadership and tireless advocacy for Lemoyne College, her hometown, and the entire region.

Thank you.

Please call the roll.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

It's unanimous.

Item 43.

Any objections?

Any discussions?

Discussion.

Go ahead.

Um I am a yes for this for the moratorium.

However, I would like to express um that I do feel that the intentions of the moratorium are fine.

However, I don't want us to miss the opportunities to improve on our energy efficiency throughout Syracuse.

I think that there has been a lot of communications about specific locations, and we need to move past locations, identify the correct locations, if that has to do with zoning regulations or not, but we need to really take a deep dive into the energy storage versus location.

And with when certain storms happen.

So this energy storage facilities address blackouts and brownouts.

And we really need to take a hard look at what we could uh stand if we don't, if we lose this or if it's a win.

When we had our public hearing, I I think many of us assumed that there would be a ton of people here against it.

Everyone, I would probably say if there was 10 people here, eight of them were all for it.

Um so we really need to take a comprehensive look at the system, identify locations and not get stuck on the locations that were proposed.

Thank you.

I didn't call the vote, right?

Um please call the vote.

All in favor, I oppose unanimous.

Item number 44.

That's where we are, right?

44.

I'm sorry.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor, opposed.

It's unanimous.

Item 45.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Please call the roll.

All in favor.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Item 46.

Oh, wait.

I'm sorry.

Yes.

Entertain a motion.

Um to the waiver.

Yes, we need a motion.

Thank you, Madam President.

On behalf of myself and Council Nave, I would like to waive the rules for item 46.

Okay, all in favor.

I will second that.

Oh, yeah, thanks.

All in favor?

I oppose unanimous.

Now you need to introduce it.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to introduce and urge the adoption of item 46.

Thank you.

Item 46.

Any objections?

Any discussion?

Yes.

So we this item.

Uh we we, as a council, I want to thank corporation council.

I want to thank business and neighborhood development and all the counselors for the effort that has gone into this.

Um I want to make a statement around the fact that you know battery charging is a new business venture in this city.

And I understand that there is a lot of technical skills that is required to be able to implement such business.

What I want to urge us here going forward is to be mindful of people in this community or business owners in this community that are small and are looking to get into this space that they are looked at with all fairness, that they are given the opportunity to get into this this area.

That we don't shield folks out because somehow we believe that there are more organizations that are or at least companies or businesses that are bigger, and that they have the ability to do this work in which we don't give the opportunity to the smaller businesses that are local within the city, that we take those and we groom our own rather than consistently giving opportunities to those that are outside of the city, even if they have the the technical know-how that we grow our own.

And the way we do that is making sure that opportunity like this that they at least have a fair and a piece of this opportunity.

Thank you, Madam President.

May I offer a comment?

Two weeks ago I held this because I believe in open bidding.

For those of us who probably have many people who have not had a voice at the table, whether it's black owned businesses, LGBTQ businesses, and union and union officials and union workers.

We are a community where we have an open table that all voices must be heard to bring what they can to the table.

And this is why with Council Majok, uh, I had issues with RFAs, waiving our RFPs.

We had waived RFPs since I've been on the common council.

I did believe it denied others to have a piece of the pie, to have their voices heard, to bid on it.

For myself, I believe in open betting.

And we hope in the future, um, when we have programs, when the administration does come for us as a council, we'll have open betting so that everyone has a piece to uh apply.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Go ahead.

So the item in front of us is to install two level three, which is the fastest electric vehicle charging stations in Progress Park, which is a publicly owned park.

And I just want to thank and um appreciate my fellow counselors and neighborhood and business development who have worked very tirelessly to make sure that this level of utility, this level of public access is going to be available to all the residents of Syracuse.

The majority, if not all, electric vehicle charging stations available in Syracuse right now are on private property, and this type of investment in public infrastructure, infrastructure pays off not only in terms of our climate goals, but also in terms of the usability of our parks.

And I do also believe that there is lots of opportunity for us to grow small businesses and properly RFP'd contracting uh as we grow our battery storage technical and electric infrastructure.

And I just want to thank us all for working together on this.

Thank you.

Do we have any more comments?

All right.

Actually, I um go ahead.

Not on not on this.

I'm sorry?

Not on this.

Were you going to close?

Okay.

I was I was going to just say if we can back up to um let us vote and then we we'll figure that out.

Okay.

All right.

All in favor?

Opposed.

It's unanimous.

Council Moss.

Is it an item that we already voted on?

Yes.

I wouldn't need we would need uh uh the council to say to vote on a majority go back to that.

Uh-huh.

Um it's it's not uh not a vote or anything.

It's just more recognition that um the motion that Rashida put to the floor to uh vote Helen Hudson uh in.

Helen is in the room, and I didn't know if we could allow her to speak.

She doesn't have to, I just didn't know that I saw her.

She don't want to speak.

She don't want to speak.

She's trying to uh motion to adjourn.

Second.

Thank you.

All in favor?