Syracuse Common Council Meeting - May 18, 2026
Syracuse Common Council Meeting - May 18, 2026
The Syracuse Common Council held a regular meeting on May 18, 2026, at 1:00 PM. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, including a blessing from the Vietnamese Buddhist Community. The council proceeded to approve minutes, hear committee reports, and vote on a series of resolutions and ordinances. Notable actions included the adoption of a local law restricting biometric surveillance, a resolution supporting New York's expanded bottle bill, and a resolution recognizing Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes from May 4 and May 8 were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments or testimony were recorded.
Discussion Items
- Biometric Surveillance Local Law 8A: Councilor Williams introduced item 8A, co-sponsored by Councilors Monto and Machok, to restrict the use of biometric surveillance technology. Williams noted that the technology disproportionately misidentifies young people, older adults, persons of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals, and that its use can lead to intimidation. The council voted unanimously to adopt the law.
- Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month Resolution: Councilor Navi introduced a resolution recognizing May 15 to June 15, 2026, as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month in Syracuse. He shared personal experiences as one of the first elected officials in New York State with Tourette syndrome, and the council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution. City Hall was lit in teal through June 15 in support.
- Bigger, Better Bottle Bill Resolution: Councilor Aaron Rick introduced item 23, a resolution urging the New York State Senate and Assembly to pass Senate Bill S5684 and Assembly Bill A6543, which would expand the bottle deposit law. The resolution passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: Unanimous approval of minutes for May 4 and May 8.
- Biometric Surveillance Law (Item 8A): Adopted unanimously.
- Item 9: Passed with 8 votes in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention (Vice President of the Board, reason not specified).
- Item 10: Passed unanimously.
- Items 11, 16, 18, 19: Held for future consideration.
- Items 12–15, 17, 20–22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43: All passed unanimously.
- Item 33: Passed unanimously with two abstentions (Councilor Williams, as an employee of the Syracuse City School District, and Councilor Hudson, as a JSCB member).
- Items 29 and 44: Withdrawn.
- Supplemental Items 44 and 45: Introduced and approved unanimously after a waiver of rules.
- Committee Reports: Finance committee met on May 14 to discuss the biometric surveillance law. A communication from the Underdog Environmental Institution regarding ordinance 206 year was noted.
- Meeting Adjourned: Motion to close passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Well, there's a date on the when where we signed. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, you yeah, you put the date that you sign on it. Oh, okay. Even if we don't pass it that day, we put that day in there. Like like if it don't pass, like we held at this meeting. Right, right. And then we throw that and put it in another there. Yeah, so then so the next meeting, the next meetings when you put that date there. It is it is one o'clock. We're gonna start our regular meeting. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Under God, thank you. Uh, at this time, I would like to recognize Commissioner Tai Show in the room. Thank you for being with us today and the celebration of the Heritage Month of the Asian American Pacific Islands. Uh, congratulations on your celebration. And we would like to invite C Cove uh from the Vietnamese community to join us uh in the microphone for the blessing. Absolutely. Uh two up for free uh uh for the AAPI uh month. And this time I want uh me to Thai a translator Nam Buddha Hamai Kong Dang Fuk Yao Tai Choi Shakam The Rukhang Han Day Tam Yo Tang Go A T A Jo A Chungtoi Ya Nay Uh Kiao Fu Ping Ling Wang Jong Hom Nai Jungtoy Sun Kong Wing Landao Uh Tai Tan Fo Sikiu Ko Junta Uh Tok Neo Sukwe Uh Tan Po Sikiu Kuman Uh Tok Layang Fak Jing Tungto Kong Wing Yah Lok Muk May Kang Fong Wun Hung Jay The G Waban Yong Sun Dok Ang Lak Namu Fudar Uh First Uh To Say Thank You Rita and Common Council. This is the First Time Our Vietnam E Community Have Anor To Invocation Uh So We're Thank You And This What The Buddha is Saying Namu Buddha. Today We the Vietnamese Buddhist Community of Syracuse I'm Scerely Grateful and Honor To Be Invited To Partake Participate and Offer Prayer During The Special AAPI Heritage Month Gathering. In this peaceful moment, we offer our heartfelt prayers for the leaders of our city of Syracuse that they may be blessed with good health, strength, compassion, and wisdom as they continue to serve the community with dedication, peace, and growing prosperity. We we pray for the continued prosperity and flourish of the United States. We also pray for peace throughout the world and for all the people who live happiness, harmony, and safety. Namo Buddha. So thank you, Namuddha. And uh would like to have Rita come down, he'd like to present you something from the temple. Thank you. Oh, thank you. Moving on into our action death. Sorry. All right. Uh with the clerk uh please uh roll call. Yes, madam president, councillor Cardwell present, Councilor Machok, Councilor Aaron right, Councilor Hudson, Councillor Nabe, here Councillor Moore, Councillor Williams, here Councillor Jones Rouser. Here Councillor Mato Present. May I have a mo thank you? May I have a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. For May 4th, yes. On May 8th, right? Yes. All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Unanimous. And May 8th, separately. Oh, again. So then again, a motion to approve the minutes for May 8th. So moved.
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