SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — When it comes to revitalizing Syracuse neighborhoods, the success of one leads to the success of them all in Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens’ eyes. Owens has built the first pillar of her mayoral campaign, “Thriving Neighborhoods,” on that interconnected nature.
Owens, who is endorsed by the New York Working Families Party, chose to start the unveiling of her policy with housing. On Monday, she stressed the valuable foundation that comes from having a quality roof over your head.
“Many of us here, I pray, came from a house that was comfortable, that was safe,” she said. “That enabled you to have a good night’s sleep and to get up today to do your jobs. When that is not the availability for you because you don’t have those components, it does affect your ability and the ability for your children to be the best they can.”
To address the housing crisis in Syracuse, Owens cited the Syracuse Housing Study as well as the Syracuse Housing Strategy. Two key issues that arose in the study are the market gap and the affordability gap around Syracuse.
The study defines the market gap as the difference between what it costs to build a house and what people are willing to pay. The second issue is the affordability gap, which is the difference between the cost of housing and what people can afford. If these challenges are not addressed, patterns perpetuating Syracuse’s housing crisis will continue with low-income households remaining in low-quality units, and people hesitant to invest in city housing.
Owens’ plan to tackle these issues starts with a commitment to develop 1,000 new housing units over her term. However, like neighborhoods’ values are related, so is the quality of infrastructure around a housing unit.
“It’s also about sidewalks. It’s about the road development. How is the lighting? How are the neighborhood parks and the synergy between every component that makes up a neighborhood, from housing-related issues and housing-related development to small businesses as well?” she said.
In addition, Owens said she would address the community’s lead issue through pipe replacement, increase code enforcement officers, and continue affordable mixed-incomed and mixed-use housing development.
State Senator Rachel May, who announced her official endorsement of Owens, believes in the Deputy Mayor’s neighborhood-to-neighborhood approach. She said Central New York is the epicenter of the housing crisis, and Syracuse is often met with the burden of surrounding communities without the zoning or wanting more housing.
“We are where the people experiencing homelessness find shelter. We are where there is public transportation. We are where there are the services, the libraries, the schools, everything they need,” May said.
With that weight on Syracuse’s shoulders, May said she is thrilled to be working with Owens to create neighborhoods where people can thrive.
Owens secured her place on the mayoral ballot in the beginning of April, and she has been endorsed by the New York State Working Families Party.
Common Council President Pat Hogan won Syracuse Democrats’ endorsement in the mayoral race. As of right now, one other Democrat, Chol Majok, has a place on the ballot for the primary election on June 24.
The Democratic winner will go up against Tom Babilon, the sole Republican candidate in the race, to decide who will assume Mayor Ben Walsh’s position once his second term concludes.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Mayoral candidate Sharon Owens introduces her plan to address Syracuse’s housing crisis
McKenzie Olsen: Six total candidates, five being Democrats, made their way onto the Syracuse mayoral ballot. NCC News’ Brooke Borzymowski has more on what one of those candidates released as the first pillar of her policy agenda.
Brooke Borzymowski: That’s right, McKenzie. Today current Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens introduced the first pillar of her “Maximize the Moment” campaign, “Thriving Neighborhoods.” Alongside a new endorser, Owens shared her plans to address Syracuse’s housing crisis if she were to win the upcoming election. For Owens, it was clear to start her policy campaigning with housing. She said that having a safe, affordable, and comfortable place to lay your head is critical to overall success.
Sharon Owens: When that is not the availability for you because you don’t have those components, it does affect your ability and the ability for your children to be the best they can.
Borzymowski: Central to Owen’s plan is the Syracuse Housing Study, which addresses the city’s affordability and market gaps. Owens said understanding how communities are unique but related is paramount to a thriving neighborhood.
Owens: The success of my neighborhood really is connected to the vibrancy and success of another neighbor’s neighborhood.
Borzymowski: Deputy Mayor Owens has been working under Mayor Ben Walsh since his first term began in January of 2018, and some people are unhappy with the progress that the Walsh administration has made, making them hesitant to support Owens. But one Westcott resident told me that he’s confident in Deputy Mayor Owens, saying that kind of progress doesn’t happen overnight.
George L. Stanley: Nothing is overnight, okay? You’ve seen it in the real political world when people make bad decisions now where we are. So think about how things change in a short period of time in that sense, for the worse, but when we’re trying to make things for the better, these things take time.
Borzymowski: Today, State Senator Rachel May announced her endorsement alongside Owens.
Rachel May: Taking it as a neighborhood approach and really thinking neighborhood to neighborhood. I think this is how we have to do it here in Syracuse, and so I’m thrilled to be Team Sharon.
Borzymowski: After announcing “Thriving Neighborhoods,” Owens said her next priorities are equitable economic development, public safety, youth development, and some more. From the Maxwell School at Syracuse, Brooke Borzymowski, NCC News.
Olsen: Thanks, Brooke. The housing crisis has been a common discussion of many candidates of the campaigns with Common Councilors Pat Hogan and Jimmy Oliver also making it their first priority in the upcoming election.