SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — As summer approaches, Syracuse is searching for someone to help bring the city’s nightlife back to life, but the position remains unfilled nearly a month after the city posted the job.
The mayor announced the creation of the nightlife coordinator role during her State of the City address in January, when she said Syracuse needed to become a place where young people want to stay. The city has not said how many people applied or when a hire is expected. Applications closed May 19.
In a written statement to NCC News, the city’s senior public information officer Sol Muñoz said the coordinator would “serve as a primary point of contact for bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues to address quality-of-life, safety, and operational concerns.”
The urgency behind the role is real. Researchers at Cornell University found young people are regularly leaving upstate New York and are not being replaced by incoming young professionals — a brain drain that cities like Syracuse have struggled to reverse for years.
For John Dunn, a 25-year-old who has lived in Syracuse for a decade and now calls downtown home, the problem is personal.
“My beautiful girlfriend and I want to get out of here as soon as possible,” Dunn said. “The nightlife for me has gotten almost dangerous. I live down here. I walk down here late at night — the increase of crime has definitely deterred me away.”
Business owners say they see the same concerns playing out in real time.
Emily Scribe, general manager of The Penny Pub on West Fayette Street, said the summer months bring larger crowds and later nights — making the need for leadership downtown more pressing.
“Syracuse always sees a big increase in foot traffic during the summer,” Scribe said. “We also see a huge increase of our late night crowd. It’s something that we’re anticipating — both as an employee and a downtown resident.”
Julie Leone, co-owner of 443 Social Club, said she welcomes the new role but wants to see it backed by concrete policy changes. Leone said the city’s permit process has long made it difficult for venues like hers to operate and expand.
“It has to go along with some business friendly policies on the government side of it,” Leone said.
Leone said outdated regulations have delayed some business openings by months, draining startup capital before owners can serve a single customer. She described spending a month navigating meetings, appeals, and waivers simply to install an 18-inch stage at her venue.
The nightlife coordinator concept is not new. The city told NCC News they have looked at similar models in Boston, Nashville, Sacramento, Norfolk and Quebec City.
The Syracuse position pays between $67,750 and $72,000 annually. Whoever is hired will be required to live within Syracuse city limits within six months of starting the job, according to the job posting.
The city said it is in the process of hiring but declined to provide a timeline for when an announcement would be made.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse hiring nightlife coordinator as city looks to retain young residents
Matthew Davison: Young people leaving Syracuse for bigger cities is nothing new. But city leaders say they have a plan to change that — and it involves a brand new position that cities across the country have already put to the test. With summer fast approaching, we look at where that effort stands — and whether it is moving fast enough.
Davison: 25-year-old John Dunn has spent the last decade in Syracuse. But now he says he is ready to leave.
John Dunn: My beautiful girlfriend and I want to get out of here as soon as possible… The nightlife for me has gotten almost dangerous.
Davison: Syracuse Police data shows violent crime in the downtown district is up nearly 12 percent compared to this time last year. Dunn is part of a growing number of young Central New Yorkers looking to get out — and the city is hiring a Nightlife Coordinator to help change that. Applications closed last week and the position remains unfilled.
In a statement to NCC News, the mayor’s office said the coordinator would serve as a primary point of contact for bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues — but would not say when someone will be hired.
Penny Pub General Manager Emily Scribe also has safety concerns. She says with summer fast approaching, there is no time to waste.
Emily Scribe: Syracuse always sees a big increase in foot traffic during the summer. We also see a huge increase of our late night crowd.
Davison: 443 Social Club owner Julie Leone welcomes the role — but says more needs to be done.
Julie Leone: It has to go along with some business friendly policies on the government side of it.
Davison: Leone says outdated permit processes can set fledgling businesses off track before they ever get started. For now, the city says a hire is coming. But with summer fast approaching, exactly when remains unclear.
The Nightlife Coordinator position pays between 67 and 72 thousand dollars a year, and whoever is hired must live within Syracuse city limits within six months. We will continue following the hiring process and bring you updates as they come.