Stephanie Miner endorses Colleen Deacon

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner publicly endorsed Syracuse University alumna Colleen Deacon for the 24th Congressional District seat on Thursday. Miner is the third prominent Democrat to endorse Deacon, who is a former top aide to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and a former Syracuse City Hall employee. Gillibrand and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) have also endorsed Deacon.

Miner said she endorsed Deacon because she is most familiar with the needs of the people of Syracuse and will be the best opponent against Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus), according to a press release from Deacon’s campaign manager.

SU professor Eric Kingson and Syracuse lawyer Steve Williams are also running for the Democratic nomination.

 

Miner announces 2016 State of the City address

On Jan. 28, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner will deliver her seventh State of the City address to the public. Miner announced Wednesday that the speech will take place at the Southwest Community Center at 401 South Ave. At last year’s event, Miner discussed infrastructure changes, new police satellite buildings and high school graduation rates. The address will begin at 7 p.m.

 

Statewide regulations on transgender discrimination take effect

As of Wednesday, it is illegal to discriminate against someone in New York state based on their gender identity. In October, New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo became the first governor in the U.S. to issue an order “prohibiting harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender identity, transgender status or gender dysphoria,” according to a press release from Cuomo’s office.

Before the order, about 60 percent of New Yorkers — including Syracuse residents — were protected from transgender discrimination, according to prideagenda.org. Now, it is unlawful for employers, landlords and business owners to discriminate against transgender people in New York state.

 

Cuomo announces clean energy initiatives

Earlier this week, New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced two initiatives designed to promote and grow the clean energy economy in New York state. The first initiative is the 10-year, $5 billion Clean Energy Fund, which will reduce energy bills for consumers as early as this year while providing necessary support for clean energy companies, according to a press release from Cuomo’s office. The fund is supposed to help the state reach Cuomo’s Clean Energy Standard, which says the state needs to meet 50 percent of electricity needs with clean energy by 2030, according to the release.

The second initiative is the “Energy to Lead Competition.” Cuomo is asking colleges and universities across the state to innovate new clean energy projects for their campuses and local communities to undertake. The winners will receive $1 million of the $3 million pot. The deadline for student-led groups to submit their proposals is April 4.

Published on January 22, 2016 at 6:12 pm

Contact Delaney: dovanwey@syr.edu