Syracuse/CNY

July 2026

Syracuse, the heart of Central New York and the employment and cultural center of Onondaga County, is where I've lived for over 40 years.

We have a new mayor, Sharon Owens, who served as the Deputy Mayor under the previous administration.  Our Republican Onondaga County Executive, Ryan McMahon, was re-elected to a second term in November 2023. He's made some decisions that have upset many, angered many, and yes, delighted many. I guess that means he's doing a good job, or something.

And Central New York? We're on the map, right now, as a result of the massive Micron deal.

Micron intends to invest up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years to construct a new megafab in Clay, New York, with the first phase investment of $20 billion planned by the end of this decade. This represents the largest private investment in New York state history. Micron’s investment in Onondaga County, New York, will complement the company’s previously announced high-volume manufacturing fab in Boise, Idaho. Micron will design, build, and operate the facility in accordance with its sustainability goals. The site could eventually include four 600,000-square-foot cleanrooms, for a total of 2.4 million square feet of cleanroom space – the size of approximately 40 U.S. football fields.

Construction is underway, ahead of schedule, on this project that some people STILL say will never happen. The chip company has made some pretty good investments here, and will make more as it continues to cement its place here in Central New York. We need to figure out how to be a good host for Micron and the opportunities that come with a 20-year project, and how to be worthy of the investment.

We're in the thick of the project to remove the I-81 viaduct that cuts through the middle of the city, and still facing naysayers after all these years of discussion, planning, and construction. I used to think I wouldn't live to see open skies over the city, but now it looks much more likely than not that I'll still be here for it (fingers crossed, and all). 

As it has for years, poverty continues to be an issue for us. The State Comptroller, Tom DiNapoli, issued a report in 2022 showing that in Syracuse, one in four families were living in poverty in 2021. That's something that will need to be continually addressed and worked on. 

There's a lot we have to work on and celebrate as we move forward with a new Mayor, our first Democrat-majority County Legislature, and massive projects reshaping our community - and there's a lot I have to catch up on after my break.

I'll use Grains of Salt posts to focus on local efforts.  Keywords Syracuse, I-81, and Onondaga County also will help, or try Neighborhoods. You can also search for local politicians by name.