Opinion:The Hall Monitor is the blog and print voice of Urban CNY founder/publisher Ken Jackson – If you have an issue to report send Ken an e-mail. Click here
As I let the idea of an aquarium rattle around in my head, I began to wonder about the cost, the logic of the proposal and if it will be a drain on Onondaga County taxpayers. Or as critics point out, there are so many pressing human-service needs, why not invest there? First, the overwhelmingly More »
I was late to the party, coming from an area that had no idea of Juneteenth celebrations. Several decades ago, Syracuse had several pioneers who ignited the spark locally, carried the torch celebrating the occasion before Juneteenth became um, cool. This year I’m not feeling very free, like a vintage hygiene commercial; “I just don’t More »
The founders were more concerned with the British than a lone gunman armed with Muskets If we’re required to carry liability insurance on an old Hooptie, why not a gun? Sounds far-fetched, doesn’t it? Requiring liability insurance for any gun or ammunition that’s manufactured to kill human beings. If your interpretation of the Second More »
The Buffalo shooting is the realization of some of our greatest fears, racially motivated violence against Black people. Americans have gathered enough guns to arm every person in this country and have weaponry left over. The patchwork of state legislated gun legislation does nothing when people can gather enough ammunition, loaded with enough bullets to More »
It’s been difficult writing positive information about a city from an armpit of a junkyard, but somehow when it came to the Syracuse Surge, I was all in. Optimistic that the city of Syracuse would finally turn the corner regarding neighborhood quality-of-life issues and economic development. And to the mayor’s credit, things have turned around, More »
After detaining the child Police placed his bike in the Patrol Car and took him home Syracuse Police held a meeting with neighborhood children after the incident asking, “what’s going on here?” Late Monday afternoon urbancny.com received a video documenting the apparent apprehension of a child observed by officers responding to a 911 call for More »
I was born in Crouse-Irving Memorial Hospital (now Crouse Health) and have had procedures performed at both facilities; the prospect of SUNY Upstate merging with Crouse Hospital is frightening. Not because of any slight against the institution, but merging these hospitals is like breeding a Golden Retriever with a Pitt Bull. They’re both very different More »
Why have a local representative body when they don’t even venture into these blight infested communities? I reside in the Second Common Council District; I bought a house right behind Brooklyn Pickle across the street from where a neighborhood junkyard meets Porter School. Demographically it’s poor, white and 1,000 feet from what is known as More »
No one has to be convinced that something’s been occurring not only here in Syracuse, but across the urban landscape of America. Incidents in cities involving guns; fights, robberies, etc. have increased. Nothing could be further from the truth when shoppers at Destiny USA were evacuated, and the 10th largest Mall in America was forced More »
This is a story about control Our control Control of where we play Control of what we do And this time I’m gonna say it my way I hope you enjoy this as much as I do Are you ready? I am ‘Cause it’s all about control* And we’re about to lose it) I grew More »
