Onondaga Citizens League

12/03/2019

Hello Friends,
As many of you know, to provide more inclusive and stronger citizen engagement - and avoid duplication of efforts - OCL has been involved in merger/partnership discussions. Look for more information soon!

11/28/2019

04/18/2018

Tomorrow (April 19), from noon-3 p.m., University College at 700 University Avenue will be the best place to be! Tours, refreshments, and a book signing by columnist Sean Kirst! Free and open to the public. http://uc100.syr.edu/

11/29/2017

University College is getting ready to start celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2018! Our very talented staff members created this tree and presented it to the to use for their Festival of Trees fundraiser. The lucky recipient of the tree will receive a ticket to the 100th Anniversary Fundraising Gala scheduled for October 2018. .

11/03/2017

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday. Here's the list of candidates.

http://www.syracuse.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/11/election_2017_complete_list_of_who_is_running_for_office_in_onondaga_county.html

10/30/2017

Join us on Thursday to hear the 4 mayoral candidates talk about their plans for the City if elected.

10/25/2017

A great video by Bob Douchette - reminds us of who we are as Syracusans.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__vimeo.com_mikeroymedia_syracuserising&d=DwMFaQ&c=GC0NZZhaEw6GOQSjMHI2g15k_drElRoPmOYiK2k0eZ8&r=dKm29niQzNqwhylsI2ZlkXX-ANcVAyn-jlIcrAqmZBg&m=BSZxrHbupUxJpMhL36JrmbFA07Seioa25be5VAJJPbo&s=pcoEPX4gRsziPjTcKfbS4ePy1g8rHOBNKCkkEC7TC9U&e=

Robert Doucette has a message for his city. He's asking residents to listen - and believe.

10/20/2017

It's time to select the next OCL study topic for 2018/19. Please go to our website: http://onondagacitizensleague.org, click on studies, and submit your recommendation.

10/19/2017

Great session today at the Onondaga Co Library. Our elected officials gave great insight on why people engage or remain unengaged. Syracuse Common Councilor said she regularly goes out into the community to hold listening sessions, visit with neighbors, and attend community events in order to hear what her constituents have to say. Thanks to all our panelists - , Onondaga County Legislature, , Fayetteville Mayor, and , Salina Town supervisor.

10/17/2017

Don't forget to join us at the Central Library Downtown tomorrow for the 3rd OCL study session. There will be panel discussion about how elected officials/municipal governments engage the public in the work of local government. Helen Hudson, Syracuse Common Council, Peggy Chase, Onondaga County Legislature, Mark Olsen, Fayetteville Mayor, and Mark Nicotra, Salina Town supervisor will serve on the panel. The study session will take place on October 19 from noon – 1:30 p.m. There is on-street parking or there is a lot on the corner of Salina and Onondaga Street. The lot is accessible by either Onondaga or Clinton Street. Please enter the library via Salina Street

09/29/2017

Help us with our new study on Community Engagement. Please take this short survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OnondagaCitizens

09/27/2017

The OCL Study on Community Engagement is off to a great start! Over 50 people joined us yesterday at the Central Branch Library Downtown to listen to a panel discussion by area experts on why they commit their time and energy to community and civic engagement. Watch for details on the next study session!

09/19/2017

Onondaga Citizens League Invites Public to Discuss ‘State of Community Engagement Infrastructure in CNY’
https://news.syr.edu/2017/09/onondaga-citizens-league-invites-public-to-discuss-state-of-community-engagement-infrastructure-in-cny/

09/18/2017

Onondaga Citizens League Invites Public to Discuss:
“The State of the Community Engagement Infrastructure in CNY.”

SYRACUSE – The Onondaga Citizens League announces the kick-off of its 2017/18 study, "The State of the Community Engagement Infrastructure in CNY.”

Using community input, the study committee will look at the state of community engagement in our region – who is involved, who is not, and why? Is there a need for a more engaged citizenry in our region? Is it part of our civic responsibility to become involved in issues that affect us?

The first study session will be held at the Central Library Downtown, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY on Tuesday, September 26, from noon to 1:30 p.m. OCL's study sessions are free and open to the public. There is on-street parking or there is a lot on the corner of Salina and Onondaga Street. The lot is accessible by either Onondaga or Clinton Street. Please enter the library via Salina Street.

Several speakers will share their perspective on who/what inspired them to become activists for causes that affect all of us. They will give us tips on how to become more involved citizens and inspire us to become advocates for change.

07/19/2017

OCL is beginning its next study - The State of Community Engagement in CNY. https://news.syr.edu/2017/09/onondaga-citizens-league-invites-public-to-discuss-state-of-community-engagement-infrastructure-in-cny/

07/19/2017

Our great new commercial.

For nearly a century, University College has been working hard to support adults who want to study part-time at Syracuse University. They’ve chosen to succee...

05/22/2017

Looking forward to the host of ‘Capital Pressroom’ Susan Arbetter who is speaking at the OCL Annual Meeting on June 13. The public is invited. Visit our webpage to register.

10/19/2016

The Onondaga Citizens League (OCL) continues its current study, “How CNY Works” by inviting the public to participate in the next study session. OCL is examining the diversity of CNY’s economic base. Next week’s session will be held at the Gear Factory (directions below) on Tuesday, October 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

This session will focus on the worker's experience and perspective regarding the value of work, the changing nature of work and employment, changes in the workplace and workforce, and the role of organized labor. The session will also begin to examine the question of who gets hired and who doesn't. Tuesday's panel will feature both workers and union representatives.


The Gear Factory is located on the Near West Side at 200 S. Geddes St. (corner of W. Fayette).

09/23/2016

The Onondaga Citizens League announces the kick off its 2016/17 study, "How CNY Works: Examining the Diversity of Our Economic Base - Past, Present and Future.”

With community input, the study committee will look at the businesses and industries that built CNY – and the people who worked in them. The first study session will be held at the Salt Museum, Onondaga Lake Park, 106 Lake Drive, Liverpool, NY on Tuesday, September 27, from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. OCL's study sessions are free and open to the public.

08/23/2016

OCL will begin its latest community study "How CNY Works" that will focus on how CNY's economy and employment patterns have changed over the years, and what this means for CNY residents, especially those who live in or near poverty. The scoping sessions begin this week and the public is invited. Tuesday, August 23 at CNY Works, 960 James St. from 11:30-1; Wednesday, August 24 at LeMoyne College, Mitchell Hall, Room 113 from 5:30-7 p.m., and Friday, August 26 at WCNY from 8:30-10 a.m.

12/20/2015

This month in History: In December 1961, Interstate 81 is opened from Syracuse to Watertown.

12/17/2015

At long last, you'll get benefits parity regardless of how you get to work, but it probably won’t stop people from driving alone.

12/17/2015

"A bill that extends provisions of the tax code will permanently set the maximum transit commuter tax benefit at the same level car commuters get for parking expenses. Both classes of commuters can now pay for those costs with up to $255 in pre-tax income per month." How

A federal policy that has encouraged Americans to drive to work instead of taking the bus or the train won’t tilt the playing field toward car commuters so much.

12/14/2015

"...before drone aviation can become pervasive, there needs to be a new infrastructure to define low-altitude avenues of flight, regulate traffic in congested areas, and prevent collisions." NUAIR Alliance

With thousands of drones flying in crowded areas, how can collisions be prevented? A software system acting like an air traffic manager could be the answer.

12/11/2015

"The share of Americans in the lowest-income segment has grown from 16 percent in 1971 to 20 percent in 2015; the richest segment, meanwhile, has more than doubled from 4 percent of the U.S. population to 9 percent over that period."

It’s now smaller than the upper and lower economic tiers combined, a Pew study finds.

12/11/2015

One local state lawmaker says while Buffalo is enjoying new economic growth, it's not necessarily benefiting the city's poorest. Assemblyman Sean

12/11/2015

"The service, called UberHop, costs $5. Riders meet an Uber driver at a pickup spot, join the carpool and are driven downtown." How

Uber tests out carpool rides with specific pickup and drop-off locations.

12/10/2015

Congratulations, Central New York, on being selected as a winner of $500 million in the Upstate Revitalization Initiative! CenterState CEO Consensus CNY: The Commission on Government Modernization

Today is a big day - the Upstate Revitalization Initiative announcement. The event will be livestreaming here: http://www.governor.ny.gov/news.

12/09/2015

"Then there is the issue of how smart we are being with our existing subsidies. Should we be pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into stadiums, for example, when there are developers looking to invest in low-income areas that could potentially put those dollars to better use? It is up to all of us to make sure that, in a world of scarce public dollars, we are being smart and responsible, and making the greatest impact with the programs we have."

Op-Ed: There is a small sub-sector of nonprofits, community developers and socially conscious private developers working to improve people’s lives and make our communities stronger and more prosperous.

12/09/2015

The cost of daycare can drive a family into poverty before a child reaches kindergarten, but it’s also likely to impoverish her teacher first. While preschool programs are expanding nationwide, somehow, they cost parents everything while paying teachers nothing simultaneously.

12/08/2015

“The ingredients of violence are here for so many reasons,” Flynn told Fears. “But the tools have been put into the hands of criminals by a foolish and ideological gun law.”

City Police Chief Ed Flynn says cuts to mental health services and an expanded concealed-carry law are leading to higher crime.

12/08/2015

"Utah has taken steps to make registration easier, the report said, including allowing online voter registration for people who have a signature on file with the Division of Motor Vehicles; allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to "preregister" to vote when they obtain a driver license, effective when they turn 18; and an experiment with Election Day registration in some counties."

Utah cities and counties that voted by mail this year increased voter turnout by an average of 52 percent, a new study says. That is welcome news because turnout has plummeted in recent decades, including ...

12/08/2015

The North Jersey group charges an annual $90 service fee plus $1.50 a mile and a $2.50 pickup charge. The average six-mile ride costs less than $12, and discounts apply for multiple passengers." Uber for seniors? How

Almost everybody knows Bergen County's senior population is huge, but nobody was certain that a recently launched ITNNorthJersey, a low-cost, volunteer ride service designed…

12/05/2015

Marketing. How

The Canadian Pacific Railway has one extremely festive route.

12/05/2015

How

Former Mayor of Baltimore Martin O’Malley makes a move to bring urban planning into the 2016 presidential race discussion.

12/04/2015

The bill "...allows local governments to use the street design manuals of their preference ... and preempt their state DOT’s design manual for locally constructed projects. Far too often, local governments are working hard to develop complete, safe streets, but are stymied by their state DOT’s desire to maintain fast speeds and wide lanes at the expense of other people who need to use the street and would benefit from narrower lanes, safe bike lanes or wider sidewalks." How

Smart people are wading through the 1,300-page transportation bill that came out of conference committee earlier this week, and we’re starting to get a clearer sense of how it will change federal transportation policy for the next five years.

12/04/2015

How

JOB OPENING: Centro is looking for a Full-Time Data Analyst and Research Specialist to join its Service Development team. If interested, please visit our website at www.centro.org and apply today.