CNY Speaks Sets Up Forum for All Mayoral Candidates

By Jeff Landset
SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- A forum hosted by CNY Speaks that will feature all seven candidates for mayor has been set up for September 8th at the Hotel Syracuse. It's a free event that will focus on the revitalization of downtown Syracuse.

CNY Speaks has been using other forums and surveys to get the public's thoughts and own ideas about what they think about downtown. All of these ideas will be boiled down to one "Citizen's Agenda" which will be presented to the candidates by the public in September.

Greg Munno is one of CNY Speaks' organizers, and he was relieved when he was able to fulfill the promise he made: for the public to talk directly to the mayoral candidates.

"When I got those commitments and the room was free and there were no other forums conflicting with that, it was a tremendously good feeling, absolutely," Munno said.

"It will be a better feeling when it's over."

Get this widget Track details eSnips Social DNA

Job Loss Down, but Not Yet In Syracuse

Delayed Recession Means Delayed Recovery

by Beth Jones

8-11-09

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- Last month saw the lowest number of job losses in a year. With 247,000 jobs gone in July its even a huge contrast from what we just saw in June, when almost 450,000 were eliminated. Unemployment even dropped to 9.4% last month from 9.5% in June.

Behind the Curve

But you won't see this kind of upswing in the Syracuse area for a few more months. The reason? According to Karen Knapik-Scalzo, an associate economist for the New York State Department of Labor, the recession hit the country in December 2007, but it didn't really start to affect the Syracuse area until much later. So while the upswing may be starting for the nation overall, Syracuse is still in a downward slide.

Get this widget Track details eSnips Social DNA

When they say the Syracuse area, according to Kanpick-Scalzo, they are referring to the Syracuse MSA, or metropolitan statistical area. This includes three counties:

• Onondaga
• Madison
• Oswego

Why the Lag?

This lag between when the nation fell into recession and when the Syracuse area did happens for a couple reasons. For one, industry in Syracuse is more diversified. So, the economy here is not highly dependant on one or two industries. Namely, the financial industry here is smaller and did not take as big a hit. Another big factor is the area housing market, which also fared better than the nation.

Get this widget Track details eSnips Social DNA

As a result, it took longer for the recession to hit here. But it did eventually hit. And because of the later onset, that means we won't see the same upturn that the nation as whole is reporting, not for another few months at least.

On the Bright Side On the other hand, says Knapik-Scalzo, the Syracuse area is faring better overall. Unemployment percentages have been consistently below the national average. Job loss numbers are below the national pace and even the state pace, she says. So even though things are still technically on the decline, overall Syracuse has been fairing better than much of the rest of the U.S. There's even some job GROWTH in the health and education sector, says Knapik-Scalzo.

Better Late Than Never So, basically the message is simple: hang in there. We started the recession later than the nation, so it's logical that we wold see a later upswing than the nation. But, says Knapik-Scalzo, if the nation is seeing one, we will too...just a little later.

Syracuse University Installing New Cameras

Dorms to receive security upgrade

August 11, 2009

By: Collin Sullivan

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- When the students come back for the fall semester, they will have an extra sense of security. The university is adding 120 cameras at the entrances and loading docks of the residence halls to monitor potential criminal activity. Captain of the Department of Public Safety, Andy Mrozienski said that these days, every school and business is adding more to increase security. He said, "Everyone is upgrading to deal with any kind of threat."

Mrozienski said that the original plan was to install over 3,000 cameras across campus and in the residence halls, but it was going to cost about 20 million dollars. The plan has been reduced to about half that with the first phase starting in the dorms.

Mrozienski added, "We also have different security measures we are talking about adding right now. New technologies bring new ideas." Listed below are some of the new security ideas:

• Warning signal alert system
• Cameras in the blue lights on campus
• Phone alert system

The cameras will be used for preventative measures along with facial recognition to help aid in investigations after incidents, Mrozienski said. The cameras will also be used for real time monitoring that will allow dispatchers to follow and pursue criminals.

Installation of the cameras began at the end of July and should be finished by the time students come back in the fall.

Interview Soundbites:

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

'Madden 10' Continues Video Game Dominance

By John Garcia Jr.

August 11, 2009

SYRACUSE, NY- The NFL preseason has officially begun with the Hall of Fame game last Sunday. Training camps are in full swing as players continue to jock for starting jobs in preparation for a Super Bowl run. But the interaction between fan and player is more anticipated off the field.

The transition from the summer to fall is not complete without the anticipation of a tradition that is now paired with the NFL season, Madden. The new version, Madden 10, is set to release on Friday, August 14.

Madden is the highest selling American video game franchise of all time. The game’s cultural importance is evident on college campuses, in video game store tournaments, and even on ESPN shows.

One of those college campuses, Syracuse University, has students who pre-order the game to be guaranteed a reserved copy. Nick Feely, a graduate student, said it’s almost as important as gas money.

“I think people actually set aside money for that, you know, in preparation that it’s coming out; so I know that I have done that,” said Feely.

Tommie Fair, of Syracuse, said the game has the best graphics and has always been the best.

“It sells the most because it’s John Madden. He’s been out forever and hands down it’s the best game out,” said Fair.

The game is based off of legendary NFL coach John Madden who ended up becoming a legendary color commentator as well. Madden recently retired from the booth but the franchise is continuing to use his name in the title for Madden 10.

Feely:

Get this widget Track details eSnips Social DNA

Fair:

Get this widget Track details eSnips Social DNA

Orange apparel retailers hoping for more wins

August 11, 2009
By NICK CARBONI (NCC NEWS)

SYRACUSE -- Fans weren't exactly lining up to get Syracuse University football gear during a 3-9 season last year. But, that doesn't mean they won't this year.

"We're truly keeping our fingers crossed," said Kim Apergis, a sales rep at Papa's Sports Athletic Apparel on Park Street. "And we're waiting."

Apergis said the staff at Papa's is optimistic that new coach Doug Marrone, and new players like Greg Paulus will attract more excitement to the Orange this season.

"We're all looking forward to it," Apergis said. "We all think something's going to change around here. We've been waiting for Syracuse football to come back."

WAIT AND SEE

Apergis said many people come in a few weeks before the season, but when the team is bad sales numbers start to slip early on.

"In the beginning of the season it doesn't matter what they think is going to happen," she said. "Usually by the third or fourth game is where we see them dropping off."

Fire Alarms: More than Just a Headache

More to it than Just Noise

Will Dugan

8/11/2009

Syracuse--What is it about the sound a fire alarm makes? Why does that alarm compel us to go outside? It could be because the noise is so harsh, people will do anything to escape it. Or maybe, because it means there is a fire someplace in the building. But Dale Eller, the Executive Director of a Pennsylvania based safety-consulting company, I-T-Z solutions, said there is a science behind the repeating pulse of a fire alarm horn.

“The pulsing actually helps move people out of a building faster. It is almost like a march pace, where they will tend to walk to the pace of the horn, which means they evacuate quicker,” said Eller.

Fire alarm horns pulse in a Temporal 3 pattern, which is three quick bursts and then a pause; this pattern does not only makes people walk quicker, but it is also good for waking people up. The Temporal 3 pattern is a component in any fire alarm built in the last decade, and it is exclusive to fire alarms, said Eller.

Bells Don’t Cut it

Older systems used bells to alert people to fires. The idea was that the bells mirrored the sounds fire trucks make, said Eller. But bells do not resonate through a building well, so most new systems use pulsing horns he said. Any building that has been built in the last ten years, or buildings with significant renovations, have one of these updated systems said Eller. Although these new systems were not made with the intent to annoy, it is a welcome help to getting people out of a building he said.

Founder of Special Olympics, Died Today

August 11, 2009
By: Kristen Tripodi

Eunice Kennedy Shriver died early this morning in a hospital in Massachusetts. She was 88 years old. Shriver, sister of John F. Kennedy, carried on the family's tradition of public service. She founded the Special Olympics in 1968, with the first games in Chicago of the same year.

Shriver's older sister, Rosemary Kennedy born in September of 1918. According to Shriver, Rosemary had a mild form of mental disabilities and lived with the family in their home. It was uncommon at the time for families to have their disabled children live with them, most of the time they were institutionalized. Shriver drew inspiration from Rosemary and her condition; and started the Special Olympics.

Shriver received many awards for her work on behalf of those with mental disabilities, including the nation's highest civilian award, the (U.S.) Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1984 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

Neal Johnson, President and CEO of the New York State Division of the Special Olympics says while the Special Olympics movement is truly an accomplishment, that's only one of the many things Shriver achieved in her lifetime.

"That's just really a part of her legacy in service to people who are differently abled.. There is so much more that she's done on their behalf, that quite honestly gets overshadowed by the impact of the Special Olympics movement, which of course is her child, so to speak" says Johnson.

Because Shriver died early today, Johnson says the New York Division hasn't had time to plan a memorial service. Johnson say; "We have not made a determination yet if we are going to do a formal tribute to Mrs. Shriver, but undoubtedly she will be a large part of every event that we produce."

August 7th, she was admitted to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts; where she died early this morning, around 2 a.m.

Get this widget Track details eSnips Social DNA