A newly-minted urban planner, . . . → Read More: Reasons to be cheerful]]> When you stack Syracuse up against other cities, you actually end up with a lot of reasons to be cheerful about living here. Yeah, we get into our scraps about what’s the best way to improve it. But at least people really care! Listening to people who have lived elsewhere is often enlightening:

A newly-minted urban planner, passing through Syracuse on her way from Ohio to Germany, expounded on the many delights she was seeing in Syracuse: “People in Syracuse don’t realize what they have! Unlike out in Ohio, you have parks, lots of them, built on the top of every drumlin in the city. There are beautiful buildings still, and public art popping up everywhere.”

A woman at the arts and crafts festival yesterday (in and of itself a great reason to be cheerful) sold us a purse made of leather from Gloversville, NY, embossed with a machine that’s survived the economic downturn in that city. It’s gorgeous. She took the time to explain to us the difference between “top grain” leather and the leather that is actually inferior marked “genuine leather.” And she commented that, while they go to over 100 arts and crafts festivals per year, Syracuse has the cleanest downtown of all. Until you spend some time in other downtowns, it’s easy to take that for granted.

A couple from Burlinton, Vermont, a beautiful, walkable city in its own right, moved in next door. I pointed out the old vertical clothesline hiding way in the back – the kind that holds two pulleys, one for the upper flat and one for the lower one. Wouldn’t you know, within days our neighbor had strung up a line from her pulley to a new one on the house and some very tiny baby clothes were hung out in neat array. Unlike in Greenwich, CT, where they have banned the use of clotheslines at a public housing development (dryers there cost these elderly folks 90 cents/load!), Syracuse continues its proud tradition of outdoor drying. Look in the back yards of Eastwood and you’ll find a very old clothesline in a good percentage of them. Nothing like the savings and the disinfecting power of sunlight and air that you get with line drying – not to mention the possibilities of actually talking with your neighbor!

What reasons does living here give you to be cheerful?

Saturday, August 8, 2009 (rain date Sunday, August 9, 2009) Pomco’s parking lot (behind new Walgreens at corner of Eastwood Rd. and Grant Blvd) 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Seller’s space cost: $10.00 donation for each 12/ x 12/ space Reserve your selling space today! Registration deadline: July 27, 2009 Eastwood flea market registration form to . . . → Read More: Eastwood Flea Market Day]]> Sponsored and hosted by Eastwood Neighborhood Association

Saturday, August 8, 2009 (rain date Sunday, August 9, 2009)
Pomco’s parking lot (behind new Walgreens at corner of Eastwood Rd. and Grant Blvd)
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Seller’s space cost: $10.00 donation for each 12/ x 12/ space
Reserve your selling space today!
Registration deadline: July 27, 2009
Eastwood flea market registration form to download and print out

Get your team together and register to play in our badminton league.  Games will be held on Wednesdays.

Registration fee is $50 which goes to the Sunnycrest Park Association.

This is a fun league.  We are trying to get people out of their houses . . . → Read More: Sheridan Park Badminton League]]> Reprinted with permission, a notice from Cindy Seymour, owner of Laci’s Burger Joint & Cafe:

Get your team together and register to play in our badminton league.  Games will be held on Wednesdays.

Registration fee is $50 which goes to the Sunnycrest Park Association.

This is a fun league.  We are trying to get people out of their houses for some fun, exercise and socialization.

For more information, contact Cindy Seymour at Laci’s Burger Joint 399.4446 or cell 727.4222.

There was standing room only at the mayoral candidate forum on urban planning and sustainability. Since six of seven candidates were able to come, we heard a helpful variety of ideas. VIDEO FROM NEWS 10

People are really, really interested in this topic.

The not-so-good aspects were well outlined in Sean Kirst’s column. Not enough specifics from . . . → Read More: Mayoral candidate forum a huge success/dismal failure]]> The successful aspect:

There was standing room only at the mayoral candidate forum on urban planning and sustainability. Since six of seven candidates were able to come, we heard a helpful variety of ideas.
VIDEO FROM NEWS 10

People are really, really interested in this topic.

The not-so-good aspects were well outlined in Sean Kirst’s column. Not enough specifics from the candidates, questions may have been too broad.  Some of the candidates talked a lot but had little to say about the topic. We suspect a lack of knowledge about urban planning and design.

But here are some positive statements we heard:

Stephanie Miner: “I will appoint an office of sustainability with a director.”

Joe Nicoletti: “I met with Neil Seldman president of the Institute for Local Self Reliance about Deconstruction as a strategy to bring Syracuse back.”

Steve Kimatian: “I want sustainability to be an integral part of the mindset of my administration. It has to be systemic.”

Otis Jennings: “Department heads will go to TNT in order to make the city accountable to the people.”

Join the discussion with mayoral candidates focusing on “HOW DO WE BUILD A SUSTAINABLE, LIVABLE SYRACUSE THROUGH CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND PLANNING?”

Wednesday, June 17 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: refreshments 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: program

SUNY Oswego Metro Center Corner of N. Salina and W. Washington Streets  MAP

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR – all agreed . . . → Read More: W.E. Co-hosts mayoral candidate forum]]> MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR OF SYRACUSE

Join the discussion with mayoral candidates focusing on
“HOW DO WE BUILD A SUSTAINABLE, LIVABLE SYRACUSE THROUGH CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND PLANNING?”

Wednesday, June 17
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: refreshments
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: program

SUNY Oswego Metro Center
Corner of N. Salina and W. Washington Streets  MAP

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR – all agreed to attend:
Alfonso Davis, Carmen Harlow, Otis Jennings, Steven Kimatian, Stephanie Miner, Joe Nicoletti

Candidates will be asked to respond briefly to the following three questions, followed by an open forum.

QUESTIONS:
1) A key contributor to making a city sustainable and livable is good urban design and planning.  As mayor, what principles and policies will you use to ensure that the city of Syracuse will safeguard and strengthen the elements of good urban design it already has, add more wherever possible and make Syracuse the national model for sustainability?

2) Numerous documents containing plans for sustainable development of all or parts of our city, created by citizen groups or consultants, already exist at City Hall. James Street Overlay District Guidelines and a proposal for a Director of Sustainability are examples.  What will you do to recover, implement, and, most of all, enforce, what is still valuable in these documents?

3) Considering any future planning for a sustainable and livable city that might occur during your administration, how will you ensure that Syracuse residents will have ample opportunity to contribute, and that their opportunity to react and give input continues as those plans are carried out and enforced?

Sponsored by
WALKABLE EASTWOOD, GREENING USA,
URBAN DESIGN CENTER,  F.O.C.U.S. GREATER SYRACUSE

As most of you know this is a very important Mayoral race for Syracuse.  Our economy is in a slump and we are facing . . . → Read More: Ladies’ night out at Laci’s Burger Joint]]> This message was posted to the Walkable Eastwood email group, but I feel it’s so important, it’s going onto the website as well.  The message, from Cindy Seymour, co-owner of Laci’s Burger Joint:

As most of you know this is a very important Mayoral race for Syracuse.  Our economy is in a slump and we are facing challenges that need attention.  The next Mayor will be faced with some difficult and oftentimes gut-wrenching decisions that must be made.  I believe that we all need to be informed voters.  No more going to the polls and clicking our parties nominees.  We need to vote for the best person for the job.  So in saying that, I am hosting Stephanie Miner for a ladies’ night out* as I did for Joe Nicoletti.

Even with the storm we had, there were over 12 women present to hear what Joe had to say and about 25 calls that I told we were cancelling.  I thank the women who braved the storm to hear him and, rest assured, he will be back for another round.  He told me he can take whatever we dish out (God help him).

So please join me on June 11 to welcome Stephanie to Laci’s and listen to what she has in store for Syracuse if she is elected.

Join designated Democratic candidate for mayor
Stephanie Miner

When: Thursday, June 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Laci’s  Burger Joint, 2700 James St., Syracuse (in Eastwood)

Hostess: Cindy Seymour

What: Enjoy some wine and an intimate conversation with mayoral candidate Stephanie Miner. Stephanie will discuss the challenges and opportunities our city faces and will answer questions.

Please  RSVP to Cindy at 315-727-4222 or  cmseymour@twcny.rr.com
For  more information please call 315-476-0876
or email info@minerformayor.com

*Why just the ladies? Click here for one reason, for starters.