Election 2025: Syracuse voters weigh mayoral candidates’ housing promises
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Housing affordability has been one of the biggest concerns for Syracuse residents, and today, it’s one of the top issues driving voters to the polls. As the city chooses its next mayor, many are hoping for real answers to rising rents and home prices.
Poll site manager at the WCNY-TV polling place Joquan Turner said this issue is a major component of Syracuse.
"It's very important because you want to be in the right community," said Turner. "You want to be in the right place with a great landlord. You know basically be safe."
This problem hits especially hard for younger community members. Local voter Ashlyn Umbach, who recently moved into an apartment in the Eight Ward on the Southside of Syracuse, said it's really important that affordability is a value that's kept within the City of Syracuse.
"I think that the mayor should definitely create some legislation allows for affordable rent and housing prices," said Umbach.
More than 60% of renters in the city of Syracuse currently spend over a third of their income on housing, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Turner said this cost-burden is affecting the city's future.
"Overall growth, it's not the same," said Turner. "It's basically what else can I say about it. You see how the city is, you see how the people are. You have people homeless, you're taking them out their homes, just for a parking lot."
Umbach said it's also very difficult for individuals that are getting priced out of their homes who have lived in Syracuse their entire lives.
"I think that rising rent costs can drive a lot of people out, and that can affect the economy as a whole," said Umbach.
Each one of the mayoral candidates has a distinct housing affordability plan to make Syracuse more affordable, the one similarity being the promise of relief for renters and homeowners alike.
Citrus TV journalists Luke Radel and Anjana Dasam moderated a Syracuse Mayoral Debate on Monday, October 20. The town hall-style forum hosted all four mayoral candidates.
Democratic candidate Sharon Owens previosuly introduced her “Thriving Neighborhoods” policy which included a promise of building 1,000 affordable housing units and stronger housing code enforcement. Owens also emphasized during the debate investment in affordable housing, vacant property revitalization, and public infrastructure improvements, ensuring that every resident feels the impact of a stronger, more vibrant city.
Republican candidate Tom Babilon during the debate said he wants to bring vacant apartments back online and build off existing successes. Babilon also said instead of putting new public housing in and around blighted neighborhoods in the city of Syracuse, the new administration should concentrate new housing efforts on the edges of higher socioeconomic neighborhoods and build outwards.
Independent candidate Alfonso Davis, on the other hand, said during the debate there should be a focus on more public housing in underserved communities. In addition, Davis said he does not believe in the concept of mixed use because he thinks it is used to marginalize and disenfranchise individuals in certain segments of the city.
Lastly, Independent candidate Tim Rudd said during the debate the new administration has to attract private investment to build more housing units. Rudd also said Syracuse's current housing policies have unintentionally made it so many landlords are holding units off, and he thinks the only solution to combat the citywide problem of the rise in rent is bringing more units online by utilizing more predictable, timely approvals.
At the polls today, local voters did not provide their opinions on housing polices in abstract terms. Rather, they brought up the communities they currently live in, the neighborhoods they enjoy to call home, and the fear of being priced out of both. Tonight, voters will be watching to see which mayoral candidate turns those concerns into a concrete plan for the city's future.
