July 18, 2019 – Urban CNY

Mayor Walsh Announces City Sites for Relief from Extreme Heat

by Urban CNY News
July 18, 2019

City and Boys & Girls Clubs open centers for at-risk residents on Saturday Eight city pools and nine water features are open this weekend Syracuse, N.Y. – With extreme heat rolling into Syracuse Friday, the City of Syracuse and the Boys & Girls Club announced the opening of air-conditioned centers for at-risk residents to get relief from dangerous temperatures. For those who are able, city pools and water features will also be open this weekend as a place to escape the heat. “We are expecting very high temperatures on Friday and extreme heat conditions on Saturday,” said Mayor Walsh. “We want to be sure that those who can’t get access to a safe space have somewhere to go. People should also keep an eye on their neighbors and on those who might live alone. If they need a place to go, help them get to one of our neighborhood sites.” For elderly residents, families with small children, and those with special needs who do not have access to air conditioning, city community centers at the following locations will be open to city residents on Saturday from Noon to 8 p.m.: Magnarelli Community Center at McChesney Park 2308 Grant Boulevard Cecile Community Center 174 West Seneca Turnpike In addition, the Boys & Girls Club will open its centers at the following locations from Noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday: Fayette Street Boys & Girls Club 2100 E. Fayette Street Hamilton Street Boys & Girls Club 201 Hamilton Street Residents who are vulnerable to the heat and do not have other options are encouraged to visit any of these locations. Other options to spend time in cooler temperatures are public spaces, such as shopping malls or libraries. Syracuse residents can visit one of eight city pools that are open this weekend: Burnet Park Pool, Kirk Park Pool, Lincoln Park Pool, McKinley Park Pool, Onondaga Park Pool, Schiller Park Pool, Thornden Park Pool, and Wilson Park Pool. Hours vary by location and are posted at: http://www.syracuse.ny.us/Parks/aquatics.html. The City also has outdoor water features – fountains and sprayers – at nine locations: Lower Onondaga Spray Pad (activated by a small silver button on both sides of pad) McKinley Park Spray Area (open during pool hours) Schiller Park Mushroom (open during pool hours) Thornden Park Spray Circle Frazer School Spray Feature Union Park Spray Block Upper Onondaga Park Spray Block Washington Square Park Spray Block Wilson Park’s Spray Block The city also advises residents to be aware of and abide by guidelines in an “Extreme Heat Precautions” advisory issued Thursday by the Onondaga County Department of Health.

News

Governor Cuomo Urges New Yorkers to Prepare for Extreme Heat this Weekend

by Urban CNY News
July 18, 2019

High Temperatures and Increased Humidity Could Pose Danger to At-Risk Populations, Including the Elderly and Small Children State Parks and Swimming Facilities to Offer Extended Hours Through Weekend Javits Center to Open Facilities for New York City Residents in Need of Cooling Station Department of Public Service Activates Peak Load Reduction Program Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today urged New Yorkers statewide to take precautions ahead of potentially dangerous heat conditions that are expected to begin on Friday, July 19 and last through Monday, July 22. Heat index values ranging from the mid-90s to more than 100 degrees are possible throughout the entire timeframe. The National Weather Service has already issued Heat Advisories for the majority of counties outside of the North Country and more can be expected as the week progresses. New Yorkers can take advantage of swimming facilities at state parks with extended hours and cooling stations all throughout the state this weekend. For New York City residents in need of a cooling station, the Javits Center is opening its facilities from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “I urge New Yorkers to take any and all necessary precautions this weekend against extreme heat,” Governor Cuomo said. “State parks with swimming facilities will be open later, and if air conditioning is not available to you, there are public cooling stations all throughout the state. Be sure to check on neighbors and limit outdoor activity to ensure that you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy through the extreme temperatures.” This period of hot weather will result in an increased risk of heat stress and heat-related illness. People who are susceptible to heat related illnesses – including young children, the elderly, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work, and those who have respiratory diseases such as asthma – should take necessary steps to stay cool as temperatures rise. New Yorkers should monitor local weather forecasts for the most up-to-date information. For a complete listing of weather watches, warnings, advisories and latest forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website. The New York State Department of Public Service has activated the Peak Load Reduction Program for all New York State agencies today and tomorrow between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. Additionally, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) has suspended all work on transmission lines 115kv and above for tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Likewise, the State’s utilities are returning their systems to normal and suspending any planned outage work to ensure enough electric capacity is available to meet customer’s needs. Customer conservation and voluntary reduction communications will also be a focus. Finally, the Department will be monitoring electric system conditions and overseeing utility response to any conditions. New York State Swimming Facilities and Cooling Centers Governor Cuomo today has directed the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to offer extended hours at state swimming facilities during the heat wave to help New Yorkers beat the heat. The extended hours will begin Friday and continue through Sunday at the following State Parks. Long Island Jones Beach Sunken Meadow Robert Moses Orient Beach Hecksher Wildwood Hither Hills Montauk Downs New York City Gantry Plaza – additional sprinkler pads Capital Region Saratoga Spa – Peerless and Victoria pools Moreau Lake Mohawk Valley Delta Lake Mine Kill pool Hudson Valley Franklin D. Roosevelt pool Rockland Lake pool Bear Mountain pool High Tor pool Lake Welch Lake Tiorati Lake Taghkanic Minnewaska Central Region Green Lakes State Park North Country Keewaydin pool Finger Lakes Letchworth pool Sampson Darien Lakes Hamlin Southern Tier Robert Treman Taughannock Falls Western New York Fort Niagara pool Beaver Island Allegany – Quaker and Red House beaches Long Point For details and a complete list of all available swim locations and places to cool off please visit www.parks.ny.gov and select a state park near you. New Yorkers should also call ahead as adverse weather conditions may affect pool and beach hours. The New York State Department of Health has also created an online list of cooling centers where people can cool down on days of extreme temperatures. A list of addresses and phone numbers for cooling centers shared by local health departments and emergency management offices in each region is available here. Heat Tips Excessive heat is the leading cause of preventable, weather-related deaths each year, particularly among the elderly. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat causes more than 600 preventable deaths in the United States yearly. To help New Yorkers stay safe during excessive heat the Governor offered the following tips: People Who Should Be Aware: Elderly persons and small children are mostly affected Persons with weight or alcohol problems Persons on certain medications or drugs Be Prepared: Slow down on strenuous activity and exercise, especially during the sun’s peak hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exercise should be done in the early morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Eat less protein and more fruits and vegetables. Protein produces and increases metabolic heat, which causes water loss. Eat small meals, but eat more often. Do not eat salty foods. Drink at least two to four glasses of water per hour during extreme heat, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine. If possible, stay out of the sun and stay in air conditioning. The sun heats the inner core of your body, resulting in dehydration. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine, or go to a public building with air conditioning If you must go outdoors, wear sunscreen with a high sun protector factor rating (at least SPF 15) and a hat to protect your face and head. When outdoors, wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing. Cover as much skin as possible to avoid sunburn and over-warming effects of sunlight on your body. Do not leave children, pets or those who require special care in a parked car or vehicle during

News

NYS Economy Continues to Grow, Adding 6,400 Private Sector Jobs

by Urban CNY News
July 18, 2019

Statewide Unemployment Rate Remains at 4.0% Number of Unemployed NYers Has Dropped Nearly 35,000 Since 2018 The number of private sector jobs in New York State grew by 6,400, or 0.1%, to 8,285,300 in June 2019, according to preliminary figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor. Since the beginning of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration, New York State’s economy has added 1,187,200 private sector jobs. In June 2019, New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.0% for the second consecutive month. In addition, the number of unemployed New York State residents dipped slightly over the month, from 382,500 to 379,200. In the first half of this year, the jobless rate in New York State is down 0.4 percentage points and the number of unemployed New Yorkers has dropped by almost 35,000 compared to the same period in 2018. “In June 2019, the New York State economy added 6,400 private sector jobs. In addition, the statewide unemployment rate held steady at 4.0% in June,” said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, Director of the New York State Department of Labor’s Division of Research and Statistics. Note: Seasonally adjusted data are used to provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month – for example, June 2018 versus June 2019. United States and New York State: May – June 2019 1) Jobs data (seasonally adjusted): The table below compares the over-the-month change in total nonfarm and private sector jobs in the United States and New York State in May-June 2019. Change in Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs May – June 2019 Change in Total Nonfarm Jobs: (private sector + government) Change in Private Sector Jobs: Net % Net % United States +224,000 +0.1% +191,000 +0.1% New York State +12,800 +0.1% +6,400 +0.1% 2) Unemployment rates (seasonally adjusted): The State’s unemployment rate is calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, using a statistical regression model that primarily uses the results from the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month. In June 2019, the statewide unemployment rate was unchanged, remaining at 4.0%. The unemployment rates remained unchanged in New York City at 4.3% and outside of New York City at 3.7% in June 2019. Unemployment Rates (%)* *Data are preliminary and subject to change, based on standard procedures outlined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. June 2019* May 2019 June 2018 United States 3.7 3.6 4.0 New York State 4.0 4.0 4.1 New York City 4.3 4.3 4.1 NYS, outside NYC 3.7 3.7 4.1 United States, New York State and Metro Areas: June 2018 – June 2019 1) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted): The following table compares the changes in total nonfarm and private sector jobs occurring in the United States, New York State and metro areas within the State, between June 2018 and June 2019. Change in Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs by Area June 2018 – June 2019 Change in Total Nonfarm Jobs: (private sector + government) Change in Private Sector Jobs: Note: The aggregate sub-state area jobs estimate will usually differ from the New York State total. This is because the State total is calculated separately from the sub-state areas and is estimated based on an independent sample. Net % Net % United States +2,245,000 +1.5% +2,108,000 +1.7% New York State +111,300 +1.1% +102,200 +1.2% Albany-Schenectady-Troy +1,100 +0.2% +1,400 +0.4% Binghamton 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Buffalo-Niagara Falls +5,800 +1.0% +5,400 +1.1% Dutchess-Putnam +2,100 +1.4% +2,300 +1.9% Elmira 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Glens Falls -200 -0.3% -400 -0.8% Ithaca +1,400 +2.2% +1,400 +2.6% Kingston +1,600 +2.5% +1,500 +3.0% Nassau-Suffolk +5,300 +0.4% +5,500 +0.5% New York City +102,400 +2.2% +94,400 +2.4% Orange-Rockland-Westchester -2,100 -0.3% -1,200 -0.2% Rochester +2,600 +0.5% +1,000 +0.2% Syracuse +7,100 +2.2% +6,900 +2.6% Utica-Rome -600 -0.5% -200 -0.2% Watertown-Fort Drum 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Non-metro counties +2,600 +0.5% +2,700 +0.7% Job highlights since June 2018: Nine metro areas in New York State added private sector jobs since June 2018. The most rapid growth was in these metro areas: Kingston (+3.0%) Ithaca (+2.6%) Syracuse (+2.6%) New York City (+2.4%) Dutchess-Putnam (+1.9%) Buffalo-Niagara Falls (+1.1%) Non-metro counties in New York added 2,700 private sector jobs over the past year. Over the past 12 months, three metro areas in New York State lost private sector jobs: Glens Falls (-0.8%), Orange-Rockland-Westchester (-0.2%) and Utica-Rome (-0.2%). Change in jobs by major industry sector: June 2018 – June 2019 1) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted): The table below compares the change in jobs by major industry sector in New York State occurring between June 2018 and June 2019. Change in Jobs by Major Industry Sector June 2018 – June 2019 *Educational and health services is in the private sector. Government includes public education and public health services. Sectors With Job Gains: Educational & Health Services* +71,600 Leisure & Hospitality +10,400 Trade, Transportation & Utilities +10,400 Government* +9,100 Professional & Business Services +7,900 Construction +7,000 Information +900 Natural Resources & Mining +100 Sectors With Job Losses: Financial Activities -4,600 Manufacturing -800 Other Services -700 Highlights among New York State sectors with job gains since June 2018: Private educational and health services added the most jobs (+71,600) of any major industry sector over the past year. Sector job gains were mostly in health care and social assistance (+61,600), especially ambulatory health care (+40,300).

Business News Cover Stories

Mayor Ben Walsh and Community Partners Celebrate Launch of Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center

by Urban CNY News
July 18, 2019

Access to free, professional 1:1 financial counseling provided to city residents Syracuse, N.Y. – Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced Thursday that the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center (Syracuse FEC) is officially open for business. Led by the City of Syracuse Department of Neighborhood and Business Development (NBD), the program will provide professional, one-on-one financial counseling as a free service to city residents. Click on link for CFE Fund Overview The Syracuse FEC is based on a model built by the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund, a national non-profit organization that works with local governments to help people increase their financial stability. The startup of the Syracuse FEC is being funded by the CFE Fund, Home HeadQuarters, and the Allyn Family Foundation. Home HeadQuarters is the City’s lead partner for providing counseling to residents working with a network of local non-profit organizations. The Greater Syracuse H.O.P.E. Initiative and the United Way of Central New York are providing additional assistance to the program. The Syracuse FEC provides free professional financial counseling to any City of Syracuse resident, regardless of income. To increase access to the program, seven local organizations are acting as hosts for counseling services; with another ten groups serving as referral partners to recommend the FEC to residents. Financial counseling through the Syracuse FEC helps city residents address financial challenges and needs as well as develop plans for a strong and stable financial future. “The Syracuse FEC will change people’s lives for the better in our community. We need this program to achieve our vision of becoming a growing city that embraces diversity and creates opportunity for all,” said Mayor Walsh. “Without financial stability, individuals, families, and children struggle. As the CFE Fund has shown in other cities, working with a professional financial counselor, people can build the solid financial footing they need to thrive. We deeply appreciate the CFE’s support and the help of our community partners to bring an FEC to Syracuse.” Read: A Success story Valerie Hill Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center Customer Professional financial counseling has been shown to tangibly improve household financial stability and provide quantifiable improvements in key areas, which will be the focus of the assistance provided to clients:  Improve Credit: Establish a credit score or increase credit score by 35 points  Decrease Debt: Decrease non-mortgage debt by 10% or reduce the number of delinquent accounts  Increase Savings: Set aside at least one week’s worth of income for the future or adopt new saving behaviors  Establish Banking: Open a safe and affordable bank or credit union account or use banking account actively To date, the FECs operate in 11 localities and have reduced debt by $101 million and increased savings by more than $10 million for more than 84,000 clients. “Local leaders like Mayor Walsh know first-hand the connection between family financial stability and community financial stability,” said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and our partners are thrilled and honored to support Mayor Walsh’s commitment to the City of Syracuse to make free, professional financial counseling a new public service through the national Financial Empowerment Center program.” “This is no small step toward reducing concentrate poverty in the City of Syracuse through a human-centered approach,” said Maarten Jacobs, Director of Community Prosperity at the Allyn Family Foundation. “The Financial Education Center is such a powerful tool for the residents of our city who are working diligently toward financial stability and wealth creation. By receiving customized assistance from financial experts, at no cost, city residents can build a roadmap to reduce debt, build credit, and ultimately build wealth for themselves and their families.” “Greater Syracuse H.O.P.E. is partnering with the Financial Empowerment Center because financial stability is a challenge for many families, not just those in or near poverty,” said Ocesa Keaton, director of Greater Syracuse H.O.P.E. “High interests rate, credit, denials, and emergencies often destabilize families. This partnership focuses on using an innovative approach to remove barriers to better financial resources such as lower insurance rates, affordable education, and debt management—all things that strengthen people and cities.” “We are delighted to partner in a proven program that enables people to get on a pathway to financial stability and achieving their goals for the future,” stated Nancy Kern Eaton, United Way President. “So many members of our community are one paycheck away from crisis; people who are ‘Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed’ (ALICE). After talking with staff at the United Way in Nashville about the FEC there, we became extremely excited that this transformational approach and opportunity will now be available to people in our community. Supporting people on their journey to self-sufficiency is a high priority for us, and we are committed to working with Mayor Walsh and other partners in making Syracuse’s Financial Empowerment Center a success.” “Home HeadQuarters is proud to be a part of the Financial Empowerment Center Initiative and we know this means great things for the City of Syracuse and its residents,” said Home HeadQuarters CEO Kerry Quaglia. “Our organization has provided homeownership education and counseling to thousands of Central New Yorkers over our more than 20year history, so we know first-hand the difference professional, one-on-one counseling makes for customers and our community.” Organizations throughout Syracuse that offer social services will serve as the referral locations for Syracuse residents to receive counseling. Some of the organizations will also serve as co-location sites where counselors will travel to meet with city residents for more convenience. Co-Location sites where counselors meet with clients include ARISE, Northeast Hawley Development Association, PEACE Inc. at the Emma Johnson Center, the City of Syracuse at City Hall, Cooperative Federal Credit Union at the Southwest Community Center and the Syracuse Housing Authority, and Home HeadQuarters. The NBD department and PEACE, Inc. will be the two sites that will integrate specific program services. The city’s location will incorporate the NBD Tax Foreclosure Prevention Program, counseling owner-occupant residents to

Business News

A Success Story -Valerie Hill: Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center Customer

by Urban CNY News
July 18, 2019

Everyone needs a second of Valerie Hill’s time, or at least it seems that way for the Director of Youth & Family Services at Syracuse Community Connections as she entertains a seemingly endless stream of visitors to her office. Between a constantly ringing phone and the towering stacks of books and papers on her desk, Valerie provides direction on the afternoon’s math activity for the younger kids, signs a stack of staff training certificates, offers encouragement to a new summer camp counselor and talks to a pre-teen about making good choices. To look at her, Valerie Hill is the epitome of a person in charge and at the top of her game, so when you ask her about needing financial counseling services, one of the first thing she says is, “this is not me.” Like the popular children’s book series, Valerie Hill’s financial challenges can best be described as “a series of unfortunate events.” Always a hard worker, Valerie’s early adult life seemed to go as planned: full college track scholarship, first African-American female to play lacrosse in Division III, two master’s degrees, successful entrepreneur, multiple women-owned business enterprises and investment properties and ultimately marriage and children. When her marriage began to sour, Valerie gave up her businesses and properties to devote more time to the relationship, but soon found there were bigger problems than time spent at home. After the divorce, Valerie discovered her always perfect credit score in ruins. She lost the family house, which had been only in her name, and her ex-husband took the family car. With such a low-credit score, Valerie found herself unable to lease quality apartments and get a low-interest car loan. While still scrambling to keep life afloat for her and her daughter, both of Valerie’s parents became ill requiring hospitalization and ultimately nursing home care. In another blow, Valerie’s sister passed away unexpectedly leaving Valerie stepping up to cover funeral expenses. Valerie tried to keep her mounting debt and bills in line, but was soon tapping into her retirement account, depleting her savings while maxing out her credit cards. It became overwhelming. “I knew how bad this must have looked. I made a decent salary; my daughter attends a private school—this isn’t a “poor” story. It felt like I was keeping a horrible secret from everyone,” says Valerie. “I was trying to fix all of it on my own and realized I needed someone else to look at my situation—I needed some guidance.” Guidance appeared in the form of Thom Dellwo, one of five financial counselors providing free, professional services to city of Syracuse residents as part of the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center. The Syracuse FEC is one of more than 25 financial empowerment initiatives across the United States made possible by funding through the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund, an initiative of Bloomberg Cities. The professionally-trained counselors work with individuals and families to reduce debt, increase credit scores and establish savings. Valerie Hill knows she is, once again, moving in the right direction. Her debt is decreasing, and she is back to saving money for unexpected emergencies. The Syracuse native wants to share her story, so others don’t think they need to keep their challenges to themselves. “I want people to know that it’s ok to ask for help,” says Valerie. “And while it’s hard to keep your spending in check and make sure to always save, it’s not as hard as you think.” Any Syracuse resident can make a free, confidential appointment with a Financial Empowerment Center counselor by calling (315) 474-1939 x5 or by visiting www.syrgov.net/FEC .

Entertainment News

1st Annual Cuse Culture Festival is Saturday in Downtown Syracuse

by Urban CNY News
July 18, 2019

On Saturday July 20th, 2019 the 1st Annual Cuse Culture Festival will be taking place in Downtown Syracuse, NY on the 200-300 block of East Washington Street and Market Street, from 11 am to 11 pm. The Cuse Culture Festival is an interactive experience featuring music and food, representative of the international microcosm that our city encompass. Featuring a kids zone with S.T.E.M activities in partnership with HOPEPRINT, Inc’s I-Create S.T.E.M program, D.I.Y projects and interactive storytelling. Nothing says summer in CNY like a beautiful weekend spent attending one of the many festivals fit into the warm sunny season! Danielle Ponder & the Tomorrow People, R&B Soul Artist will headline the festival along with musical guests from across the region. ” Ponder’s pipes soar with soul, affection, and conviction. It’s both gut-wrenching and exhilarating. And her songwriting packs an immediate punch amidst its budding vulnerability” -City Paper The time is NOW, with over 40 plus different nationalities within the City of Syracuse the City is bursting at the seams with diversity, representation spanning from across the globe. All who have chosen to make Central New York, more importantly Syracuse, NY their homes. We are the hub of innovation with the unique opportunity to bring cultures together and create anew. We speak through music, we communicate through cuisine, and we represent through fashion. As we cling to our individuality it is our location that is the common thread along with an innate yearning for success, true connection and purpose. We are based in what is historically known as the Salt City, and preserved for such a time as this! – Victoria Coit, Director of Operations. Sponsored by: Onondaga County, CNY ARTS, CNY Community Foundation, Visit Syracuse and the Gifford Foundation

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