A democracy only functions when the voting public is informed – and not just about the “big issues” we are coached into taking sides on by the media and major political parties on the national stage. This site is devoted to my own quest to understanding the offices, the candidates, AND the issues. In particular, I want to understand:
…WHICH local offices are up for election in November 2020
…HOW those elected roles impact the lived experiences of Syracuse residents – in particular, HOW those elected roles [could] have a hand in dismantling OR upholding systems of oppression and injustice at work in Syracuse
…WHO is running for each of those offices, and
…WHAT each candidate running wants to do to effect change in our city.
My plan is to research each of these offices for their impact – potential and historical – on the historical inequities at play in Syracuse: in particular, African American residents, people living below the poverty line, and refugees. Simultaneously, I’m writing letters with short lists of questions to each candidate on the primary and general election ballots to get a glimpse of their views regarding issues of concern to me: housing, law enforcement and policing, and the role of restorative vs. punitive measures in addressing crime in our city.
As I take on these tasks, I’ll publish what I learn so that others feeling as overwhelmed as I am can have a resource to make informed decisions about their democratic responsibility in Syracuse.
The Syracuse Voter 