PODCAST · news
The Debrief Podcast
by Jackie Augustine & Josh Durso
Hosts Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso take 3+ decades of combined experience inside and covering local government in Upstate New York to discuss the day's news and what's next.
Episodes
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#243: Your local government is failing you
Local governments have spent years studying the problems facing their communities. At some point, those plans have to become decisions. This week on The Debrief, Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine discuss Seneca Meadows’ proposed expansion and the difficult financial reality facing Seneca Falls...
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#242: Answering your questions about housing, power, community development, and healthcare!
This week, The Debrief turns the show over to listeners. Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine answer questions about data centers and housing, the bills putting pressure on Finger Lakes households, and what local officials can do when the biggest costs seem beyond their control. They also examine…
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#241: When local government knows the problem but still won't act
This week on The Debrief, Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine dig into a recurring problem across the Finger Lakes: Communities have the data, the plans and, in many cases, the solutions — but local governments still struggle to turn any of it into action. The conversation starts in Canandaigua…
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#240: Robot Teachers & Data Center Moratoriums
Today on The Debrief Jackie and Josh dive into four big issues impacting Upstate New York. The state’s data center moratorium has drawn a lot of applause from environmental advocates — but a lot of skepticism from others. Does it have teeth or is this lip service to those who have a range of...
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#239: Answering Your Questions - Energy in New York!
New York’s electric grid is under growing pressure from aging infrastructure, rising demand, renewable energy targets and a wave of proposed data centers. In this episode of The Debrief, Josh Durso answers listener questions about why electric bills keep climbing, how utilities make money from…
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#238: Small fixes to big problems
This week on The Debrief, Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine dig into the danger of trying to solve major problems with tiny fixes.From local budget pressure and code enforcement headaches to abandoned buildings, housing concerns, and New York’s increasingly fragile electric grid, the conversation...
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#237: Can cities be dissolved?
This week on episode #237 of The Debrief hosts Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso answer more of your questions, as submitted over the last two weeks. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future episode, email it to [email protected] or leave it here on Spotify.
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#236: IDAs and public access to meetings
On episode 236 of The Debrief, Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso talk two major stories taking shape around the Finger Lakes. The first comes from Ontario County, where debate over the functionality of IDAs was debated as officials in Geneva shared concerns with county economic development leaders...
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#235: Ask Us Anything!
Episode 235 of The Debrief takes a different approach with an 'Ask Us Anything' edition built around listener questions, comments, and reactions from recent episodes. Hosts Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine dig into Geneva’s property reassessments, the city’s move to a new meeting structure, and…
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#234: Budget woes and long-term stability for municipalities
This week on The Debrief, Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine connect the dots between political dysfunction, municipal budget pressure, dissolution debates, and New York’s growing energy infrastructure problem. The conversation starts in Seneca Falls following the arrest of Town Supervisor Frank...
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#233: Senior Housing Fix, Assessments, and Outputs vs. Outcomes
Josh and Jackie break down a packed week on The Debrief, starting with a sharp look at why local governments focus too much on outputs instead of real outcomes. They dive into Albany’s looming climate fight, the realities behind the “senior housing fix,” and growing frustration around property...
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#232: The Bill Fulton Interview
Communities say they want growth — until it shows up on the agenda. Urban planner, author, and former mayor Bill Fulton joins In Focus to explain why housing debates stall, why zoning reform won’t fix everything, and how changing work patterns are reshaping the role of place itself. Instead of...
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#231: The Strong Towns Interview
Communities across the Finger Lakes and Upstate New York all say they need housing — but approvals still take months or years, small projects stall, and the shortage keeps growing. This week on In Focus, I talk with Strong Towns Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt about the gap between...
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#230: What's the cost of stagnation?
How's your town or village handling its future? On this episode of The Debrief - Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso talk about debates shaking out in the Finger Lakes around housing, population decline, how the tax burden will or won't be shared among those residents over time, and what communities...
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#229: Pro-housing, local elections, and Greenidge
Election season is over and in just a few weeks a new class of elected officials will take office across the Finger Lakes. While some will return for new terms, others will be taking on roles for the first time. Today Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso discuss the latest across the Finger Lakes,...
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Wrapped: Goodbye 2024!
On the final episode of The Debrief this year – Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine sit down to talk about the biggest stories of 2024. They run down their list of the five biggest stories of the year, and look ahead to 2025 – putting together predictions for what residents should keep an eye on.
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#227: Long-term planning!
Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso are BACK in-studio this morning breaking down the biggest stories from the last month as budget season rolls forward for municipalities across the Finger Lakes. They’re talking about Geneva’s complex situation, how some communities have failed to adequately plan…
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#226: Biden Out, Wells Closure, Housing Crisis, and Community Engagement
Today on the show hosts Jackie and Josh are talking about Geneva’s Community Engagement Coordinator position, which was eliminated with a lot of community concern, the closure of Wells College in Aurora, an update on the sale of two prominent properties in Seneca Falls, and Ontario County’s…
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#225: Small city economic development and assessments!
On this episode of The Debrief Podcast hosts Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine talk about recent headlines across the Finger Lakes region - including the closure of the Geneva Movieplex, development of a Dunkin' franchise on a high-profile city corner, assessment concerns across the region, and...
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#224: Debriefing Finger Lakes Elections & What's Next
What happens now that elections are over in the Finger Lakes region? Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine are here to break the results down following intense and close contests in Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, and Wayne counties. They also talk about the recent election news in Wayne County where results...
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#223: Previewing elections in the FLX!
This week on the podcast Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso break down the biggest races across the Finger Lakes, the issues driving candidates and voters, as well as the undercurrents that have brought communities to present day. The two talk about competitive elections in Canandaigua, Geneva, and...
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#222: Report on Aging Population in the FLX + Economic Development Turnover
It's time for another episode of The Debrief Podcast! Today on the show Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine break down an array of stories including a new report on the aging population and lack of health care infrastructure here in the Finger Lakes; the future of rural communities in the region as...
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#221: Cargill, Greenidge, and Sewage Sludge on Farm Fields!
In this edition of The Debrief Podcast we're joined by Peter Mantius from The Water Front Online. The longtime environmental reporter has been busy publishing a number of high-profile pieces on the Finger Lakes over the last two weeks; and we needed to catch up with him to break down the…
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Answering YOUR questions about landfill, economic development, and more!
On this edition of The Debrief Podcast we're answering YOUR questions! The latest on Seneca Meadows proposed expansion and what that would mean for town taxpayers, as well as a new report on casino performance in Upstate New York.
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Moving local elections + why can't workers afford FLX housing?
On today's episode of the show, Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine break down the latest in local and state politics. They look at a bill awaiting Gov. Hochul's signature to move local elections to even-numbered years, discuss the biggest takeaways from primaries in Geneva and Seneca Falls, and talk...
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Bitcoin mining, school safety, dead malls, and worker shortage | The Debrief | 4/4/22
- State regulators punt a decision on bitcoin mining: For environmental advocates it was another disappointing week, as state leaders from the DEC punted a decision on bitcoin mining. Advocates say there’s an environmental cost to the kind of data mining that’s taking place at a plant along…
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Geneva Update, Redistricting, Rent Prices, and a Backroom Deal | The Debrief 2/9/22
Josh Durso and Ted Baker return to the studio for a special edition of The Debrief, as Debrief co-creator Jackie Augustine joins the show for its Six Year Anniversary. Josh, Ted and Jackie discuss: - An update out of Geneva, including a new Ward 6 representative, but no new manager, comptroller…
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Mixed messaging on Omicron, data on bail reform, economic development methods | The Debrief Podcast
This week on the show hosts Ted Baker and Josh Durso explore a COVID diagnosis that hit the Debrief team, as well as mixed messaging surrounding isolation and quarantine. The rules are changing by the day. Has that hampered public health education and opinion? They also discuss the criticism of...
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Discussing the Biggest Headlines | The Debrief Podcast | December 1, 2021
Josh Durso and Ted Baker discuss Black Friday and the future of shopping, the solar farm project in Waterloo getting state approval, mask mandates in Erie County and the phase approach in Monroe County, hospitals with capacity issues being told to pause elective procedures until through January…
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Patients diverted from local hospitals, Wegmans security, and hedge fund takes aim at Lee newspapers
On this edition of The Debrief Podcast your hosts Ted Baker and Josh Durso from the FL1 News team break down the biggest stories of the week. Wegmans store in Auburn rolls out new security system to prevent rogue shopping carts, debate continues and community reaction pours in after the state's...
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Discussing The Biggest Headlines | The Weekend Debrief | November 10, 2021
Josh Durso and Ted Baker discuss the Ontario County Sheriff's Office, the vacant seat on the Auburn School Board, and masks in schools. Also with COVID numbers on the rise in the Finger Lakes region, they talk about whether it is the Finger Lakes or Rochester portion causing that. Plus talk of a...
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#212: Finger Lakes & Vaccine Hesitancy
This week there was some pretty significant news with New York State easing mask-restrictions in most public spaces. While there are some exceptions- the guidance, which aligns with the CDC looks like this: If you’re fully-vaccinated, you can ditch the masks in most circumstances. There are some...
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WEEKEND DEBRIEF: Are We REALLY Reopening?
On this edition of The Weekend Debrief Josh Durso and Ted Baker discuss a number of headlines from this week- including the state's decision to give out free Yankee-Mets tickets to those who get vaccinated, the vaccination rate that's fluttering all over the state, the eviction moratorium...
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#211: Lake Friendly Living
During the first full week of May, a group of lake health advocates will be coming together for Lake Friendly Living Awareness Week. The goal will be to educate members of the community on ways to improve the overall health of the lake- whether they live close-by, or far away from it. Maura…
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#210: Lowering the speed limit in Geneva
The town of Geneva was one of those communities that fared pretty well during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Today on the podcast we highlight a recent conversation between Ted Baker, the host of Finger Lakes Morning News on Finger Lakes News Radio, and Geneva Town Supervisor Mark Venuti. Venuti is...
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#209: Montezuma Audubon Shifts To Spring
Spring has sprung at the Montezuma Audubon Center. The calendar says April. And that means more than warm weather! Center Director Chris Lajewski talks about migration, dry weather, and the ecosystem at the wetlands complex.
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#208: Economic development looks different in this community
The Dream-O-Vate Busienss Competition is a local effort in Livingston County to bolster downtown business. The program awards $300,000 in prizes to a total of 15 winners. Bill Bacon, who serves as Director of Economic Development for Livingston County calls it an important component to growth....
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#207: People need to understand benefit of infrastructure building
Since President Joe Biden took office there has been an intense amount of talk about infrastructure. Specifically, an infrastructure deal that would pave the way for widespread investment across the country. Bill Fulton, director of the Kinder Institute at Rice University, served as the mayor of...
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#206: Cities like Auburn deserved better from MLB
Earlier this month Bill Fulton wrote a piece featured on Medium about the challenges small cities are experiencing, as they watch professional baseball be taken from them. The city of Auburn was one such place- and that struck a chord with Fulton- as he grew up there. The Central New York native…
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#205: Answering Your Questions About Coverage
We get a lot of questions- and oftentimes we answer those questions on The Weekend Debrief. In this episode, Josh Durso and Ted Baker answer the questions that were submitted over the last two weeks. They will be back in-studio later this week for another edition of The Weekend Debrief.
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#204: Hobart & William Smith Colleges Responds To Our Reporting
Last week FingerLakes1.com reported on the stories of those at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, who felt that administrators fell short in protecting them during the pandemic. After a relatively quiet first semester in the fall- a number of issues bubbled to the surface in the first two months…
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#203: Farming shifts focus to environmentally-friendly practices
Later this month Seneca Lake Pures Waters Association will be putting on a farming symposium. It's all about Soil Health Incentive programs for farm and vineyard owners- which are typically known as Payment for Ecosystem Services. The programs allow farmers to be paid to use agricultural…
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#202: Historic Milestone For Finger Lakes Textiles
Over the winter Finger Lakes Textiles celebrated its 10,000th winter hat produced for sale at its manufacturing facility in Waterloo. It was a history making milestone, and given the last year- with a global pandemic crunching Mozaic's operation- it was a necessary one. Allen Connely, who serves…
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#201: Spring is coming to Montezuma Audubon Center
Despite the spring feel that Wednesday gave us we all know winter is still here. And it will stick around for a while. That said, Chris Lajewski, Center Director for the Montezuma Audubon Center, says there are plenty of signs of spring at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex and associated property....
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#200: Update on Cayuga Nation Legal Proceedings
What happened to the individuals who were taken into custody after the riot last winter at a handful of Cayuga Nation properties along Rt. 89 in Seneca Falls? Nation leaders claimed that arrests, charges, and legal proceedings would be coming. However, we learned this week that this was never the...
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#199: Getting insured during open enrollment in New York
Open enrollment is an annual event. It's the window where those who don't have insurance, or those who have lost it - can obtain it. Each year there are always a lot of questions. However, open enrollment is usually over by now. The coronavirus pandemic turned everything - including open…
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#198: Economic development after the Coronavirus Pandemic
Heather McDaniel leads Ithaca Area Economic Development, which was previously known as TCAD or Tompkins County Area Development. In part two of our conversation with Heather, a look at the components that will be most important to succeeding in the future. She says recovery is underway, and…
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#197: Economic development before the Coronavirus Pandemic
Heather McDaniel leads Ithaca Area Economic Development, which was previously known as TCAD or Tompkins County Area Development. Today in part one of our conversation with Heather, a look at what economic development was before the pandemic; and the components that made the Finger Lakes region...
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#196: Common Redpoll, Sandhill Cranes, and Snow at Montezuma Audubon Center
The end of 2020 was an historic one for the Montezuma Audubon Center. Director Chris Lajewski says that their fundraising effort was more successful than ever before, and was a truly inspiring conclusion to a tremendously difficult year. Now he's focused on 2021; and looking forward to what will...
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#195: How Does Patch Labs Work?
What's next for journalism? What about journalists who were laid off or are underrepresented in the news business? Well, Patch Labs could be a solution to that problem. We caught up with Abe Brewster, President and CTO of Patch Labs over the weekend for our Sunday Conversation. Today we hear one…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hosts Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso take 3+ decades of combined experience inside and covering local government in Upstate New York to discuss the day's news and what's next.
HOSTED BY
Jackie Augustine & Josh Durso
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Debrief Podcast have?
The Debrief Podcast currently has 205 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Debrief Podcast about?
Hosts Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso take 3+ decades of combined experience inside and covering local government in Upstate New York to discuss the day's news and what's next.
How often does The Debrief Podcast release new episodes?
The Debrief Podcast publishes regularly with 205 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Debrief Podcast?
You can listen to The Debrief Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Debrief Podcast?
The Debrief Podcast is created and hosted by Jackie Augustine & Josh Durso.
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