It's Happening Here

The Syracuse Housing Authority has been in the news recently: From missed deadlines to accusations of conflicts of interest. What does it all mean? Central Current reporter Debadrita Sur breaks it all down on this episode of ‘It’s Happening Here.'

On this edition of "It’s Happening Here" host Chris Libonati is joined by Central Current contributor Eddie Velasquez and reporter Patrick McCarthy to discuss immigration enforcement and how local elected officials are responding to pushback against President Donald Trump‘s deportation agenda.

As the New Year begins, what should Central New Yorkers be on the lookout for? Central Current’s Editor Chris Libonati shares his thoughts about the biggest items to keep an eye on over the coming news cycle. He shares his own journey as a reporter, his favorite stories from 2025, the reasons he loves reporting in CNY, and explains how he chooses what to cover. Editor’s Note: This podcast reflects the opinions and perspectives of the host and guests and is not a product of our editorial staff, including Central Current’s editors and reporters. The program may be edited in post-production for length and clarity.

Child literacy remains a persistent challenge in Syracuse. According to 2019 data from the Early Childhood Alliance, only 22% of SCSD students are reading on grade level by the 3rd grade. Guests Laurie Black and Dr. Maria Murray are each tackling this challenge from different angles: As Community Education Director for the United Way, Laurie Black has grown their Book Buddies program to reach over 600 students annually. Her network of 500 volunteers provides ongoing education, support, and encouragement to children from kindergarten through 3rd grade. Dr. Maria Murray, CEO of The Reading League, focuses her efforts on providing teachers with evidence-based practices for improved literacy education. Her organization studies the science of reading and works with educators nationwide to improve outcomes for students. On this episode of It’s Happening Here, Laurie Black and Dr. Murray join hosts Maximilian Eyle and Dr. Roosevelt “Rick” Wright to discuss the relationship between literacy and poverty, the resources available in Onondaga County for parents and children, the Book Buddies program, and ways to improve your own child’s reading development. -- Editor's Note: This podcast reflects the opinions and perspectives of the host and guests and is not a product of our editorial staff, including Central Current's editors and reporters. The program may be edited in post-production for length and clarity.

With an annual budget of over $250 billion, New York State’s public spending exceeds that of most countries. Decisions made in Albany impact New Yorkers across the state in nearly every aspect of their lives. Akash Mehta wants to close the distance between state residents and their representatives in Albany by providing accessible and in-depth coverage of state government. At the age of 22, Akash launched New York Focus - an independent nonprofit newsroom. Over the past five years they have built a staff of 15 and have broken stories ranging from Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment lawsuits to secretive state senate committees exerting a heavy hand on which bills make it to the floor for a vote. NYS Focus’ Editor-in-Chief Akash Mehta joins Central Current’s Executive Director Maximilian Eyle on this episode of It’s Happening Here. Read New York Focus’ coverage and sign up for their free newsletter at nysfocus.com. Central Current’s reporting can be found at central current.org

After a decade of declining enrollment, SUNY OCC is seeing a surge of interest. Record high student loan debt rates, new state tuition subsidies, and spikes in job demand for healthcare and manufacturing is drawing more students to their campus. SUNY OCC’s President Warren Hilton joins hosts Dr. Roosevelt “Rick” Wright and Maximilian Eyle to discuss their new Micron clean room, their most popular degrees among incoming students, and how New York State’s Reconnect program will provide free tuition for adult learners. Editor’s Note: This podcast reflects the opinions and perspectives of the host and guests and is not a product of our editorial staff, including Central Current’s editors and reporters. The program may be edited in post-production for length and clarity. Central Current is a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom for people building a life in Central New York. Learn more and access our reporting paywall-free at centralcurrent.org

Editor's Note: This podcast reflects the opinions and perspectives of the host and guests and is not a product of our editorial staff, including Central Current's editors and reporters. The program may be edited in post-production for length and clarity. --- Navigating pregnancy and early childhood can be one of the most resource-intensive chapters of our lives. In Central New York, many families are navigating these processes while also facing increased financial strain. Nearly three out of four families with children under five struggle to pay for basic needs like housing, food, and utilities in Onondaga County, according to a recent survey by the Early Childhood Alliance and the Stanford Center on Early Childhood. In this episode of “It’s Happening Here”, host Maximilian Eyle is joined by Help Me Grow Director Summer Merrick and Planned Parenthood of Western and Central New York’s Director of Public Affairs Meredith Ouderkirk. They explore the biggest needs locally facing pregnant women and parents of young children, share the services their agencies provide, and discuss how policy changes — like the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill — will impact families here in Central New York.

Central Current’s Government and Politics Reporter Patrick McCarthy joins hosts Maximilian Eyle and Dr. Rick Wright to examine recent election results in the city of Syracuse. They discuss the parallels between Zorhan Mamdani’s win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary and progressive victories locally, differences in vision between the Onondaga County Democratic Committee and Democratic primary voters, and transparency issues relating to open meetings laws and police data sharing.

Beginning in 2019, Buffalo launched a campaign to rebrand itself as a safe and attractive place to build a life during the era of rapid climate change. Their “Be In Buffalo” campaign continues to attract new residents and persuade college graduates to stay by emphasizing freshwater access, the lack of natural disasters, and by leaning into their identity as a snow city. Central Current hosts Dr. Rick Wright and Maximilian Eyle ask the question: what can Syracuse learn from all of this? In this episode, they are joined by Invest Buffalo Niagara’s Communications Manager Greg Pokriki who shares a vision for a more prosperous and populous Upstate New York.

Columnist Sean Kirst has returned to writing in Syracuse after nearly a decade away. Now the newest member of the Central Current newsroom, the veteran journalist joins hosts Maximilian Eyle and Dr. Rick Wright to discuss the importance of attention and storytelling in how we understand the community we live in. They revisit the tragedy of Pan Am flight 103 which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1983 carrying 259 passengers – 35 of whom were Syracuse University students, and the impact of the coverage that followed. Kirst also explore the importance of creating accessible sources of information, and the damage done when community members are priced out local news. Finally, they honor the lives of the late Ken Jackson and Van Robinson, and recall the pioneering role they played in calling out the harm caused by the I-81 viaduct and their advocacy for its removal. Sean Kirst’s columns can be read for free at centralcurrent.org Photo by Mike Greenlar

Syracuse’s 53rd mayor and Colgate University professor Stephanie Miner has been busy: in March she published her first book, Madam Mayor: Love and Loss in an American City, detailing her rise in politics to become the first woman elected mayor of a major city in New York State. The story provides a detailed and intimate view of Miner’s experience navigating the ups and downs of city leadership, and the complex web of generational challenges and political relationships that define the role. Hosts Maximilian Eyle and Dr. Roosevelt “Rick” Wright speak with Miner about how the lessons of her time as mayor inform her view of Syracuse today. They discuss the arrival of Micron, the potential impact of the I-81 project, the legacy of Say Yes to Education, fighting cynicism of government, and how she talks to her students about the obstacles women face in the political arena.

Journalist and local news advocate Steven Waldman speaks with Central Current’s Executive Director Maximilian Eyle about public policy options that would strengthen regional newsrooms. Through tax credits and other subsidies, he argues that government can play an ethical and effective role in reversing the decline of local journalism. Waldman and Eyle discuss the New York State Local Journalism Sustainability Act and the ways in which local news investments can help repair our fractured information landscape while saving taxpayers money. Steven Waldman is the founder and president of Rebuild Local News. He is also the co-founder and former president of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in newsrooms across America. Before becoming an advocate for local journalism, Waldman was a journalist covering national politics for Newsweek, U.S. News and World Reports and Washington Monthly. He has also been published in The Atlantic, The New York Times, and the Washington Post, among other publications. Later, while serving as Senior Adviser to the Chairman of the FCC, Waldman authored a report outlining the information needs of communities. Central Current is a nonprofit and nonpartisan news publication serving people building a life in Central New York.

Former Onondaga County Executive and President of SUNY ESF Joanie Mahoney joins hosts Maximilian Eyle and Dr. Rick Wright on Central Current’s inaugural episode of “It’s Happening Here”, a new podcast exploring how local news, local government, and local civic engagement impacts our democracy. The three discuss the challenges of information fragmentation in CNY, the need for humanizing political discourse, and Central Current’s collaboration with ArtRage to produce a photojournalism exhibit on the housing crisis.

Executive Director Maximilian Eyle and Managing Editor Chris Libonati discuss the work Central Current is doing to provide CNY residents with strong and accessible local reporting. They explore their highest impact stories on policing and the last election, share why the nonprofit model is critical for newsrooms today, and highlight their plans to expand even further in 2025.