I have lived in Syracuse pretty much my whole life. I remember when there was industry and manufacturing, jobs and money. Downtown was thriving. Syracuse was thriving. I remember also when Syracuse began to decline and business started to move out, manufacturing dwindled, the beautiful houses on James Street were torn down and downtown was gutted. It is important to remember that Syracuse was a blue collar town, supported by factories and it struggled for decades to wrap its head around the fact that the factory era was over and was not coming back. All that seemed left for Syracuse was having the most polluted lake in the United States and a rustbelt legacy. Then, about 10 years ago, I was downtown and actually felt something was changing. There were new businesses and restaurants and activity. I could actually sense an energy in the city for the first time in decades. Something was happening! I had met John DeSantis through other endeavors and he invited me to a Believe in Syracuse meeting. Through this group I have met a group of people who are a generation removed from the rustbelt, polluted lake past and not defined by it. These are the people who are molding this new future for Syracuse and see a different future for our city. We are moving forward. Syracuse is growing and changing. There is so much to experience and do and be part of. I am learning more about my city all the time. It is an exciting time and we have a choice. Syracuse is so much more than the lake and the mall and that is why I believe in Syracuse. Kathy Speed Interim Secretary Board of Directors Believe in Syracuse |
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