PETITION TO PAUSE THE SYRACUSE AQUARIUM PROJECT AND PUT RESIDENTS FIRST
The Issue
To the Mayor of Syracuse, the Syracuse Common Council, the Onondaga County Executive, and the Onondaga County Legislature:
We, the undersigned residents and taxpayers of Syracuse, are calling on our elected officials to pause the Syracuse Aquarium project until our city's essential infrastructure has been repaired and modernized.
Our city has urgent needs that affect residents every single day. Before spending additional public resources on attracting tourists, we believe Syracuse should first invest in the people who already live, work, and pay taxes here.
Our Demands
1. Pause the Aquarium Project
Pause the aquarium project until Syracuse has made meaningful progress repairing its aging infrastructure, including water systems, roads, sidewalks, and other essential public services.
2. Fix Our Water Infrastructure
Residents deserve safe, reliable drinking water. We call for accelerated replacement of aging water mains and other critical water infrastructure, with clear public timelines for when neighborhoods will receive improvements.
3. Rebuild Our Roads Properly
Too many streets are covered with potholes, cracks, and temporary patches that fail again and again. We want lasting repairs and full road reconstruction where needed—not repeated short-term fixes.
4. Repair Sidewalks Throughout Syracuse
Our sidewalks should be safe for everyone. Replace broken and uneven sidewalks, remove trip hazards, improve accessibility, and stop allowing sidewalks to deteriorate while weeds and grass grow through the cracks.
5. Finish Repairs After Construction
When the City or utility companies dig up streets, sidewalks, or private property, temporary asphalt should not remain for months. Permanent repairs should be completed promptly, and contractors should be held accountable when they fail to finish the job.
6. Put Residents First
Before investing in new attractions, invest in the neighborhoods that people already call home. Every Syracuse neighborhood deserves safe infrastructure and quality public services.
Why We Are Signing
We all want Syracuse to succeed. We want new businesses, new jobs, and more visitors.
But attracting visitors starts with having a city that residents are proud of.
If our roads are falling apart, our sidewalks are unsafe, and our infrastructure continues to age without enough investment, building new attractions should not be the first priority.
Visitors may spend one day here. Residents live here every day.
Syracuse was once known as a thriving city. We believe it can be again—but that starts by rebuilding the foundation of our community. Fix what residents depend on every day before asking taxpayers to support additional major projects.
This petition is not against growth. It is a call for the right priorities.
Fix our water.
Fix our roads.
Fix our sidewalks.
Put Syracuse residents first.
If you believe our city's first responsibility is to its residents, please sign this petition.
42
The Issue
To the Mayor of Syracuse, the Syracuse Common Council, the Onondaga County Executive, and the Onondaga County Legislature:
We, the undersigned residents and taxpayers of Syracuse, are calling on our elected officials to pause the Syracuse Aquarium project until our city's essential infrastructure has been repaired and modernized.
Our city has urgent needs that affect residents every single day. Before spending additional public resources on attracting tourists, we believe Syracuse should first invest in the people who already live, work, and pay taxes here.
Our Demands
1. Pause the Aquarium Project
Pause the aquarium project until Syracuse has made meaningful progress repairing its aging infrastructure, including water systems, roads, sidewalks, and other essential public services.
2. Fix Our Water Infrastructure
Residents deserve safe, reliable drinking water. We call for accelerated replacement of aging water mains and other critical water infrastructure, with clear public timelines for when neighborhoods will receive improvements.
3. Rebuild Our Roads Properly
Too many streets are covered with potholes, cracks, and temporary patches that fail again and again. We want lasting repairs and full road reconstruction where needed—not repeated short-term fixes.
4. Repair Sidewalks Throughout Syracuse
Our sidewalks should be safe for everyone. Replace broken and uneven sidewalks, remove trip hazards, improve accessibility, and stop allowing sidewalks to deteriorate while weeds and grass grow through the cracks.
5. Finish Repairs After Construction
When the City or utility companies dig up streets, sidewalks, or private property, temporary asphalt should not remain for months. Permanent repairs should be completed promptly, and contractors should be held accountable when they fail to finish the job.
6. Put Residents First
Before investing in new attractions, invest in the neighborhoods that people already call home. Every Syracuse neighborhood deserves safe infrastructure and quality public services.
Why We Are Signing
We all want Syracuse to succeed. We want new businesses, new jobs, and more visitors.
But attracting visitors starts with having a city that residents are proud of.
If our roads are falling apart, our sidewalks are unsafe, and our infrastructure continues to age without enough investment, building new attractions should not be the first priority.
Visitors may spend one day here. Residents live here every day.
Syracuse was once known as a thriving city. We believe it can be again—but that starts by rebuilding the foundation of our community. Fix what residents depend on every day before asking taxpayers to support additional major projects.
This petition is not against growth. It is a call for the right priorities.
Fix our water.
Fix our roads.
Fix our sidewalks.
Put Syracuse residents first.
If you believe our city's first responsibility is to its residents, please sign this petition.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on July 5, 2026