Onondaga County Legislature

Onondaga County Legislature The Onondaga County Legislature is the chief policymaking body of Onondaga County government.

GOOD FOOD NY RESOLUTION IS GOOD FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY, PASSES LEGISLATUREThis week, Legislator Ellen Block (District 5) an...
08/07/2026

GOOD FOOD NY RESOLUTION IS GOOD FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY, PASSES LEGISLATURE

This week, Legislator Ellen Block (District 5) and co-sponsor David H. Knapp (District 12) presented a food-access resolution calling on the Governor to sign the Good Food NY Bill. The resolution was discussed earlier this month during the Legislature’s Planning & Economic Development Committee. It passed the Legislature this week with broad bipartisan support. The Good Food NY Bill (S.7638.B/ A.8091.B) allows municipalities to bypass the "lowest bidder" requirement for food contracts. Cities and towns can instead award contracts to vendors who fulfill standards aligned with the organization’s values, such as prioritizing sourcing from New York farms.

“The high rate of food insecurity across Onondaga County is a pressing issue,” Leg. Ellen Block said. “Our bill calls upon the Governor to sign the Good Food Bill. The extra funds we would receive from the state would strengthen our County in numerous ways – from supporting small farming businesses to supporting children and families by introducing additional food into the supply chain at a time when budget cuts put unnecessary strain on those who need help the most. As we are soon to enter a new school year, the sooner NY state can adopt the Good Food bill, the sooner we can begin work to champion Onondaga County locals.”

“Access to healthy, local, food is an issue that touches every individual. As elected officials, it is our job to find creative solutions to support our community’s health and economy. The Good Food bill is good for Onondaga County farmers and for our local economy,” said Leg. Knapp.

08/04/2026

Listen in as Micah Orieta from Syracuse Food Alliance speaks in support of the Good Food NY Bill. Watch along at https://www.youtube.com/

The County Legislature’s Environmental Protection Committee held a public hearing on water, wastewater, and environmenta...
07/22/2026

The County Legislature’s Environmental Protection Committee held a public hearing on water, wastewater, and environmental issues, drawing nearly 70 attendees and 22 speakers on Tuesday night.

Speakers in the room overwhelmingly voiced strong concerns about PFAS contamination, water quality, ecological impacts, and the sufficiency of current permits for industrial projects.

Committee Chair Legislator Gregg Eriksen (District 6) said, “I see tonight’s hearing as a helpful and productive beginning to a healthy public dialogue on our environmental standards. Our constituents want public information and engagement. Engagement builds trust, helps us move forward, and creates a shared set of facts we can all draw from as we consider environmental policy that’s ideal for Onondaga County.”

Local engineers, scientists, doctors, and advocacy groups armed themselves with information and took the opportunity to call for transparency, enforceable standards, and continued public involvement. The committee will review comments and plan for future stakeholder presentations.

Watch the hearing on-demand at youtube.com/.

Join us tonight at the Central Library for a community conversation on Water, Wastewater, and Our Environment in Onondag...
07/21/2026

Join us tonight at the Central Library for a community conversation on Water, Wastewater, and Our Environment in Onondaga County.

📍 Central Library Community Room, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse
🕕 6:00–7:30 PM

This public hearing is a chance to share your thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about how issues like 1) Wastewater Treatment, 2) Environmental Protection, 3)Waste Management and 4) Preserving Wetlands impact our community.

If you can’t make it in person, you can still submit written comments until 11:59 PM tonight by emailing [email protected] with the subject line “7.21.26 Public Hearing.”

Statement on Transmittal of Adopted Term Limits Local LawFrom Legislature Chairwoman Nicole Watts"Earlier today, the cle...
07/17/2026

Statement on Transmittal of Adopted Term Limits Local Law
From Legislature Chairwoman Nicole Watts

"Earlier today, the clerks of the County Legislature formally transmitted the signed adopted local law paper work on Term Limits that was received Wednesday to the Board of Elections.

Commissioner Dustin Czarny confirmed receipt of the transmittal. Commissioner Kevin P. Ryan rejected the transmittal. The Legislature has acted in accordance with what the County Charter requires which is to adopt what the County Executive sent.

Government procedure acts on documents, time stamps, and charter rules. Any action made outside of said rules has the capacity to undermine the stability of our entire legal system.

We will allow this legal process, in accordance with the laws of New York State, to run its course."

TERM LIMITS WILL ADVANCE TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS 🗳️Here’s what happened (the background): The County Legislature passe...
07/16/2026

TERM LIMITS WILL ADVANCE TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS 🗳️

Here’s what happened (the background): The County Legislature passed a term limits law sponsored by Majority Leader Hernandez. The law would limit the office of the county executive and the office of the comptroller to three 4-years terms (total of 12 years) exactly what the legislature limited itself to last year.

(Today) the County Executive sent back conflicting documents: first, one approving it, and then later, one seeking to veto it.

The Legislature reviewed the County Charter and consulted legal counsel. The conclusion: the first document received is legal and actionable and is advancing to the Board of Elections. The veto that came after will not be recognized.

Chairwoman Watts put it simply: the Legislature will follow the charter and respect what voters want. If anyone disagrees with the law, they should make their case to the voters who were always intended to be the ultimate deciders.

We ask voters to stay engaged on this story.
Press Release at: tinyurl.com/oclnews-20260715

TERM LIMITS WILL ADVANCE TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONSThe Onondaga County Legislature has received the County Executive’s si...
07/16/2026

TERM LIMITS WILL ADVANCE TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

The Onondaga County Legislature has received the County Executive’s signed actions on the recently passed local law regarding term limits. The transmittals delivered to the Clerk’s Office included conflicting documents from the Executive’s Office.

Following review of the County Charter and consultation with outside counsel, the Legislature has determined that the first received electronic document is the valid and actionable adoption of the local law. Because the adopted local law was received, opened, and recorded both electronically and physically, the law is deemed as adopted under Section 210 of the Onondaga County Charter. The subsequent electronic and physical veto messages will not be recognized.

“The body here will adhere not only to the law as governed by the charter, but by the will of the voters. Anyone who objects to this local law should make their appeal to the voters of Onondaga County—the intended decision-makers on term limits,” said Chairwoman Watts.

Read the full details at: https://onondaga.gov/legislature/2026/07/15/county-legislature-will-advance-local-law-on-term-limits/

Chairwoman Nicole Watts and members of the Onondaga County Legislature helped kick off opening night of the Syracuse Int...
07/09/2026

Chairwoman Nicole Watts and members of the Onondaga County Legislature helped kick off opening night of the Syracuse International Jazz Fest at the National Veteran Resource Center. The Community celebrated a special night with leaders like Melanie Littlejohn (Central New York Community Foundation), April Arnzen (Life at Micron) and Majority Leader Hernandez and celebrated 40 years of music, jazz, and freedom 🎶

Happy 250th Anniversary to “We the People.” Today and this weekend, we rest, we celebrate and we reflect. On Monday, we ...
07/04/2026

Happy 250th Anniversary to “We the People.” Today and this weekend, we rest, we celebrate and we reflect.

On Monday, we get back to perfecting our democracy, county by county. Thank you to the voices, seen and unseen. Thank you to the peoples heard and yet to be heard, who make this country live to its truest potential of democracy and the pursuit of justice for all. Thank you for choosing America. She is better for it.

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Syracuse, NY
13202

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