Jan. 17, 2019

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IN THE PAINT

Saturday night marks the secondannual Salt City Drag Battle. Contestants reflect on their idenity, drag culture and how it all ties into Syracuse. Page 6

The city of Syracuse and Onondaga County have extended a sales tax-sharing agreement. Its fate lies in the hands of the Common Council. Page 3

SEE INSERT

Community outcry

city

Mayor to deliver ‘State of the City’ By India Miragia asst. news editor

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh is set to give his second “State of the City address” on Thursday. Walsh’s first speech featured comments on education, the city’s financial state and deficit, the replacement of a failing Interstate 81 viaduct and economic growth, among other things. Several Common Councilors said Walsh will discuss Syracuse’s finances again this year, as well as initiatives he has led and his reflections on himself and the Syracuse community.

BRITTANY PETERSON, a mother in Syracuse, attended the “State of the Community” meeting on Wednesday, where Syracuse residents discussed violence against children and teens in 2018. dan lyon asst. photo editor

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essica Elliott paused after introducing herself to the audience at the Southwest Community Center. She looked down, and for a moment, choked up. City activists before her talked about the toll that violence takes on children in the city of Syracuse. But Elliott, a teacher at three Syracuse city schools, needed to re-emphasize that point. “I don’t know if people understand how (violence) impacts children,” she said. After multiple shootings in the city of Syracuse in 2018, more than 50 residents gathered in the Southwest Community Center to discuss “The State of Our Community.” Six city activists sat at a podium to voice frustrations, highlight resources and find solutions

Violence against city youth discussed at “State of Our Community” meeting By Gabe Stern

asst. news editor

to parents of children living in the city. Multiple panelists called on community members to reach out to more of the city’s youth. Syracuse just experienced its most deadly year for youth in more than 25 years, Syracuse.com reported. In a span of 30 days from mid-September to mid-October, six teenagers and adolescents were shot in Syracuse, per CNY Central. National Action Network Syracuse President Twiggy Billue moderated the panel. She said the gathering was not in response to any particular act of violence in the city; it was from an “outcry” from residents, students and teachers within the city. The Southwest Community Center is a see forum page 9

I think, ‘Here’s a lot of basic work that probably isn’t the sexiest thing to talk about all the time,’ but it’s going to help us provide better services for less money. Tim Rudd

councilor at-large

“I imagine that he’ll look to the past year and see where he is and, you know, sort of evaluate himself. See where he came in and where he is now,” said Councilor At-Large and Council Majority leader Steve Thompson. Here’s what Thompson, Councilor Susan Boyle and Councilor At-Large Tim Rudd expect Walsh to cover in his second “State of the City” address.

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state

Federal shutdown affects central New York By Casey Darnell asst. news editor

Syracuse, like nearly every city in the country, has felt the effects of the partial government shutdown, as nine federal departments remain unfunded during what’s now become the longest partial government shutdown in United States history. Thousands of Syracuse residents rely on mostly-shuttered departments for food stamps and housing vouchers. Both types of assistance are being continued through February, but it is unclear how they would be impacted if the shutdown, which

began on Dec. 22, 2018, continues for months. With one in three Syracuse families living in poverty, city residents would be at significant risk. The Department of Agriculture, where 75 percent of employees have been sent home without pay, per the Washington Post, runs the federal government’s food stamp program, called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Most people on food stamps were given their SNAP benefits for February early because of the shutdown, per New York State. In October 2018, a total of 35,416 families in Onondaga County

received SNAP benefits, according to data from New York state. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 95 percent of workers were furloughed, according to the Washington Post. HUD, which has an office in Syracuse, funds the Housing Choice Voucher Program, known as Section 8, for low-income families, senior citizens and people with disabilities. The nonprofit organization Christopher Community runs the Housing Choice Voucher Program for Onondaga County. Dave Filipski, its acting president, said the organization has received funding from

HUD for January and expects to receive funding for February as well. “Beyond that I am not sure,” he said. In December, Christopher Community received 1,120 vouchers from HUD through a program that allows families to find their own housing, Filipski said. Contingency plans from HUD state that public housing agencies can use funds appropriated for prior years for housing voucher programs. “The only concern we have is that if any of these contracts come up for renewal during this period …”

see shutdown page 9

Thompson said the primary concern of city government is its financial situation, specifically where Syracuse will get the money it needs to continue running independently. A balance should be established between saving money the city has in its reserves and ensuring that areas such as public safety are properly funded, he said. Walsh’s 2018-19 fiscal year budget put a six-month freeze on salary increases and hiring of non-essential personnel in order to control spending, Syracuse.com reported. Police and firefighters were not included in the freeze. Boyle said the city’s budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year is the “giant elephant in the room.” The Common Council unanimously approved Walsh’s first budget without change in 2018. Rudd said he expects Walsh to see mayor page 9

2 jan. 17, 2019

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inside OĂŹeĂŹNew generation

Business columnist Santiago Hernandez argues that 5G’s faster infrastructure could revitalize the city of Syracuse. Page 5

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SÏeÏUnplugged Syracuse’s student-athletes are staying off their phones and finding ways to be in the present during the digital age. Page 12

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Women’s March Syracuse’s third annual Women’s March will focus on refugee and immigrant women. See dailyorange.com

NEWS

“State of the City� Mayor Ben Walsh will deliver his second “State of the City� address on Thursday. See dailyorange.com

In comparison How does Mayor Ben Walsh’s speech compare to his address last year? See dailyorange.com

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city

Council debates sales tax-sharing agreement

regional news Here is a round up of the biggest news happening in New York state right now. DISTRICT ATTORNEY

William Fitzpatrick, Onondaga County’s district attorney, will pursue an eighth year in office. He sent a letter to the Onondaga County Republican Committee on Jan. 10 seeking the party’s endorsement. Fitzpatrick has served for more than 27 years. source: syracuse.com

NUMBER OF FLU CASES INCREASES

The number of flu cases in Onondaga County jumped from 44 at the end of December to 77 in the beginning of January, according to a report released by the New York State Health Department. Oswego County was the only central New York county to see a decrease. source: localsyr

SYRACUSE FIRE INJURES ONE

The Syracuse Common Council’s Finance, Taxation and Assessment Committee discussed a proposed extension to the sales tax-sharing agreement on Wednesday afternoon. The extension would continue the current sales tax agreement to 2030. kennedy rose news editor By Kennedy Rose news editor

A Syracuse Common Council committee met Wednesday afternoon to discuss an extension of a sales tax agreement between Syracuse and Onondaga County, including the possibility of the city leaving the agreement. The Finance, Taxation and Assessment committee of the Council reviewed the proposed extension, which would provide the city tens of millions of dollars more in revenue over 10 years. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced the extension in December, two years before the original 2010 agreement was set to expire. The new extension will expire in 2030 if approved by the Council. “Extending this historic sales tax agreement is simply the right thing to do for our County as a whole,� McMahon said in a statement in December. The proposed agreement will

make sure the city sees approximately a quarter of sales tax revenue in Onondaga County, totaling more than $800 million over 10 years, said Christine Elliott, director of administration for the mayor’s office.

Achieving fiscal sustainability for the city of Syracuse has been one of our most important duties. Christine Elliot director of administration syracuse mayor’s office

It also guarantees the city’s share of revenue generated by people outside city limits and ensures Syracuse gets sales tax revenue no matter where a good was purchased in Onondaga County, she said. Syracuse has lagged behind other cities in economic and job growth. New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo

backed Walsh’s “Syracuse Surge� economic growth plan in his “State of the State� address this week. “Achieving fiscal sustainability for the city of Syracuse has been one of our most important duties,� Elliott said. Onondaga County has a 4 percent sales tax rate, with a 3 percent base rate, Elliott said. Counties in New York are allowed to levy a 3 percent sales tax rate, but the additional 1 percent is authorized by the New York state Legislature and must be reauthorized every two years, she added. The city also compared options for sales tax alternatives. Elliott said the city could try to renegotiate the proposed sales tax rates Onondaga County legislators already approved. “Going through the process of trying to renegotiate a deal we feel is very fair for the citizens of Syracuse, it can be incredibly timeconsuming and keep us from doing the other important things that we are trying to do,� Elliott said.

Another option, dubbed the “Brexit� option, is for the city to preempt the county and charge its own sales tax, she said. Syracuse could only charge sales tax at half of the base rate of the county, a 1.5 percent sales tax rate, if it chose to preempt Onondaga County, she said. The city would also have to declare a new process for sales tax collection and revenue, which it currently doesn’t have, she said. Elliott, though, said there is no way to determine how much sales tax revenue the city could collect on its own unless the city were to preempt. New York state gathers data on sales tax revenue, but only does so based on taxing jurisdiction. There is no data for sales tax revenue by local municipality. City Auditor Marty Masterpole asked why the city and county are rushing to pass tax legislation when there are two years left until the expiration of the current agreement. He said the city needs more data on tax

see agreement page 9

city

News briefs: 3 stories to follow this weekend By India Miraglia and Natalie Rubio-Licht the daily orange

Here are three news stories from around the city of Syracuse to keep an eye on this weekend.

Women’s March

Syracuse’s third-annual Women’s March will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. It will begin in front of the Everson Museum Plaza and move toward the University United Methodist Church for an indoor rally. “Join us to celebrate the diversity of Syracuse, the home of vibrant immigrants, refugees, and our diverse population,� the event’s Facebook page reads. The Women’s March began in

2017 in response to the election of President Donald Trump. The purpose of the marches, which are held throughout the United States and the world, is to create social change through the political power of diverse women, according to the organization’s national website. More than 200 people attended last year’s march that began at Laci’s Tapas Bar in Syracuse.

MLK Celebration food drive

A food and clothing drive will be held for the 19th year on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. United Way of Central New York and the Greater Syracuse Labor Council host a day of service each year, LocalSYR reported. Items requested include winter

outerwear, warm blankets, diapers and prepackaged food items. The drive will run from 8 a.m. to noon at the Southwest Community Center in Syracuse. “If we can help our neighbors from something that we have at home, what better way to do it.� Common Council President Helen Hudson told LocalSYR.

Justice in Health conference to be held at SUNY Upstate

SUNY Upstate Medical University will hold their second diversity in medicine conference on Monday, Jan. 21. “Health Justice at Upstate: Shifting the Power� will consist of three breakout sessions with multiple panels in each, according to Upstate’s

website. The conference will feature a keynote address from Asteir Bey and Aimee Brill, co-directors of Village Birth International. This will feature 14 panels including the keynote and include panels on the health issues in prison, refugee health and the health effects of inequality, per Upstate. “Going into healthcare, I almost feel immobilized because doctors don’t normally seem to have much power in terms of creating change,� said an unnamed 2018 participant on the Upstate website. Registration for this event is free for all participants, The Stand reported. nrrubiol@syr.edu @natalierubio_ irmiragl@syr.edu | @IndyRow

One man was taken to a hospital with burns on his legs after a fire broke out Wednesday morning at a house West Kennedy Street. A dog also survived the fire. The house appeared to be completely destroyed, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. source: cnycentral

TAX BREAKS APPROVED

A project that is turning empty office spaces at the Dey’s Plaza downtown into 23 apartments received $266,250 in tax breaks. The Syracuse Industrial Development Agency awarded the breaks despite opposition from two immigrants’ rights groups and Syracuse United Neighbors. source: syracuse.com

PROGRAM LAUNCHED TO HELP STRUGGLING FAMILIES

The Early Childhood Alliance launched the “Help Me Grow Onondaga� program this week. It’s focused on helping families and young children struggling with health or developmental issues. The program includes the promotion of health screenings and collaboration between community programs and healthcare centers. source: syracuse.com

SYRACUSE MAN ARRESTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE

William Pennucci, 49, was arrested on Jan. 10 on the charge of possession of 700 images of child pornography on his phone after leaving it behind at a local restaurant. Pennucci attempted to delete them during the investigation. He’s being held at the Justice Center on a $25,000 bond while the investigation continues. source: localsyr

APPELLATE JUDGES GRANT VENUE CHANGE FOR TRIAL OF FORMER JUDGE

The trial of former City Court Judge Leticia Astacio will be moved from Monroe County to Onondaga County, as appellate judges ruled that she wouldn’t receive a fair trial. Astacio was charged with the felony of attempted criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon. The trial will take place later this month. source: democrat and chronicle

4 jan. 17, 2019

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OPINION

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business

5G could revitalize the city of Syracuse

T

he fifth generation of wireless technology — commonly referred to as 5G — has the potential to not only enhance education but also revitalize cities such as Syracuse that could use an economic boost. Last week in Las Vegas, at the Consumer Electronics Show, companies showcased the future of 5G. This new generation of technology is worth investing in. It could transform the city of Syracuse. “4G is basically a continuation from 3G in terms of improvement in data rate, latency and quality of service. Although 5G continues this trend, the biggest change is with the new technologies that come in such as the Internet of Things, smart cities and next-gen cloud computing, all of which depend on the development of 5G,� said Amir Esmailpour, an assisstant professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering at the University of New Haven. The city of Syracuse can benefit from the installation of 5G in two ways — education and public infrastructure. As schools spend more of their budgets on information technology infrastructure in order to keep up with other schools, 5G also promises to bring the Internet of Things into campuses.

SANTIAGO HERNANDEZ BUSINESS AS USUAL

The Internet of Things is a growing network of physical objects that feature internet connectivity. 5G enables the use of this with the increase in device capacity and network density. This has the potential to change the role of teachers in the classroom by reducing the administrative burden and allowing them to concentrate on the students. 5G would allow for automatic attendance and an ability to have realtime feedback on students’ progress with a live analysis of notes. As classes utilize more and more online tools and more students decide to take online classes, the prospect of using augmented reality and virtual reality as an educational tool becomes more tangible with 5G. “The capacity of 5G would allow students to use Augmented Reality simultaneously in educational scenarios, such as for conducting experiments anywhere, and at any time,� said Carlos Caicedo, an associate professor at the School of Information Studies. The city of Syracuse can also benefit from the installation of 5G infrastructure. It’s estimated

that network providers will invest $275 billion over the next decade to install the 5G network. Although the upfront cost to speed up the process of the installation in a city like Syracuse could potentially be high, the city could see a boost in its economy as a result. 5G could transform the city into a smart city. The dramatic increase in bandwidth and network performance would allow a city like Syracuse to install infrastructure like smart parking meters, autonomous vehicles and dynamic lighting systems. This investment would enable not only better living conditions for citizens, but would also result in dramatic savings for the city. David Molta, an associate professor of computer networking and information systems management at the iSchool, said it will take a while for us to see all of the technologies made possible by the 5G infrastructure. It is still important for educators and city planners alike to begin thinking about the benefits that 5G could have on a city like Syracuse. An investment in 5G is an investment worth making.

Santiago Hernandez is a finance major. His column runs biweekly. He can be reached at sherna06@syr.edu.

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conservative

Shutdown unpopular among conservatives

O

n Dec. 22, 2018, the government shut down because of a sprawling immigration debate. Today, the shutdown is the longest government shutdown in American history. What’s so perplexing about the situation is the disapproval of President Donald Trump’s actions, in forcing this shutdown, from both sides of the aisle. The disapproval from the Republican Party seems to display just how ill-conceived this shutdown is. Our congressman, Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus), who is in support of securing the southern border, voted to reopen the government without funding for the wall. Erin O’Conner, a spokesperson for Katko’s campaign, shared a statement from Katko: “The time has come for Republicans and Democrats to settle on a compromise solution that will re-open the federal government, as well as secure our southern border.� While I am not and never will be in favor of funding a border wall, as it seems to be a pointless use of federal funds — and organized crime and potential terrorists wouldn’t be deterred by just a wall — I do think Katko shows us a compelling way to get out of this mess. Democrats have an excellent opportunity to leverage legislation

HARRISON GARFINKLE SAFER IN A MATTRESS

such as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in exchange for funding the border wall. If this happens, it could be a win-win for both parties. The effects of this shutdown may seem inconsequential to a college student, but college students are one of the many reasons why it’s so important to end this shutdown. The IRS is down to essential personnel during the shutdown. Now, students who need to apply for Free Application for Federal Student Aid cannot get a tax transcript from the IRS to complete their application. The Department of Education has been allowing a signed copy of a tax return from 2017-18. But, the IRS office dedicated to distributing the alternative documents has been frequently unavailable. What this means is simple. If there’s an issue in processing these documents, you’re likely out of luck until the government reopens. Harrison Garfinkle is a communication and rhetorical studies major. His column runs biweekly. He can be reached at hgarfink@syr.edu.

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6 jan. 17, 2019

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CHERRY BLASÉ

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s. Drips – the familyfriendly version of her drag name that she sometimes uses – is aware of the fact that her adopted moniker can be “a bit repulsive” and off-putting. She likes the shock value of it, she said. About four years ago, she got into drag when she went to a show and was selected to get a made over onstage. Her name, which started as P*ssy Grips and evolved throughout the night, came from the suggestion of someone at the club, she said. Soon enough, she ended up adopting the drag persona and performing at more shows. A Salt City Drag Battle returner, she’s inspired by female rappers like Lil’ Kim and Nicki Minaj. She taught herself to do makeup by watching Miss Fame’s YouTube tutorials. Drips, who performs weekly at Sprinkles Friday, said the queens get ready for each show together and tend to pull inspiration from one another. “It’s kind of like a weekly ritual that we go through,” she said. “I’m thankful for that because we definitely have... a very tightknit, family-like community.”

As drag has become more mainstream, opportunities have popped up for local queens at places like casinos, restaurants and theaters, she said. But given drag’s expanding reach, Drips said that people tend to have a narrow view of what they think drag is based on reality TV. “The truth is that that is not the reality of drag. It comes in so many different forms,” she said. These expanded venue opportunities “bring drag to the forefront,” and give more exposure to the art as a whole, she said. This is especially true with the Syracuse Stage show, since people who may be uncomfortable going to a nightclub or gay bar can experience drag at a theater, she said. While she didn’t expect to become a regular performer, drag has helped her celebrate a different side of her identity, outside of her professional life. “I kind of grew to love it and love the culture of it,” she said. “I really feel like I become a different person once I step out on stage and I’m all done up and everything. I still get an adrenaline rush before I go onstage every week.”

or Blasé, who’s been performing since 2015, drag is an art form that demands time and dedication. With this weekend’s competition, she’s hoping to bring in a new and refreshed definition of what drag can be. “I want to definitely show that we can do more than just lip-sync,” she said. “There is actual art that goes in behind it.” Contestants will showcase two looks and one talent performance at Saturday’s competition. Blasé’s talent is one she has been studying since she was five years old. “I’m most excited to show people this newer side of me that they haven’t seen,” she said. Blasé learned about drag from watching “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” and being exposed to performers at nightclubs. She’s inspired by queens on the RuPaul circuit, like Violet Chachki and Miss Fame, but also said she draws a lot of her inspiration from runway models and “real women.” Queens have gained more

I’m most excited to show people this newer side of me that they haven’t seen. Cherry Blasé contestant

The local drag scene in upstate New York has consistently included talent from new areas, utilized drag venues and introduced new queens, Blasé added. The Salt City Drag Battle will help to showcase some of this new talent, she said. “Everyone has really been stepping their game up trying to keep up with the current times of drag culture,” she said.

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Meet som contestan second-an City Dra

By Colleen

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Photos by

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P*SSY DRIPS

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DUSTY BOXX

respect since she started performing, Blasé said – she remembered when drag used to carry a negative connotation. The standard for drag performances has risen both in Binghamton, where she lives, and in the rest of central New York, she added.

self-proclaimed “awkward theater kid,” Boxx studied theater in college and produced drag shows in Binghamton for a decade. During that time, he learned a lot from queens in Syracuse and often looked up to them, he said. He’s also admired hosts Mrs. Kasha Davis and Miss Darienne Lake, as well as the other competitors. Boxx, who has since moved to Syracuse, has worked for both Rain Lounge and Trexx. He went from performing in Syracuse a few times a year to getting a new gig every weekend, he said. The Salt City Drag Battle is an opportunity for him to show the community that he’s here and not going anywhere. “I’m looking forward to taking the big Syracuse Stage with people that I love and respect and really enjoy working with, and to show them how much I’ve grown over the years from working with them,” he said. He tries to present himself as a relatable, people-person’s type of queen, but

is inspired by anything “larger than life, colorful and explosive, kind of like my personality.” Boxx also said that pop culture, outer space and “anything weird or quirky” inspire him.

I’m looking forward to taking the big Syracuse Stage with people that I love and respect. Dusty Boxx contestant

With a theater background, Boxx has said audience members can expect a combination of song, dance and acting, as well as celebrity impersonations at this weekend’s competition. “I’m going to bring a little bit of everything,” he said. “You’re not going to get just your cookie-cutter drag performance for this drag battle.”

lthough the o barely reache Friday night filled the tables an Lounge for Sprinkl weekly drag show. A for the host, Samant stage, tracks like To and Ariana Grande’s reverberated off t bejeweled statues. J Vega strutted onto cheers from the audi She’d go on to perfor nating stage time with until all five came to of Destiny’s Child’s “ 1 a.m. Rain Lounge’s lets Vega perform at th bar whenever she wan kind of inclusivity is ty Rain Lounge. “I think he does th Vega said in an interv very welcoming place, but for people from eve On Saturday night, local queens — four o Friday regulars — wil and talents at the se Drag Battle at Syracu tant will present two performance, with the peting in a lip-sync bat Hosted by Mrs. K Darienne Lake, the co one winner the 2019 S ing both the title and event will include refr & Confused and Past Syracuse Stage’s websi and can be purchased o With the spike in po vision shows such as drag culture in centra enced a makeover of i weekend’s contestants hairspray, makeup, hee drag is an art form that

cefergus@syr.edu |

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jan. 17, 2019 7

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eRue per formed in their first drag show three years ago at Trexx, a nightclub approximately a mile away from Rain Lounge that is also known for hosting drag queens. Movies like “The Birdcage” first introduced LeRue to drag growing up, and eventually LeRue began going to gay bars. They got into drag as an activity to replace competitive cheerleading once they aged out. Like Drips, LeRue has found that drag has become more mainstream since they began performing. LeRue is also part of the cast of queens at Rain Lounge every Friday, saying it’s become “like a little part time job,” and has enabled them to make more money and travel more. Last year’s drag battle was a lot of fun, LeRue said, and they’re looking forward to competing again this year. “Salt City Drag Battle is definitely opening doors,”

they said. “(Drag is) getting bigger in this area and that’s what I’m liking.” LeRue draws inspiration in part from New York City ball culture. Balls originated in the mid-1980s as safe spaces for many LGBTQ+ people within the black and Latinx communities. Similar to talent competitions, participants would design costumes and pose on a runway for prizes, which were given to the contestants that most accurately represented the night’s theme, according to AMNY. LeRue’s other inspirations include singer-songwriter, FKA Twigs, and their drag mother, Celeste LeRue, both of who played into their drag name. Given their close relationship with their drag mother, LeRue hopes to influence new drag queens the same way Celeste influenced them. “I feel like I have to be kind,” they said. “I want to be almost that motherly figure for people that want to get started in (drag) or are interested.”

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outside temperatures ed double-digits last t, dozens of people nd barstools at Rain les Friday, the bar’s As the crowd waited tha Vega, to take the ove Lo’s “Cool Girl,” s, “God is a woman,” the decorative and Just before midnight, the dance f loor to ence. rm several songs, alterother local drag queens ogether for a rendition “Bootylicious” around owner, Duke Epolito, he North Geddes Street nts, Vega said – and that ypical of his approach at

hat for a lot of people,” view. “(He) makes it a not just for performers ery walk of life as well.” , Vega and eight other of whom are Sprinkles ll showcase their looks econd-annual Salt City use Stage. Each conteso looks and one talent e top two finalists comttle. Kasha Davis and Miss ompetition will crown Salt City Queen, earnd a $1,000 prize. The reshments from Glazed tabilities, according to ite. Tickets start at $30 online. opularity of reality tele“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” al New York has experiits own. Several of this s said that, behind the els and sparkly dresses, t’s ever-evolving.

| @ColleenEFergus2

TWIGS LERUE

KALINDA KELLY

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ega, a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, first performed in 1995, in what was western New York’s first college drag show – two decades before Mrs. Kasha Davis, a Rochester native, would appear on “Drag Race.” Vega is very proud to have been one of the organizers of a sustainable, relevant event that integrated part of LGBT culture into college campus life, she said. Like Ms. Drips, she’d thought she’d only be taking the stage one time, but she ended up loving it way more than she’d anticipated. “Once you get bit by the bug, you’re stuck with it,” she said. “You love it, you love the attention, you love how beautiful you feel ... It’s just really amazing, it’s kind of addicting.” Throughout the years, Vega has learned to adapt her performances depending on the crowd. Elements of drag, like elements of fashion, can become obsolete.

As she said, it becomes important for queens to reinvent themselves from time to time if they want to remain relevant. For Vega, this means thinking of her drag persona as female interpretation, not female impersonation, and combining elements of humor and pageant glam to make each performance her own. “I hear a song or I see a performer and I like what I see, but I have to make something my own as well,” she said. She’s been hosting Sprinkles Fridays for two years now. Between the weekly shows, and other interactions with Rochester-area queens, she has a personal relationship with each of the drag battle contestants. Even though the contestants will compete against each other this weekend, she said, the atmosphere is nothing but friendly. “Even though you’re competing to win, you’re also rooting for the other contestants,” she said.

elly, who moved to Syracuse to study acting at Syracuse University a year ago, has expanded her drag, personally, more than professionally far in central New York. Her first time going out in drag was on Halloween in 2017. Born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, Kelly calls herself “the love child of Gwen Stefani and Zelda Fitzgerald.” Coming to the United States to study dramatic arts, SU ended up being the best choice for her. She has since found that drag is very welcomed in the local theater community. The name Kalinda Kelly comes from the character Kalinda Sharma on “The Good Wife” and film actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly. Combining the two in a name gives her drag persona a blend of edginess and elegance, Kelly said. While she’s partly

inspired by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and queens like Chachki, Naomi Smalls and Valentina, many of Kelly’s influences come from abroad, including German queen, Katy Bähm, and Australian queen, Courtney Act. Besides foreign queens, Kelly draws influence from Spanish filmmaker, Pedro Almodóvar’s work from the 1980s and 1990s, as well as La Movida Madrileña. Known as “the Madrid Scene” in English, the Spanish countercultural movement took place mainly in Madrid after the death of dictator, Francisco Franco, in 1975. The movement’s elements of goth, glamor and kitsch, when combined correctly, can become like a glamorous telenovela, Kelly said. Saturday will be Kelly’s first-ever drag competition. “I’m really excited to try this new outlet,” she said.

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from page 1

mayor talk about how the city spends money. One of Walsh’s priorities is maintaining the fiscal health of the city, Rudd said. Because of this, he said the city will have to continue to spend less money and begin spending money differently. Rudd referenced the way some departments clock into work daily. He said the Department of Public Works uses timestamp slips that administrators then have to enter into computers. An automated payroll system would decrease costs and increase the city’s efficiency and accountability, Rudd said. “I think, ‘Here’s a lot of basic work like that from page 1

shutdown he said. “How’s that going to affect our funding? We’re not sure.” The SNAP program is still running, but the USDA has been unable to run other major operations since the shutdown. Elizabeth Wolters, deputy policy director at the New York Farm Bureau, said farmers across the state have been particularly burdened by the closure of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Farmers use FSA offices to apply for federal loans and crop insurance programs, as well as get advice on plantings, among other things, she said. Two FSA offices are located in Onondaga County, but both are currently closed. from page 3

agreement revenue and to know what will happen with Interstate 81 to make the best determination. Common Councilor At-Large Michael Greene suggested Syracuse hire somebody to track sales taxes so data is available for the next sales tax agreement between the city and county. “The fact that we don’t have the ability to really know what that would be seems to be

probably isn’t the sexiest thing to talk about all the time,’ but it’s going to help us provide better services for less money,” Rudd said.

Walsh’s initiatives

A recently negotiated tax deal between Walsh and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon will be a notable item of discussion at the address, Boyle said. In December, McMahon and Walsh proposed an extension of the current tax deal that determines how Syracuse and Onondaga County splits sales tax revenues. The deal, passed by the Onondaga County Legislature in January, could now last until 2030 if passed by the Common Council. Boyle said the arrangement was a great sign The Transportation Security Administration, part of Homeland Security, is operating while TSA agents have not been paid. Some large airports have experienced delays and closures as TSA agents called out sick or quit at high rates, CNBC reported. Syracuse is home to central New York’s main airport, the Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Bart Johnson, TSA federal security director for upstate New York, said operations at the state’s airports haven’t been affected “at all” by the shutdown. The number of agents calling out sick or quitting isn’t higher than during normal times, he said. “Everybody is showing up to work, they know the mission,” Johnson said. “They’re professionals, and they know what they need to do.” cdarnell@syr.edu | @caseydarnell_

something we should look at going forward,” Greene said. If the Syracuse Common Council does not approve the tax-sharing plan by Jan. 30, the county’s approval will be rescinded, Elliott confirmed. “We have a window to lock in a really good deal for the city of Syracuse and for our citizens for the next decade, and I would like to see us move that forward,” Elliott said.

krose100@syr.edu | @KennedyRose001

of cooperation that the mayor will be proud of. Walsh could also talk about his smart city initiative, Rudd said. The council approved the purchase of all of the city’s street lights from National Grid. Rudd said after that first step the city will be able to provide additional infrastructure, such as free Wi-Fi, which could make certain areas of Syracuse more popular targets for companies to invest in.

Reflections on Walsh Syracuse community

and

the

Thompson said Walsh may use the speech to reflect on what he accomplished in the last year and what has not yet come to fruition. Walsh’s focus on hiring additional police from page 1

forum nonprofit center that provides after-school training for disabled students, as well as programs for elderly residents, among other services. Tim Jennings-Bey, director of Trauma Response at United Way of Central New York, urged parents to be more attentive to their children. Some children are nervous to go to certain schools and community centers within the city because of violence, and they don’t reach out for help as a result, he said. Jennings-Bey challenged the audience to shift their image of Syracuse and highlight accomplishments by successful students. “We have accepted the culture of death as the norm,” Jennings-Bey said. “We always talk about the 50 percent of children who don’t graduate from the Syracuse City School District. Well, what about the 50 percent that made it?” Lepa Jones, president of the local chapter of Mothers Against Gun Violence, also spoke during the panel. She was born and raised in Syracuse, and she said her life has been dedicated to helping young children in her community. She also spoke about her loss of her 17-year-old child to violence. She said that she recently attended a service for a 15-year-old

officers and firefighters is an accomplishment that has been positive for the city, Thompson said. SPD racked up millions of dollars in overtime costs due to understaffing in the department. He said Walsh is trying to get the numbers of those groups back up to where they should be in the city. Boyle said Walsh will include topics surrounding diversity and community engagement in his speech. Constituent engagement and response was one of four objectives that Walsh established for his administration in his first year, along with fiscal sustainability, neighborhood stability and economic growth and the deliverance of city services effectively, efficiently and equitably. irmiragl@syr.edu | @IndyRow

boy and saw young teenagers at the funeral. She then asked the audience: “What happens to them the next day?” Elliott then told the audience about her teaching at city schools. She said she makes her students write in journals, and she makes sure to respond. She said it creates a “personal conversation” between herself and her students. “Each of those kids are in so much pain,” she said. “And nobody’s listening to them.” Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens and Police Chief Kenton Buckner sat in the audience of the event. Buckner was recently hired from Little Rock, Arkansas, where increasing diversity within Little Rock’s police force was his main priority. Buckner said in December that he would try to reduce violent crime in Syracuse by using an intelligence-led policing model. Toward the end of the panel, Good Life Youth Foundation Director Hasan Stephens said that he gets calls at 4 a.m. from residents who have various problems — they didn’t eat, they needed to turn themselves in or they needed a ride. “We have been trained to think about nine to five. We’re not nine-to-five. I don’t think anybody on this panel right now is nine-tofive,” he said. “We go home with the burden.” gkstern@syr.edu | @GabeStern326

10 jan. 17, 2019

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from page 12

ajak

most future Division I players, he’s had a limited time with the sport. Born in South Sudan and raised in Kenya, Ajak didn’t discover organized basketball until he moved to the United States four years ago. He’s a Syracuse (12-5, 3-1 Atlantic Coast) basketball commit, set to join the Orange next season. But for now, he’s savoring every moment that he can play basketball after seeing a potential future without it. When he was just 10 months old, his mother, brother and sister fled the ongoing war in South Sudan and moved to Kenya, Ajak said. They settled in Kakuma, Kenya, in a refugee camp with fellow South Sudanese and Ethiopian refugees. His father stayed back to fight in the war, Ajak said. In Kenya, Ajak said almost everyone plays soccer. He grew up kicking the soccer ball around with his friends and didn’t discover basketball until his teenage years. He never played for any organized teams in Kenya. At 14, one of his teachers offered him a chance to move to the U.S. Ajak didn’t believe them. Ajak was connected by his teachers to Sophie Mohammed and Alice St. Catherine, two people who have helped connect African immigrants to U.S. schools in the past. St. Catherine contacted Todd Landry, who runs Philadelphia 76ers camps every summer and has helped dozens of African players move to the U.S. Ajak sent his transcripts to the admissions office at Church Farm (Pennsylvania) High School, the first boarding school they found. Throughout the admissions process, he never told his family. “I was not believing what the teacher was telling me,” he said. “I didn’t want to tell my parents because I didn’t know if it was actually going to happen.” After accepting admission to Church Farm on a Skype call, Ajak had to tell his parents. He walked into his home in Nairobi, with his mother, sister and brother waiting for him.

When he said he was moving to the U.S., his brother and mother didn’t believe him. “I told them,” Ajak said. “‘I’ve been accepted and they are expecting me to be there.’” Ajak called his father to tell him he was leaving, and his father helped convince his mother, who was uneasy about her son moving to a different continent. Then 15, Ajak arrived at the airport in Philadelphia and received a text from Church Farm basketball coach Marc Turner. Turner described where he would be outside the airport, and that he would be waiting outside of his car. As Ajak walked past Turner, Turner called his name. But Ajak was confused and walked right past him. Turner had described himself as “black,” in the text. “Woah, who are you?” Ajak said as Turner tried to stop him. “I’m Marc Turner, Church Farm basketball coach,” he answered. Ajak eventually believed him and put his bag and backpack in the car. The two left for his new suburban Philadelphia school. “I thought you were black,” Ajak said. “Where I’m from, you’re not black.” His first few days in the U.S., Ajak could count the people he knew on one hand. Nearly 7,000 miles from his home, Ajak tried to be social, but found making friends difficult because his conversational English was still developing. Four days after arriving at Church Farm, Ajak called his mom, crying. He wanted to come home. He thought he had made a mistake. His teammates grew impatient with his lack of knowledge of the game. After his first few basketball practices, Ajak was lost. “He could see, physically I was blessed,” Ajak said, “but I didn’t know how to play basketball at all. “I was terrible.” Throughout his entire freshman year, Ajak barely played. He appeared off the bench in the state playoffs, receiving a pass in the paint. He didn’t know many post moves at that point, he said, but he tried a pump fake. His defender

jumped into the air, and Ajak made the lay-up. The next possession, he took a charge against the opposing team’s leading scorer. He played seven minutes in that game, the most he had played all season. After Church Farm lost that game, Ajak cried on the court. In a sport he picked up in less than a year, Ajak became committed to fueling his passion and pushing his game even further. Ajak and his teammate and best friend James Lawton spent every day playing basketball together. Three days a week, they woke up at 5 a.m. and went to complete a basketball workout before school. They ran drills, shot around and played 1-on-1. After school and practice, the pair would prank each other and teammates. But Ajak stayed. In school, Ajak said his English class helped him make progress. He read books and watched movies and Netflix to supplement his school work. Off the court, he “Americanized” himself. He made new friends, went to the mall and even grew to like cheese, a food he had never eaten before moving to the U.S. Before his sophomore year, Ajak prepared for the April live period — a two-week window where D I coaches could recruit in-person. But before that, Ajak had to travel home for his brother’s wedding. After the wedding, Ajak was at the airport in Kenya when he found out that his traveling visa had expired, even though his school visa was good for five years. Ajak was stranded, unsure if he would ever make it back to the U.S. “I was so devastated,” Ajak said. “I didn’t even get to practice, there are no gyms or stuff like that. You can go to outdoor courts, but they aren’t that safe, and you don’t want to get hurt.” Ajak applied for a new visa with the U.S. embassy in Kenya. He tried to enjoy his time with his family, all while fearing that all of his friendships and basketball in the U.S. were gone. Back at Church Farm, his teachers and Turner tried to expedite the process. One month later, Ajak boarded the plane back to Philadelphia. He had missed the entire live period. That summer, Ajak was playing for Team

Final AAU when SU associate head coach Adrian Autry approached him. “You look good in Orange,” Autry quipped, referring to Ajak’s jersey color. Autry became the main recruiter for Ajak to Syracuse. Autry remained in frequent contact, calling him every few weeks throughout the process. Ajak was invited to a basketball camp in Syracuse that summer, and after the camp, head coach Jim Boeheim offered him a scholarship. His junior year, Ajak battled an achilles injury. The competition he faced at Church Farm, rarely facing players taller than 6-foot3, led to double and triple teams. He wasn’t improving. Ajak wanted to transfer to Westtown, which has produced Duke’s Cam Reddish and top NBA draft pick Mohamed Bamba. This past spring, Ajak was allowed into a program that rarely accepts one-year players. The first day of practice, Ajak got the ball in the high post and made a lay-up. Westtown head coach Seth Berger immediately noticed a problem with his footwork. Berger said: “Bol took about 12 pitty-pat steps to the rim. I said, ‘What the hell was that?’” Berger showed Ajak how to move to the hoop. He showed Ajak how to take two steps to turn, two to gather and finish at the rim. The next play, Ajak did exactly as he was taught. At practice on Jan. 10., Ajak stood under the Westtown baseline as Berger introduced a new play. Ajak was supposed to throw a long pass to teammate and University of Connecticut commit Jalen Gaffney. As Gaffney took off toward the opposing hoop, Ajak gathered the ball, rotated his hips and launched the ball. The pass was intercepted at mid-court by a defender. Berger blew the whistle to try again. The next pass sailed over Gaffney’s head. Again, Berger blew the whistle. This time, the ball hit Gaffney in stride, and he made the lay-up. Ajak threw his hands into the air in celebration. Two days after being cleared to play basketball again, Ajak was back on the court.

from page 12

midfielder Ryan Raposo, set a few personal restrictions: Raposo doesn’t go on his phone an hour before bed and he leaves his phone in his bag during class. Last spring, Raposo’s teammate, Syracuse goalkeeper Hendrik Hilpert, was thinking about how he spent his time. He realized there was something he didn’t like, so he deleted his Facebook account. The hours were adding up, and he repeatedly caught himself filling gaps of time by scrolling through his news feed. Ten minutes would go by and he’d ask himself, “What have I just done?” As women’s soccer midfielder Georgia Allen scanned a full bus of students and athletes, all on their phones, it hit her. “Everyone was on their phone,” she recalled. “It drives me crazy.” Allen changed her phone tendencies, but results around SU Athletics haven’t followed yet. Athletes still love their phones, even if they know their harm. “The obsession over phones can damage team environments,” Allen said. “We go into team meetings and people are on their phones. We need to remind one another: no phones. Every minute counts.”

phones

illustration by audra linsner asst. illustration editor

No phones during the game or at halftime. No phones during team meetings. No phones when he’s talking. There’s no singular smartphone policy at Syracuse, according to more than a dozen SU athletes across several sports. But some athletes sense a gentle push away from phones, with field hockey perhaps at the greatest extreme. Head coach Ange Bradley maintains a strict no-phone rule anywhere near the field, during parts of road trips, at team meals and during any team function. Other teams are less concerned about phones, as long as athletes are respectful. But some former players took their own initiative to cut down their screen time at SU. Former SU forward Tyler Lydon deleted his Snapchat account and stayed off Twitter during his sophomore year before he was drafted by the NBA. And Syracuse softball’s all-time hits leader, Sammy Fernandez, decided to leave her charger at home. Her logic: If she doesn’t use her phone much, she won’t need to charge it. Some current players, such as freshman

amdabbun@syr.edu @AnthonyDabbundo

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from page 12

exhibition Orange had been off since their loss to Colgate on Dec. 8, having had only one light practice on Dec. 27 to get back in tune. They then got on a bus, traveled to Montreal, and just played hockey, Flanagan said. The team toured the city’s downtown when they weren’t playing. No points were at stake, and nobody even mentioned the losing streak. Handicapped by multi-goal deficits in the first period of both games, the Orange lost their first two games of the new year. “Mentally we weren’t prepared in the first period and that’s on me, Flanagan said. “We weren’t ready.” With only 12 games left in the season, SU is running out of time to save its season. All 12 games are against conference opponents with playoff seeding implications. But SU’s leaders are motivated by their three-day barrage at Tennity Ice Pavilion. tnolan@syr.edu

Syracuse has lost 10 straight games, and conference leader Robert Morris visits Tennity Ice Pavillion for two games this weekend. The Orange first plays them on Friday. ally walsh staff photographer

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S

Look ahead

Playing Pitt Ater defeating Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Syracuse will face Pittsburgh at home. See In The Paint

S PORTS

SU’s 2019 football schedule was announced Wednesday and features eight conference games. See dailyorange.com

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su athletics

fast track

How SU athletes handle phones By Matthew Gutierrez senior staff writer

JOHN BOL AJAK is one of four Syracuse commits in the 2019 recruiting class. He’s in the middle of his senior year at Westtown High School in Pennsylvania, after moving to the U.S. at the age of 15. COURTESY OF WESTTOWN ATHLETICS

After only four years of organized basketball, John Bol Ajak is primed for a career at Syracuse By Anthony Dabbundo asst. copy editor

W

EST CHESTER, Pa. — John Bol Ajak stood near mid-court at West Chester University, wearing gray sweatpants and a gray sweatshirt donning a purple “W� across the front. All he wanted to do was play. Around him, Westtown (Pennsylvania) High School took the court for warm-ups before playing Roman Catholic (Pennsylvania) High School. For the last six weeks, Ajak, a Syracuse commit, had missed practices and games with a hip injury. He stood at the free throw line as his teammates warmed up, smiling and laughing. Once the game started, Ajak

spent more time standing in front of the Westtown bench than sitting in his chair. Throughout Westtown’s win, Ajak called out screens, coached teammates in timeouts and supported his new friends. In the far corner of the gym, former Syracuse star Billy Owens stopped Ajak near the locker room for a moment after the game. “I heard you’re going to Syracuse,� Owens said. Ajak responded, “Yes, sir.� Owens offered his hand. “Welcome aboard,� Owens said. Ajak, 19, is in the midst of his one and only season at Westtown, one filled with more injuries than highlights so far. Unlike see ajak page 10

ice hockey

SU benefits from 3-game Canadian exhibition By Tim Nolan staff writer

Three games, right after Christmas, that never even counted reestablished hope among Syracuse. The Orange (4-16-1, 4-4 College Hockey America) lost their last eight games going into the break and lost their first two games since. But in the Theresa Humes Invita-

On the road Syracuse women’s basketball looks to extend its eightgame winning streak. See dailyorange.com

tional in Montreal on Dec. 28-30, Syracuse won all three games by a combined score of 17-3. “The first game was just so-so, but the Saturday and Sunday games were against better teams and we played really well,� head coach Paul Flanagan said. “I just think the kids, maybe from a mental perspective, were a little more care-free.� This weekend brings the

conference’s best team, Robert Morris (8-10-4, 6-1-1 CHA), to Tennity Ice Pavilion, for a two game set. But following the winning stretch in the break, senior goaltender Maddi Welch said the Orange are talking more and holding each other accountable in practice — stopping pucks, getting to the net and, for goalies, covering rebounds.

“We’re doing a lot in practice with building our conditioning so we can go the whole 60 minutes,â€? senior captain Allie Munroe said, â€œâ€Ś because we did it in Montreal. We basically played 180 minutes and crushed it, so I think we’ll be better this weekend.â€? Those 180 minutes of focus were a product of numerous factors. The see exhibition page 10

A new sign in Manley Field House, fixed on a filing cabinet inside the weight room area, reads: “Don’t post about it, be about it.� The 8.5-by-11-inch sign functions as a continual reminder for Syracuse athletes to worry less about maintaining their Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat accounts. They’ve become downtime fillers in the locker room and while teams travel. But they’ve also become distractions. A growing number of collegiate programs have instilled phone rules, written or unwritten. Syracuse Athletics is no outlier. From men’s basketball to softball to field hockey, SU athletes must abide by a number of restrictions, based on their team’s discretion, that dictate when they can and can’t scroll through their phone. Knowing when to unplug presents a challenge. “Phones are getting a bad rap,� Syracuse men’s basketball assistant coach Allen Griffin said. “Some guys can watch film on themselves. It’s a powerful tool. But checking your phone for your girlfriend’s text messages 20 minutes before a game? That’s not good.� The near-universal access to digital technology — tablets, phones and laptops — is transforming modern society, including athletics. Technology can unite teams through group texts and film-study accounts like Hudl, although it can have negative effects on physical and mental health. Most adults spend 10 hours a day or more consuming electronic media, according to the Nielsen Total Audience Report. Jarrod Spencer, a sports psychologist who has met with SU athletes from every team, highlights the risk of smartphone addiction whenever he lectures in Manley Field House. Last fall, he told athletes that constant phone usage can hurt athletes’ abilities to stay focused on the field. Spencer said players should limit themselves to an hour or two of screen time. “The phones,� Spencer said, “can be a killer.� After SU men’s basketball games, most players stand near their respective lockers in similar positions: eyes lowered, bent over staring at their devices. After losses, they players quietly scroll their phones and avoid conversation, making the Do Not Disturb setting a team favorite. Before practice, freshman forward Buddy Boeheim said he turns his phone off or sets his phone to Do Not Disturb. “We’re trying to get off our phones,� Buddy said. “We can’t be distracted.� Jim Boeheim, the Hall of Fame SU head coach of 43 seasons, doesn’t have any hard-and-fast smartphone rules for his team. He’s a fledgling texter. His phone rules are implied:

see phones page 10

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