Any Nakamura | Co-Digital Editor

The past four years have served as a reminder that politics can bring about both the best of times and the worst of times. Here are some of the biggest political stories for Syracuse and New York state in the past four academic years.

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2015-16: Joe Biden speaks at SU for Its On Us campaign

 Fall 2015, then-Vice President Biden returned to SU to give a speech as part of the White House’s It’s On Us campaign. It was his first time speaking at Syracuse since his 2009 commencement speech, only a few months after he was inaugurated.

This visit also featured Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), Congressman John Katko (R) and a number of other student and community leaders.

During his speech, Biden spoke about the need for a change in how we address the issue of sexual assault.

“It’s about being responsible, he said in the speech. “It’s about making sure everyone you know understands ‘no means no.’ No exceptions.”

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2016-17: Donald Trump wins US presidential election

 This election has truly dictated, and will continue to dictate, politics everywhere.

The election inspired millions to tune into politics every day. Across the country, people were motivated to be engaged in politics, whether it be by running for office or voicing their opinions.

To this day, I still remember the eerie silence that was felt all around campus on the day following the election. No matter what class it was, the presidential election was the topic for the day.

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2017-18: Ben Walsh elected as first independent mayor in Syracuse in more than 100 years

For the duration of his campaign, Walsh trailed in polls to Democratic candidate Juanita Perez-Williams. He campaigned on a platform of economic development, a message that resonated with a struggling city.

Walsh spent much of his first year in office finding his footing, but his second year has featured a number of ambitious plans meant to revitalize Syracuse. Walsh has initiated proposals to improve housing stability and implement city-wide smart technology.

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2018-19: Developments made in the replacement of the I-81 viaduct

 At the beginning of 2019, a number of Syracuse leaders signed a letter in support of the community grid option to replace the I-81 viaduct. In April, Syracuse University endorsed the community grid option as well. The momentum culminated when the Department of Transportation approved the community grid as its preferred replacement option.

Although there are a number of hearings and meetings still to be held on the issue, the future of the highway seems clearer today than it has for much of our time at SU.

Nick Turner is a senior political science and policy studies major. His column appears biweekly. He can be reached at nturner@syr.edu.

Published on May 7, 2019 at 12:47 pm