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Chancellor Kent Syverud should support community grid option for replacing I-81

We the undersigned members of the Syracuse University community urge Chancellor Kent Syverud, on behalf of Syracuse University, to make a public statement in support of the community grid option for replacing the I-81 viaduct in Syracuse.

The I-81 project is the defining public works and economic development project of the next several decades in central New York and will shape the future of the city and the entire region. Independent analyses and case studies from other cities demonstrate that, by every meaningful measure, the community grid is the best option.

  •        Economic growth. The grid would revitalize an underutilized section of downtown, with mixed-use, mixed-income, and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. It would open acres of land for redevelopment, adding (by conservative estimates) $1.5 billion of real estate to the city’s tax rolls.
  •        Environmental impact. The grid would disperse pollution from traffic that is now concentrated in one neighborhood with resultant high asthma rates. It would also be more sustainable than a tunnel, requiring less energy to operate and less maintenance to upkeep.
  •        Racial justice. The grid would reunite segregated neighborhoods and bring economic opportunity to the communities of color decimated by the construction of the elevated highway.
  •        Expense and time. The grid is the least expensive plan and would take the shortest amount of time to complete of all the options under consideration.

As one of central New York’s largest employers, anchor institutions and community partners, Syracuse University has a civic and economic responsibility to use its standing and expertise to advance the best opportunities for the region. We, therefore, ask Chancellor Syverud and Syracuse University to issue a statement of support for the community grid now.

Signed,

  1. Thomas M. Keck, Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  2. Mark Rupert, Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  3. Gretchen Purser, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  4. Coran Klaver, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  5. Susan Edmunds, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  6. Roger Hallas, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  7. Dana Spiotta, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  8. Jennifer Stromer-Galley, Professor, School of Information Studies
  9. Beth A. Ferri, Professor, School of Education
  10. Joanne Punzo Waghorne, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  11. Douglas Quin, Associate Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  12. Lisa Kuerbis, Syracuse University Press
  13. Jules Gibbs, Part-time Faculty, College of Arts and Sciences
  14. Bruce Smith, Professor, Department of English
  15. Ken Frieden, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  16. Dana Cloud, Professor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  17. Shane Lavalette, Director, Light Work, Coalition of Museums and Art Centers
  18. Eric van der Vort, Ph.D. candidate, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  19. Jeffrey Pu, Master of Public Administration, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs 2016-2017
  20. Matilde Mateo, Associate Research Professor, Department of Art and Music Histories, A&Sl
  21. Kicia Sers, Program Evaluation Manager, Institute for Veterans and Military Families
  22. Amanda Eubanks Winkler, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  23. Brian Taylor, Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  24. Tod Rutherford, Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  25. Tom Sherman, Professor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  26. Margaret Susan Thompson, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  27. Tula Goenka, Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  28. Renée Stevens, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  29. Matt Huber, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  30. George Saunders, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  31. Steven Blusk, Professor, Department of Physics
  32. Keith Giglio, Associate Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  33. Mike Davis, Alexia Chair, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  34. James Tsao, Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  35. Harriet Brown, Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  36. Anne Mosher, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  37. Joe Gorsuch, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Master of Public Administration Student
  38. Patricia Moody, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  39. Elizabeth F Cohen, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  40. Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Distinguished Professor, Women’s and Gender Studies
  41. Amy Schrager Lang, Emerita, Department of English
  42. Dylan Otts, Preparator, SU Art Galleries
  43. Annabel Hine Otts, alumna, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  44. Micere Githae Mugo, Emeritus Prof. of Teaching Excellence, African American Studies
  45. Janet Flores, ‘18 and Food Studies Research Assistant, College of Arts and Sciences, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  46. Susan Wadley, Ford Maxwell Prof of South Asia, Anthropology, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  47. John Burdick, Professor, Anthropology
  48. Amy Kallander, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  49. Jackie Orr, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  50. Stephen Christopher Johnson, Alumnus, Anthropology department
  51. Paul Prescott, College of Arts and Sciences
  52. Melissa Chessher, Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  53. Erin Rand, Associate Professor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  54. Douglas Wolf, Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  55. Sam Norton, MFT 2020, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
  56. Shannon Novak, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  57. Diane Grimes, Associate Professor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  58. Jocelyn Killmer, Ph.D. Candidate, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  59. Jennifer L. Wilkins, Daina E., Professor of Practice; Public Health, Food and Nutrition; David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
  60. Ryan Bince, Staff, College of Arts and Sciences
  61. Kelly K. Needham, Staff, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  62. Renee de Nevers, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  63. Anneka Herre, Program Director, Light Work Urban Video Project, Coalition of Museum and Art Centers
  64. Sean M. Conrey, Associate Director, Syracuse University Project Advance
  65. Linda Carty, Associate Professor, African American Studies
  66. Chris Forster, Assistant Professor, English
  67. Katherine McDonald, Professor, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
  68. Evan Weissman, Assistant Professor, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
  69. Karina von Tippelskirch, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  70. Patrick MacDougall, Sr. Audio Engineer, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  71. Leslie Noble, adjunct instructor, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Department of Drama
  72. Tom Perreault, Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  73. Kishi Animashaun Ducre, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, College of Arts and Sciences
  74. Deborah Pellow, Professor, Anthropology, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  75. Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, Assistant Professor, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
  76. Erin Mooney, Class of 2020, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, College of Arts & Sciences
  77. BreeAnna Poshek, Class of 2019, School of Education.
  78. Fiona Chew, Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  79. Rebecca Ortiz, Assistant Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  80. William DeVito, Class of 2020, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  81. Gregory Mytelka, Class of 2020, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  82. Zachary Carr, Class of 2021, College of Arts and Sciences
  83. Chelsea Hurd, Class of 2019, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  84. Jackson Giampino, Class of 2019 M’20, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  85. Megan Wilcox, Class of 2018, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  86. Peter Levchuck, Class of 2019, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  87. Lauren Silverstein, Class of 2021, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  88. Benjamin McLaughlin, Class of 2020, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  89. Victoria Munley, Class of 2021, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  90. Lois Agnew, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
  91. Liam McMonagle, Class of 2020, S.I. Newhouse School Of Public Communications
  92. Gabriella Zingarini, Class of 2022, College of Arts and Sciences
  93. Pritika Seshadri, Class of 2021, College of Arts and Sciences
  94. Joseph Lawlor, Class of 2021, College of Arts and Sciences
  95. Kevin Brennan, Class of 2019, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  96. Collin Brown, Class of 2018, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
  97. Eric Thompson, Class of 2020, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  98. Christopher Kennedy, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  99. Lexi Sosa, Class 2021, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences
  100. Laura Bawol, Class of 2021, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  101. Jaden Dagenais, Class of 2022, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences
  102. Chanan Brown, J.D. Student, College of Law; M.A. Student, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  103. Maria Fantozzi, Class of 2021, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences
  104. Terese Gagnon, Ph.D. Candidate, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  105. Richard Tibbetts Jr., Class of 2020, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, College of Arts and Sciences
  106. James W. Watts, Professor, Department of Religion, College of Arts and Sciences
  107. Collin Jacobs, Class of 2017, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  108. Victoria Leonard, Class of 2020, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  109. Will Pritchett, Class of 2019, College of Arts and Sciences
  110. Aileen Gallagher, Associate Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  111. Peng Gao, Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  112. Susannah Sayler, Department of Transmedia
  113. Can Isik, Professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  114. Jane Read, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  115. Robert Wilson, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  116. Rebecca Schewe, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  117. Dennis Earle, Professor of Practice, School of Design
  118. Margaret Himley, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  119. Theodore Endreny, Professor, Department of Environmental Resources Engineering
  120. Lori A. Brown, Professor, School of Architecture
  121. Julie Larsen, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
  122. Lawrence Chua, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
  123. Jiong Abingo Wu, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
  124. Bess Krietemeyer, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
  125. Elizabeth Kamell, Associate Professor, School of Architecture
  126. Laura Heyman, Associate Professor, Department of Transmedia
  127. Greg Corso, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
  128. Andrew Molloy, Staff, School of Architecture
  129. Lauren Mintier, Staff, School of Architecture
  130. Lawrence Liberatore, Adjunct Professor, School of Architecture
  131. Sharon Dotger, Associate Professor, School of Education
  132. Caroline Cianci, Class of 2019, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  133. Brianna Yates, Class of 2020, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  134. Andy Torres-Lopez, Class of 2021, Setnor School of Music, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
  135. Caitlyn Krueger, Class of 2021, Setnor School of Music
  136. MaryKate Krege, Class of 2022, School of Architecture
  137. Yasmine Chahine Class of 2021, College of Arts and Sciences
  138. David Robusto, Class of 2019, School of Information Studies, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  1.           Noah Goldmann, Class of 2021, College of Arts and Sciences
  2.           Chloe Mathieu, Class of 2020, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  3.           Evan Lewis, Class of 2019, College of Arts and Sciences
  4.           Mackenzie Mertikas, Class of 2020, College of Arts and Sciences
  5.           Joseph Godlewski, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
  6.           Marta Polosky, Class of 2021, School of Education
  7.           Courtney Dunaway, Class of 2021, School of Education
  8.           Katie Kingston, Class of 2021, School of Education
  9.           Bella Dell’Amore, Class of 2021, School of Education
  10.           Lawrence C. Davis, Undergrad Chair, School of Architecture.
  11.           Quincy Nolan, Class of 2019, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  12.           Barbara Opar, Librarian for Architecture, Syracuse University Libraries
  13.           S. Ann Skiold, Art Librarian, Syracuse University Libraries
  14.           Lilly Umana, Class of 2021, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
  15.           Ellen Legg, Class of 2020, School of Education
  16.           Leysa Broderick, Class of 2020, School of Education
  17.           Maeghan Higgins, Class of 2020, School of Education
  18.           Austin Kriews, Class of 2019, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Information Studies
  19.           Lydia Wasylenko, Librarian for Citizenship & Humanities, Syracuse University Libraries
  20.           Ghufran Salih, President of Student Association, Class of 2020, School of Information Studies
  21.           Caitlin Charles, Class of 2020, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  22.           Salwa EL-Hindi, Class of 2020, School of Education

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