free
TUESDAY
april 10, 2018 high 43°, low 27°
t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k |
N • Spending plans
Here’s how the Student Association presidential candidates want Syracuse University to spend money raised by the Invest Syracuse initiative. Page 3
O • It’s complicated
Gender and Sexuality columnist C.C. Hendricks addresses sexuality-directed criticism toward Cynthia Nixon in her run for New York state governor. Page 5
dailyorange.com
P • Clean and green
A student-run public relations firm has partnered with Salon Amare to manage its social media and host a contest for discounted blowouts for SU sororities. Page 7
S • In good hands
After taking over the job from Bradley Voigt, David Lipka — the resident handshake guy — keeps the Syracuse men’s lacrosse team loose before games. Page 16
city
Graduate students protest insurance plan
Mayor’s 1st budget keeps tax rate flat By Casey Darnell design editor
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh plans to keep the city’s property tax rate flat, cut spending and freeze hiring in his first budget proposal as mayor. Walsh pres ent e d his 2018-19 budget at Monday ’s meeting of the Common CounWALSH cil. The budget includes a freeze on hiring and salary increases not included in the budget, as well as $2.8 million in cuts to departmental spending. The cuts, combined with $11 million from the city’s reserves, will allow the city to set aside funds for hiring new police officers and firefighters.
Syracuse University community members gathered at Hendricks Chapel on Monday afternoon to protest a graduate student health care plan recently passed by the Graduate Student Organization. hieu nguyen asst. photo editor
GSO passed the resolution with 24 representatives in favor. About 50 Syracuse UniverBefore the Monday rally, sity community members Terese Gagnon, a graduate stuprotested on the steps of dent in the Maxwell School of Hendricks Chapel MonCitizenship and Public Affairs, day afternoon to speak out said SGEU wanted collective against a new graduate stubargaining in the health care dent health care plan passed decision. SGEU, as a unionized by the Graduate Student group, would have legal power Organization last week. to bargain, but GSO can only Syracuse Graduate bargain as much as SU dictates. Employees United, a group of Brian Hennigan, another graduate student employees graduate student who helped who opposed the new plan organize the rally, said stuand are pushing to unionize, dents want to show their disorganized the protest. satisfaction with not only the “Regardless of whatever health care plan, but how little Peter Vanable’s emails say, they have been told about it. this plan is worse,” said SGEU wants to broaden the Brandon Daniels, a graduate debate, he said. student. Vanable is dean of SU’s new insurance plan is expected to reduce health care costs, At the rally, people held signs administrators have said. hieu nguyen asst. photo editor that read, “24 votes impacted the graduate school. GSO representatives, at 1,200 lives.” Various faculty and their meeting last week, passed a resolution to switch to a cheaper students, both undergraduate and graduate, spoke at the rally. health insurance plan. The new plan would reduce the cost of graduJoyce Kim, an undergraduate student, voiced concerns about the ate assistant health care coverage by $994, according to a factsheet rising tuition costs and how SU will spend $100 million it plans to distributed by university administrators. A graduate assistant with raise through the five-year Invest Syracuse initiative. She added that, a spouse or partner also on their health care plan would save $1,057, instead of adding new resources and renovations, the school should according to the sheet. A graduate assistant with a child would save focus on giving pay raises to professors and faculty. $653 and a graduate assistant with a family would save $717 under “This initiative is going to cost $100 million, and we don’t know the new plan, per the sheet. see protest page 4 By Catherine Leffert asst. news editor
$11
MILLION Expected city budget deficit under Mayor Ben Walsh’s Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget proposal
“The significant challenges our city faces will not be addressed in a single year. We need a long-term strategy, so this budget is really the first in a multi-year plan,” Walsh said at the meeting. The total proposed budget spending is $245 million, excluding funding for the Syracuse City School District. That’s more than $3 million less than last year’s budget. The city was expected to run a $16.5 million deficit, but Walsh’s budget puts next year’s deficit at $11 million. “The good news is that’s lower than some early predictions, but the bad news is it’s unsustainable” Walsh said in an interview with The Daily Orange on Monday afternoon. “We know we cannot continue to operate at a deficit, but we think that we’re putting the right pieces in places to work towards eliminating that deficit.” Walsh said he will seek assistance from the Financial Restructuring Board, a state panel that provides non-binding consultation to cities that are struggling financially. Working with the FRB allows the city to apply for $5 million in grants to implement see budget page 4