Photo: Tony Shi Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens announced the creation of a new nightlife coordinator position during her first State of the City address on Thursday (January 30), aiming to make the city more inviting for young adults.
The position, sometimes referred to as a "night mayor," will be part of a broader strategy to convince young people to become lifelong residents of Syracuse. The full-time role will be funded through the city's budget and will involve working with key nightlife stakeholders across all parts of the city.
"That population wants a place in Syracuse," Owens told syracuse.com. "They see the possibilities of Syracuse and want to know where their space is."
The initiative was inspired partly by Owens' 35-year-old daughter Simone's experiences as a young professional in the city. "When I think about the young people my daughter's age, they want variety and they don't feel there's enough variety," Owens explained.
Syracuse joins several larger U.S. cities and international locations that have created similar positions to manage the unique challenges and opportunities cities experience beyond normal business hours. These "night mayors" typically build relationships with night-oriented business owners, residents in surrounding neighborhoods, and patrons.
The nightlife coordinator position emerged from recommendations by Owens' "GenNEXT" mayoral transition committee, which engaged with over 100 young people ranging from teens to those in their 30s.
During her address at Nottingham High School, Owens also announced plans to create two new e-gaming and podcast studio spaces in city community centers and a goal to bring a portable roller-skating rink to Clinton Square in summer, complementing the ice rink that operates there in winter.
These initiatives are part of Owens' broader vision for Syracuse, which she described as "growing, diverse, and ripe with opportunities for all." Her address outlined priorities including affordable housing, public safety, economic development, and financial stability.
"Our past is our foundation, our vision will be our legacy," Owens said. "And that vision is clear: a fiscally stable City, a Syracuse that leads, a Syracuse where every person has a place to live, work and play."