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

139.           Noah Goldmann, Class of 2021, College of Arts and Sciences
140.           Chloe Mathieu, Class of 2020, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
141.           Evan Lewis, Class of 2019, College of Arts and Sciences
142.           Mackenzie Mertikas, Class of 2020, College of Arts and Sciences
143.           Joseph Godlewski, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
144.           Marta Polosky, Class of 2021, School of Education
145.           Courtney Dunaway, Class of 2021, School of Education
146.           Katie Kingston, Class of 2021, School of Education
147.           Bella Dell’Amore, Class of 2021, School of Education
148.           Lawrence C. Davis, Undergrad Chair, School of Architecture.
149.           Quincy Nolan, Class of 2019, College of Visual and Performing Arts
150.           Barbara Opar, Librarian for Architecture, Syracuse University Libraries
151.           S. Ann Skiold, Art Librarian, Syracuse University Libraries
152.           Lilly Umana, Class of 2021, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
153.           Ellen Legg, Class of 2020, School of Education
154.           Leysa Broderick, Class of 2020, School of Education
155.           Maeghan Higgins, Class of 2020, School of Education
156.           Austin Kriews, Class of 2019, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Information Studies
157.           Lydia Wasylenko, Librarian for Citizenship & Humanities, Syracuse University Libraries
158.           Ghufran Salih, President of Student Association, Class of 2020, School of Information Studies
159.           Caitlin Charles, Class of 2020, College of Visual and Performing Arts
160.           Salwa EL-Hindi, Class of 2020, School of Education