Here are four stories from around New York, including airport renovations and a blockbuster movie filming, that you may have missed from this weekend.

Lawmakers, residents pressure Rep. John Katko over I-81

Residents and lawmakers attended a town hall that Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) hosted at Fowler High School in Syracuse to discuss replacement options for Interstate 81’s aging viaduct.

Mayor Ben Walsh and state Sens. Rachel May (D-Syracuse) and Bob Antonacci (R-50th district) attended the event. Walsh publicly voiced his support for the community grid at the meeting, once more.

Residents in support of a community grid said that the $1.3 billion grid option will minimize cost and integrate separated communities in Syracuse. Those who support rebuilding the viaduct said that removing the highway would harm businesses and reduce tax revenue.

Central New York airport funding

Syracuse Hancock International Airport will receive $338,000 in state funding to construct a new storage facility, according to CNYCentral.

The funding comes from the $23.6 million New York Gov.Andrew Cuomo (D)set aside for 31 airports across the state. Cuomo also announced $1.5 million in infrastructure funding for four airports in central New York, per CNY Central.

Other airports that are receiving state funding include Chase Field Airport in Cortland County, Oswego County Airport and Skaneateles Aerodrome Airport in Onondaga County, according to CNYCentral.

Other renovations to modernize Syracuse’s airport were completed in late October, according to WSYR.com.The airport underwent $60 millionin renovations, which included a glass wall, waterfall and grand staircase, Syracuse.comreported.

The project, which took eight months to complete, also made changes to the outside of the facility, WSYR.comreported.

Bill proposed to divide New York state

New York state Sen. Daphne Jordan (R-43rd) introduced a billlast week that would study the feasibility of dividing New York into two separate states.

The possible divide, which would split upstate New York from downstate, would be studied by a 15-person working group. Thomas DiNapoli, the state’s comptroller, would lead the study, according to ABC News.

Downstate New York includes the entirety of New York City, as well as Rockland, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties. The state’s 53 remaining counties would be part of upstate New York, ABC News reported.

 “…One set of distinctions is abundantly clear, both on paper and in the minds of New Yorkers – that there is an “upset” region and a “downstate” region, and that these two regions have extremely divergent political and social views,” a justification of the bill said.

Jordan, elected in November 2018, was a member of the Halfmoon Town Board in Saratoga County before taking office as a state senator.

Published on February 24, 2019 at 8:20 pm

Contact Gabe: gkstern@syr.edu | @gabestern326