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Development in and Around Syracuse Discussion

Columbus had nothing to do with Syracuse and CNY . He explored for Spain and was responsible for genocide of native tribes. We should celebrate our indigenous history. The statue can go to the Knights of Columbus. Though they could pick a better choice to celebrate Italian heritage.
 
Columbus had nothing to do with Syracuse and CNY . He explored for Spain and was responsible for genocide of native tribes. We should celebrate our indigenous history. The statue can go to the Knights of Columbus. Though they could pick a better choice to celebrate Italian heritage.

Put up something recognizing Syracuse in Sicily - where the city’s name came from not a specific person. Maybe there’s an interesting back story behind why Syracuse was given the name.
 
Well, lawyers are involved now. No fair claims Pirro, the deck was stacked against them :rolleyes:


"Syracuse, N.Y. -- A group of Italian-Americans is exploring legal action to prevent Mayor Ben Walsh from removing the Columbus statue from its prominent location downtown.

The Columbus Monument Corp. has retained an attorney and will attempt to preserve the statue at its current location, according to Bob Gardino, the organization’s secretary.

Former Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro said the decision to remove the statue is more about politics than history. He said Columbus is often blamed for atrocities of others after he first sailed to the Americas.

...

Pirro is part of the Columbus Monument Corporation and was also a member of the action group appointed by Walsh to discuss the future of the statue. He said the action group didn’t give fair consideration to proposed compromises that would have kept the statue where it is while still honoring Native Americans.

“Right from the beginning we said it was a stacked committee, and it was,” Pirro said. “It was clear the decision was made long before we even started."
 
He enslaved and mutilated Indigenous peoples

When Columbus first set foot on Hispaniola, he encountered a population of Indigenous peoples called the Taino. A friendly group, they willingly traded jewelry, animals, and supplies with the sailors. “They were very well built, with very handsome bodies and very good faces,” Columbus wrote in his diary. “They do not carry arms or know them...They should be good servants.” The Indigenous peoples were soon forced into slavery, and punished with the loss of a limb or death if they did not collect enough gold (a portion of which Columbus was allowed to keep for himself). Between the European’s brutal treatment and their infectious diseases, within decades, the Taino population was decimated.
He was arrested by the Spanish Government

In 1499, the Spanish monarchs got wind of the mistreatment of Spanish colonists in Hispaniola, including the flogging and executions without trial. Columbus, who was governor of the territory, was arrested, chained up, and brought back to Spain. Although some of the charges may have been manufactured by his political enemies, Columbus admitted to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that many of the accusations were true. Columbus was stripped of his title as governor.


Was Christopher Columbus a Hero or Villain?
 
He enslaved and mutilated Indigenous peoples

When Columbus first set foot on Hispaniola, he encountered a population of Indigenous peoples called the Taino. A friendly group, they willingly traded jewelry, animals, and supplies with the sailors. “They were very well built, with very handsome bodies and very good faces,” Columbus wrote in his diary. “They do not carry arms or know them...They should be good servants.” The Indigenous peoples were soon forced into slavery, and punished with the loss of a limb or death if they did not collect enough gold (a portion of which Columbus was allowed to keep for himself). Between the European’s brutal treatment and their infectious diseases, within decades, the Taino population was decimated.
He was arrested by the Spanish Government

In 1499, the Spanish monarchs got wind of the mistreatment of Spanish colonists in Hispaniola, including the flogging and executions without trial. Columbus, who was governor of the territory, was arrested, chained up, and brought back to Spain. Although some of the charges may have been manufactured by his political enemies, Columbus admitted to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that many of the accusations were true. Columbus was stripped of his title as governor.


Was Christopher Columbus a Hero or Villain?
exactly. Thanks for posting that reminder
 
I'm going with Sinatra Circle.
These guys!
D4C8D4A1-D21A-42B5-A13D-152206725D2C.jpeg
 
That is ridiculous. I mean, aren't we worried that this could lead to a slippery slope of suddenly removing the statues of ALL explorers who were responsible for genocide? Where would that leave us as a society?

Don’t you dare come after my Vasco de Gama statue!
 
Well, lawyers are involved now. No fair claims Pirro, the deck was stacked against them :rolleyes:


"Syracuse, N.Y. -- A group of Italian-Americans is exploring legal action to prevent Mayor Ben Walsh from removing the Columbus statue from its prominent location downtown.

The Columbus Monument Corp. has retained an attorney and will attempt to preserve the statue at its current location, according to Bob Gardino, the organization’s secretary.

Former Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro said the decision to remove the statue is more about politics than history. He said Columbus is often blamed for atrocities of others after he first sailed to the Americas.

...

Pirro is part of the Columbus Monument Corporation and was also a member of the action group appointed by Walsh to discuss the future of the statue. He said the action group didn’t give fair consideration to proposed compromises that would have kept the statue where it is while still honoring Native Americans.

“Right from the beginning we said it was a stacked committee, and it was,” Pirro said. “It was clear the decision was made long before we even started."

What a bunch of losers.

If push came to shove, I'd favor keeping the statue as is. But those old bastards are the worst.
 
So while one offensive symbol comes down, another goes up?

Edit: I'm pretty indifferent on the Columbus thing, but screw Chik Fil A.


The whole Columbus Day celebration was started around the time of WWI, when Italian immigrants were subject to some awful racism, like the Irish before them in the middle 1800s. Columbus Day was intended (especially after their service in The Great War) to make them feel more included and integrated into American society. Columbus Day was originally a day to expand the notion of our nation's Great Melting Pot.

Now, we are in a different place as a society, 100 years later. Native people deserve respect, especially here in CNY, where the Haudenosaunee were the creators of the First Democracy in America - more inclusive, in fact, than what the White Man came up with in our own Constitution. For example - women had not only "equal" rights, they were the heads of all the families. There was no favoritism among the Five Nations (later Six) - no "3/5's of a person" stuff. They were all equal in the eyes of the Creator.

I hope the statue is one of Hiawatha. If you've never gone up to the second floor of the State Courthouse, directly across from Columbus Circle, there are some magnificent murals of Hiawatha, the French priests and explorers meeting the Onondaga and our local history "founding story". It would be a great tribute.
 
The whole Columbus Day celebration was started around the time of WWI, when Italian immigrants were subject to some awful racism, like the Irish before them in the middle 1800s. Columbus Day was intended (especially after their service in The Great War) to make them feel more included and integrated into American society. Columbus Day was originally a day to expand the notion of our nation's Great Melting Pot.

Now, we are in a different place as a society, 100 years later. Native people deserve respect, especially here in CNY, where the Haudenosaunee were the creators of the First Democracy in America - more inclusive, in fact, than what the White Man came up with in our own Constitution. For example - women had not only "equal" rights, they were the heads of all the families. There was no favoritism among the Five Nations (later Six) - no "3/5's of a person" stuff. They were all equal in the eyes of the Creator.

I hope the statue is one of Hiawatha. If you've never gone up to the second floor of the State Courthouse, directly across from Columbus Circle, there are some magnificent murals of Hiawatha, the French priests and explorers meeting the Onondaga and our local history "founding story". It would be a great tribute.

I thought about something featuring Simon Le Moyne and the Onondaga, but I suppose that doesn't stick with the theme of honoring Italian Americans.
 
I thought about something featuring Simon Le Moyne and the Onondaga, but I suppose that doesn't stick with the theme of honoring Italian Americans.


I think trying to still keep the "Italian Theme" with the replacement statue is a bad idea. I get it politically, but aesthetically and in terms of posterity, it's better for a clean break.

Another reason to advocate for Hiawatha, in particular. It's a story about The Original Democracy, in a purer state than we have today. It was started right here in Central New York, just like so much other important history - the Women's Movement, the Underground Railroad, the salt industry, the Erie Canal - we were The Road West for the settlement of the frontier for 50 years, until the railroads came through.

There is so much history in CNY. Whatever the replacement tribute is, it should be about CNY, not generic "Italian-ness". I'm sure we could find some important people of Italian descent in Syracuse history, if someone wants to research it.
 
Hmmm great news for the Inner Harbor but bad news for downtown.

I wonder if the Tower downtown will be able to find a new tenant or maybe build out apartments?

Yeah, it appears as though OttoMets fears of the Inner Harbor turning into a glorified office park are coming true.
 
Glad this building will be renovated. I object to using the term "Syracuse Flatiron Building" though, when the Granger Block building downtown clearly fits that title much better.


 
Hope money continues to flow into the North Salina St area, has a lot of potential
 
Glad this building will be renovated. I object to using the term "Syracuse Flatiron Building" though, when the Granger Block building downtown clearly fits that title much better.


I was just looking at that building a couple of weeks ago when I was getting my hair done at the salon next to Francesca's. I was lamenting that it was vacant and really hasn't been in great shape for quite some time. But what a beautiful building to redo and bring up to date. I wouldn't mind having an apartment there. Glad to read this today, one little ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak day.
 

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