Walt Shepperd is a veteran of Central New York's political scuffle, having covered government and politics in Syracuse for more than four decades before being asked for press credentials.
He is the Senior Editor of the City Eagle and the Mayor of Montgomery Street in downtown Syracuse.
Shepperd is also the producer of the The Media Unit, Central New York national award winning teen performance and production troupe.
Samadee is his alter ego. At least that's the rumor.
Five months before the calendar turned to the year of the fabled space odyssey, the Senior Editor began a series of excursions through the world surrounding the upcoming open race for mayor. A gaggle of local pols announced their intentions to fill the void most felt had been created by a stagnant second term under the administration of Republican Roy Bernardi, who had trailed in the polls by 24 points going into the 1993 general election, but triumphed when, after a nasty primary, the Democrats played the Italian card at the voting booths but played the Irish card by staying home...
This is the Syracuse that Carmen Harlow remembers.
On an evening at Shenanigan’s when the bartenders outnumber the customers, the discussion turns apolitical. “I don’t vote,” one says, sharing feelings of guilt, but being reassured by another that democracy means the right to the choice of nonparticipation. But reflections on the economics of the business reveal a factor this year’s mayoral candidates may need to take into consideration. The economics of the business are clear. Tips are down.
“People aren’t going out for a beer after work,” the nonvoter says. “There’s big turnouts for events, like Taste of Syracuse or St. Patrick’s Day, but on normal nights they’re staying home.”
Then, whether from jobs lost or in danger, or the dollar’s inability to stretch to cover social mobility, a consensus emerges...
TAGS: carmen Harlow,city of syracuse,mayor of syracuse,bernardi,driscoll,Jennifer Daniels,Opportunity to Ballot for the lines of the Working Families,Liberal,Conservative,Independence Parties,syracuse politics
For Samadee, the Friday evening stroll east on Genesee Street started getting nostalgic at Samir’s, where, back in the day he had been a regular customer for dried apricots and Bulgarian feta cheese. Then the corner of Irving, and visions of the original Phoebe’s, reigned over by its namesake as a neighborhood tavern for the old 15th Ward.
Weekends showcased bands like Black Hammer or Anubis, now distant memories among Central New York’s musical legends. On a single evening the ersatz stage might hold Bobby Hamilton, Marcus Curry, Larry Ellis and George Reed or Dexter Dixon in the same rhythm...
TAGS: Samadee,syracuse stage,dolce vita,stella,martinis,Black Hammer,Anubis,Bobby Hamilton, Marcus Curry, Larry Ellis,George Reed,Dexter Dixon,Phoebe's Garden Cafe, East Genesee Street
