Mayor's Message, September 2025: Being An American Small City (Special Message)

Everything else

The mayor’s argument

• The mayor writes that America drew immigrants who wanted to form communities where they could think, worship, and make their own laws without reprisal, and that those groups came to tolerate each other because they were unified in seeking freedom. Sources: Page 1
• He borrows “first, do no harm” from the Hippocratic Oath: if you do not care for a business, do not go, but do not call for its demise; if you cannot support someone’s ideology, do not rally with them, but do not gather others to threaten them. Sources: Page 1
• He distinguishes that from civil objection. Residents who dislike what City Hall is doing with laws can express opposition through civil discourse, and can elect others if they are unhappy with the response, but he writes that “you can’t un-elect neighbors.” Sources: Page 1
• He writes that Syracuse’s real strength is being small enough that people still know their neighbors and some share generational history, while being big enough to welcome newcomers and to attract large and small businesses. Sources: Page 2
• He asks residents to look for bright spots, thank people, share praise, and wish prosperity on people they disagree with, noting social media has made criticism the easier habit. Sources: Page 2

Dates and figures mentioned

• The message notes the city is less than a year from the celebration of 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed and sent to King George III. Sources: Page 1

Contact

• Mayor Dave Maughan lists his email as [email protected] and his phone as 801-927-7752. Sources: Page 1

Unofficial digest of a city newsletter. The official version is linked below.