Gubernatorial candidate Antonio Delgado makes campaign stop in Syracuse

As Gov. Kathy Hochul presented the State of the State address in Albany on Tuesday, her gubernatorial race opponent, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, spoke to local Syracuse leaders at Cafe Sankofa Cooperative, a community space for Syracuse’s Southside. 

The stop was part of Delgado’s “State of the People” campaign tour, and was counter-programming Gov. Hochul’s speech in the state capital as he prepares to challenge her in the Democratic primary this June. The conversation at Cafe Sankofa was sparsely attended by seven community members, including activists, representatives from InterFaith Works of Central New York and Onondaga County legislator Maurice “Mo” Brown, who represents much of Syracuse’s Southside and University Neighborhood. 

The conversation between Delgado and community representatives touched on topics of lead in drinking water, communities in need of support, the New York for All Act and increased funding for senior citizen programs. 

Delgado said what he learned most from listening to Central New York community members is that there is a “real need” in Syracuse. 

“Our communities here in Syracuse are hurting, our children are impoverished,” Delgado said.

Delgado highlighted that Syracuse’s Asian community is struggling economically and needs support.

“There’s just an economic set of challenges here that are persistent and I think in this conversation were reflected,” Delgado said.

Mayor Sharon Owens endorsed Hochul for re-election hours before Delgado’s roundtable. 

Photo by Alec Sturm

Antonio Delgado listens to community members speak at Sankofa Cafe during “State of The People” tour.

Delgado condemned Gov. Hochul and said he believes her State of the State message lacked a “commitment to boldness.” He also criticized the governor for not passing the New York for All Act, which would ban local police departments from cooperating with ICE. Specifically, it would ban 287(g) agreements, which allow the federal government to use local law enforcement to carry out civil immigration enforcement. 

“She could sign legislation that would ban 287(g) agreements, and she has chosen, at least up to this point, to not express support for doing that,” Delgado said. “I have.”  

Even though Delgado said he supports abolishing ICE during the roundtable, he chose to instead focus his immigration-based critiques of the governor on the proposed legislation. 

“She didn’t even talk about New York for All — which doesn’t even call for [abolishing ICE],” Delgado said. “We couldn’t even get a conversation about banning masks on ICE agents. So, let’s just start with the steps that we can take, and the steps that we can do in New York.” 

Delgado will continue his campaign this week with upcoming stops in Buffalo and New York City, having already visited Utica and Cayuga County.