January 26th Update from Legislator Maurice Brown

January 26th 2026

Ways and Means Committee Preview

On Tuesday January 27th, the Ways and Means Committee of the Onondaga County Legislature meets again and we have a full agenda. The packet includes several important authorizations and reports for us to review on the fiscal side. The committee continues to be the primary venue where the Legislature evaluates how our policy decisions translate into actual spending and long term financial obligations. I take that responsibility very seriously and welcome residents to take a look at the materials themselves. The full packet is linked below so the public can see exactly what we see before we vote.

Agenda packet: onondaga.gov/legislature/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2026/01/WM-Agenda-Packet-1.27.2026.pdf

County Executive McMahon and the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

I want to start by thanking County Executive Ryan McMahon for coming out against ICE enforcement in Onondaga County. Our county should be a place where immigrant families can build stable lives without fear. The County Executive’s public statement somewhat reinforces that message and lightly signals that we are not interested in going above and beyond to aid federal enforcement activities that undermine community trust or destabilize households. Although this was a very weak statement, it is important for leaders to take some kind of responsibility for their working with ICE, and I appreciate that it was said.

At the same time, there are still open questions that matter for transparency, particularly around the role of the Probation Department and how prior interactions with ICE were handled.

I continue to ask:

  • What coordination looked like in practice?

  • What information was shared?

  • Under what authority that sharing occurred?

If county leadership is not coordinating with ICE today, that is important to know. If coordination has happened in the past, the public deserves clarity about the scope, purpose, and policy standards involved. A clear explanation would strengthen community trust and bring our actions in line with our values of welcoming immigrant neighbors into Onondaga County.

Ian Phillips is in the Race

There is movement on the state legislative front as Former Auburn School Board President, Ian Phillips has officially launched his campaign for NY Assembly. For those who have followed education policy, budget debates, and organizing in Central New York, Ian is not a mystery figure. He enters the race with name recognition, policy fluency, and a clear appetite to engage voters on the issues. His entrance changes the dynamic in that district and will force a real conversation on schools, affordability, and state investment.

Dave Knapp Steps Out

On the Republican side, former County Legislature Chair David Knapp has ended his bid for the Assembly. Knapp had long been a known quantity in county politics so his exit creates room for the Republican incumbent to by default get those votes instead of having to earn them.

I am somewhat disappointed in his decision, I thought he had a skillset that would’ve worked well in Albany. Even though his caucus is interested in name calling, he’s never been one for those things. I’ve known him to be fair, and a strident support of Lafayette's Applefest. This latest announcement does give me questions about his political courage. I do think there was heavy pressure on him from the incumbent; however, I don’t know if “standing down to party peer pressure,” is the trait I look for in my elected officials.

This is also yet another reminder that we are entering what will be an unusually volatile election cycle across Central New York. It’s a part of the reason my exploration is entering into it’s second month. You can’t predict retirements, new challengers, and major statewide programs are all colliding at once. You want to prepare for as much as possible, but I’d rather evaluate those things before I get my entire community worked up to run a 100k primary campaign.

As we move into petition season, residents should expect campaign announcements, withdrawals, and news clips almost weekly throughout the spring.

Still Exploring a Run for Assembly

On the Assembly Campaign front, I have unofficially qualified for public matching. This was not a small task. It required disciplined fundraising, strong community support, and a lot of follow up. I want to thank every supporter who believed in the work we are doing in Syracuse and the work we are doing for Central New York. It needs to be officially verified by the state of New York, but going forward, thanks to this program, my fundraising will be focused on residents in the district, here in our Syracuse community.

I have completed my questionnaire and am working to get a date for my Working Families Party interview. I appreciate the seriousness with which they approach candidate vetting. I am a member of the local chapter; however, as a candidate for State office, I am subject to the process

Qualifying for matching is only one milestone in a much longer process. It sends a message that our campaign is viable, organized, and grounded in real people who invested early. That is the core of public financing and I am proud of everyone who helped us get there.

Another update from the race, Assemblyman Magnarelli is hiring a Campaign Manager. For those paying attention, I have now apparently entered the economic development business because my presence in this race is generating an elite employment opportunity. That is a mild joke, but it also highlights that campaigns are real organizations with payrolls, deliverables, and professional workstreams. Politics is not just debates and yard signs. It is project management, communications, field operations, finance discipline, and data.

I am glad to see a competitive race coming together because competition forces improvement and improvement benefits the public..

Commissioner Billue Fights Back

I could not post this without speaking on the injustice before commissioner Twiggy Billue. Most recent updates are the news that Twiggy Billue will challenge her removal from the School Board. I’m not an expert; however, based on the conversations that took place on public record, I don’t think Twiggy should’ve been removed. I would challenge even if the school board voted to give her a reprimand as is suggested in the LTE above, but removal is entirely over the top. The process in itself hasn’t been handled the best either. Removal of an elected official, at any level, should always be done with clear rules, clear evidence, and clear communication with the public.

I will not editorialize on the merits here, but I will say that from a democratic perspective it matters that the community understands the process and feels that it was fair. I do not feel that bar has been met. Twiggy has been outspoken on education and equity for years and Syracuse families deserve to watch this unfold in daylight rather than in rumor.

Twiggy Billue should be on the Syracuse City School Board.

If you are interested in supporting Commissioner Billue’s reinstatement, please consider donating to her Legal Defense Fund.

Common Council Vacancy

The Syracuse Common Council may wait until summer to fill its vacant seat. This feels political, but I’m not privy to the discussion. I hope that more information will come out. I encourage those paying attention to stay engaged. Local representation is not something we can afford to leave unattended for half a year without scrutiny or explanation.

Closing Thoughts

Last week, a video was being circulated online that depicted an altercation between SPD officers and a black man. From what we can see on video, it appears that the officers escalated the situation and then used considerably excessive force in an effort to subdue him. There’s not much we can do about Syracuse Police from the office of the County Legislature; however, there was a Probation officer involved, and we are taking the steps to see if there’s anything we can do to ensure things like this never happen again.

Another story that developed within my facebook comments, was that a good majority of my friends has no idea what I was talking about. I wish Facebook had a mechanism to show you what your feed looked like at a given time, but I had seen the video about 4x before I even posted it. The video was sent to me directly by several community members, and there are people who live among us who had no idea this was happening. 

I posted about the idea that we really have two Syracuses. They coexist within the same municipal lines but experience completely different realities. In reality, there are probably far more than 2 Syracuse’s; however, it’s always jarring to me how close we live to each other while remaining so far from one another.

I want to live in a Syracuse that’s united. We’re a ways away from there, but I don’t want to give up on the idea that we can work together to achieve all our common goals.

A sincere thank you to the SIRDN

I want to take a moment to thank the Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network for their tireless work to protect and uplift our neighbors. Their efforts to provide safety, support, and legal protection for immigrants and refugees make our entire community stronger and more humane.

What we are witnessing in Minnesota is heartbreaking. It is clear that what President Trump has unleashed on the country is mayhem, and we are now seeing the very worst of it. Alex Pretti and Renee Good should be alive today.

There are groups around the country doing critical work like SIRDN. Today I want to specifically say, thank you for being a force for good right here in our community. Their commitment to justice and human dignity matters.

I also encourage everyone who cares about immigrant rights and community safety to attend SIRDN’s training on the 29th and learn how to get involved in supporting this work.