Inside the FLX

There are few things that frustrate people more than assessments. The process is complicated, and oftentimes, property owners assume that because their assessment is increasing by 5-10% that their property taxes will go up too. While that's sometimes the case, it's not universal. However, in recent years residents across the region have faced a very different problem: Assessments increasin...

When we spotlight local businesses on FingerLakes1.com one of the most-common questions we get from readers is "How do they do it?" Then when that feature hits social media, we'll see dozens of comments that read "Gee, I hope they can make it!" People are genuinely very curious about small businesses and their survival for two reason: First, because they fail at a higher-fr...

On Episode #490 of Inside the FLX we're talking with Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino about the proposed city budget, getting the latest on two key projects happening downtown, and zooming out - taking a look at AIM funding and housing affordability in the state budget. Check it out on YouTube, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the iHeart Radio app.

What’s happening at the Montezuma Audubon Center this month? On episode #489 of Inside the FLX we’re talking with Center Director Chris Lajewski. The spring migration is continuing, so we’re getting the latest update on that, as well as a rare sighting at the refuge! We’re also looking back at the solar eclipse, and ahead to some upcoming events at the Center in May.

On episode #488 of Inside the FLX we're joined by Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck who discusses the recent death of two police officers in Onondaga County over the weekend. He spoke about the grief and emotions officers deal with when an incident like this occurs, as well as the reality that in current climate - 'routine incidents' aren't so routine. Schenck says training is im...

How serious is the mental health crisis here in the Finger Lakes? The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year; and the U.S. has seen its spending on mental healthcare skyrocket over the last decade. On episode #487 of Inside the FLX we get some local perspective from Margaret Morse. She’s the director of community services for Seneca Count...

Coming up in just a few day the Seneca Housing Coalition will partner with dozens of agencies across the county and region for the third edition of its annual Housing Fair. The event, held during Fair Housing Month, aims to connect people to resources in the region as local, regional, and state leaders take aim at the growing housing crisis. An array of services will be available at the event, whi...

What are the biggest issues facing the City of Canandaigua as Council looks ahead to forging a new path for residents? The City Manager's strategic plan for 2024 outlines the most-crucial items - including housing, infrastructure, and attracting quality talent to the community. On this edition of Inside the FLX, we caught up with Mayor Bob Palumbo for his thoughts on the plan and what's fe...

On this episode of Inside the FLX we're joined by Geneva Mayor Steve Valentino to discuss the last month's action. We kicked off with the breaking news about Chief Matthew Colton's resignation, and get the Mayor's take on recent headlines including 5&20 construction, as well as concerns about prominent business closures like the Geneva Movieplex and Freihofer's discount bak...

What's being done to address the workforce shortage in the Finger Lakes? Unemployment rates are historically low. Most counties in the region reporting 3.5-4.25% jobless rates. That means employers are competing for a smaller pool of workers than ever before. Making matters worse, population decline has exacerbated the problem. For example, the National Institute for Health Care Management rep...

How is the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office preparing for the Total Solar Eclipse in less than two weeks? In our monthly chat with Sheriff Brian Schenck, we dive into the work his team is taking on to get ready for that weekend, as well as other initiatives - including training to keep up with the demands of the region's mental health crisis.

It's the end of the month and that means time for our regular chat with Montezuma Audubon Director Chris Lajewski, who joined us in-studio to talk all things birds. There are several events coming to the Audubon Center in Savannah, Wayne County this month, all of which provide parents, kids, and residents-at-large the opportunity to get involved with nature as the weather turns to spring.

Today on Inside the FLX we’re talking with Canandaigua Mayor Bob Palumbo after their March 7, 2024 meeting. While a resolution to move forward with a red light camera proposal won headlines — Mayor Palumbo discussed several other key issues — including a bonding resolution, the onboarding of an important city leader in public works, as well as housing and AIM funding.

Last month Geneva City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting for the month of March. And as part of our continued series connecting residents to local, elected leaders - Mayor Steve Valentino joined us via Zoom to discuss the biggest actions last night - including a unique paddlecraft pilot, reassessments that are due out next month, as well as changeover in the city clerk's office.

It's early-March and that means its time for our monthly chat with Montezuma Audubon Director Chris Lajewski. He's here to talk bird migration, the seasonal changes taking place at the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, as well as some upcoming events for people of all ages!

On Episode #477 of Inside the FLX we get an update from Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino on the first two months of his administration. He's taking part in a new series where we talk monthly with elected leaders about legislative action at the local level. Giannettino talks about how state budget issues could have an impact on small cities like Auburn, more than $1 million that's coming to C...

Geneva is set to discuss the creation of a ReUse Center aimed at reducing landfill waste during a public meeting on February 26 at the Geneva Community Center. The initiative, a collaboration between the City and Town of Geneva, seeks to repurpose items like electronics, construction materials, and repairable goods, offering them at low costs while preventing unnecessary waste. Jan Regan was recen...

Yates County Sheriff Frank Ryan is the first new leader of the sheriff's office there in more than three decades. What does it take to lead a department that's been headed by the same person since the early-1990s? We were joined by Sheriff Ryan for an exclusive conversation about his career in law enforcement, what brought him to leading the sheriff's office, and what he hopes to achie...

Educating people about the mental health crisis often feels academic. It's been labeled a crisis by experts who work in the field, but a new two-day training opportunity that's open to the public across the Finger Lakes hopes to bring it home. URMC Thompson Health is offering a mental health first aid training program. The goal is to help people identify the warning signs of someone dealin...

Deb Turner has led the Finger Lakes region's 211 Lifeline program for many years. It's a program dedicated to connecting people to services - dozens of them - across the region. She was in-studio this week to discuss the impact of the 211 program, it's evolution over the last decade, and how the pandemic permanently changed the world they serve.

Among the most-controversial items inside Governor Kathy Hochul's 2024-25 proposed state budget are massive cuts to school aid. Among the most-staggering cuts in the Finger Lakes - Penn Yan losing $2.2 million, Watkins Glen losing $1.9 million, or South Seneca losing 1.5 million.  This week we caught up with Hammondsport Superintendent Kyle Bower, who said his district stands to lose more than...

On Wednesday, February 7, Geneva City Council held it's monthly meeting. Mayor Steve Valentino said the agenda looked light from the outside, but explained a couple key actions taken by Council during that session. He also discussed upcoming work on the tunnel under 5&20, which is one of the last components of the city's Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and storm sewer work that wil...

When Summer Johnson ran for Marion Town Supervisor, she did so knowing that the community her family calls home needed someone dedicated. "I was called to action," Johnson said of her decision to run. In November, she was elected, and after being in office for a little more than a month - focus has shifted to finding ways to help better the community. Johnson left her full-time job to en...

After nearly two decades in the Auburn Enlarged City School District, Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo will retire in January. The announcement came earlier this month at a board of education meeting, in which he said it was time for new leadership. On Tuesday, Pirozzolo was in-studio, reflecting on a lengthy career in education, and the work ahead to guide the district through this transitional peri...

Today we kick off a new series featuring monthly one-on-one conversations with elected leaders from around the Finger Lakes and Central New York. Aileen McNabb-Coleman was re-elected to a new term last fall, and during the Cayuga County Legislature's reorganizational meeting - chosen by her peers to serve as chairperson through 2024. She joined us on Monday to discuss the biggest headlines of...