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Renewed political debate continues over Christopher Columbus and the explorer’s legacy. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh is detailing plans to move forward with the removal of the statue at Columbus Circle. Walsh says the city is assembling a task force of Italian-Americans to decide how to respectfully relocate it. “As painful as it’s been at times, it’s...

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Former county executive Nick Pirro is the vice president of the Columbus Monument Corporation. The group is continuing to push back on Mayor Ben Walsh's decision to remove the statue, which Pirro sees as a symbol of Italian American pride. Who owns this area that the monument sits on and who owns the monument? That's a good question. We have not be...

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Last year, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh invited community members and others to participate in a dialogue about the Columbus statue and monument. One of the outcomes was a decision to remove the statue. I strongly agree with the mayor’s decision to remove the Columbus statue. This decision has upset some Italian-Americans in our community, understandab...

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A group of politically powerful Columbus statue supporters have ramped up their fight against Mayor Ben Walsh, who last year announced he will remove the Christopher Columbus statue from downtown Syracuse. The Columbus Monument Corporation sent letters to leaders of every permanent political party in Syracuse in recent weeks. Those letters outlined...

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A group of people who oppose removing the statue of Christopher Columbus from downtown have filed legal papers announcing their intention to sue to block the city’s plans. The “notice of intent” was filed with the city on Friday, according to Nicholas Pirro, a former Onondaga County Executive who’s also part of the Columbus Monument Corporation tha...

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As the Columbus Monument Corporation Board was preparing for the 86th Annual Columbus Day Wreath Ceremony, our emotions were mixed with thoughts – negative and positive. We were happy to have our Italian American and Central New York communities share the celebration we have always cherished reflecting our heritage and the hard fought “battle” our...

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Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced Oct. 9 that the city will move the statue of Christopher Columbus from its current location off East Onondaga Street to a private location yet to be determined. Salina Town Councilors Nick Paro and David Carnie have suggested that Columbus make his next voyage to the hamlet of Lyncourt, an enclave of Italian Ameri...

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Paul Basilio, who made one of Central New York’s best-known Italian sausage brands for 61 years and was the longest-serving vendor at the New York State Fair, died Wednesday. He was 92. He was a member of a big and prominent Italian-American family — one of his brothers was former boxing champion Carmen Basilio, who died in 2012. Basilio operated t...

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Italian Americans in Syracuse will gather in Columbus Circle Monday, to pay tribute to the Italian explorer, possibly for the last time. And they're not happy about it. After years of controversy and discussion, Mayor Ben Walsh made the final decision on the future of the controversial statue last week. The statue will be coming down. "The city of...

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Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh’s decision Friday to remove the statue of Christopher Columbus from downtown Syracuse was applauded by some and frowned by others in the community. Members of the Onondaga Nation applauded the decision. “I commend the mayor for taking this. It had to be quite a challenge for this. I know the Italian community might not agre...

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