Cazenovia Voices Coalition – County Meeting Tomorrow! AND, join a team & take action

​Hello Cazenovia Voices Coalition,

We had a robust and inspiring organizing meeting last night! Thank you to everyone who’s leaning in, sharing ideas, and showing such commitment to transparency and community-led planning.

1. Tomorrow: October 7, 11 a.m.
Cazenovia Voices Coalition will attend and speak at the Madison County Supervisors meeting.

This is our moment to stand together, to be visible, and to call for a pause in the County’s purchase of Reisman and Sigety Halls until there is true public input and transparent planning.

Our message is clear and united:

• The County’s plan does not belong in any small village center. Large-scale county operations are incompatible with small residential streets, a school zone, and walkable community.
• Emergency and law enforcement offices are not appropriate for this location. This area was designed for learning, local business, and daily pedestrian life, not sirens, patrols, and administrative fleets.
• The Sheriff’s 287(g) partnership with ICE introduces risk and fear. Federal immigration enforcement has no place in our vision for equity and safety for all.
• Local voices must retain control over local land. Once the County owns these buildings, decisions about use, expansion, and demolition will happen without accountability to local residents.

Reply to this email to let us know if you can join us or need to carpool. It continues to be powerful when so many people show up!

AND, if you have something to say, please email the Board of Supervisors at [email protected]. 

If you need an example, I cannot attend the meeting, so this is what I will send.

2. Between Now and Friday
Task teams will meet, plan, and report back with strategies this week. 

Please reply to this email and let us know if you want to be part of a team. We will connect you to the folks who are organizing.

• Legal Team – pursuing options to potentially pause or stop the County deal, including locating an attorney who can file a complaint or request a stay.
• Financial Team – developing a “Plan B” for alternate ownership or financing of Reisman (and possibly Sigety) Halls.
• PR / Regional Engagement Team – expanding public awareness across Madison and Onondaga Counties through press, op-eds, social media, and regional partnerships.
• Communications Team – maintaining internal coordination and information-sharing within the Cazenovia Voices Coalition.

3. Key Takeaways from Our Meeting
Our discussion focused on the County’s pending purchase of Reisman and Sigety Halls from 9Fresh, which remains under review by the NY Attorney General. Members raised serious concerns about the lack of transparency among County, Town, and Village leadership. Evidence suggests local officials may have been aware of the sale months before it was announced—and that it may have influenced the recent mayoral election.

We agreed to begin FOIL investigations into communications dating back to January 2025, pursue legal and public channels to pause the sale, and continue public outreach through petitions, community partnerships, and press. The group reaffirmed our shared commitment to act under the banner:

Cazenovia Voices Coalition: Pause. Plan. Protect. 

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Team Overviews
PR / Regional Engagement
Raise awareness, share stories, and connect across counties. Write op-eds, create media content, organize outreach to neighboring towns, and coordinate interviews.

Legal / FOIL / Transparency
Uncover documents and communications, monitor compliance, file FOIL/OPRA requests, and explore potential legal remedies or stays.

Alternate Finance / Plan B
Develop community-based alternatives—grants, partnerships, public/private models, or cooperative ownership structures for the Reisman and Sigety properties.

Communications & Messaging
Keep us connected and informed—maintain the website, email updates, messaging templates, and social posts for consistency across all teams.
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Together, we’re building the kind of civic process our community deserves.

Pause. Plan. Protect.

With appreciation and determination,

Laura (on behalf of the Cazenovia Voices Coalition)