After a long swim upstream, Onondaga County legislators voted to approve funding for the $85 million Syracuse Inner Harbor Aquarium in what some said was a historic day in Central New York.

There had been almost a year of fierce debate leading up to Tuesday's vote, which passed 9 to 8. In the end, County Executive Ryan McMahon was able to secure the needed votes for what he said would be a tourist and science destination.

The vote took place during a packed and passionate meeting of the legislature after Democrats in the chamber submitted a request asking Chairman James Rowley to extend the public comment period for citizens to voice their opinions on the project ahead of the vote. 

The motion was rejected, leading to the boos of a standing-room-only crowd.

A group of hotel owners supported the project in writing: “A project such as the aquarium will help all of us to build back our customer base, which has become more and more dependent on the leisure and group traveler. Adding the aquarium to the list of area attractors will benefit more than just hotels and restaurants. Visitors to our region also shop in our clothing stores, grocery stores, boutiques, gas stations, etc. More outside visitors to our community mean more jobs and wages paid to our county residents and more sales and room occupancy tax collected by the county."

Provided to Spectrum News 1

A potential $800,000 more a year is expected from room occupancy taxes from aquarium traffic.

McMahon echoed the struggles of hotels at a press conference after the vote.

"The hospitality industry, your hotel owners, and certainly restaurants and those in that space, they lost a lot of money in 2020 and 2021, and they are getting back on their feet," he said. "These are small business owners. For a while, we were very much focused on how as a community do we support these industries. I think that got lost, and some of the victims of the pandemic were these businesses."

Charles Garland was the lone Democrat to support the aquarium project.

Three Republicans opposed the project, Ken Bush, Jr., Brian May and Tim Burtis.

Burtis said it was a difficult vote, but one he stuck with his conviction on.

"I've got a lot of concerns about the plan," he said. "The feasibility plan is what I focused on, and on how many people will come."

 

Before the meeting started, protestors gathered outside. They moved indoors for the meeting. During public comment, speakers were limited to 30 minutes, which wasn’t enough time to get to everyone.

Many of those against the project said they opposed it because the money could be better spent. Speakers pointed to the need for lead removal. They said it is not only affecting public health, but contributing to crime and other issues.

Among the protestors was Sandy Lane, a Syracuse University professor of public health.

“Shame on them," Lane said. "Their grandchildren are going to be deeply ashamed of them. They’re going to live in infamy.”

That showed how some people viewed the vote.

The county executive said he hopes for shovels in the ground before the end of 2023.