New York just hit pause on data centers. Baldwinsville showed up. Albany listened.

Alright, let's get into it. Summer showed up this weekend and apparently plans to stay. The heat is on, Pride Week kicks off, and the Blues Festival rolls into the Fairgrounds. But the biggest story this week isn't local, it's statewide, and it lands right in CNY's backyard. New York just became the first state in the country to pass a one-year moratorium on new data centers, and towns like Clay, Baldwinsville, and Manlius are already making moves of their own.

The New York State Legislature voted last week to approve a one-year freeze on new data center permits, making the state the first in the country to enact a statewide ban. The bill, which now heads to Governor Hochul's desk, targets facilities requiring at least 5 megawatts of energy and responds to growing public concern over rising electricity bills. At least 11 states introduced similar legislation this session, but New York's is the first to cross the finish line. The package also requires the state to study environmental and ratepayer impacts before any new permits are issued and mandates that data centers pay for their own infrastructure upgrades.

The take: This is going to be felt locally. The Town of Clay had a public hearing scheduled for June 15 to discuss its own data center moratorium, that conversation just got a lot more interesting with the state beating them to it. And over in Baldwinsville, where residents have been showing up in force to push back on a data center proposal that only offered a six-month moratorium, a statewide one-year freeze has probably been met with relief.

Not up to speed on why data centers are getting so much pushback? This video is a great primer on what they are and why communities are not stoked.

A Syracuse.com investigation uncovered a year-2000 state law originally designed for modest internet-era server farms that is now being used by massive AI data centers to avoid paying sales tax on billions of dollars in equipment and construction costs. With over 30 large-scale data center projects proposed across New York, the potential tax revenue loss for state and local governments is staggering. In Niagara County, officials hired lawyers to investigate after TeraWulf - which recently sold $3.2 billion in bonds for expansion - informed them it would not be paying sales tax on its purchases.

The take: A law written when most people were on AOL probably shouldn't be the framework for taxing buildings that consume more electricity than entire towns.

After nearly two years of searching for the right spot, The Cracked Bean Roastery & Cafe is expanding beyond Eastwood. The second location is going into 719 E. Genesee St. - the former Strong Hearts Syracuse space, with a target of late summer. Owner Michelle Cruse says it's been the worst-kept secret in town, since the staff has been telling customers about it ever since they signed the lease over a year ago. The original Cracked Bean has been open for five years next to the Palace Theatre and built a loyal following around its in-house roastery and cafe.

Sovereign Partners LLC wants to turn several empty parking lots along Widewaters Parkway in DeWitt into eight apartment buildings with nearly 700 units. If built, it would be one of the largest apartment complexes in Onondaga County. Developers have been converting empty office space into housing for years, but this takes the concept further by building brand-new residential on what's been sitting as unused commercial parking.

The take: DeWitt's Widewaters corridor has been quietly hollowing out as office tenants leave. Filling those parking lots with housing instead of waiting for tenants who aren't coming back is a pragmatic move.

Bangor, Maine-based High Tide Capital is back for round two in downtown Syracuse. While on the verge of opening a 35-unit apartment building at 250 Harrison St. (a former Hilton hotel), the developer has new plans to convert the six-story Monroe Building at 333 E. Onondaga St. into 46 apartments. Built in 1968 as the headquarters of Monroe Abstract & Title Corp., the building is known for its distinctive sawtooth exterior, large recessed windows, and more recently, a giant mural of Syracuse basketball legends.

The take: When an out-of-state developer's first project goes well enough that they immediately start a second one, it says something about downtown's trajectory. Also, the basketball mural stays, right?

If you've driven through Syracuse with your eyes open, you've seen their work. The bulbous, lidded eyeballs painted across empty buildings, bridges, underpasses, and abandoned trains have been watching over the city for more than a decade. No name. No Instagram handle. No gallery opening. Just the tag: Vacant.

Nobody knows who they are and that's kind of the point. While the city has embraced commissioned murals and public art programs, Vacant has operated entirely outside that system, turning forgotten surfaces into something you can't stop looking at. Whether you think it's vandalism or the most honest art Syracuse has ever produced probably says more about you than it does about them.

The eyes are everywhere if you start paying attention. And once you notice them, you can't stop.

This week's trio comes from Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in North Syracuse, three dogs waiting on the humans who were supposed to find them.

Bear, a 15-week-old male Anatolian Shepherd mix, is a smart, sweet puppy who already knows how to sit and heads straight into his crate when mealtime rolls around. He gets along great with other dogs after a slow introduction. Bear loves people, is crate and house trained, and even knows how to use a doggie door. At 20 pounds now, he won't be small forever. He arrives June 13 and would be a great fit for a single person or a family with respectful kids.

Chewy, a 5-year-old female Jack Russell Terrier mix, spent her life on a ranch in Oklahoma with an older woman who passed away. She's active and muscular from her farm days, but she knows how to settle down and cuddle when the time is right. Chewy is super polite, eager to please, great on the leash, rides well in the car, and is crate and house trained. She's submissive with other dogs and affectionate with adults once she warms up. At 30 pounds, she arrives June 13 and is ready to make a wonderful addition to any household.

Ghost, a 2-year-old male Great Pyrenees mix, is a big, beautiful boy who loves to play and is always happy to meet new people. Ghost loves water (a pool or kiddie pool will make his day), plays great with other dogs, and is crate trained. At 70 pounds, he arrives June 13 and is working hard on his house training.

Sapphire Recruitment is looking for a sales-driven Franchise Development Director to lead growth initiatives for a growing Upstate New York brand. You'll recruit and develop new franchise partners, manage the full development process from outreach to signed agreements, and collaborate with leadership on market expansion strategy. Hybrid out of Syracuse with regional travel across Upstate NY. Base salary $80,000 - $100,000 DOE, plus bonus, vehicle allowance, health insurance, and 401(k) with match.

Saab is hiring a Chief Technologist to lead next-generation antenna and radar technology development for its Surveillance Systems business area in the Greater Syracuse-Auburn region. You'll set the technical vision, drive R&D, and maintain executive-level relationships across the radar market. Requires a Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related field, 20+ years of radar leadership experience, and a U.S. DoD Top Secret clearance. Compensation range is $239,600 - $323,400.

The City of Syracuse is hiring nine Community Service Officers to support SPD across Uniform, Administration, Investigations, and Community Services. No arrest powers required. This is a civilian role focused on public assistance, traffic direction, clerical support, and community liaison work. Salary range is $41,410 - $46,481. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. City of Syracuse residency required within six months of hire.

Micron's downtown Syracuse office is looking for a Senior Global HR Business Partner to work alongside technical leadership on people strategy, change management, and HR solutions across the organization. You'll coach senior leaders, drive workforce planning, and use data to keep the business informed on trends. Requires prior HR Business Partner experience; 7+ years in HR for an enterprise company preferred. Base salary range is $136,000 - $230,000. Onsite in Syracuse.

That's a wrap for this week, Syracuse. See you next Monday.