Syracuse, NY - Syracuse Common Councilor Bill Ryan thought he was firing off a private e-mail to a fellow councilor Saturday morning, when he compared the actions of one of their colleagues to those of a “terrorist.” Instead he sent the note to an entire Google e-mail group for the Preservation Association of Central New York. The 100 or...
Syracuse Common Councilor Bill Ryan, shown in a 2009 file photo, called fellow Democratic Councilor Pat Hogan in an email he mistakenly sent Saturday to a Google email group.
Syracuse, NY - Syracuse Common Councilor Bill Ryan thought he was firing off a private e-mail to a fellow councilor Saturday morning, when he compared the actions of one of their colleagues to those of a “terrorist.”
Instead he sent the note to an entire Google e-mail group for the Preservation Association of Central New York. The 100 or more members received the dig aimed at Councilor Pat Hogan. Both men are Democrats.
The last line of the note read: “Think hogan is just going to continue to act as a terrorist, though I suppose I fuel him.”
Ryan said he thought he was replying to Councilor Kathleen Joy, who had sent out a group message about ongoing discussions on the Connective Corridor. He sent the note from his BlackBerry at 7:51 a.m. Saturday while having coffee in his kitchen.
Hogan read the e-mail at home hours later.
“I was just stunned,” Hogan said. “Terrorist is really a pretty brutal remark.”
Copies of the e-mail were provided by several Syracuse City Hall sources.
Ryan said he regrets sending the e-mail to the whole group and wishes he hadn’t used the term “terrorist.”
“I regret that I used that word because of the connotation it has had since 9-11,” Ryan said. “Does it change my thoughts? Not at all.”
Ryan said the e-mail came out of frustration with what he considers a disagreeable and contradictory attitude from Hogan in the last month, most recently on Connective Corridor street reconstruction plans.
When Mayor Stephanie Miner was on the council, she was closely tied to Ryan and Hogan. Both were strong supporters in her campaign last year. But in recent weeks, Ryan and Hogan have taken opposite positions on several issues.
Ryan supported minor alterations to the mayor’s budget, which passed, while Hogan voted with the Republicans on an unsuccessful slate of major changes. Hogan supported a city school district lease agreement on the former Syracuse Developmental Center, while Ryan opposed it. The deal passed. The mayor did not take a position on the developmental center lease, but said she had major concerns.
Hogan questions the Connective Corridor plan for East Genesee Street, and how it will affect small businesses there. Miner’s staff has worked closely in developing the plan, which the council is likely to vote on in June.
“Pat and I and the mayor worked together closely,” Ryan said. “We were strong together. But now it seems like Pat wants to go in his own direction.”
Hogan said he likely won’t support all of Miner’s initiatives and requests of the council, despite his political support for her.
“I’m an independent councilor,” Hogan said.
Hogan and Ryan said Monday they hadn’t spoken to each other about the accidental e-mail, nor exchanged any communication about it. Hogan said he was waiting to “cool off,” while Ryan said he would talk about it with Hogan, “if it comes up.”
Meghan Rubado can be reached at mrubado@syracuse.com or 470-3260.