In 2006 the American Institute of Architects evaluated every aspect of the city of Syracuse,NY and opened their report that evening with the statement that the city of Syracuse is plagued with racism. We have poverty rates for minorities in this city that is almost twice the national average. This report further stated ‧ Syracuse has a 35 percent poverty rate, which is concentrated in pockets ‧ Sixty percent of Onondaga County's poor live in Syracuse ‧ Eighty-five percent of Syracuse's high school graduates come from poverty ‧ Urban planning policies are overlapping, inconsistent, and not enforced ‧ Effective cooperation between city and county does not exist ‧ A unified voice, strategically guiding the city does not exist The challenges facing Syracuse are serious ones created