Onondaga County

BIOGRAPHY

Legislator Charles E. Garland represents the 16th District in the Onondaga County Legislature, serving the City of Syracuse’s South Side and Southwest neighborhoods, including areas surrounding Strathmore, the Valley, Syracuse University, and downtown. First elected in 2021, he has built a reputation as a community-focused leader who brings residents directly into the legislative process.

As a child, Legislator Garland and his family were displaced by urban renewal when their East Side neighborhood was demolished to make way for public housing. That experience continues to shape how he approaches development, housing, and neighborhood investment today. He often describes the South Side as being at a crossroads, with major projects creating opportunities for growth while also raising concerns about displacement and gentrification.

Legislator Garland is the owner of Garland Brothers Funeral Home, a longstanding family business on Martin Luther King Drive. In the Legislature, he is known for convening a weekly advisory group of clergy, organizers, and neighborhood leaders whose input helps inform his decisions on county issues. He has been an active voice on discussions involving Interstate 81, public housing redevelopment, economic development, and investments in Syracuse neighborhoods. He currently serves as Chair of the Public Safety Committee and serves on the Environmental Protection Committee.

Legislative priorities include:

• Ensuring major development projects benefit existing South Side residents

• Expanding affordable housing and lead hazard abatement efforts

• Increasing community engagement and transparency in government decisions

• Supporting minority- and women-owned business participation in county projects