A sign that says 'Vote Here' on a sidewalk.

Clay residents can vote for local candidates that may affect their future with Micron in the town. (c) 2022 Audrey Glynn

Northern Suburbs

Micron Deal Lures Residents to the Polls in Clay

By Audrey Glynn

Audio

With Micron officially heading to Clay, town residents are going to the polls to vote on their future with the chip plant in the neighborhood.

Audrey Glynn: Just two weeks ago President Joe Biden went to Central New York to celebrate the new deal that will bring Micron to Clay. But on Election Day, Micron is causing Clay residents to get to the polls.

Eric Sullivan: There were people involved in making that transaction happen that I felt should have gotten a pat on the back.

Glynn: Eric Sullivan recently moved from Cicero to Clay, and his new town is showing him just how important local elections are. As an owner of an accounting firm, Sullivan knows this election reaches the people of Clay, like his clients.

Sullivan: There are people who worry about the national picture far too much and these local elections have such a bigger impact on them. I own a small business here in town, a lot of this stuff really impacts our clients.

Glynn: Micron is planned to bring economic development but the environmental changes are still questionable. Associate Professor of Public Health Augusta Williams, who recently moved from Watertown, is excited to be voting for the well being of her new town.

Augusta Williams: That’s definitely a bit of big news to come to the Clay area, lots of economic opportunity there. You know, voting to ensure that our communities health, whether that’s through environmental measures or the equitable development of the neighborhood as Micron moves in is important.

Glynn: Though Micron will take years to develop, the residents believe the protection for their community begins today, at the polls. Audrey Glynn, NCC News.

CLAY, N.Y. (DIA) — With Micron coming to Clay, the town’s residents made their way to the election polls to cast their vote on the future of their neighborhood. On October 27, President Joe Biden was in Central New York to celebrate the deal for Micron to open a chip manufacturing facility.

Accounting Firm Owner Eric Sullivan was pleased with the decision and brought that to his Election Day decisions.

“There were people involved in making that transaction happen that I felt should have gotten a pat on the back,” said Sullivan. 

Sullivan just recently moved to Clay after residing in Cicero, New York. The firm, which is housed in Clay, has many local clients. Sullivan believes in looking out for those clients and says that local elections bring much more impact than many realize.

“There are people who worry about the national picture far too much and these local elections have such a bigger impact on them,” said Sullivan. “I own a small business here in town, a lot of this stuff really impacts our clients.”

Micron in Clay is one of those impacts that will reach his clients. Sullivan believes that issues that may arise, especially on a matter like Micron, require voting.

“If you are going to have any complaints about any issues, and you don’t vote, then you have no right to complain,” said Sullivan.

In his advocacy for community and local voting, Sullivan was excited to be present at the polls. He even personally knew a few people on the ballot.

But Sullivan wasn’t the only community member who was pleased to be at Clay Town Hall to cast his ballot. Augusta Williams, dawned in a shirt with sparkly letters that read ‘vote’, was smiling all the way to her car. A first time Onondaga County voter, Williams moved to Clay from Watertown, New York.

Williams is an associate professor of public health at Upstate Medical University, which gives her motivation to get to the polls to vote regarding the future of Micron in the Clay community. She expressed excitement about the growth that Micron is planning to bring to Central New York, but she also knows there is uncertainty for the environmental effects.

“That’s definitely a bit of big news to come to the Clay area, lots of economic opportunity there,” said Williams. “Voting to ensure that our communities health, whether that’s through environmental measures or the equitable development of the neighborhood as Micron moves in is important.”

Though it was a cold morning, Clay residents made sure to be present at the Clay Town Hall, knowing that Micron’s future and impact in their community begins with their votes for this year’s election.

Tags