A 2025 investigation found that complaints against City Clerk Patricia McBride’s alleged workplace violations were more credible than previously reported, according to recently obtained public documents reviewed by Central Current.
During the investigation into McBride — who the council in January unanimously re-appointed to another term as city clerk — a leader of the council cast aspersions on the complaints and their motives. Later, council leadership appears to have obscured evidence supporting allegations of misconduct in an article published on Syracuse.com.
The city clerk is an appointed position that maintains public records and performs other administrative and procedural duties on behalf of the city council. McBride served as deputy clerk from 2014 to 2022 under longtime City Clerk John Copanas. The council in 2022 first appointed McBride, who then became the city’s first Black woman to serve as city clerk…