The Debrief Podcast

Jackie Augustine & Josh Durso
  • 5.0 (4)
  • News
  • Updated Monthly

Hosts Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso take 3+ decades of combined experience inside and covering local government in Upstate New York to discuss the day's news and what's next.

  1. 1d ago

    #236: IDAs and public access to meetings

    On episode 236 of The Debrief, Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso talk two major stories taking shape around the Finger Lakes. The first comes from Ontario County, where debate over the functionality of IDAs was debated as officials in Geneva shared concerns with county economic development leaders that they weren't being focused on enough. Augustine wrote a column on the topic, which served as a jumping off point for the discussion. The two also talked about a story out of a small town in Cayuga County, where elected officials there required residents and media to sign-in, in order to attend public meetings. The episode is available on YouTube, Spotify, as well as wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to submit a question for their next Q&A episode, click here or send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.

    30 min

  2. May 21

    #235: Ask Us Anything!

    Episode 235 of The Debrief takes a different approach with an 'Ask Us Anything' edition built around listener questions, comments, and reactions from recent episodes. Hosts Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine dig into Geneva’s property reassessments, the city’s move to a new meeting structure, and why nearly every Finger Lakes school budget passed despite growing frustration over taxes, state spending, and local costs. The conversation also zooms out to talk about New York’s increasingly criticized budget process, the long-term challenges facing Upstate communities, and the growing disconnect between voters and the people tasked with managing complicated local governments and public systems.

    50 min

  3. May 7

    #234: Budget woes and long-term stability for municipalities

    This week on The Debrief, Josh Durso and Jackie Augustine connect the dots between political dysfunction, municipal budget pressure, dissolution debates, and New York’s growing energy infrastructure problem. The conversation starts in Seneca Falls following the arrest of Town Supervisor Frank Schmitter, but quickly expands into a broader discussion about leadership, governance, shrinking tax bases, and why so many local governments across Upstate New York appear stuck reacting instead of planning ahead. They also examine why dissolution is often oversold as a solution for struggling communities and why utilities may be making the strongest case yet against the for-profit energy model.

    54 min

  4. Mar 20

    #233: Senior Housing Fix, Assessments, and Outputs vs. Outcomes

    Josh and Jackie break down a packed week on The Debrief, starting with a sharp look at why local governments focus too much on outputs instead of real outcomes. They dive into Albany’s looming climate fight, the realities behind the “senior housing fix,” and growing frustration around property assessments fueled by misinformation. It’s a wide-ranging episode that connects policy decisions to the real pressures facing Upstate New York right now.

    56 min

  5. Feb 28

    #232: The Bill Fulton Interview

    Communities say they want growth — until it shows up on the agenda. Urban planner, author, and former mayor Bill Fulton joins In Focus to explain why housing debates stall, why zoning reform won’t fix everything, and how changing work patterns are reshaping the role of place itself. Instead of technical jargon, this conversation breaks down the psychology and economics behind local opposition, affordability, and the future of small towns. At the center of the discussion is a simple idea: The hardest part of solving the housing crisis isn’t regulation — it’s expectations.

    29 min

  6. Feb 22

    #231: The Strong Towns Interview

    Communities across the Finger Lakes and Upstate New York all say they need housing — but approvals still take months or years, small projects stall, and the shortage keeps growing. This week on In Focus, I talk with Strong Towns Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt about the gap between acknowledging the problem and actually fixing it. We discuss the “housing trap,” local regulatory friction, why so many projects require variances, and how incremental development could reshape neighborhoods without large-scale disruption. The conversation also explores the fiscal reality behind growth and why the future of affordability may depend less on large policy changes and more on local decision-making.

    37 min

  7. Feb 14

    #230: What's the cost of stagnation?

    How's your town or village handling its future? On this episode of The Debrief - Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso talk about debates shaking out in the Finger Lakes around housing, population decline, how the tax burden will or won't be shared among those residents over time, and what communities are doing now.

    1h 1m

  8. 11/17/2025

    #229: Pro-housing, local elections, and Greenidge

    Election season is over and in just a few weeks a new class of elected officials will take office across the Finger Lakes. While some will return for new terms, others will be taking on roles for the first time. Today Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso discuss the latest across the Finger Lakes, including implications of closely watched elections.

    1h 14m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Hosts Jackie Augustine and Josh Durso take 3+ decades of combined experience inside and covering local government in Upstate New York to discuss the day's news and what's next.

Information

  • Creator
    Jackie Augustine & Josh Durso
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    208
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jackie Augustine & Josh Durso
  • Show Website
    The Debrief Podcast