Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com

Michelle Breidenbach is a watchdog reporter on Syracuse.com’s public affairs team. She is expert in using data to uncover systemic government failures that leave people behind. In recent years, she has written about unfair property assessments, children poisoned by lead paint, neglectful nursing homes and broken child welfare systems. Her focus this year is on the removal of the elevated Interstate 81 and the rebuilding of the Syracuse neighborhood destroyed by its construction in the 1950s and 60s. Since she came to Syracuse in 1997, she has won many local, state and some national journalism awards for coverage of government, business and stray topics like entertainment, sports and video reporting. Her work has changed state laws and freed up information government officials would prefer to keep secret. She is a 1994 graduate of Kent State University, in Ohio. Reach Michelle by email at mbreidenbach@syracuse.com or call 315-470-3186. Follow her on Twitter @mbreidenbach or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/syracusemichelle.