Ben Walsh

Mayor Ben Walsh wants the Interstate 81 project to prioritize the communities adjacent to the viaduct and local workforce development. In a presentation during GreeningUSA’s Green Bag Lunch series Friday, Walsh said one of the key issues that will affect those living right next to the interstate is displacement.

Recent high profile suicides in Onondaga County and a higher than average suicide rate has Senator Chuck Schumer calling for increased federal resources for prevention programs. 

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh presented his budget proposal to common councilors Monday, and it includes a 3.5% tax increase.  It would be the first since 2011.  Even if the $252.5 million spending plan is approved as is, he says Syracuse would still have the lowest tax rate among all major upstate cities.

Members of the local support system that help child abuse victims in Central New York gathered Friday in Syracuse to point out the significance of the next calendar month.

The City of Syracuse is ready to put a number of programs in place to tackle the significant housing stability problem.  One in four households in the city moves every year, mainly due to evictions.

Syracuse’s new Chief of Police began his job just moments after a brief swearing in ceremony at the Public Safety Building. Mayor Ben Walsh issued the oath of office to Kenton Buckner, the former head of Little Rock Arkansas’ department. 

It's been a week of new appoitments in local government. A surprise announcement came today from the city that the search for a new police chief of Syracuse is complete. Mayor Ben Walsh selected Kenton Buckner, who most recently led the Little Rock, Arkansas Police force.

Syracuse City officials say they too are mourning the loss of a 12-year-old boy tragically shot and killed on John Street Wednesday night.  They’re now asking for community support to provide information and band together to stop the violence. 

Central New York and Syracuse are looking to expand local solutions to climate change by holding a summit on Saturday about the topic. Advocates say the issue is largely neglected on the national level, but state and local officials are trying to change that narrative. Climate Solutions Summit organizer Renee Vogelsang says there are reasons to be optimistic.