Mayor Walsh Announces the Release of the 2019 Progress Report

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh released the City of Syracuse 2019 Progress Report, available to the public online. The report offers a summary of advancements made during Mayor Walsh’s second year in office.

“In 2019, we experienced a great deal of progress on our vision of becoming a growing city that embraces diversity and creates opportunity for all,” said Mayor Walsh. “We have seen how working together and establishing unprecedented partnerships in the public, private and non-profit sectors can provide the fuel for our City to surge ahead.”

The report highlights accomplishments according to the Mayor’s four key objectives for the City:  achieve fiscal sustainability; deliver City services efficiently, effectively and equitably; increase economic investment and neighborhood stability; and provide quality constituent engagement and response. Examples in the report include:

• Fiscal Sustainability – The City, County, and School District partnered to reduce the Medicare Advantage insurance plan cost for prescription drugs that will save $3 million to $5 million for the City.
• City Services – The Gotcha Syracuse Sync bike share program launched, giving users access to 200 bikes around the City.
• Economic Investment and Neighborhood Stability – The Bureau of Administrative Adjudication (BAA) was established in 2019. The BAA allows for ticketing for code and zoning violations, increasing accountability and compliance to provide more stable, higher-quality rental homes for families.
• Constituent Engagement and Response – The Office of Accountability, Performance, and Innovation (API) worked with the Central Permit Office to evaluate and improve permitting functions.

The 22-page document outlined more than 50 programs and initiatives completed or undertaken to improve the City. The full report can be viewed in the Special Reports section of the ourcity.syrgov.net website.