Mayor Walsh on Common Council Approval of ARPA Investments in Land Bank and Urban Forest

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh on ARPA Investments approved by Common Council on Aug. 2

 “Helping our children, families and neighborhoods recover from COVID-19 is the highest priority of our American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) strategy. I thank the Common Council for unanimously approving two major initiatives that will strengthen our community. We will send $5 million to the Greater Syracuse Land Bank to stabilize or demolish vacant properties that negatively impact neighboring properties. The pandemic also showed us how critical healthy outdoor spaces are, so we will invest $2 million to plant and care for trees across the city—especially in neighborhoods deprived of tree cover.  Our Administration has also proposed critical investments in small business support, water infrastructure and rental assistance, and we will work with the Council to move those priorities forward.”