In City of Syracuse, American Rescue Plan Help is on the Way to More Tenants and Landlords Who Need Rent Relief

Mayor Walsh applauds Council for approving rental assistance, Shotspotter expansion and a new de-escalation/taser program for police officers

Statement by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh on Common Council approval of new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investments:

“I commend the Common Council on helping us address the ever-changing impacts of COVID-19 on our residents. We are taking decisive action to provide $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) relief to city residents and landlords who are being hurt by the pandemic but have not yet been eligible for rental assistance. With this funding, we can help keep people in their homes and ensure landlords are able to continue to provide services tenants need.

With Council action today, we will also make two major investments in public safety: $171,000 to expand the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system to most of the city’s north side and $554,000 to implement de-escalation training for our police officers and equip them with less-lethal taser devices. Working together, the Administration and Council have authorized about $44 million in pandemic relief. COVID-19 continues to impact us daily, so we will continue working with the Council to deploy ARPA assistance to city residents.”