Letter from the Mayor

Fiscal Progress | Neighborhood Progress | Engagement Progress | City Services Progress

Dear Syracuse,

I can sum up much of the work we accomplished last year as a foundation for our future growth. I attribute many of those accomplishments to the strong, diverse team I assembled here at City Hall. Early in 2018, this team helped me to set a vision – Syracuse will be a growing city that embraces diversity and creates opportunity for all – which guides our work every day.

This report, the “City of Syracuse 2018 Progress Report” details our actions in four key areas that are essential to achieving growth:

1. Achieve fiscal sustainability
2. Increase economic investment and neighborhood stability
3. Provide quality constituent engagement and response
4. Deliver city services efficiently, effectively, and equitably

An important part of our work is acknowledging our reality. We know the challenge of poverty is more acute in Syracuse more than other communities. Creating sustained growth will require that we overcome barriers to progress in our community – as a community.

You can see a direct correlation between key barriers identified by City staff and the “Syracuse Surge,” a comprehensive strategy we developed to ignite economic growth and neighborhood transformation in our city. You can read more about in my 2019 State of the City address.

I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be your mayor and humbled by my first year in this role. I am appreciative of the support you have given me. And I am confident in our future. Syracuse’s best days aren’t just ahead of us. Our city’s best days are within our reach.

Sincerely,

Ben Walsh
Mayor