September 7th Legislative Session Press Release
Earlier this year, Onondaga County was tasked with administering American Rescue Plan funding to aid tenants and landlords through the Onondaga County Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The next wave of funding came, and Legislators voted once again to authorize the necessary intermunicipal agreement to begin distributing the funds. This program is slightly different than the last one in that it is specific to the City of Syracuse. The City received the funds but needs the help of the County Department of Social Services to distribute the funds. Common Councilor Joe Carni was instrumental in helping our caucus understand the need for specialized rental assistance in the City of Syracuse. His advocacy was very helpful to the Republican Caucus and we are happy to lend a hand to fill in service gaps where our residents are in need.
“It is vital for our community to support our residents and not vilify landlords,” commented Legislator Julie Abbott-Kenan, who chairs the Legislature’s Health & Human Services Committee. “Onondaga County has countless good, family landlords who have gotten a raw deal in the past 18 months with the imposition and extension of an eviction moratorium. Thankfully, we are getting funding from the Federal Government to support our landlords and tenants and I am thrilled to have helped facilitate this process. It is important we protect and care for those in sensitive housing situations without destroying the vital members of the community who own and maintain properties.”
During the heavy rains in August, our community was reminded of the importance of well serviced sewer and water infrastructure. Legislators also gave the green light to an agreement between the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County to incorporate green infrastructure along more of Water Street. Green infrastructure projects like this one happening on Water Street help divert clean rainwater from entering and overwhelming county sewer systems. The work will be done in conjunction with road work the City is planning to do, and will continue protecting our water systems. Rather than begin new road construction that will obstruct traffic and cause redundancies, WEP works with Departments of Transportation and Highway Departments to align green infrastructure projects with planned road work.