Councilors balk at Walsh’s agreement with cops: Can you even enforce residency?

Ben Walsh, Michael Greene, Khalid Bey

Michael Greene (top left) and Khalid Bey (bottom left) are seeking the Democratic Party nomination to challenge Ben Walsh (right) for Syracuse mayor in 2021. Photos by Dennis Nett and Scott Schild.

Syracuse, N.Y. — City lawmakers balked at Mayor Ben Walsh’s latest attempt at an agreement with the Syracuse police union, reupping an argument that it’s too expensive and questioning whether Walsh can enforce one of the union’s top concessions: residency for new officers.

Though councilors said they don’t like the deal Walsh is proposing, they have little power to influence negotiations. The administration and the union will begin arbitration on the contract next month. The council has no role in that.

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