SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- It's the latest in a series of projects aimed at helping restore broken neighborhoods. A former chocolate factory transformed into a site where 14 apartments will rent to upscale tenants for $1,000 to $1,400 a month. It’s part of a broader effort to bring new life to an area of Syracuse's north side known as Little Italy.
“Obviously, it's a large building. It's a watershed project, really. A project like this can drive the rest of the development in the district,” said Nick Petragnani, of the Community Preservation Corporation.
Private and government funding helped to make the project viable. Syracuse congressman James Walsh helped win a $300,000 grant to assist. Walsh, who has decided not to seek re-election, is aware of ongoing scrutiny of special monies directed to local districts, so called earmarks. This project, he says, is a wise use of that money.
It's the latest in a series of projects aimed at helping restore broken neighborhoods.
“The projects that get all the attention in Washington are the ones that aren't wise. Everybody's heard about the "Bridge To Nowhere". That was not an appropriations earmark. You probably heard about Duke Cunningham, a member of Congress, who was allocating funds for businesses in his district and getting kickbacks for that. He's in jail. Where he belongs,” said Walsh.
In Washington, the annual budget battle is underway, with the President calling for fewer earmarks under the control of members of Congress. An argument that Walsh rejects.
“The Founding Fathers gave us, the Congress, the power of the purse. The Congress, not the President. The Congress,” said Walsh.
This type of project, Walsh says, justifies the system.
“There's some wisdom to allowing members of Congress, or members of a state legislature or members of a city council to direct spending, because they know their districts better than anyone else does,” said Walsh.
In his 20 years in Washington, the congressman claims credit for steering close to $750 million into projects in his district.
In addition to the federal grant, close to $180,000 in grants and loans come from the city of Syracuse.