[2] Walsh eventually returned to Syracuse to work for SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, educating municipalities about brownfields.

[2] After resigning from his position at city hall in 2015, Walsh worked for Mackenzie Hughes law firm as Business Development Director, prior to launching his campaign to become the mayor of Syracuse.

In what was generally seen as an upset, Ben Walsh won the election with 53.2% against four other candidates, namely Democratic frontrunner Juanita Perez Williams as well as the nominees from the Republican, Green, and Working Families Party.

The goal of the plan was to modernize Syracuse’s economy and prepare it for equitable access to new technology (as anticipated in projections in the Fourth Industrial Revolution) through both public and private investment.

The executive order included the enactment of the Right to Know law which requires officers to give their name, rank and reason for stopping someone during every interaction with the public.

[10] Johnson-Kinsey is the executive director of Transforming Lives & Community and was previously the Dean of Students at Syracuse Academy of Science.

[11] On March 7, 2023, Mayor Ben Walsh’s administration announced The Safer Streets Program, a $1 million proposal from The Mayor's Office to Reduce Gun Violence and Lateef Johnson-Kinsey recommending paying known gang members a weekly $100-$200 stipend not to commit violent crime and to attend training, therapy and career coaching.

[13] The Safer Streets Program proposes stipends to alleviate poverty for 50 of the city’s most at-risk individuals between the ages of 18 and 24, many of whom have criminal records and gang affiliations.

[12] The payments are designed to help gang members with basic expenses and are available if they avoid violent criminal behavior and participate in other program initiatives.

Syracuse Police Benevolent Association President Joseph Moran said, “You’re actually paying stipends to individuals who are documented gang members to maintain good behavior and obey the law.

The Walsh Administration claimed the purchase was estimated to save the city $3 million per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6,100 tons.