Katko slams plan to move Syracuse halfway house to historic neighborhood

During a phone call on Monday with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) expressed deep concern for the proposed relocation of a Residential Reentry Center (RRC) and Home Detention Services location, also known as a halfway house, to the City of Syracuse’s Tipperary Hill Neighborhood.

“The Tipperary Hill neighborhood is a historic gem in Central New York,” Katko said. “It is home to countless families, young professionals and growing businesses — and draws numerous tourists to the neighborhood each year. A halfway house is simply not conducive to the vitality and well-being of the existing neighborhood. That’s why I’ve made the continued safety of this neighborhood a top priority.”

The current RRC in Syracuse is operated by Firetree, a non-profit establishment in an urban and commercial section of Erie Boulevard in Syracuse. Because Firetree’s contract recently expired, the Federal Bureau of Prisons is required by law to solicit competitive bids to renew services in Syracuse. Boston-based Community Resources for Justice recently proposed relocating the halfway house to West Fayette Street in the Tipperary Hill neighborhood.

During the call, Katko stressed repeatedly that Tipperary Hill is one of the oldest, most treasured neighborhoods in the center of Syracuse. Katko expressed deep concern for what the halfway-house project could do to damage the revitalization efforts underway in the community, and noted that the potential site of the halfway house is very close to the Syracuse Boys & Girls Club, a number of schools, churches of many faiths, libraries, family parks and residences.

“For over 16 years, I served as a federal prosecutor in Syracuse, and I fully understand and appreciate the need for comprehensive and regimented re-entry services in our community,” Katko said. “But I see no immediate or apparent reason for the relocation of our current halfway house — especially when it could jeopardize the safety of young children and families in our community. I also have concerns that this location is less than ideal for a rehabilitation center. It is clear to me that the perceived benefits of this relocation are far outweighed by a multitude of risks.”

Katko was elected to represent the 24th Congressional District in the House in November 2014. The 24th Congressional District includes all of Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne Counties, plus a portion of Oswego County.