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Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh addressed some of the recent outbreaks of violence in the city, both in city schools and at Destiny USA, at his community briefing on Tuesday.
Walsh said it’s important to tackle the issue as a whole.
He said young people in the city remain deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
When it comes to the mall, Walsh said police are going to increase patrols in the parking lots, and the county is considering placing more probation officers in the mall.
And in schools, Walsh said violence will not be tolerated and those involved will be held fully accountable. 
He added that it’s important to remember these incidents aren’t about the mall or schools specifically.
"The challenges that we are having in those facilities, they’re not unique to those facilities," Walsh said. "There is nothing unique about Destiny. It is a place where a lot of people in the community gather and any time that happens, wherever you are, whether you are in school, in the mall, at a park, the problems that exist in the community are likely to show up wherever people are."
Walsh said the recent violence highlights the need to get more mental health and support services into schools.

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