A senior White House adviser made a stop in Syracuse on Tuesday.

Tom Perez, director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, was part of a roundtable discussion on the importance of transportation equity and mobility as well as community involvement. He highlighted the $180 million federal money aimed to go toward reconnecting communities and neighborhoods for the Interstate 81 viaduct project.

The money will be used to improve transportation and surrounding neighborhoods after the state tears down the aging viaduct.

“We’re building neighborhoods, we’re building community," Perez said. "And that’s really what it’s all about." 

He called Tuesday's roundtable discussion inspiring. 

"I’m inspired," he said. "The level of partnership between the federal government, state government, county government, city government, perhaps most importantly the community. We’re all in this together.”

Together, they discussed the importance of transportation equity and community involvement. 

“Equity means that people in the community are working as part of reconnecting community," Perez said. "Equity means that you have a seat at the table, not just a seat at the table, but a microphone.”

However, some community members are expressing fears over being displaced. 

“Where are we going to move to?" asked Syracuse resident Monique Mitchell. "Where are we going to live? Most of everybody down here is on a fixed income, so we might not be able to afford where they’re gonna put us.” 

“Are we just going to be locked out our houses and don't have nowhere to go?" asked fellow resident Tony Comer. "We need somewhere to go.”

Mitchell and Comer live on the south side of Syracuse right next to the viaduct. Mitchell says she hasn’t heard anything about where she may have to stay next. She’s concerned about being able to take care of her family. 

"I live right here across the park from my grandkids," she said. "Once we move from here, my grandkids will have nowhere to play, nowhere to go. If they’re tearing everything down, what are we gonna do about our kids and our grandkids?"

Concerned residents justed want to have a conversation. 

“Give us a chance to be heard," Mitchell said. 

“And work together for any issues that us residents have or that we know about or misinformed about," said fellow resident Mable Wilson. "To clear it up because we are people, loving people. This is our community.”

“We need to know exactly what's going on," Comer said.