F R E E / J a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 2 4 / V o l u m e X L I I I , N u m b er 7 0 / O u r 5 1 s t Y e a r
F R E E / M AY 10 , 2 0 2 3 / V O L U M E X L I I I , N U M B E R 3 7 / O u r 51s t Ye a r
PAGE 5
PAGE 3
F R E E / O C T O B E R 18 , 2 0 2 3 / V O L U M E X L I I I , N U M B E R 6 0 / O u r 51s t Ye a r
Online @ ITH ACA .COM
Starbucks
Moves to Squash
Workers Union
COUNTY
COUNCIL
DEMOCRATIC
PUBLIC SECTOR COMMON
ADDRESSES
COMMITTEE
LABOR UNITES HOMELESSNESS
&
INVESTIGATES UNDER WORKERS INCREASES POLICE
PARTY-SWITCHING
COALITION
CHIEF SALARY
IN CAROLINE
PAGE 4
Online @ ITH ACA .COM
BusinessTimes
ASPIRE FOR
ANOTHER
CANNABIS
DISPENSARY
MAYFEST
COMING
TO CORNELL
PAGE 15
A YEAR
IN REVIEW:
ITHACA’S 2023
HIGHLIGHTS
MOU Approved
City, Cornell Reach 15-Year Agreement
to increase the university’s contribution to Ithaca
PAGES 8-9
CITY IMPLEMENTING
NEW PUBLIC
SAFETY MODEL
AIRPORT
RECEIVES
GRANT
DPW SAYS NO
SIDEWALK SNOW
REMOVAL
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
PAGE 5
PAGE 11
F R E E / J U N E 7, 2 0 2 3 / V O L U M E X L I I I , N U M B E R 4 1 / O u r 5 1 s t Y e a r
Online @ ITH ACA .COM
MARY CHAPLIN
CARPENTER &
SHAWN COLVIN
PLAY THE STATE
NEW CAYUGA PARK
FACILITY OPENS
PAGE 11
PAGE 15
Online @ ITH ACA .COM
The Primary Election
of the Decade
PAGES 8-9
PROTESTING
SPECIAL
AGAINST TURF
OLYMPICS COMING FIELD AT ITHACA
TO ITHACA
COLLEGE
PAGE 3
MAYOR
CANTELMO
OUTLINES
PRIORITIES
LONGVIEW
WELCOMES NEW
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
PAGE 4
DIA ANNOUNCED
NEW LEADER
& GRANT
PROGRAMS
PAGE 5
THEATRES
UNITE TO RATIFY
“CONSTITUTION”
A LONG RUN
FOR ITHACA
COLLEGE
PAGE 11
PAGE 14
CITY AWARDED
HOLIDAY
FEMA FLOOD
INCREASES COVID
MITIGATION GRANT & FLU CASES
PAGE 5
PAGE 11
FERRARI
PAGE 13
BusinessTimes
2 The Ithaca Times / January 3 – 9, 2024
Newsline
VOL. XLIII / NO. 70 / January 3, 2024
Serving 47,125 readers week ly
ON THE COVER:
Mayor Cantelmo Outlines Priorities
for Upcoming Year
T
By M at t D ough e rt y
he City of Ithaca has announced
that the swearing-in ceremony for
Mayor-Elect Robert Cantelmo will
take place on January 3rd at 5 p.m. in
Common Council Chambers in City Hall.
The ceremony will occur before the
first Common Council meeting in 2024,
including several new council members
such as Kayla Matos, Pierre Saint-Perez,
Margaret Fabrizio, Clyde Lederman, and
Patrick Kuehl. Mayor-Elect Cantelmo will
also deliver his first State of the City address during the meeting.
The new year will bring several critical
changes in the City. In addition to introducing new council members, the City is
completing its transition to a City Manager form of government while continuing
to work on implementing aspects of the
reimagining public safety plan and creating a plan to manage homeless encampments on City-owned property.
Following his election in November,
Mayor-Elect Cantelmo responded to questions from the Ithaca Times regarding his
outlook on the city and his priorities as he
enters office as the first Mayor to operate
On The Cover: Year in Review 2024.
NEWSLINE ������������������������������������3-5
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ������������ 6
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ������ 7
under a City Manager form of
government.
IT: What are the most important issues the city needs to
address?
RC: The most critical issues
facing the city’s ongoing housing
crisis are the need for reliable
and sustainable transit alternatives, repairing our city’s aging
infrastructure, and rebuilding
and reinvigorating the city’s
workforce.
SPORTS ������������������������������������������� 12
ARTS
& ENTERTAINMENT �������������������� 13
DINING ������������������������������������������ 14
CLASSIFIED ������������������������������ 17-18
Mayor Robert Cantelmo is the City of Ithaca’s new
Mayor. Cantelmo is the first Mayor to operate under a
City Manager form of government. (Photo: File)
IT: What are your top three priorities?
RC: My top three priorities are to
invest in our public employees and our
infrastructure needs, enact broad housing
reform to address our high cost of living,
and develop a community and economic
development strategy for the city that
provides good jobs and opportunities for
Ithacans of all backgrounds.
IT: How would you work to increase
the amount of affordable housing in the
city?
RC: Housing is a human right. Ithaca
faces record cost of living levels and
T a k e
desperately needs a solution. Ithaca needs
an all-of-the-above approach that builds
more housing, protects tenants’ rights, and
works to achieve a permanent solution
for those experiencing homelessness. We
need to promote a diversity of opportunity
through the citywide legalization of middle housing, including duplexes, triplexes,
fourplexes, and townhomes. I also support
aging-in-place through the legalization of
carriage houses and accessory apartments.
We must also simplify zoning codes to
promote accessible, sustainable, and viContin u ed on Page 15
N o t e
X New Fund to Support Volunteer Fire Departments Now Open
Senator Lea Webb (SD 52) announced the
launch of the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure
(V-FIRE) Grant Program, which will provide $25
million in capital funding for New York State
volunteer fire departments to support upgrades
and improvements to fire stations, training
facilities, and equipment supplies.
Funding for this new program was secured
in the FY 2023-24 state budget after gaining
widespread support by public safety advocates,
local governments, and volunteer firefighters
across the state. It comes in addition to $10
million included in the FY 2023-24 budget for
stipends to aid in the recruitment and retention
of these volunteers. These funds will help offset
the ongoing fiscal challenges posed to volunteer
fire departments while also supporting increased
services to communities across New York.
HEALTH ����������������������������������������� 11
Senator Lea Webb said, “In rural districts like
mine, volunteer firefighters play a critical role
in public health and safety. I am thrilled that we
were able to support our local volunteer fire
service by securing $25 million in the FY 23-24
state budget for much-needed upgrades to
our fire stations and training facilities and the
purchase of equipment and supplies to keep our
public servants safe.”
Webb continued saying, “This important
infrastructure funding is in addition to the $10
million we secured in the budget for volunteer
fire recruitment and retention efforts, funding
which will strengthen our volunteer fire service
here in the Southern Tier.”
The New York State Department of Homeland
Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) are
accepting applications for V-FIRE funding until
April 30th, 2024 via the DHSES E-Grants system.
Funds will be awarded competitively to eligible
organizations that are located within and serve
New York State, and can be used for upgrading
and improving facilities and response capabilities
through the following objectives:
Ensure fire stations and training facilities are
safe, structurally sound, meet current building
codes and regulations, and support or promote
effective and safe firefighting practices.
Support volunteer firefighter safety and
health and wellness by providing equipment
including personal protective equipment (PPE),
decontamination equipment & supplies, and
effective exhaust removal systems.
Support consolidation of fire service resources
through regionalization efforts to expand above
and beyond jurisdictional boundaries to enhance
local, county, and statewide response efforts.
TIMES TABLE �������������������������������� 19
ON T HE WE B
Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news,
arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000
M a t t D o u g h e r t y , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r , x 1217
E d i t o r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m
Ch r i s I b e r t, C a l en da r Ed i to r ,
A r t s @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m
A n d r e w S u l l i v a n , S p o r t s E d i t o r , x 1227
Sports@flcn.org
M a t t D o u g h e r t y , N e w s R e p o r t e r , x 1225
R e p o r t e r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m
Kenneth Waterhouse, Photographer
Ste ve L awrence, Spo rts Co lumn ist
St e v e S p o r t sD u d e @ g m a i l .co m
L u c y A l l e n , F r o n t D es k
F r o n t @ I t h a c a T i mes . c o m
J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r , x 1210
j b i l i n s k i @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m
L a r r y H o c h b e r g e r , A ss o c i a t e P u b l i s h e r , x 1214
l a r r y@ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m
F r ee l a n ce r s : Barbara Adams, Stephen Burke, G. M Burns,
Alyssa Denger, Jane Dieckmann, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad,
Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, Bryan VanCampen,
and Arthur Whitman
THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE
C O P Y R I G H T © 2 02 3, B Y N E W S K I I N C .
All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy
must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of
charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be
purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $89 one
year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box
27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on
publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad,
for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the
cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion.
The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and
to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication.
The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are
located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca
Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972–1978) and The
Good Times Gazette (1973–1978), combined in 1978. Founder Good Times
Gazette: Tom Newton
January 3 – 9, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
3
INQUIRING Longview Welcomes Cheryl Jewell as New Executive Director
PHOTOGRAPHER
T
N e w s l i n e
By Ke nne th Wate rhou se
WHAT’S YOUR NEW
YEAR’S RESOLUTION?
“Make the most of every moment.”
– Annette R. & Scott T.
“I’m taking up photography.”
– J. P. W.
“Advance education & Better self-care.”
– Eda F. & Ada L.
“Take better photographs.”
– Kenneth W.
“Enjoy every day.”
– JoJo W.
By Nic ol e Wi l l i a ms
he Longview Board of Directors
welcomes Cheryl Jewell, assuming
the role of Executive Director in
October 2023. With the transition of CEO
Paul Philips into the role of Longview’s
project manager overseeing the campus
renovations, Cheryl Jewell steps into the
leadership position with a wealth of experience and a profound connection to the
Ithaca community.
Bringing a diverse background deeply
rooted in the Ithaca community, Cheryl’s
journey spans volunteerism with local
non-profits, experiences in higher education, healthcare, and a significant role
in supporting older adults as the former
Executive Director of Love Living at
Home. Here’s a Q&A session with Cheryl
L. Jewell, addressing various aspects of her
background, Longview’s evolution, and its
commitment to the community:
Q: Could you share a bit about your
upbringing and how it influenced your
career path? Were there any particular
experiences or role models that sparked
your interest in working with older adults
and community care?
Cheryl: I grew up on a 300-acre family
farm in Southeast Ohio, surrounded by
older adults who greatly influenced my
upbringing. Their wisdom and experiences
instilled a deep respect and admiration
for our seniors. That environment shaped
my decision to pursue a career focused on
caring for older adults.
Q: Where did you pursue your education, and how did those experiences shape
your professional perspective and approach to leadership?
Cheryl: I earned a bachelor’s degree in
recreation management and a minor in
coaching from Ohio University. My master’s degrees in recreation management and
healthcare administration further honed
my understanding of community wellbeing and the importance of holistic care.
Q: Longview has a rich history spanning over 50 years. How has the organization evolved since its inception, and what
significant milestones have marked its
journey to what it is today?
Cheryl: Longview began in 1972 as
Ithacare, an adult care home in Ithaca City
Hospital. It moved to its current loca-
4 The Ithaca Times / January 3 – 9, 2024
tion in 1998, expanding its services to
include independent living, assisted living,
enhanced assisted living, and adult day facilities. Collaborations with Ithaca College
and hosting the Tompkins Community
Action’s Early Head Start program have
been transformative milestones.
Q: Could you elaborate on the unique
blend of services Longview offers to the
older adults in the Ithaca community?
Cheryl: Our offerings span independent
and assisted living, adult day programs,
and enhanced care, ensuring a continuum
of support. This approach addresses
diverse needs as individuals transition through various stages of care,
fostering a supportive environment that adapts to evolving
requirements.
Q: How does Longview support low-income residents,
aligning with its mission?
Cheryl: Longview,
a non-profit, relies on
occupancy revenue,
development, and
donations to provide
charity care for lowincome residents, a
fundamental part
of its mission. We
have 210 people,
8 people in the
adult day program, and 10-15
percent of our
population is low-income.
Q: The collaboration with
Ithaca College seems to be an
essential aspect of Longview’s approach. How does this partnership
enrich the lives of the residents,
and what specific benefits does it
offer in terms of education, social
experiences, and access to resources?
Cheryl: The collaboration grants
Longview residents access to Ithaca
College facilities, classes, and the
Gerontology Institute. The intergenerational education and social experiences involving over 700 students
and faculty create vibrant,
stimulating environments
for our residents.
Q: Could you discuss the impact
and significance of hosting Tompkins
Community Action’s Early Head Start program within Longview’s framework?
Cheryl: Hosting the Early Head Start
program fosters intergenerational connections, benefiting our older residents and
the children involved. It cultivates a vibrant
community where different age groups learn,
grow, and support one another.
Q: What distinguishes Longview from
other care providers for older adults?
Cheryl: Longview’s non-profit status,
collaborations, and familial atmosphere set
it apart, emphasizing kindness, inclusivity,
and community.
Q: How does Longview stay
adaptable to meet changing community needs in senior care?
Cheryl: We continuously
listen to older individuals’
needs and plan renovations to better serve them,
focusing on community
integration and program
expansion.
Q: What’s your vision
for Longview’s future,
and are there any upcoming initiatives you’re
excited about?
Cheryl: The vision and
goals for Longview are to
get the word out about the
local non-profit older adult
living options, how we can
provide more to the community
with our moderate income pricing option for assisted living, and
we want to increase our collaborative efforts in the community
Q: What advice or insights
would you share with individuals aspiring to pursue a
career in non-profit eldercare
leadership, and are there any
key lessons from your journey that stand out?
Cheryl: Volunteering with
local non-profits serving older
adults offers invaluable experience. Equally important is
believing in yourself, listening
to influential individuals, and
recognizing your capabilities as
you navigate your career path.
UPS&DOWNS
N e w s l i n e
City Awarded FEMA Flood Mitigation Grant
Ups
By M at t D ough e rt y
included in FEMA’s 1981
boundaries are now in
he City of Ithaca has announced that an “AE” flood zone. The
Superintendent of the Deit has been awarded an $800,000
partment of Public Works,
grant from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) to help fund Mike Thorne, has said that
the 1981 maps affected
phase one of its flood mitigation project.
The project is expected to be completed about 180 properties, and
the new maps affected over
in three phases over the next three years
Flood waters rising during an ice jam on the banks of
Fall Creek in the City of Ithaca. (Photo: File)
and come at a total cost of nearly $12 mil- 1,200 properties.
If the City cannot get
lion. The statement announcing the news
First Ward Alderperson Cynthia Brock
FEMA to change the updated flood maps,
said that 90% of the phase one grant will
has clarified that property owners with a
Thorne said the flood insurance mandates
be funded through FEMA, and the City
lien on their property, such as a mortgage,
“will impact property owners.”
will fund the remaining 10%.
will be required to purchase flood insurThat impact will result from being reAccording to the statement, “These
ance. In contrast, people who own their
quired to purchase flood insurance, which
funds will be used to develop and prepare
properties outright will not be hit with
can cost thousands of dollars and must be
final design and construction documents
that same burden.
renewed annually. A study conducted by
for flood control measures along Six Mile,
In response to receiving the FEMA
FEMA in 2022 found that the average cost
Cascadilla, and Fall Creeks, and to obtain
grant, Mayor Laura Lewis said, “I unof flood insurance in New York was $725
required construction permits from variderstand the genuine concerns residents
per year, though that number fluctuates
ous agencies.” The statement continued
have regarding the rising costs of flood
depending on the location of a property.
that if the City can complete phase one,
insurance and the finalization of the flood
According to PolicyGenius.com, the
“FEMA will review the project for release
maps. By proactively enhancing our flood
average annual cost of flood insurance in
of phase two construction funding up to
mitigation measures, we not only bolster
Tompkins County in 2022 was $1,186.
approximately $10.1 million.”
our community’s resilience but also work
Regarding the exact costs of flood
While $12 million might seem like a
towards alleviating the strain on individuinsurance, Thorne said, “It’s not a cookiesteep price tag, the project's ultimate goal
is to get FEMA to change its updated flood cutter type of insurance policy.” He contin- al budgets.”
Lewis added, “These FEMA funds will
ued, “I think the new insurance requiremaps, potentially relieving thousands of
move us closer to crucial infrastructure
property owners from the financial burden ments look more property-specific, so it’s
work on flood mitigation, and we are
hard to tell people what will happen.”
of being required to purchase flood insurthankful for their support.”
The flood insurance requirements are
ance, which can cost thousands of dollars.
For more information on the city’s
expected to drive up already high housing
According to the updated flood maps,
flood mitigation efforts, visit this webpage:
costs as property owners who must purall of Southwest Ithaca, most of Fall
https://www.cityofithaca.org/764/FEMAchase insurance will likely pass on those
Creek and large portions of Southside
Flood-Risk-Information
costs to renters.
and Downtown that were not previously
T
I
n a strategic move to chart the future
course of transportation in Tompkins
County, the Ithaca-Tompkins County
Transportation Council (ITCTC) is
actively updating its Long-Range Transportation Plan, spanning the next two
decades through 2045. Director Fernando
de Aragón emphasized the pivotal role of
public input in shaping a shared vision
that addresses various community needs.
“Every five years, we update our
long-range transportation plan," stated
de Aragón. "This is a unique opportunity
for us to define a comprehensive vision
for Tompkins County. The plan's focus
extends beyond the traditional realm of
transportation, considering its impact on
the local economy, public health, and community equity. Moreover, we acknowledge
transportation's crucial role in energy consumption, air quality, and climate change.
Our local approach to transportation can
significantly contribute to addressing these
challenges.”
The Long-Range Transportation Plan
encompasses a broad spectrum of topics,
ranging from pedestrian and bicycle transportation to traffic circulation, infrastruc-
Downs
The Cornell Women's Basketball team
lost to the Stony Brook Seawolves by a
score of 81-56 on Saturday, Dec. 30.
HEARD&SEEN
Heard
On December 8th, Governor Hochul
signed a bill establishing an Agri Voltaics
Research Program at Cornell University.
Agrivoltaics is the use of land for both
agriculture and solar energy generation.
Assembly Member Anna Kelles
introduced the bill.
Seen
Ithaca College senior and defensive
back on the Bombers football team
Derek Slywka has been named to
the first team in the Associated Press
Division III Football All-American Teams
list.
IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own
praise or blame, write news@ithacatimes.
com, with a subject head “U&D.”
QUESTION
OF THE WEEK
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
45.0% Exercise More .
20.0% Read More .
Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Seeks Public
Input for Ambitious 2045 Transportation Vision
By Sta ff R e p ort
The Cornell men's basketball team
defeated the four-time defending
Patriot League champion Colgate by a
score of 77-64 on Saturday Dec. 30. The
Big Red’s record stands at 10-2 on the
season.
35.0% Nothing. I am perfect.
ture maintenance, safety, transit, and trail
development. By addressing these aspects,
the ITCTC aims to create a holistic vision
that not only facilitates efficient mobility
but also aligns with the values and aspirations of the community.
Public participation is considered a
cornerstone of this planning process.
Residents, businesses, and stakeholders
are encouraged to share their insights,
suggestions, and concerns to ensure that
the transportation plan is reflective of the
diverse needs of Tompkins County.
Contin u ed on Page 16
N ext Week ’s Q uestion :
Are you excited
about starting 2024?
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
January 3 – 9, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
5
GUEST OPINION
New Yorkers Concerned About Housing
Affordability
By C ol l e e n Rya n
N
early three in four New Yorkers
think housing affordability is a
significant problem, according to
a statewide survey sponsored by the Rural
Housing Coalition of New York.
“The poll shows that New Yorkers,
no matter where they live, view housing
affordability as a major problem and think
state policymakers have not adequately
addressed the issue,” said Michael J.
Borges, Rural Housing Coalition Executive
Director.
The survey of 1,780 adults, conducted by
the Marist Poll in November 2023, showed
that 73% of New York residents report that
housing affordability is a significant problem in their communities. This concern is
widespread across the state, with 67% of
rural residents, 69% of suburban residents,
and 81% of urban residents feeling housing
affordability is a significant issue.
Most of those who responded (71%)
think the state’s government is not providing enough resources to address the lack of
affordable housing. Across the state, 71%
of rural residents, 77% of urban residents,
and 66% of suburban residents believe the
state is not doing enough to address the
housing crisis.
New Yorkers are divided on how the
state government should address the housing affordability issue, with 39% prioritizing rental assistance, 33% prioritizing
owner-occupied housing development,
and 24% saying new rental housing development should be the state government’s
top priority.
Borges says, “There is no one-sizefits-all solution to housing for a state like
New York. That’s why the Rural Housing
Coalition calls for a statewide Housing
Task Force. We need to bring stakeholders to the table to develop solutions to the
housing crisis that will meet the needs of
all New Yorkers.”
The Coalition is also calling on Governor Hochul to increase funding for
housing programs in the 2024 Executive
Contin u ed on Page 15
The Talk at
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
Response to “Ithaca-Tompkins County
Transportation Council Seeks Public Input
for Ambitious 2045 Transportation Vision”
“
The one point mentioned that most
can probably agree on is the need to
strengthen the local economy. If not
for the massive influx of outside money
donated or granted to Cornell, Ithaca’s
economy would be similar to that of Penn
Yann or Elmira. Ithaca must be one of the
worst places in the US to locate a business
— high tax, expensive electricity, tons of
red tape, woke workforce, high crime. As
noted previously, your grandchildren will
probably live in TX, FL, TN, NC, AZ…..
“Strategic” public transportation plans will
not do much to address the real problems.”
— Steven Baginski
Response to “City Awarded FEMA
Flood Mitigation Grant”
“
Most of the FEMA flood map line
appears to be from lake flooding, not
from creeks. It would be caused by a
hurricane Agnes-type storm: either a bit
bigger, or a bit further east. Water would
flow into Ithaca from the north, with more
than half coming from Seneca and Keuka
Lake watersheds at the north end of the
lake. The Canal Authority controls lake
level there, and they have to balance flood
damage to Ithaca vs everything downstream: Syracuse suburbs, Fulton, Oswego,
a lot of farms. That decision already happens on a smaller scale, some years. Creek
mitigation will help with flash flooding
caused by local storms, but not wide-area
events.” — Dennis Kolva
Response to “Small Businesses
Voice Concerns Over Wine & Liquor
Sales in Grocery Stores”
“
I own a wine store in Ithaca and have
no problem whatsoever with grocery
stores selling wine. In over 40 states,
grocery stores have sold wine for decades,
and in almost every circumstance, they
make a hash of it, selling low-quality commodity wines that are selected only on the
basis of price. That's created opportunity
for small, quality-conscious wine stores,
6 The Ithaca Times / January 3 – 9, 2024
and it would be no different in New York.
Grocery stores will get the consumer who
only seeks best pricing on mass-produced
wines, and smaller specialty stores will get
the consumer looking for service, information, food pairing suggestions and a
global selection in every price range.”
— Reeves Hughes
“
All this is , is an artificially created
monopoly granted by the State created
through regulation. I have little concern about people who want to maintain
monopoly of a good or service.”
— Jon Lucente
Responses to “Guaranteed Income
Pilots Reveal Local and
National Benefits”
“
Ithaca is an economic basket case. If
not for the enormous influx of outside
money to Cornell, Ithaca would be
another Elmira or Penn Yann, part of
economic Appalachia. Maybe it is anyway.
The Ithaca population is pretty much the
same as 70 years ago. Meanwhile, TX’s
population has quadrupled to 30 million
in the same period. Your grandkids will
probably live in NC, FL, TN, TX, AZ etc..”
— Steven Baginski
“
This is all just communist camel’s
nose under the tent. It won’t work
when scaled up. The producers will
just change jurisdiction by moving away
or underground. If universal basic income
were adopted at scale, the amounts paid
out would keep getting raised by corrupt
politicians until we have full blown communism, and we all know what a disaster
that is: poverty, endless propaganda,
workplace theft, loss of liberty, no private
property, etc.” — Richard Ballantyne
Airing Grievances
“
It is sad to see the Times focus stories
on police, drugs, local crime and danger in Ithaca neighborhoods. You have
become the local National Inquirer. People
like me care about Ithaca. I am sad to see
the direction the Times has taken.”
— Judy Fagen
Response to “County Reports
Increase in COVID and Influenza
Cases Ahead of Holidays”
“
Why the name change from TC PUBLIC
Health to “Whole Health.” Public Health
is well-established and is focused on
Contin u ed on Page 16
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Back on Stage for Son Anthony’s Album Release Party
By M a rjor i e O l d s
loving bonds with many of his fellow
comrades.
As a member of the first Multinational
ranklin Henry Jr. was born in
Peacekeeping Force, Franklin’s group was
Cambridge, Maryland 63 years ago
sent by President Reagon to Beirut, Lebaand moved to Ithaca as a child. He
non. 38 years ago, just before completing
was an independent kid, wandering away
his service, Franklin was severely injured
from his home to the home of bassist
Donald House, one of his lifelong musical and spent nearly 5 months in traction.
mentors. “There was always a living room The outlook was pretty dim.
Following painful recovery and the
full of adult musicians just making music.”
passage of time, Franklin became a loving
Unlike his accomplished parents,
father to Anthony, and twins Christian and
Franklin was mischievous. Joining the
Chandra. Proud of all of his now grownUnited States Marine Corps in 1980, he
up children, Franklin was not surprised
threw himself into the demanding physiwhen Anthony and Christian were drawn
cal regimen and formed close, lifelong,
to music and theater. Chandra, an equally
talented artist, found her success as well, in
Ithaca, while also playing an important role
in the kids’ single parent home.
Over the years, many of us met Franklin through his day jobs at the City Health
Club, or at Ruloff’s in Collegetown, with
no idea about his evening and weekend
music gigs. Franklin made numerous
trips to NYC, or touring up and down
the Northeast, and in middle America to
perform bass with Bernie Milton and the
Soul Patrol, Evolve, Oscar Davis Jr., FBI,
Solstice.
Franklin: “It was a lot of work to put
together bands to play at the Ramada, the
Franklin Henry Jr. playing the bass, with
his son onstage, celebrating the new release
Sheraton and smaller clubs—Chapter
of his current project Cautionary Tales,
House, Haunt, Nines, many college camtaken at the Deep Dive music venue.
puses, and venues throughout this region.
F
In the early years there were 15-20 music
venues hiring musicians every weekend,
or so. But even a sell-out crowd’s revenue
had to cover the band, the forum, the
transportation, and all the arrangements…”
“With the advent of HipHop, we
watched the band scene fade, as DJ's
replaced bands and infiltrated the music
scene. This new type of music was so
available…For $75, a club could hire a
DJ and play dance music all night long.
Musicians were no longer so in demand,
replaced by turntables and Disco.”
“Hip Hop has penetrated every genre of
music and created an entire sub-culture
in America—Rock, Country, Rhythm &
Blues, Soul…We have had to accept and
adjust to it.”
“The music industry no longer exists
as it was in yesteryear. Distribution and
Endorsements (shoes, perfumes, fashion)
reach broader audiences by the push of a
button on a phone or computer. As sales
of albums, CD’s, tapes, no longer dominate, you can find just about any song you
desire for free.”
These days Franklin with the recurrence of physical difficulties from his
long-ago wounds, has scaled back his
arduous travel. He has been persuaded
to play at special events at the Southside
Community Center, GIAC, Ithaca Festivals, and Porchfest, among other venues.
On November 18th, 2023,
Franklin reunited with a special ensemble
of some of Ithaca’s most talented and
respected musicians—drummer Brian
Wilson, guitarist, and vocalist Double
Tiger Jason Spaker, multi- instrumentalist John Petronzio, and vocalist Devora
Johnso—playing at the Deep Dive. Family
and friends traveling from Franklin’s
Maryland hometown, from around the
country, from overseas were thrilled to
hear Franklin and the band celebrate the
latest album release Cautionary Tales by
son Anthony.
Anthony Henry, who goes by stage
name Anthony Kannon, shared his new
album, while these celebrity musicians
recreated and performed the albums
tracks, bringing the entire project to life:
“Franklin, Jay Spaker, Jon Petronzio, Willie B, and Devora, and supporting acts by
Mr. Mcbean, Producer of Cautionary Tales
Frost Gamble & Tone Chop, and Justo, The
MC made for an incredible event.”
“The night was an overwhelming success with a packed house and the coming together of supporters from all over
to celebrate the success of Anthony’s
achievement.”
The magic moment Franklin says, was
to sit behind his son and perform his
Contin u ed on Page 16
COMMUNITY UPDATE
District Attorney Updates Community on Local Impact of Clean Slate Act
By Sta ff R e p ort
G
overnor Kathy Hochul signed
the Clean Slate Act (S.7551A/
A.1029C) on November 16, 2023.
The law seals certain criminal records and
allows individuals to seek employment,
housing, and educational opportunities to
improve their lives.
Records of individuals with eligible
misdemeanor convictions will be sealed
after three years, and those with certain
felony convictions after eight years following their release from incarceration.
Effective one year from its signing, the
law provides the New York State Office
of Court Administration with up to three
years to implement the processes necessary to identify and seal all eligible records.
Tompkins County District Attorney
Matthew Van Houten was quoted in the
Governor's press release, saying, "I support
the Clean Slate Act because we should
recognize that people who have made mistakes in the past or committed crimes due
to systemic inequities should not be punished for the rest of their lives. Individuals
who have remained stable and law-abiding
should be allowed to seek jobs, housing,
and education, otherwise unavailable due
to criminal justice involvement from years
ago. This legislation represents a common-
sense balance between accountability and
fairness, which is ultimately in the interests of public safety for our communities.”
It's important to note that the sealing of
criminal records under the Clean Slate law
does not affect law enforcement agencies,
the courts, and the DA's Office, as well as
employers that require a fingerprint-based
background check because they work
with children, adults who are elderly or
have disabilities, or otherwise vulnerable
people.
Tompkins County Case Updates
Bruce R. Mead, II, 30, of Ithaca, was
indicted by the Tompkins County Grand
Jury on November 20, 2023, in a twocount indictment charging him with Murder in the Second Degree and Manslaughter in the Second Degree.
Mead is charged with the stabbing
death of his 37-year-old brother, Zacharias Moore, on December 19, 2022, at the
Cayuga Gardens Apartments in the City of
Ithaca. Mead was taken into custody on
December 19, 2022, and is currently serving a prison sentence in connection with
an unrelated 2022 conviction for Criminal
Possession of a Weapon.
The Ithaca Police Department and New
Contin u ed on Page 15
January 3 – 9, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
7
2023: Year in Review
A
By M att Dougherty
As we bid farewell to 2023,
it’s only fitting to embark on
a reflective journey through
the events that defined this
exciting year. From global
events to local controversies, join us in this
comprehensive review as we unravel the
tapestry of 2023, exploring its highs, lows,
and the threads that wove together an unforgettable chapter in the collective story
that was 2023 in Ithaca, New York.
ELECTIONS: COMMON
COUNCIL, MAYOR
One of the several events that underscored 2023 was the historic elections for
the Common Council and Mayor. The elections saw all ten spots on the Council up for
grabs as the terms of every member of the
Council, as well as the Mayor, were set to
Th i r t y y e a r s a f t e r t h e o r i g i n a l M e m o r a n d u m o f
U n d e r s ta n d i n g b e t w e e n t h e C i t y o f It h ac a a n d C o r n e l l
expire at the end of the year.
U n i v e r s i t y wa s a p p r ov e d i n 1 9 9 4 , a n e w M O U wa s a p p r ov e d i n
The election was a rare opportunity to
2 0 2 3 i n c r e a s i n g C o r n e l l’s c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e C i t y i n t h e
reshape local government, and it saw profac
e o f m o u n t i n g p u b l i c p r e s s u r e . H ow e v e r , s o m e s ay C o r n e l l
gressive forces band together to move the
s t i l l i s n ’ t c o n t r i b u t i n g e n o u g h . ( P h o t o : A a r o n F e r n a n d o)
City of Ithaca, which has been a longtime
liberal democratic stronghold, further to
nine candidates for a spot on the Council, darity Slate, supported by local activist
the left.
New York State’s progressive third par- as well as endorsing Robert Cantelmo in groups such as the Ithaca Tenants Union
ty, the Working Families Party, endorsed his run for Mayor. Additionally, the Soli- and the Democratic Socialists of America,
endorsed five of the nine Working Families
Party candidates. In 2021, the public elected Solidarity Slate members Jorge DeFendini and Phoebe Brown to the Council.
For a brief moment, it seemed everything was going according to plan for Ithaca’s left. The race for the four-year term in
the First Ward saw Solidarity Slate member
and Southside Community Center Deputy Director Kayla Matos defeat longtime
Council member Cynthia Brock. Solidarity
Slate member Phoebe Brown won the twoyear term in the First Ward. With the addition of Matos, the Solidarity Slate would
increase its representation on the Council
to three members.
However, a surprise write-in campaign
against Fourth Ward Council member
Jorge DeFendini undermined efforts from
the left to increase its influence in City
Hall. The write-in campaign was launched
secretly in the weeks leading up to Election Day and resulted in the election of
It h ac a’s 2 0 2 3 e l e c t i o n s e a s o n s aw p r o g r e s s i v e f o r c e s u n i t e
u n d e r t h e b a n n e r o f t h e S o l i d a r i t y S l at e t o ta k e a dva n tag e
Cornell senior Patrick Kuehl to the Couno f t h e r a r e o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e s h a p e l o c a l g ov e r n m e n t
cil. As a result, the Solidarity Slate reprea s e v e ry s e at o n t h e C o m m o n C o u n c i l , a s w e l l a s t h e
sentation on the Council will remain at
M ay o r w e r e u p f o r e l e c t i o n . ( P h o t o : A a r o n F e r n a n d o)
two members.
8 The Ithaca Times / January 3 – 9, 2024
CORNELL MOU
Election season tends for candidates
to focus on how they would distinguish
themselves from each other and do things
differently if elected. However, one thing
that every candidate running for local office agreed on was that Cornell University
should be contributing more to the City of
Ithaca.
Over the summer of 2023, the City began a series of closed-door negotiations
with Cornell University to renegotiate the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
that has been in effect between the City
and Cornell since its creation in 1994. The
MOU was last renegotiated in 2003 and was
officially re-approved by Cornell’s Board of
Trustees and Ithaca’s Common Council in
October 2023.
The MOU will see Cornell provide a $4
million voluntary contribution to the City
for 15 years, adjusted annually to inflation.
That’s an increase of $2.4 million compared
to the last MOU negotiated in 2003. In addition, 80% of the funds will be unrestricted,
meaning that City officials will have “broad
discretion over how to invest the funds,”
while the remaining 20% will be allocated to
“priority projects of mutual interest.”
While City Hall was successfully able to
negotiate an increase in the MOU, some
members of the public say that a contribution of $4 million adjusted to inflation isn’t
enough for an Ivy League institution that
has an annual operating budget of roughly
$5 billion, and an endowment worth more
than $10 billion.
The public has also expressed frustration that Cornell was negotiating unfairly
because they threatened not to contribute
anything to the City if the final deal wasn’t
accepted. This would have left the City
with a million-dollar budget deficit in 2024,
leading to layoffs and budget cuts.
In addition to frustration about being
strong-armed into another inadequate deal,
public skepticism about the negotiations
was heightened because the City shrouded
the negotiations in secrecy by refusing to
reveal who was participating in the negotiations until they were already complete.
This resulted in skepticism among the public, who were left to wonder whether or not
the negotiators were making demands for
an increased contribution from the university in good faith.
STARBUCKS UNION
The year 2023 also saw labor actions explode in Ithaca around Starbucks’ decision
to close all of their locations in the City after they successfully voted to form a workers union. This prolonged a conflict that
has been ongoing since 2022 when Starbucks closed its most popular store in the
city — located in Collegetown — and fired
a handful of union organizers in response
to Ithaca becoming the first City in the
Country to unionize every Starbucks location successfully.
The move to shut down every unionized Starbucks location in the City came
weeks after Starbucks founder and CEO
Howard Shultz testified in front of ConF o r m e r C h i e f o f S ta f f
Deb Mohlenhoff has been
gress in April 2023 to address allegations
a p p r ov e d a s t h e C i t y o f
that the corporation has engaged in unionIt h ac a’s f i r s t - e v e r C i t y
busting tactics. It also came a week after a
M a n ag e r . Th e M a n ag e r
Huffington Post article revealed internal
w i l l ta k e ov e r r o u g h ly 7 5%
conversations from Starbucks leadership
of the responsibilities
suggesting that the corporation closed the
2 0 2 3 s aw It h ac a g r a p p l e w i t h t h e g r ow i n g c r i s i s o f
f o r m e r ly ov e r s e e n b y t h e
h
o
m e l e s s n e s s b y d e v e l o p i n g a p i l o t p r o g r a m t o c r e at e
Collegetown
location
in
response
to
negaM ay o r . (C a p t i o n : F i l e)
a s a n c t i o n e d e n c a m p m e n t w i t h s a n i ta ry a m e n i t i e s l i k e
tive press coverage.
After Starbucks decided to shut down b at h r o o m s a n d s h ow e r s f o r u n h o u s e d r e s i d e n t s . ( P h o t o : F i l e)
all their unionized locations in Ithaca,
TRANSITION
Cornell students started a campaign to HOUSING &
2023, the median price for a one-bedroom
TO CITY MANAGER
Ithaca’s longtime form of government pressure the University to stop selling HOMELESSNESS
apartment was $2,003 a month.
ended in 2023 as the City prepared to tran- Starbucks products on campus. The camOutside of New York City, the City of
According to the Department of Houssition to a City Manager form. The change paign saw students protest, occupying Ithaca has some of the most expensive ing and Urban Development (HUD), a
in structure will see the City Manager take campus buildings and camping outside housing costs in the state. A recent survey one-bedroom apartment at fair market
over many of the responsibilities formerly Day Hall overnight. Ultimately, the cam- by Dwellsy — the largest rental listing site value would cost around $1,127. This is aloverseen by the Mayor, and the Mayor will paign was successful as Cornell agreed not in the country — has ranked Ithaca as the ready considered high when compared to
effectively become an additional member to renew its contract with Starbucks after second most expensive small city to rent a the national average. As a result, it should
it expires in June 2025.
of the Common Council.
one-bedroom apartment. As of February come as no surprise that the city is dealing
The city manager will overtake adminwith a housing crisis that is leaving more
istrative and management responsibilities
residents at risk of becoming homeless if
that are currently under the responsibility
they aren’t experiencing homelessness alof the Mayor.
ready.
The Manager would be directly responIn March 2023, the City began the prosible for serving as Chief Administracess of developing a plan to respond to the
tor for the City, supervising department
growing crisis of homelessness in Ithaca.
heads, overseeing labor negotiations, deThe proposal was crafted by the working
veloping and presenting the annual budgroup for unsanctioned encampments on
get, and assuming the role of the Chaircity property and outlined a one-year pilot
person on the Capital Budget Committee.
plan to provide basic hygiene and sanitary
While the City Manager would be responfacilities for unhoused people camping on
sible for crafting the budget, it would still
City property.
be sent to the Common Council for final
The encampment plan has been subject
approval.
to many alterations over the last year in
The Mayor would appoint members of
response to community advocacy against
boards and commissions or advisory comcriminalizing homelessness.
mittees and continue elected service as a
The plan initially included enforcement
member of the Common Council. In adpolicies that would prohibit unhoused residition, Molenhoff said that “the mayor
dents from camping in certain areas desigwill facilitate the process of amending the
nated as “red zones” and “amber zones,” but
city manager’s budget, preside over all the
was changed to only focus on “green zones”
council meetings and assist Council and
where camping would be permitted. Acsetting goals in policy decisions.” Overcording to the policy, amenities like bathI n 2 0 2 3 S ta r b u c k s r a m p e d u p t h e i r u n i o n - b u s t i n g
all, the changes are expected to reduce the
rooms and showers will be provided at the
tac t i c s i n It h ac a b y c l o s i n g e v e ry s t o r e f r o n t i n t h e
C i t y t h at s u c c e s s f u l ly v o t e d t o u n i o n i z e . C o r n e l l
Mayor’s responsibilities by about 75%.
green zone in collaboration between the
s t u d e n t s p r o t e s t e d t h e m ov e a n d p r e s s u r e d u n i v e r s i t y
The Common Council approved Deb
City and the County.
a d m i n i s t r at o r s n o t t o r e n e w C o r n e l l’s c o n t r ac t w i t h
Mohlenhoff ’s appointment as City ManagS ta r b u c k s w h e n i t e x p i r e s i n J u n e 2 0 2 5 . ( P h o t o : F i l e)
er on December 6, 2023.
Contin u ed on Page 10
January 3 – 9, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
9
would operate under a co-response model
— meaning the unarmed division would recontin u ed from page 9
spond to calls with police officers.
In August 2023, the pilot phase of the
The red and amber zones were re- Co-Response Model was launched. The
moved from the policy because the Plan- Crisis Alternative Response and Engagening & Economic Development Commit- ment (CARE) Team, a collaborative effort
tee (PEDC) could not agree on enforcing between the Tompkins County Sheriff ’s
camping bans in those areas without crimi- Office and Whole Health, pairs a Law Enforcement Officer with a Mental Health
nalizing homelessness.
Since the enforcement aspect of the plan Clinician to address incidents with a holishas been removed, the Council approved tic approach. This model seeks to divert inanother resolution on December 6, 2023, dividuals from the criminal justice system
outlining a new series of plans the City has by providing appropriate support.
Additionally, it calls for the creation
to manage homeless encampments located
of the position of Deputy City Manager,
on City-owned property.
The framework for the plan was ap- which would oversee the police departproved by the Common Council by a 10-0 ment and the unarmed crisis response
vote after Alderperson Jorge DeFendini’s team. City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff has
amendment recognizing that involun- said that the City will be working on detary relocation is a traumatic event for un- veloping the Deputy City Manager position
housed individuals was approved by a 6-5 and conducting a search to fill the position
vote. Mayor Laura Lewis cast the tie-break- throughout the start of 2024.
The report also calls for hiring more offiing vote in favor of the amendment.
DeFendini said that while he had con- cers at the Ithaca Police Department (IPD)
cerns about voting on the framework, the to combat staffing shortages that have left
plan is not final, and there will be more op- the department struggling to fill vacant
portunities to provide input over the com- positions. The complete work plan can be
found here.
ing months.
The Community Justice Center (CJC)
has also been created as a collaboration
between the City of Ithaca and Tompkins
County to oversee implementation of the
joint plans for the Reimagining Public
Safety Initiative.
The CJC established the Community Justice Center Advisory Board in 2023
to advise the Tompkins County Legislature, City of Ithaca Common Council, and
Community Justice Center Project Director to improve public transparency and
accountability with respect to the City of
Ithaca and Tompkins County public safety
systems.
One of he CJC’s Reimagining Public
Safety plans is to redesign or identify and
implement a Culturally Responsive Training Curriculum that will incorporate mental health and de-escalation into law enforcement response. Additionally, the CJC
Com mu n ity Justice Center
D i r e c t o r M o n a l i ta S m i l e y
has established a working group of community members, educators, Human Resource experts, and law enforcement stakeREIMAGINING PUBLIC
holders to further the work of inclusive and
SAFETY
On April 5, 2023, the Common Council innovative recruitment and retention for
voted unanimously to pass the work plan law enforcement officers.
This year, the CJC has also opened two
put forward by the Special Committee on
Reimagining Public Safety. The work plan "Community Resource Hubs" in Enfield
outlines a set of recommended actions that and Groton. The hubs provide residents
the city can initiate along with the police with access to information and the interreform initiatives implemented through net, online forms for services and benefits, transportation and housing resources,
the Community Justice Center.
The recommended actions that have re- the ability to take health or other appointceived the most attention have been creat- ments online or over the phone, and other
ing an unarmed crisis response team that community resources.
2023: YEAR IN REVIEW
10 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / J a n u a r y 3 – 9 , 2 0 2 4
Th o m a s K e l ly h a s b e e n a p p r ov e d a s t h e It h ac a P o l i c e
D e pa r t m e n t ’s n e w C h i e f o f P o l i c e a f t e r a m u lt i year search process. Officers hope per m a n ent
l e a d e r s h i p w i l l b r i n g a s e n s e o f s ta b i l i t y t o t h e
d e pa r t m e n t. ( P h o t o : K e n n e t h Wat e r h o u s e)
The hubs are free for anyone in the community to access and there has been an
overwhelming response since the Hubs’ inception. According to the CJC, over 25 community members have been served, and an
equal number of referrals have been made.
The Hubs are located at the Enfield
Community Center, 162 Enfield Main
Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 (Open Wednesdays 12:00 – 2:00p.m.) and at the Groton
Public Library, 122 East Cortland St., Groton, NY 13073 (Open Tuesdays 12:00 –
2:00 p.m.)
returning to his previous role as Lieutenant
of Investigations. Schwartz was appointed
to the position following the departure of
Acting Chief John Joly, who filed a lawsuit
accusing the City of reverse racism for not
giving him the permanent Chief position
because he is a white man. That lawsuit remains ongoing, although the City ended up
giving the job to a white man.
Following the initial failed search, the
Common Council passed a resolution
to allocate $50,000 to hire Public Sector
Search and Consulting as a private search
firm to help the city launch a successful nationwide search process.
POLICE CHIEF
Now that IPD has a new permanent leadAfter nearly three years without a permanent chief of police, former Schenecta- er, the department can focus on improving
dy Police Department Lieutenant Thomas officer morale and addressing staffing shortKelly has been approved by the Common ages that have plagued the department for
Council as the new permanent police chief years. Additionally, stable leadership will
at the Ithaca Police Department. Kelly was enable the department to progress towards
nominated for the position by Mayor Laura implementing goals outlined in the reimagLewis on November 27, and the Common ining public safety work plan.
The year 2023 was a busy one for Ithaca,
Council voted to approve his nomination
on December 6 by a margin of 9-1, with and it saw the end of an era of local governFourth Ward Alderperson Jorge DeFendini ment. Now, as 2024 begins, the City is ushering in a new model of local government,
voting in opposition.
Kelly is replacing Acting Police Chief signifying the start of a new era of history
Ted Schwartz, appointed in May 2022. in the City of Gorges.
Let’s see what happens next…
Mayor Lewis has said that Schwartz will be
Health
County Reports Increase in
COVID and Influenza Cases
By Staf f Re por t
L
ocal cases of COVID-19 and influenza are on the rise, according to
a statement released by the Tompkins County Whole Health Department
(TCWH) on Dec 18.
In Tompkins County, COVID-19 cases
have increased by 47% over the past two
weeks, with 59 cases reported in the past
week. In New York State, flu cases have
increased by 44% in the past week, with
21 positive cases reported in our county in
the past week.
Tompkins County Whole Health Commissioner Frank Kruppa stated, “Please
take the following steps to reduce your risk
of getting or sharing respiratory illnesses
this holiday season: wash your hands well
and often, get tested if you are experienc-
ing symptoms or have had a recent exposure, stay home if sick, wear a high-quality
mask when needed, and get vaccinated
for COVID-19 and the flu if you have not
already done so.”
COVID-19 test kits can be ordered
for free through USPS for delivery to
your home. Test kits and KN95 masks for
youth and adults remain available at local
libraries and municipal centers, free of
cost, to Tompkins County residents. Tests
and masks may also be picked up at our
office at 55 Brown Road, Ithaca, during
business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.
– 4:30 p.m.).
To schedule an appointment to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or the flu, call your
primary care provider or schedule with a
local pharmacy. You can also use the website www.vaccines.gov to find a location
near you. If you need assistance scheduling an online appointment, dial 2-1-1 to
speak with the helpline.
The flu vaccine, including the highdose flu vaccine, is available at TCWHs
on-site immunization clinics for children
and adults with or without health insurance. To schedule an appointment time,
call TCWH Community Health Services
at 607-274-6604.
The new COVID-19 vaccine is also
available at our on-site immunization
clinics. However, this vaccine is limited to eligible children and adults for
the state-funded Vaccines for Children
(VFC) and Vaccines for Adults (VFA)
programs.
Children less than 19 years of age may
be eligible for VFC if they:
• Are currently enrolled in Medicaid.
• Have Child Health Plus.
• Are underinsured: their insurance
does not cover the vaccine.
• Do not have insurance.
• Are Native American or Alaska Native.
Adults ages 19 and over may be eligible
for VFA if they:
• Are underinsured: your insurance
See you soon!
Flower
Don't wait months to get the help you need.
We'll see you soon!
does not cover the vaccine.
• Do not have insurance.
To check your eligibility or schedule
an appointment, call TCWH Community
Health Services at 607-274-6604.
For additional COVID-19 information,
please visit our website: tompkinscountyny.gov/health/covid19
William Jane
Dispensary
When you have a concern
about skin care, it is
important that you can get
it addressed quickly before
it can get worse.
Finger Lakes Dermatology can see
you soon to find out what's wrong.
Their caring staff led by Dr. Yentzer
can work to find a solution.
Tompkins County Whole Health
Commissioner Frank.
(Photo: File)
Prerolls
Vapes
Concentrate
Edibles
Tinctures
We’re proud to offer an extensive selection of flower,
edibles, and concentrates, with friendly and
knowledgeable budtenders on hand to guide you
through your choices. And we’re committed to
transparency and education, with informative displays
and literature available throughout the dispensary.
OPEN: 10-10 M-S; 11-7 Sun.
119 E State St, Ithaca
williamjane420.com
January 3 – 9, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
11
Sports
Renaissance and Review
2023 in Sports Had Heartache, Achievement
and Inspiration
By Ste ve L aw re nc e
A
s I settle in to write my 31st Year
in Review column, I am reminded
once again that the pendulum of
life swings in a wide arc. Some of these
memories made me smile, some made me
sad, but that makes 2023 like any other
year, I suppose.
Like all Big Red fans, I was rooting for
Yanni Diakomihalis at the NCAA wrestling
championships, as he entered the tournament with an opportunity to become only
the fifth wrestler in NCAA history to win
four individual titles. He did it, and Big Red
fans are quick to point out that of those five
elite wrestlers, two of them are Cornellians,
as Kyle Dake also did it. Later that day, Vito
Arujau won his first title, giving the Big Red
yet another national champ.
Vital
Sometimes a story stands
out because of a single
quote, and I will always
smile when I recall the statement made by Courtney
McGuire when we sat down
to talk about her trip to the
World Championships of
the Highland Games. When
explaining the caber event,
“It has motivated me to get back in the pool, try
to break some of the rust away and compete in the
Courtney told me, “It’s a
Masters Nationals.” said Ithaca high school and
tree. I throw trees.”
college champion swimmer Jim Avery who had
Cornell Athletic Trainer
“It’s a tree. I throw trees,” is the way
a second act coaching other masters swimmers
accomplished Scottish Games athlete
Bernie DePalma retired after
like Terry Hoppenrath. Avery died last week.
keeping Big Red athletes safe and Courtney McGuire described her sport.
patching them up when necesI enjoyed writing about the “Tennis
longtime friend and one of Bernie’s colsary for 43 years. Great career, great guy.
leagues for many years. Rick passed last
Renaissance” of Dirk Dugan, a retired
I enjoyed talking about all the memories,
and Bernie and I saw that pendulum swing year, and I dedicated a column to him.
when we talked about Rick LaFrance, our
Another great guy.
Contin u ed on Page 16
Life
by Dani Chontey
Director, Marketing and Admissions
IMMUNE SYSTEM DETERIORATION
The deterioration of the immune system in
older individuals is a natural part of the aging
process. It involves a gradual decline in the
body’s ability to respond to infections and
threats effectively. Several vital changes occur
as individuals age, including a decrease in
the production of immune cells and
alterations in their functionality. The thymus,
an essential organ for T cell development,
also atrophies with age, further impairing
immune responses. Additionally, older
adults often experience chronic low-grade
inflammation, known as inflammaging,
which can contribute to various age-related
diseases. Older individuals become more
susceptible to infections like influenza and
pne um o ni a a nd ma y h a ve re d uced
responses to vaccines. Moreover, the decline
in immune surveillance can increase the risk
of cancer development.
If you have a loved one who requires care,
call the marketing team at (607) 266-5300
to schedule a tour to see our facilities and
learn more about lifecare at Kendal at Ithaca.
Confidence is yours when you or a family
member is in the compassionate care of our
skilled team of healthcare professionals. Find
us on the web at http://kai.kendal.org/
2230 N. Triphammer Road
Ithaca, NY 14850-6513
Website: www.kai.kendal.org
Email: admissions@kai.kendal.org
(607) 266-5300
Toll Free: (800) 253-6325
12 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / J a n u a r y 3 – 9 , 2 0 2 4
Ferrari Describes
the Road
Taken By Auto
Entrepreneur
Enzo Ferrari
W
B y D av i d B u r a k
hile watching
Michael Mann’s at
times painfully brilliant “Ferrari,” we
might be compelled
to ask, “How close
are people willing to get to achieve proximity
to the imminence of death?”
Apparently, for many, the thrill thus
obtained is worth the risks. However, few are
prepared to be cut into pieces by a suddenly
airborne race car, or parts thereof.
Nonetheless, kudos to Troy Kennedy Martin, for his effective script, extrapolated from
Brock Yates biography, “Enzo Ferrari: The
Man, the Cars, the Races. the Machine.”
However, a question re: which I would’ve
liked to see further elaboration, could’ve
provided clarification as to why Laura Ferrari,
played by an indomitable Penelope Cruz,
wasn’t asked by Enzo, her husband, a convincing Adam Driver, why she wanted her gun
back.
Perhaps the financial (and related ) stakes
were so high that they concurred about deferring that question until a later time.
Having been informed by Ferrari’s board
and accountants that production had to be
significantly increased or the company would
go bankrupt, Enzo Ferrari was preparing
to meet with the leaders of the Ford Motor
Company.
The deal on the table would give the American giant decision-making power over output
and some design issues re: the company that
the Ferraris had built from the ground up.
There is a moment of levity, combined
with seriousness, when, in the course of their
discussion, Enzo is arguing for autonomy in
the anticipated negotiations; he asks Laura/
Cruz, do you expect me to tell Ford, “Excuse
me, I have to call my wife to get an answer to
that question.”
“Yes,” she says, with about a second’s pause.
Set in the summer of 1957, with Enzo Ferrari’s auto empire in crisis, the ex-racer turned
Adam Driver plays the title role in Ferrari playing at both Cinemapolis
and Regal Ithaca Mall.
entrepreneur pushes himself and his drivers to
the edge as they launch into the Mille Miglia, a
treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy.
This brought back my own memories
when I was a teenager in Syracuse, sanctioned
drag races were popular. I’d go with my pals,
Frankie Q., Guy M. & “Cheech” Nicotra, who
raced a 427 hp Dodge, called the Red Pepper.
It was exciting to get a “Pit Pass,” and be
close to the action as hundreds of racing fans
crowded the site and watched or got into their
cars & revved their engines.
Now the issues of high cultural significance
pertain to how we , as a people, can move
away from a socio-economic system which
relies upon fossil fuels to get us where we want
to go.
Ferrari
Rated R
Playing at Cinemapolis,
120 East Green St.
and Regal Ithaca Mall, 40 Catherwood Road.
Based on the book Enzo Ferrari:
The Man, The Cars, The Races,
The Machine by Brock Yates
Directed by Michael Mann
Starring Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley
Arts&Entertainment
DRIVEN
January 3 – 9, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
13
Dining
More Mexican
Old Mexico Joins Wealth of Tastefully-Prepared
Mexican Cuisine
By He nr y Stark
I
never take for granted how lucky
we are to have so many wonderful restaurants serving cuisine from
other countries. A case in point is the two
wonderful Mexican restaurants, Zocalo,
(reviewed in The Ithaca Times September
6, 2023), in a mall in Lansing, and Old
Mexico, on Route 13 heading south. It’s
not a coincidence that both serve wonderful authentic Mexican fare at reasonable
prices in a pleasant atmosphere as both
have the same owner. His attention to
detail is evident even in the Mexican-style
tiles in the restrooms.
I simplify Mexican fare by breaking
down a wonderfully complex cuisine into
five major categories: burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, and tacos with each
having many permutations.
At Old Mexico, as soon as I’m seated,
I’m served a complimentary basket of chips
with a pitcher of salsa and a dish into which
to pour the salsa. Besides the obvious bits
of diced onions, I think I detect a hint of
cilantro making the salsa irresistible.
For my main course I frequently order
the same meal: Enchiladas Rancheras,
($12.75). It’s a real value as we get five enchiladas and can choose between chicken,
cheese, shredded beef, ground beef, or
beans. I usually choose three chicken and
two cheese. The composition of the
plate is lovely with diced red tomatoes, shredded green lettuce, a brown
enchilada sauce, and sour cream and
the whole dish is topped with tasty
crumbled white cheese. This generous
portion easily provides two meals. I
choose this instead of the Enchiladas
de Casa which offers three enchilada
and rice and beans and is $13.99.
Another dish I’ve enjoyed is Pollo
Yucatan. It’s offered on the lunch menu
($9.99) served Monday-Friday, 11AM3PM as well as in the Pollo, (chicken),
section ($15.50). The feature of this
dish is a large filet of marinated chicken
breast topped with a medley of veggies.
Noticeable among these veggies, on
a recent visit. were summer squash,
onions, diced tomatoes and zucchini.
14 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / J a n u a r y 3 – 9 , 2 0 2 4
Old Mexico has a wide variety of choices at reasonable prices.
(Photo by Kenneth Waterhouse)
There is also a tasty scoop of cold guacamole and a mound of rice. Three tortillas
wrapped in foil enable us to make sandwiches out of the ingredients.
In the Fajitas group I’ve enjoyed Fajitas
Texanas ($17.99). It wasn’t served sizzling, or piping hot, as the menu promised
but was certainly hot enough. The meat
offerings were bits of chicken, steak, and
shrimp, (mostly chicken), and the veggies
included onions and bell peppers. On a
separate platter came lettuce, pico de gallo,
refried beans, a mound of rice and a large
dollop of sour cream. Three pancakes,
wrapped in foil, were available to make
sandwiches using all those ingredients.
Lots of good food for such a small price.
Mariscos, (seafood/shellfish) isn’t one
of my own personal major categories but it
certainly is important in Mexican cuisine
because of Mexico’s geography. Mariscada
($16.99) is Mexico’s version of France’s
Bouillabaisse. I enjoy Old Mexico’s version
of it. It’s served in a bowl and starts with a
hearty chipotle broth, (or perhaps it’s a thin
soup) and includes mussels (a few had not
opened so were inedible), shrimp, lots of
calamari, haddock, and some mild peppers.
Beverages: Do you like tequila? I’ll bet
you’ll have no trouble finding your favorite
among the 42 varieties, ($4-$9) on offer.
I prefer beer with Mexican cuisine and
can easily choose between 16 bottled, and
a half dozen draft beers including well
known Mexican varieties. And, as you
might imagine, there’s a great selection of
Margaritas, both house, and specialty.
I think we’re fortunate to have Old
Mexico close at hand. It’s a wonderful
restaurant serving an extensive selection of
tastefully prepared authentic Mexican fare,
attractively presented, and at very reasonable prices.
Tid Bits:
The piped in music currently consists of peppy familiar
Christmas tunes all of which had me tapping my fingers on the table as I waited for my server to bring my
food. Incidentally, adding a touch of authenticity to the
atmosphere, all the Christmas music that was sung,
was in Spanish.
Parking is available on site.
Old Mexico
357 Elmira Rd, Ithaca
Mon.-Thurs.11-10,Fri.11-11;Sat.noon-11;Sun.noon-8:30.
(607) 379-6178
oldmexicoithaca.com
MAYOR OUTLINES
PRIORITIES
contin u ed from page 3
brant mixed-use neighborhoods. We should
also study and vote to opt into the Emergency Tenant Protection Act to establish a
board of tenants, landlords, and community
representatives to stabilize rents. To address
the plight of the growing unhoused community, we must incentivize permanent
supportive housing in our community.
IT: How would you work to improve
public transit?
RC: Transportation touches on all the
core elements of municipal policy, from
NEW YORKERS
CONCERNED
housing and employment to sustainability
and civic participation. My administration
will reinvest in our transit infrastructure,
deliver alternatives to car dependency, and
increase our support of micro-mobility
initiatives that improve the viability of biking and walking. One of my priority objectives is to secure a joint commitment from
TCAT underwriters to increase transit
funding by 50% by 2034. We also need to
invest in supporting community partners promoting micro-mobility through
public-private partnerships. Building on
the success of our sidewalk program, I
believe we can also publicly communicate
sidewalk and road repair work annually
for greater accountability and community
involvement. Lastly, given the sometimes
harsh winters we experience and the reliance on walking and biking as primary
transportation modalities, I would like to
see the city move toward a pilot municipal
sidewalk clearing along arterial sidewalks
and bike lanes to promote accessibility and
mobility in our population centers.
IT: How would you balance accomplishing the goals of reimagining public
safety with addressing what some residents perceive as an increase in crime?
RC: We owe it to our community to
provide safety and security for all residents. Through my work on Council, we
have made strides to promote meaningful public safety reform and fully staff
our police department. As Mayor, I will
ensure we have the whole-of-community
approach that is necessary to foster trust
between communities and police, reduce
crime rates, and reallocate resources to address root causes of crime. Going forward,
I hope to maintain and support progressive change in the Ithaca Police Department through training, education, and
rigorous recruitment standards. I also look
forward to implementing a team of peer
support specialists to co-respond with
law enforcement and address behavioral
health and other crises. Finally, I support
efforts to secure permanent leadership for
the Ithaca Police Department and normalize its staffing levels.
CLEAN SLATE ACT
on a Peace Officer, Police Officer, Firefighter or Emergency Medical Services
Professional.
Hernandez is charged with assaulting a corrections officer at the Tompkins
County Jail on November 24, 2023.
The top charge is a Class C Violent
Felony, for which the sentencing range is
between 3.5 and 15 years in state prison.
On December 7, 2023, the Tompkins
County Grand Jury indicted Keith A.
Rowser, Jr., 28, of Ithaca, for Murder in the
Second Degree and Criminal Possession
of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
Rowser, Jr., is charged with fatally
shooting his father, Keith A. Rowser, Sr.,
on July 19, 2023, at their home in the
Town of Ithaca.
The New York State Police conducted
the investigation, with assistance from the
Tompkins County Sheriff 's Office, Ithaca
Police Department, and Ithaca College
Office of Public Safety.
The maximum sentence available for
Murder in the Second Degree is twentyfive years to life.
contin u ed from page 7
contin u ed from page 6
Budget, especially in underserved rural
communities where a little bit of funding
can go a long way. “This survey shows that
New Yorkers think the state needs more to
address the housing crisis. We hope that
this year, the Executive Budget will increase
— not cut — funding for housing programs
and support a comprehensive approach that
addresses the needs of all New Yorkers.”
York State Forensic Identification Unit
conducted the investigation.
The maximum sentence available for
Murder in the Second Degree is twentyfive years to life.
Jesus Hernandez, 24, of Ithaca, was
indicted by the Tompkins County Grand
Jury on December 20, 2023, in a twocount indictment charging him with
Assault in the Second Degree and Assault
DENTAL
Insurance
Great coverage for retirees.
Coverage for cleanings, fillings,
crowns — even dentures! Get
dental insurance from
Physicians Mutual
Insurance Company.
Saltonstall 2024
residencies for New
York State artists,
writers, parents
apply online by:
January 7!
Get your FREE Information Kit
It’s easy! Call today
1-855-868-1731
Dental50Plus.com/Ithaca
Product/features not available in all states. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. To find a network provider, go to physiciansmutual.com/finddentist. This specific offer not available in CO, NV, NY, VA – call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for a similar offer in your state. Certificate C254/B465, C250A/B438 (ID: C254ID;
PA: C254PA); Insurance Policy P154/B469, P150/B439 (GA: P154GA; OK: P154OK; TN: P154TN).
6347
January 3 – 9, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
15
TRANSPORTATION
COUNCIL
contin u ed from page 5
The plan’s overarching goals include
strengthening the local economy, promot-
RENAISSANCE
AND REVIEW
contin u ed from page 12
local physician who took the court as an
elite college player at Cornell 50 years ago,
then saw his game plateau after an elbow
injury. A half century later, a former understudy and current surgeon told Dugan
he thought a new surgery could make a
difference, the good doctor’s tennis game
took a welcome upward turn and he is
back on the senior tournament circuit. Go
get ’em, Doc!
There was another Renaissance of sorts,
as the Ithaca High football team put up as
many wins last fall as it had in many years.
The Little Red played in a different division,
and it has yet to be determined what their
competition will look like going forward,
but it was nice to see the players put up
some “Ws” to reward their hard work.
For future high school and college
athletes, there is concern that many youth
ing a healthy lifestyle, and fostering equity
within the community. Beyond these immediate objectives, the ITCTC recognizes
the broader implications of transportation choices on energy consumption, air
quality, and climate change. By proactively
addressing these challenges at the local
level, the Council aims to set a precedent
for sustainable and responsible transportation practices.
As the ITCTC navigates this ambitious planning endeavor, the community's
sports referees and umpires are leaving
due to the downright abusive treatment
to which they are sometimes subjected.
Kudos to athletic administrators who
are working to remedy the situation, and
shame on the morons who are making
such efforts necessary.
Cornell Outdoor Education — the
program my buddy David Moriah spearheaded — hit its 50-year milestone. David
got a lot of very well-deserved recognition
(remember, there is a bathroom named
“Moriah Hall” at COE’s Hoffman Challenge Course), and he was humbled by the
turnout and the confirmation that he was
a part of something that has been a very
positive force in the lives of hundreds of
students. (David was also a member of the
pilgrimage of five guys who went to the
Baseball Hall of Fame in October, a great
trip that made us all feel like wide-eyed 12
year-olds again. I love that dude.)
I loved writing the cover story about
Chad Levitt and Christian DiPaola. Chad
is a former Cornell
football superstar (and
former NFL player), and
an undiagnosed broken
neck 35 years ago left
him on the precipice of
quadriplegia,and Christian is an Orthopedic
surgeon and former
teammate who undertook a very intense and
risky surgery to patch
up his friend. Chad’s
closing quote was, “I
have no doubt that
Christian saved my life.”
Finally, I want to
revisit a story from
2022 about Terry
Hoppenrath’s quest
to become an elite
Masters swimmer.
Terry put in countless hours, and her coach
“I have no doubt that Christian saved my life,” said former
Cornell football star Chad Levitt about his teammate
was Jim Avery, a lifelong
and surgeon Christian DiPaola who diagnosed and
Ithacan and former All
repaired his broken neck 35 years after the injury.
American high school
and collegiate swimmer.
Jim stayed close to the
was my friend for many years, and I will
miss him.
sport, and I was pleased to write about
Happy New Year everyone. Thanks for
the athletic endeavors of his sons over the
years. Jim passed on December 29th. He
reading my column.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
contin u ed from page 6
people. “Whole Health” sounds like a PR
name that could be the name of a new
diet, a fitness club, some kind of vendor,
or any number of other things. We, the
tax paying public want a SERVICE mainBACK ON STAGE
contin u ed from page 7
music live and in living color.
“To top it off, the rhythm section of
Jason Spaker, Brian Wilson, and Mr.
Henry was 22 years in the making. That
show was a reunion that I’ve wanted
since the day it ended two decades
before.”
“The climax of all the work was that
from the minute we went live, it felt like
we had not missed a day, when in fact
16 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / J a n u a r y 3 – 9 , 2 0 2 4
engagement becomes increasingly crucial.
Residents are urged to participate in public
forums, surveys, and consultations to
contribute to a transportation vision that
truly serves Tompkins County for the next
20 years and beyond.
taining a healthy community. “Whole
Health” sounds like a business, a part of
the HealthCare INDUSTRY, that treats
people as widgets in its search for efficiency
and profit. Is “Whole Health” a sign some
vendor now runs our local, county Public
Health Department? What does this name
change mean?’ — Judy Jensvold
we had not been on the stage together
for more than two decades… What’s
really amazing is that these musicians
knew Anthony and the life he raps about,
as they had front row seats. That night
brought my musical career full circle.”
“To share a stage with my son was magical! The show was taped, so I didn’t miss
the show by playing in it…It was a wonderful night. Being in my son Anthony’s
Release Party in Ithaca, reuniting with so
many musicians I admire, plus family and
friends was fantastic.”