- By Marcia E. Lynch
- News
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By a vote of 13-2, the Legislature urged Cornell University Administrators to engage in an open, inclusive process in implementing plans to restructure the University’s Africana Studies and Research Center, as they change it from the cross-disciplinary, intercollegiate unit that it has been since its founding in 1969 to an administrative unit with the College of Arts and Sciences. (Legislators Dooley Kiefer and Carol Chock dissented.) Legislators in June had declined to support a different resolution concerning Africana, requesting that the restructuring be delayed. The latest resolution,/approved tonight, asks that Cornell administrators consider all implications of its realignment and encourages the University to commit itself to an open process with the support of the majority of Center faculty in selecting permanent leadership, and it strongly recommends that Center faculty be included in the process of the restructure. It was noted that members and supporters of Africana have asked for the Legislature’s support on this issue.
Legislator Nathan Shinagawa said this resolution, unanimous supported by the budget committee and the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee is forward-looking, and several Legislators who voted against the prior resolution said they were prepared to support the latest action. Both Legislators Chock and Kiefer said they could not support the resolution, since they do not believe the Legislature should be weighing in on the matter. Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera called it a “historic moment,” maintaining activism always has been, and should continue to be a part of Africana, and the issue is important, not only for the community of color, but for the entire community.
Legislature Urges State Delay on Gas Drilling Regulations
The Legislature is calling upon New York State to withdraw new draft regulations on gas drilling through high volume slickwater hydraulic fracturing until the Environmental Impact Statement on such drilling becomes final. Legislators, by unanimous vote, with Legislator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne excused) asked the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) or the Governor to withdraw its newly released hydrofracturing regulations until after the revised Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) is finalized. In its action, the Legislature calls it “imperative” for the revised environmental impact state to become final before regulations are drafted, since that document should affect how such regulations are written, as well as an enormous burden for small communities to review two such lengthy and complex documents at the same time.
Among other actions, the Legislature
- Authorized Tompkins County to apply for up to a $1 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) under the “Cleaner, Greener Communities Regional Sustainability Planning Program” on behalf of a consortium of Southern Tier communities and regional planning agencies.
- Heard a presentation from Deputy County Administrator Paula Younger on the County’s new Grant Management Database system.
- Approved payment of more than $100,000 in Tourism Capital Grants for 2011, funded through County Tourism Program funds, supported entirely by Room Occupancy Tax.
- Scheduled a public hearing for its November 15 meeting for continuation and modifications to Agricultural District No. 1, located on the east side of Cayuga Lake, in the Towns of Lansing, Groton, Dryden, Caroline, and parts of the Towns of Danby and Ithaca.
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