Archive: News

According to Covid Act Now New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut are the only three states on track to contain COVID-19. The site tracks four indicators: Are COVID cases decreasing?; Are we testing enough?; Are our hospitals ready?; and Are we tracing fast enough? The site found that New York infection rate is decreasing, has a positive test rate, can likely handle a second wave, and does enough tracing to help contain the virus.

"New York State is one of only three states that are on track to contain the COVID-19 according to a study by Covid Act Now. We went from one of the highest infection rates to one of the lowest and we did it by making decisions based on the science, the data and the facts - not on politics," said NY Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Tuesday.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday that five regions - Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country and the Southern Tier (which includes Tompkins County) - are on track to enter Phase IV of reopening on Friday. New York State issued guidance for Phase IV, which will allow low-risk indoor and outdoor arts and entertainment, film and TV production, higher education and professional sports without fans. State Guidance for Phase IV of reopening is available online, and guidance from the Tompkins County Health Department is also online.

Cuomo also announced that in Phase IV of reopening, social gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed and indoor religious gatherings will be allowed at up to 33 percent of the indoor site's capacity.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday that COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped below 1,000 for the first time since March 18. Yesterday, there were 996 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in New York State. This is down from a peak of approximately 18,825 hospitalizations on April 12. Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country and the Southern Tier will enter Phase IV of reopening tomorrow, June 26. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are available at forward.ny.gov.

"After three months of New Yorkers working hard, doing the right thing and taking this seriously, the state has its lowest COVID-19 hospitalization rate since this started," Cuomo said. "Facts are facts, even in this crazy political environment, and what we're saying in New York is we did the right thing. New Yorkers have been locked up and closed their businesses. We have the virus under control finally. We had to flatten the curve. We don't want to go back."

One of the obvious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is that when people stay at home, they're not shopping. That has the consequences for municipalities that sales tax revenue goes down. In the Town of Lansing reduced sales tax revenue has the greatest impact on the Highway Department, which gets a large chunk of its annual budget from 80% of the Town's sales tax revenue. At this month's Town Board meeting Councilman Joe Wetmore expressed concern that in the wake of an estimated 30% reduction of sales tax revenue, that the Town should think about cutting projects anticipated for this year.

But Supervisor Ed LaVigne countered that the Town coffers are in very good shape due to conservative budgeting and a fund balance policy that allows up to six months-worth of operating expenses. He said he has consulted with Highway Superintendent Charlie 'Cricket' Purcell, and they are keeping a close eye on revenues. LaVigne said Purcell has identified projects that can be put on hold if the money doesn't come in as expected, but he advocated a 'wait and see' approach, rather than cutting road maintenance and other projects that may not need to be cut.

The Village of Lansing Board of Trustees discussed reopening village parks and playgrounds, Monday... or, rather, they talked about keeping them closed for now. Village resident Simon Moll, who is running for retiring Trustee John O'Neil's seat, said that he would like to see the Village err on the side of caution, rather than rushing to open the playgrounds.

"I'd rather see playgrounds remained closed for a little while longer," Moll said. "Having two young kids when we walked around the parks, they never asked to go on the playground structures. They would love to if they could, but it's been three months and another couple of weeks it's going to hurt them. We fly kites, we run around, we walk the trails. And all the other other families I know of are in the same boat. Nobody's said to me that playgrounds must open now."

All propositions and candidates were approved by voters Tuesday in the Lansing Central School District (LCSD) and Library District Budget Vote/Election. The 2020-21 $31,554,110 school budget passed 1049 in favor to 327 opposed. A proposition to purchase buses passed with 73% approval, 1002 to 375. The three Board of Education candidates won a new term, as did the three Library Board candidates.

In the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) the preliminary vote results showed the $136,842,648 budget passing 5,526 to 1,682.  That is $4,887,661 or 3.7% more than last year's budget.  A second resolution allowing the school district to appropriate and spend up to $799,126.00 to purchase six full size gasoline buses; and three transit vans also passed, 5,606 to 1,563.  ICSD maintains a dozen schools in and around the city.  The results were scheduled to be certified for the final official tally late yesterday.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation (S.3253-A/A.1360) Sunday - the 'New Yorker's Right to Monitor Act' - affirming the right of an individual to record law enforcement activity and to maintain custody of that recording and any instruments used to make the recording.

"Transparency is critical to renewing the community's trust and confidence in our policing systems," Cuomo said. "Stopping police abuse vindicates the overwhelming majority - 99.9 percent - of police who are there to do the right thing, and by making clear that all New Yorkers have the right to record and keep recordings of police activity we can help restore trust in the police-community relationship."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday that gatherings of up to 25 people will be allowed in Phase Three of reopening, up from the limit of 10. Five regions have already entered Phase Three - Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern Tier. The Governor also announced global public health experts have cleared Western New York to enter Phase Three tomorrow, and the Capital Region is still on track to enter Phase Three on Wednesday, June 17th. Business guidance for Phase Three of the state's reopening plan is available here.

On Saturday Cuomo announced that low-risk youth sports for regions in phase three of reopening can begin on July 6th with up to two spectators allowed per child.

Tompkins County Clerk Maureen Reynolds announced last friday that the Ithaca Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will resume in-person license, permits and non-driver ID transactions on June 15th by appointment only. Additionally, only CDL permit tests will be given at this time.

US CongressmanTom Reed announced Monday that three area hospitals on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 will receive millions in critical federal aid from Health and Human Services' Provider Relief Fund. The funds, which target safety-net hospitals which treat patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay, were allocated in the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. Throughout the pandemic, Reed's office has worked closely with the medical community to ensure their needs are met.

Sales tax revenue for local governments in May fell 32.3 percent compared to the same period last year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Sales tax collections for counties and cities in May totaled $918 million, or $437 million less than 2019.

The sharp decline in revenues was widespread around the state, ranging from a drop of 19.5 percent in Westchester County to a 41.5 percent decline in Tioga County. Nearly every county in every region of the state saw a large drop in overall collections. New York City experienced a 31.9 percent decline, amounting to $196 million in lost revenues for a single month. One major influence is consumers’ online spending, now largely subject to the sales tax. Detail on this activity is not currently available.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the State reached the lowest percentage of positive COVID-19 tests yesterday since the pandemic began. Out of the 59,341 tests conducted in New York State yesterday, only 567, or less than one percent, were positive.

The Governor also announced that New York City is on track to enter Phase Two of reopening on June 22. The Mid-Hudson Valley is on track to enter Phase Three of reopening on June 23 and Long Island is on track to enter Phase Three of reopening June 24 based on current data. Business guidance for Phase Two of the state's reopening plan is available here and guidance for Phase Three is available here.