Archive: News

Senator Mike Nozzolio today announced that over $500,000 in State funding is being awarded to three Finger Lakes Region Airports, including the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, for aviation safety, security and economic development projects.

"Transportation infrastructure investment in the Finger Lakes is vital to our region's success," said Nozzolio. "This funding, which will provide crucial upgrades to some of the key airports in the region, will have a positive impact on our economy and tourism here in the Finger Lakes."

You might think that the major thrust of development in Lansing is the Town Center, which appears to be on hold, at least for now.  But the fact is that hundreds of new living units have been proposed within the township, and some of them are under construction.  The focused, high density development in a town center that some people hope will reduce random development sprawl is not happening in Lansing.  Quite the opposite, in fact, considering nearly 20 proposals currently on the drawing board are going to mean increased traffic, congestion and accidents on Lansing roadways, especially throughout the southern part of the township (not including the Village).

Three members of a Cornell Design Connect team presented their findings from a two and a half month assessment of Lansing transportation issues to the Lansing Comprehensive Plan Update Committee Tuesday.  The study concludes that significant growth in the largely non-rural southern portion of the township will result in increased congestion and accidents if they are not addressed.  It recommended upgrades to town roads, pathways, and bicycle paths as part of a move to mitigate growing congestion.

Lansing got about a foot of snow in this week's storm.  For most people that meant a day indoors where it was warm, hot drinks and perhaps a little shoveling.  While most of us slept Wednesday night the Lansing Highway Department crews were making sure that those of us who wanted to go to work Thursday morning could go to work.

"It takes about four hours to completely plow the Town," says Lansing Highway Superintendent Jack French.  "That includes the county roads in the Town as well.  The total is between 140 and 150 miles of roads."

Lansing School District voters passed a $6,450,000 capital project Tuesday, with 246 in favor and 39 opposed.  School Business Administrator Mary June King the SMART (Security, Mechanical, Architectural, Reconstruction, Technology) project will include work in almost all school campus buildings, and will not cost taxpayers any additional taxes.

King says that the debt incurred by the project will replace debt for past projects that will have been paid in full when payment on loans for the new project come due in the 2016-17 school year.   $210,000 of debt payments will pay for the SMART project, and $140,000 be used to fund the $4.1 million septic system replacement project scheduled for construction this summer.  King says that rolling the debt into new projects means that needed capital maintenance can continue without incurring additional taxes.

Tom Reed’s Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI) will be part of the Fiscal Year 2015 appropriations bill considered by the House yesterday.  Reed’s bill was added as part of a compromise between House and Senate appropriators on a bill to fund government operations for 2015.  It is expected to pass both the House and Senate and be signed into law by the President this week.

"We have worked tirelessly to get this to the finish line – it was our main focus for this year and during the lame duck session,” Reed said. “In these hyper-partisan times, it can be difficult to build consensus, but that is what we did and I am excited to say that our manufacturing jobs bill could be law in just a few days."

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has experienced staff cuts and constrained funding since 2003 while its responsibilities have grown, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

"DEC's staff has declined while funding has barely kept pace with inflation and now is projected to decline," DiNapoli said. "Our natural resources are major assets for the state's economy and New Yorkers' health and quality of life. We must continue to safeguard these assets."

Reed co-sponsored act which authorizes funds to continue 16 clean-up projects in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GRLI) Act of 2014, a bill which Rep. Tom Reed was an original cosponsor of, passed the House of Representatives today. The bill authorizes clean-up endeavors and efforts to combat invasive species in the Great Lakes watershed including projects in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Seneca and Tompkins counties.

Addressing the community's energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions poses an immense challenge that demands immediate action, and developing a vibrant local economy that provides more good jobs is a top priority of County government.

Tompkins County Area Development, the County's designated economic development agency, and the Tompkins County Planning Department, which provides analysis and planning to address community energy and greenhouse gas emissions, today announced an agreement to collaborate on addressing long-term and immediate energy needs and emissions in ways that contribute to a vital local economy.  This collaboration will include bringing a broad variety of voices to the discussion of community goals and strategies, as well as tangible steps to meet both energy and economic development goals.

New York, NY -- The carbon pollution from approximately nine coal plants could be eliminated in New York if wind power supplied 30 percent of the nation's electricity needs, according to a new analysis by Environment New York. The analysis comes just as Congress considers whether to renew tax credits critical to wind development.
 
"Wind power can replace the dirty energy sources of the past and the pollution that comes with them," said Heather Leibowitz, director of Environment New York. "But we need to act now to ensure a clean energy future."

Lansing school taxpayers qualify for a rebate check because the school district did the work to stay below the tax cap.  Reportedly New York State began mailing the checks in September, but so far no one in Tompkins County has received one.  Some residents are beginning to wonder where their checks are.  As Cuba Gooding Jr. famously shouted in the film 'Jerry Maguire', "Show me the money!"

"The NYS Tax website has a list of the taxing entities in Tompkins county and it affirms the fact that we stayed under the cap and so are eligible for the rebate," says School Business Administrator Mary June King.  "I called the Tompkins County Assessment Office and I was told that the folks who live in Lansing, Trumansburg, and Newfield, at least, haven't received their rebate yet either."

The Lansing Gas Drilling Committee sent a letter this week advising the Town board to create a ban on certain heavy industries including hydrofracking.  At a working meeting Wednesday board members said they want the committee to work on crafting a ban that could potentially be voted into law.

"We recommend that the Town Board please include input from the new Town Planner as well as the Gas Drilling Oversight Committee regarding this matter," concluded the Drilling committee letter.  "The Town Attorney should be directed to perfect language on a ban on expansion of heavy industry, which could then be approved by the Lansing Town Board."

On March 28th of this year the New York State Public Service Commission granted an extension to Cayuga Power Plant owner Cayuga Operating Company (COC), and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) to come up with a mutually agreeable proposal that would include repowering the plant with natural gas by December 1.  On November 26th the PSC issued an extension, giving COC until February 6, 2015 to submit a new proposal, implying that a joint proposal would not be forthcoming.

"Due to recent developments, submission of Cayuga's separate revised repowering proposal on December 1st would be premature," argued COC's Attorney John T. McManus.  "Accordingly, Cayuga respectfully requests a brief extension of the current filing deadline until February 6, 2015. This short extension will result in a more-considered revised repowering proposal that will promote the orderly and efficient conduct of this Proceeding and provide for more thorough Commission review."