Archive: News

When Haley and Emily Georgia decided to orgainize a Lansing 'March Against Police Brutality' in the wake of the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis, they thought that they and only a few family members would be marching from the Lansing Town Hall to Terpening Corners (the intersection between Triphammer and Peruville Roads) Sunday morning. 176 people showed up.  Despite some general threats on social media in which some local residents insinuated they would run over protesters, the rally was peaceful and without negative incident.

"We truly thought that it was going to just be our family marching up the hill, so to see the turn out that we had was beautiful and honestly quite an emotional experience," Haley says. "Listening to the two individuals who shared their stories with us was powerful and I think really sent the message that Lansing is not exempt from this conversation because IT DOES effect our community. We really wanted the march to be about elevating black voices In our community."

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has issued an Executive Order extending the deadline for school districts to receive absentee ballots returned by mail to June 16, 2020. The date for receiving ballots had previously been June 9th.

Lansing Central School District:

Ballot must be received in the mail by 5pm on the 16th to be counted. Ballots postmarked on or earlier than the 16th, but not received by 5pm on June 16th will not be counted.

ALSO, the last date to hand deliver in the Lansing District drop box is Tuesday June 9, 5pm. Any ballots dropped after 5pm on June 9, 2020 will NOT be counted.

Sunday afternoon, a supporter of NYS Assembly candidate Anna Kelles received a disturbing anonymous email. Members of “8kun”, a website associated with white supremacy, Anti-Semitic, and Neo-Nazi groups, threatened to dox (maliciously publish private information) this supporter for having a lawn sign in support of Kelles unless they took it down. The email also included derogatory and slanderous statements about Kelles herself.

“When people see that you are fighting to expand the rights of all, it frightens those whose sense of power is derived by pushing others down,” said Kelles.

Municipal libraries in Tompkins County have announced that they are all reopening with curbside or in-lobby pick-up in the week of June 15, 2020. Tompkins County residents can place a hold on their local library’s materials by phone, email, or through the library catalogue.

“We’re excited to safely offer materials for our patrons, and eager to make sure people have resources to use and enjoy,” said Tompkins County Public Library Director Annette Birdsall. “Our libraries have had to find new ways to engage with patrons throughout this crisis, please continue to visit us virtually, as you once again enjoy our print books, dvds, and more.”

'Rensselaer, NY -- The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) today reported that electricity supplies in New York State are expected to be adequate this summer, with a total of 41,319 megawatts (MW) of power resources available to meet forecasted peak demand conditions.

“The state’s grid is well-equipped to handle forecasted summer demand,” said Wes Yeomans, Vice President of Operations for the NYISO. “The NYISO operates the grid to meet reliability rules that are among the strictest in the nation and are designed to ensure adequate supply.”

Tompkins County expects over $589,000 to be available for rent assistance for low to moderate income renters in Tompkins County whose incomes have been reduced due to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program will be managed by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services and coordinated with additional funds from the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and reprograming of New York State HOME funds previously granted to INHS.

Few taxpayers attended the Lansing Central School District budget hearing on Zoom Tuesday, which made it hard for Board of Education members and school officials to gauge how the budget vote will go next Tuesday. The board is asking voters to approve a $31,554,110 budget, plus three student transport vehicles at a cost not to exceed $300,000. Because busses are on a replacement schedule, the annual expense is not costly to taxpayers, because as debt for old busses falls off, it is used to purchase the new ones. But the general budget tends to rise each year, and the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a number of challenges for school districts across New York State.

"'A rock and a hard place' is a good description, with having potential cuts in the future for this year's budget is really a unique and unfortunate for us," School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso said. "We tried to really minimize the impact as best we could. There are very few schools that don't go up to that tax cap to get as much money as they can to support program. We listened to our community. We listened to the board and we minimized that. Certainly we're not going near that tax cap. We're just taking what we need to do to keep those contracts valid and to support our school program."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Wednesday announced outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted in phase two of reopening. Restaurants in the seven regions that have already entered phase two - the Capital Region, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern Tier and Western New York - can reopen for outdoor dining beginning tomorrow, June 4th. Outdoor tables must be spaced six feet apart, all staff must wear face coverings and customers must also wear face coverings when not seated.

The nation was stunned by reports of the death of George Floyd. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is facing second-degree murder charges for continuing to press his knee against Floyd's neck -- while arresting a cooperative Floyd -- until he died. Three other officers have anso been fired and arrested. Peaceful protesters came out across the nation, and looters took advantage of the situation, causing curfews in many major cities. A protest is planned Sunday here in Lansing as well. Civic and municipal leaders have spoken against the brutality of the murder, and the national narrative -- and the conversation in Lansing -- quickly turned to an outcry against racism in America.

"As a District Superintendent, it is my responsibility to make sure all students feel safe," Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso said at Tuesday evening's Board of Education meeting. "This is my responsibility to use my platform to publicly denounce racism, police brutality against black and brown people and to stand with, by, and in front of our black and brown students to let each and every student know you're seen, loved, and valued. It's my responsibility to take action personally and within our educational institution. By no means, does this take away any love, admiration, and gratitude that I have for our ally first responders that protect and serve every single day. The Black Lives Matter movement is creating a world free of anti-blackness where every black and brown person has a social economic and political power to thrive."

County Administrator Jason Molino and Public Health Director Frank Kruppa shared an update Tuesday on Tompkins County’s response to COVID-19. The update included data on the source of exposure to COVID-19 over time, showing a slight shift toward more community spread of the disease, though total case numbers are still low and broad implications cannot yet be drawn.

Molino clarified that any move into future reopening phases may not happen on 14-day timelines, as the State has shared that there will be further reviews of the metrics in-between phases. Molino also shared that the County budget process is ongoing and that he is working with departments to assess impacts and to plan for moving forward.

On May 22 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued an Executive Order 202.10, which allows limited gatherings of 10 or less. Tompkins County health officials urged the public to continue to stay vigilant, and if you choose to gather in a group of 10 or less, to do so safely and with caution.

"To stop the spread of the disease, keep six feet of distance between you and others, wear your face covering, and wash your hands frequently with soap and water," said Tompkins County Public Health Director Frank Kruppa. "Thanks to the efforts of County residents staying home and following local and State guidance, the spread of COVID-19 has been slowed and lives have been saved."

Last Friday, Congressman Tom Reed and a group of state lawmakers issued a public letter demanding New York Governor Cuomo and the New York Department of Health respond to a series of inquiries regarding nursing home orders over the last three months.

In light of the death toll at nursing homes across New York and mounting concern over the Governor's ongoing failure to explain controversial and contradictory changes to the state’s nursing home policies, it is critical that the public hear why the state issued the policy guidance it has. The meeting request was made after repeated attempts to schedule discussions with the state were ignored.