Archive: News

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the results of the state's antibody testing survey at churches in lower-income New York City communities and communities of color show 27 percent of individuals tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, compared with 19.9 percent of New York City's overall population. The data was collected from approximately 8,000 individuals and shows high positive rates and continued high community spread in these low-income communities.

To address these continued high infection rates in low-income and minority communities, Cuomo announced the state is continuing its partnership with Ready Responders to expand testing from eight to 40 public housing developments across New York City. The state is also partnering with SOMOS to establish 28 additional testing sites at churches and community-based providers in predominately minority communities, for a total of 72 faith-based testing sites in the state in partnership with Northwell Health and SOMOS. The state will also work to stop community spread in these neighborhoods by increasing PPE availability, providing hand sanitizer, enforcing social distancing and expanding public health and education in these communities.

A resolution brought forward by Legislator Shawna Black (D-Ithaca) and seconded by Deborah Dawson (D-Lansing) Tuesday to approve the purchase of equipment to run tests for COVID-19 locally at Cayuga Medical Center passed unanimously (14-0). Tompkins County officials expect the purchase to be reimbursable by FEMA disaster relief aid.

Dr. Martin Stallone, CEO of Cayuga Health System joined the meeting to answer questions. Dr. Stallone shared that with the procurement of additional machines, Cayuga Health System will be able to increase the daily capacity to thousands of COVID-19 tests. This purchase is part of a larger vision to support the eventual widescale community reopening and will allow Cayuga Health System to accurately and rapidly detect prevalence of the disease in Tompkins County.

Redistricting and Legislative Terms Discussed in Light of Delayed 2020 Census Results

Legislator Amanda Champion (D-Ithaca) reported from the Government Operations committee that as the 2020 Census data reporting will be delayed, the Legislature is considering making adjustments to terms to allow for a more accurate future reflection of constituent numbers. Champion shared, “This impacts our County, our residents, and anyone else who wants to run for office” and encouraged legislators to look at the bigger picture of representation.

The committee narrowed down options for adjusted terms to either maintaining the current election cycles or changing the upcoming 2021 elections from four-year to two-year terms with a return to four-year terms in 2023. Options will be discussed at the next committee meeting on June 4th before a recommendation moves to the full Legislature.

Tompkins County will begin reopening today according to an announcement Monday by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. The Governor announced that as of Monday, three upstate regions had met all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the state's regional phased reopening plan when NYS on PAUSE orders expire on May 15th. If the trend continues, starting on May 15th, the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier (which includes Tompkins County) and Mohawk Valley Regions will be permitted to begin opening businesses for Phase 1, which includes what are considered to be low risk businesses including construction; manufacturing and wholesale supply chain; retail for curbside pickup and drop-off or in-store pickup; and agriculture, forestry and fishing. Masks and social distancing will continue.  Tompkins County Public Health Director Frank Kruppa said that Tompkins County residents should proceed with caution.

"It's important that everyone stays vigilant and plans carefully for reopening, following guidelines and requirements from New York State. Public health is our top priority, and this plan was created with that in mind." Kruppa said, "Considering density reduction, social distancing, face coverings, and hygiene will be necessary to ensure the safety of our staff and the people we serve. Even as we consider reopening, we can't become complacent."

Without aid from Washington, hospitals, schools and local governments could face billions in budget cuts

The state's Enacted Budget Financial Plan anticipates a dire fiscal outlook in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020-21 and projects sweeping budget cuts that could affect essential services provided by the state, schools and local governments, according to an analysis released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

As much as $8.2 billion would be cut from Aid to Localities spending, while large reductions in funding for State Operations are also planned. School children and college students, people living in poverty, individuals with disabilities, and aging New Yorkers are among those who may suffer the loss of services. Programs that help fund front-line responders, safeguard health, protect the environment, ease the burden on property taxpayers and maintain a sound transportation system could also face significant cuts.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed hospitals statewide to prioritize COVID-19 testing for children displaying symptoms similar to an atypical Kawasaki disease and toxic shock-like syndrome. The State is currently investigating approximately 100 reported cases in New York where children - predominantly school-aged - are experiencing these symptoms possibly due to COVID-19. The illness has taken the lives of three young New Yorkers, including a 5-year old in New York City, a 7-year old in Westchester County and a teenager in Suffolk County.

"We have been behind this virus every step of the way and even as we are now beginning to see the numbers on the decline, the virus is still surprising us," Cuomo said. "Initially we thought COVID-19 didn't affect children, and now we're dealing with a disturbing issue where we have about 100 cases of an inflammatory disease in children that seems to be created by the virus. New York is leading the investigation of this situation and we are advising all hospitals and medical providers to prioritize diagnostic testing for any children that are displaying symptoms of this illness."

The Town of Lansing's sales tax revenue exceeded projections in the first quarter of 2020. In an interview last week Lansing Town Supervisor was cautiously optimistic last week about the impact of sales tax revenue on the Town, despite reports of a 24% decline in sales tax revenue state-wide. Nevertheless LaVigne said there was reason to be optimistic, in part, because Lansing habitually estimates sales tax conservatively.  Two weeks ago LaVigne sent an email to town board members explaining how current estimates impact the Town.

"The most resent sales tax projections from Tompkins County (Jason Molina) is a 15% reduction in sales tax revenue from the previous year," LaVigne wrote. "The town of Lansing's sales tax revenue last year totaled $1,666,138.29. A 15% decrease of our sales tax revenue from last year would equal $249,920.75. 85% of last year's sale tax revenue is $1,416,217.55. Our 2020 estimate for sales tax revenue is $1,599,290.00.  If we subtract our projected 2020 sales tax revenue from the new estimated 2020 sales tax revenue the difference is a deficit of $183,072.45."

On Wednesday the Tompkins County Health Department announced it received notification that a GreenStar employee tested positive for COVID-19. The individual worked multiple shifts at the GreenStar location at 770 Cascadilla St. last weekend.

Potential exposures may have occurred during two shifts at GreenStar:

• Friday, May 8, 7:00AM – 3:15PM
• Saturday, May 9, 7:00AM – 3:15PM
• Monday, May 11, 10:30AM – 7:00PM

If you shopped at GreenStar during the dates and times above, please do the following:

On May 3rd, 2020 at 6:36 PM, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of Lick Street and Stevens Road in the Town of Groton for a report of a vehicle that struck a bicyclist and then fled the scene. While deputies were in route to the scene, deputies were updated that a red Nissan pickup truck with a bicycle embedded into the front bumper fled north on Lick Street. Groton Ambulance transported the bicyclist/victim to Cortland Regional Medical Center where the victim succumbed to her injuries. The victim has been identified as Jerrie Gavalchin, age 64 of Groton, NY.

The Tompkins County 911 center received multiple calls from witnesses giving deputies the location of the red Nissan pickup truck. With help from witnesses contacting the 911 center, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Deputies and New York State Troopers located the red Nissan pickup truck on Wood Road in the Town of Groton. Deputies observed the bicycle embedded into the front bumper of the red Nissan. Deputies identified the driver of the red Nissan as Jeffrey C. Skinner, age 43 of Groton, NY. Through further investigation deputies determined, that Skinner was intoxicated and subsequently arrested Skinner.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo outlined additional guidelines Monday for when regions can re-open. The state will monitor four core factors to determine if a region can re-open: