Archive: News

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday that the Maid of the Mist, which has been navigating the waters of the Lower Niagara River since 1846, is preparing to launch the first two new all-electric, zero-emission passenger vessels constructed in the United States. Once launched later this year, the catamaran-style vessels will provide more than 1.6 million guests from around the world with an up-close, iconic view of Niagara Falls. The vessels feature a wide stance, resulting in a smooth, quiet ride, allowing guests to better enjoy the roar and majesty of Niagara Falls.

"It makes perfect sense for Maid of the Mist to be a world leader with the implementation of this green technology," Maid of the Mist President Christopher M. Glynn said. "The new vessels will carry our guests to the base of Niagara Falls, one of the world's largest sources of clean hydroelectric power."

Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton (D-125AD, Tompkins/Cortland) announced today that she has introduced a bill to exempt Ithaca Carshare, and other "car-sharing organizations" outside of the metropolitan commuter transportation district, from the new 6% tax on passenger car rental authorized in this year's budget.

"Car-sharing organizations operate as non-profits and offer memberships and vehicles for those who, often, have no other affordable access to a car," Lifton said. "They provide, effectively, a transit service for our community, allowing members to rent a car or truck for travel into areas away from the bus routes, or for hauling large, heavy items when needed," she continued.

Citing rising water levels on the southern shoreline of Lake Ontario, Helming once again called on the International Joint Commission to abolish Plan 2014 and assist local communities. Many areas are already bracing for flooding, and New York State has deployed sandbagging machines and emergency response resources.

In February, Helming and Assemblyman Brian Manktelow, joined by several other regional representatives, wrote a letter to U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, notifying them the water level must be stabilized or risk future flooding. They also urged an immediate vote on the appointment of new IJC board members, who will work with local stakeholders to prevent flooding. To date, this vote has not taken place in the U.S. Senate.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday that New York State is building on its nation-leading actions to ensure cleaner air for New Yorkers and reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions by banning coal-fired power plants. The Governor announced that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has adopted final regulations to require all power plants in New York to meet new emissions limits for carbon dioxide (CO2), a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. The regulations, a first-in-the-nation approach to regulating carbon emissions, will achieve the Governor's goal to end the use of coal in New York State power plants by the end of 2020.

"As our federal government continues to support the dying fossil fuel industry, deny climate change, and roll back environmental protections, New York is leading the nation with bold climate action to protect our planet and our communities," Cuomo said. "With the adoption of these final regulations, we are taking yet another step toward a cleaner, greener, long-term energy solution to safeguard the environment for generations to come."

Proponents and opponents of making the Lansing natural gas moratorium permanent are getting ready to face off in another round of meetings with the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG).  At issue is whether or not a moratorium on new natural gas customers in the Town and Village of Lansing will be made permanent, as well as the larger picture of what kind of energy should be used in the town, especially for new development.

"Lansing is far from alone," says Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson. "Westchester County now has a gas moratorium and other areas downstate are facing similar constraints. However, given the state's response with the Clean Energy Action Plan – moving away from gas to solve the energy demands of Westchester and Lansing – it is just not realistic to expect a new pipeline to be approved for Lansing. Instead, Lansing can lead the way into the future. It can and should serve as a pilot community for NYS to demonstrate how to succeed with 'non-pipes alternatives' if given full financial resources to incentivize conversion from gas to electric heating in our buildings.

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer yestderday announced, following his major push, $9,999,990 in federal funding for Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Schumer said that funding will allow Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport to continue its major modernization and expansion effort, which will help transform it into a nationally recognized airport with world-class facilities, as well as a gateway for travelers throughout the Southern Tier and to destinations across the country and around the globe. Schumer visited Ithaca Tompkins Regional in February 2019 and called Acting Administrator of the FAA Daniel Elwell in April 2019 to fight for this critical grant.

Schumer said that the project is well on its way, with New York State funding the first phase of this project: a full reconstruction of the entrance to the terminal building. The $10 million grant will be used for Phase 2: the construction of a post-security arrival/departure concourse and new jet bridges. Schumer explained the funding will allow the airport to increase in size and capabilities, and also support improvements to the terminal building, the backbone of the airport. According to Schumer, these key upgrades will have a transformative impact on Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, enabling it to offer new and upgraded services and to attract new carriers and destinations.

Legislature Adopts 2020 Financial Goal, Fiscal Guidelines for Departments and Agencies
In two resolutions approved tonight, the Tompkins County Legislature approved a 2020 tax levy goal and spending targets for 2020. The tax levy resolution directs County Administrator Jason Molino to prepare a recommended operating and capital budget that can be supported with a tax levy increase of 2.76%, an increase that is beneath the County's 2020 tax cap, currently estimated at 3.51%. Both the tax levy guideline and the spending targets for departments and County agencies to use in preparing their budgets were approved by unanimous votes. (Legislator Shawna Black was excused.)

County Administrator Jason Molino expects that the 2.76% increase in the County's property tax levy, which by policy includes a 0.75% increase dedicated to capital improvements identified in the County's Capital program, will support a maintenance-of-effort budget for County departments, and address certain other critical needs and priorities. As in the past, departments and agencies will have the ability to request funding in excess of their 2020 spending targets, allowing the Legislature to consider exceeding the Administrator's Recommended Budget. Departments and agencies must submit their 2020 budget requests to the County Administrator by July 27.

Three of the five Village of Lansing Trustee seats were up for election in April, but a fourth became vacant when Gerry Monaghan resigned a year before the end of his term.  The three seats were filled by incumbents running unopposed, and Monday the board supported Mayor Don Hartill's appointment of Randy Smith to fill the remaining half of Monaghan's term.  Hartill said that Smith will be a welcome addition to the board, who will continue to represent the neighborhood behind the Ithaca Mall where both Monaghan and Smith live.

"Randy Smith has agreed to serve the rest of Gerry's term," Hartill said. "He comes from the business world.  That's an area we don't have very much coverage from."

Utilities were being run this week to the new Milton Meadows project on town center land in South Lansing across the street from the Town ball fields.  The project, being built by the Cornerstone Group of Rochester, includes nine apartment buildings that will have 72 apartments and a community center on 13.5 acres of land.  Construction began after Halloween last year, the day the $337,500 land purchase was finalized.   An official groundbreaking was celebrated December 17th last year, though work on the new roadway had already begun.

Of the 72 units, eight are expected to rent at market rate, with the remaining units going for about $700 to $750 for one bedroom units, $835 to $850 for two bedroom apartments, and about $950 to $1,100 for three bedrooms. Market rate units might rent for as high as $1,400 for a three bedroom apartment.  Town officials have reached out to veterans, who they say will be given first choice for the subsidized apartments.

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Tompkins County Administrator Jason Molino has convened the County's 2020 Shared Services Panel, the first step in the process to create Tompkins County's 2020 Shared Services Plan, as required by New York State. The Panel met for the first time April 25th.

In 2017, New York State introduced its County-Wide Shared Services Initiative to provide a process whereby each county can work to develop, approve, and submit to the State a County-Wide Shared Services Property Tax Savings Plan, including new shared services actions that, once implemented, achieve demonstrable taxpayer savings.

United Airlines launched its third daily flight between Washington Dulles (IAD) and Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH) on Monday, April 29, further strengthening its domestic route network by offering more ways for customers to connect between Washington D.C. and Ithaca. The new route will be operated by CommutAir as United Express with an ERJ-145 regional aircraft. From its hub at Washington Dulles, United and United Express offers customers access to more than 70 cities across the United States and nearly 40 destinations in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

"We're continuously looking at opportunities to expand our domestic and international route network and because there is significant customer demand we have added a third daily flight to connect our customers conveniently between Ithaca and Washington Dulles," said Jill Kaplan, United's President of New York and New Jersey. "Ithaca is a vital economic engine for business and tourism in Upstate New York and United Airlines is thrilled to expand our service and offer customers the only non-stop services between Washington, D.C. and Ithaca."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday that more than 500 students have been trained in the use of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, for public safety operations at the State Preparedness Training Center. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services reached the milestone in April during its UAS Awareness workshop, one of four courses offered on UAS operations. The courses help educate public safety officials and first responders on how to integrate drones into their public safety operations. With the majority of the training season still ahead, the Division expects to build on this number significantly over the next year and train several hundred more operators by 2020.