Archive: News

The New York State Department Of transportation (DOT) held two open houses and a public hearing in Lansing Wednesday to explain a project that will move their current 3rd Street Cayuga Inlet waterfront property to a 15.55 acre parcel on Warren Road immediately south of Hillcrest Road, that is currently owned by Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport.  NYS DOT representative Kathleen Joy presented the Town Planning Board an overview of the project and the process of acquiring the land from Tompkins County at their meeting Monday.

"Because it's airport property owned by the County, the Federal Aviation Administration has to approve of this transfer," she explained. "They go through a 'deed of release' process to make sure it is no longer used for aviation purposes.  Related to that, there is an environmental assessment that needs to be done.  That has been completed."

 

	Locally, the Lansing Food Pantry is offering assistance to TSA workers at the Ithaca-Tompkins Airport for the duration of the federal shutdown.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo directed state agencies Thursday to provide support for federal workers impacted by the federal government shutdown that now exceeds the record for the longest government shutdown in United States history. The Governor called for the New York State Department of Labor to provide increased support to workers seeking unemployment insurance benefits and the State's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to help those working without pay apply for and obtain public assistance benefits.

"It is unconscionable that the President is holding hostage the wages and livelihoods of hard-working Americans in an attempt to advance his hateful and regressive political agenda," Governor Cuomo said. "While the federal administration steps on the backs of workers, New York State is stepping up to help in any way we can. These measures will ensure furloughed federal workers in New York receive prompt and special one-on-one services so they can obtain the vital safety-net benefits they need during this hard time."

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Lansing Supervisor Ed LaVigne noted Wednesday at the January Town Board meeting that the Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management sent a notice that fewer plastic recyclables are being accepted for curbside collection.  Plastic containers labeled with numbers 1, 2, and 5 are being accepted.  3, 4, 6, and 7 are not.

"People actually have had some things picked out and left there when they recycled," he said.  "My understanding is it is because the Chinese are not taking some of the recyclables."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo updated New Yorkers Thursday on the impending weather systems that are forecasted to result in a significant snowfall for the majority of the state, as well as the state's preparations. The first of two storm systems will spread across the State on Thursday evening, with two to five inches of snow expected through Upstate. Over the weekend, New Yorkers can expect to experience 12 to 24 inches of snow during a second storm system. The Governor yesterday activated the State Emergency Operations Center to enhanced monitoring mode, and assets are prepared to be deployed to keep roads and communities safe.

 "The forecasts continue to show New York is set to receive a significant snowfall over the next several days and it is imperative that New Yorkers stay informed and take every precaution before these storms hit," Cuomo said. "We are monitoring these storms closely and are ready to deploy significant state resources and personnel so that we can quickly respond to any community that needs help."

NYS Senator Pam Helming announced Monday that legislation she sponsored to increase the speed at which farm vehicles may be operated on roadways has been signed into law. This legislation (S.6746) does not change the requirement that a slow moving vehicle emblem be displayed on all farm machinery, whether self-propelled or towed, but updates Vehicle and Traffic Law to allow farmers to drive their equipment at 35 mph instead of the current 25 mph limit. Increasing the speed at which farm machinery can operate on roadways improves the overall safety of farmers and motorists. Passing this legislation has been a priority for the New York State Farm Bureau.

"With agriculture being the top industry in our region and a major economic driver throughout New York State, it is important that we continue to support our hardworking, job-creating farmers in any way that we can. This bill to increase the speed limit at which farmers can operate their machinery on roadways is a critical part of that support and I was proud to work with Farm Bureau to get it signed into law. This measure improves safety for our farmers and motorists alike. As technologies change, we must update our regulations to reflect those improvements and this is a perfect example of a commonsense regulatory fix. Working together, we can continue to push for legislation that improves public safety and supports the continued success of local farms," Senator Helming said.

County Administrator Jason Molino announced a leadership transition Tuesday at the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response.  Several months ago Director of Emergency Response Lee Shurtleff announced his intent to depart Tompkins County government and pursue other opportunities after more than 30 years of dedicated service with Tompkins County. To facilitate this leadership transition in the department, the County will utilize the services of an Interim Director, anticipated over the next 18 months.

"I am pleased to announce that former County Undersheriff Brian Robison has accepted the position of Interim Director of Emergency Response as of January 1," Molino said. "Brian brings to the position considerable experience in public service in Tompkins County—including the past four years as Undersheriff, service on the County Legislature between 2010 and 2014 (where, in part, he chaired the Public Safety Committee), and more than two decades of service as an investigator with the Ithaca Police Department."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo vowed Monday to codify the Supreme Court's decision on Roe v. Wade into New York State Law upon the passage of the Reproductive Health Act, de-criminalizing women's access to abortions and protecting the doctors who perform them once and for all. Earlier today, the Governor rallied for the passage of the RHA, vowing to pass the bill within the first 30 days of the legislative session alongside former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and bill sponsors Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Deborah Glick. The passage of the RHA is part of the Governor's 2019 Justice Agenda for the first 100 days of the legislative session, outlined in December.

In addition, the Governor announced that he will advance legislation supporting the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act, which would make regulations enacted by Cuomo through Executive Order in 2018 permanent. This legislation would codify the requirement under the federal Affordable Care Act that health insurers much provide free contraceptive coverage in their policies into New York State law. The Governor pledged to not pass the budget until both the Reproductive Health Act and Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act are passed.

Officials at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport cut the ceremonial ribbon December 22 to welcome incoming passengers and inaugurate the Airport's new non-stop air service between Ithaca and Charlotte via American Airlines.

The service started today with the weekly Saturday roundtrip between ITH and American's hub at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT), direct service Airport officials anticipate will expand as new gates currently under construction in Charlotte come on line. At present, a passenger can fly in or out from Charlotte, adding a leg through Philadelphia to complete the trip.

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. (TCAT) released its comprehensive playbook January 4th, charting the course for improved, integrated and expanded public transportation in Tompkins County through the next several years.

TCAT's "Strategic Plan 2018-2030" outlines both short-term and long-term goals for the agency to be the key driver in meeting a number of challenges driven by urbanization, technological advances and higher consumer expectations for a solid and reliable network of mobility choices.

The Tompkins County Legislature, in its annual reorganization meeting, elected Martha Robertson (D) for another year as Chair of the Legislature in 2019, and Shawna Black (D) as Vice Chair. The positions of Chair and Vice Chair are filled each year by majority vote of members of the Legislature. Making the nomination for Chair, Legislator Deborah Dawson observed that over the past year she served with Robertson in many capacities and has seen her in action in many different situations and venues.

"In my experience, no one on this Legislature is better informed or more hard-working," Dawson said. "When Tompkins County needs something, Martha looks to how to make it happen…She has proven herself to be tireless, relentless, and indomitable to serve Tompkins County. We all benefit from her hard work."

Village of Lansing officials considered a plan Monday to purchase a parcel of land that would provide a location for a second Raw Water Pump Station for the Bolton Point Water Commission, as well as additional 'forever-wild' park areas for the Village.  Trustee John O'Neill said the plan would benefit Bolton Point, but he questioned the benefit of Village taxpayer money being used to purchase effectively unusable land.

"The Village would purchase the parcel," Mayor Donald Hartill replied. "It would then be subdivided.  A piece of it would then be sold to Bolton Point.  Another piece of it would be sold as a building plot.  We would end up with a hillside, but also a fair amount of (lake) frontage.  It's partly to help Bolton Point.  We really need to expand the input plant.  The current situation is that Bolton Point would have to buy the entire parcel.  This is a way of softening that blow by at least a factor of three.  In the end we'd probably pay about a third of the cost for the parcel."

Village of Lansing Trustees were asked to consider traffic remedies for NY State Route 13, and Dart Drive, which parallels the state route and is often used as a short cut from Warren Road to the mall.  County Legislator Deborah Dawson asked the board to support a traffic study of the state route, and Planning Board member and Dart Drive resident Monica Moll requested better pedestrian protection on her street.

"I've lived on Dart Drive for 12 year," Moll said. "In the past five to seven years speeding on the road has come to a point where it is quite unsafe to walk.  We have people that walk on the road daily.  I walk my son to the pre-school on the corner.  It's become quite a problem.  Several people have come to planning board meetings to complain.  Several people have tried calling the Sheriff's office.  So it's an ongoing public safety issue."