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posticon Government Shutdown Has Relatively Low Impact On New York

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Government Shutdown

New York is 35th out of 51 states (and the District of Columbia) most effected by the Government shutdown. According to a new Wallethub report, the state receives few federal benefits in terms of it's share of federal jobs (44th out of 51) and federal contract dollars per capita (47th out of 51).  New York ranked 33rd in access to national parks, and right in the middle -- 25th -- on impact to real estate (as a percentage of the GSP).  New Yorkers most impacted are those who receive food stamps (13th out of 51).  But if you were worrying about your Social Security payment, it has already arrived.

Congressman Tom Reed (23rd District) has decried the government shutdown, while landing on the side of President Donald Trump.  On December 20th he voted to extend funding the federal government, including $5.78 billion for Trump’s border wall.  But he has voted against funding various federal agencies and departments three times this year, including one bill that would have funded Homeland Security without money for the wall.

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posticon Ground Broken on First Town Center Project

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Milton Meadows

State and local officials gathered at the Lansing Town Hall Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony for a $17.3 million housing development that will include 71 affordable apartments.  Milton Meadows Apartments is the first project that will be realized on 13.5 acres of the 156 acres of town land across the street from the Lansing ball fields.

"Milton Meadows Apartments is a concrete example of the positive results that can be achieved when the public, private and not-for-profit sectors work together," said Lansing Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne. "Not only will our hard-working residents have new, affordable, housing options, this project will bolster Lansing's economic development which will strengthen our entire community. I'm grateful to Rochester's Cornerstone Group, State Homes and Community Renewal and our project partners for their commitment and investment in Lansing."

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posticon County Legislature Highlights

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Bonding Authorized for Airport Improvements
Following a public hearing, the Legislature authorized bonding, as needed, to support the capital improvement project at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. Legislators, without dissent, approved the County's issuance of up to $7.5 million in Airport Bond Anticipation Notes, funded through Airport passenger facility charges. The more than $24 million project, recipient of a $14.4 million New York State upstate Airport Revitalization Grant, will expand the terminal facility and support such associated improvements as installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system and solar panels on Airport property, as well as construction of a federal customs facility.

At the public hearing, six residents spoke, raising their concerns about the project and especially the customs facility, expressing fear that it might actually be a local customs and border protection facility. County Administrator Jason Molino, however, relaying information from Airport Director Mike Hall, stressed that there is no relationship between Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the new facility, and that the new Inspection Station, located on the secure side of the Airport, will simply allow international guests and visitors to arrive directly in Tompkins County, and offers the prospect of pre-cleared commercial air service, where the agent would be checking the manifest, not inspecting the passengers and cargo. As a "user fee" operation, the Airport has to pay for the agent, but can recoup expenses by charging a fee for service, and the agent, while working for Customs Border Patrol (CBP), will be responsive to the airport, and the airport will be able to track CBP activity.

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posticon Dramatic Increase In Energy Efficiency And Storage Targets Approved

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the New York State Public Service Commission approved two initiatives to dramatically increase New York's energy efficiency and energy storage targets to combat climate change. The new energy efficiency target for investor-owned utilities will more than double utility energy efficiency progress by 2025, reducing the state's energy consumption by the equivalent of fueling and powering 1.8 million homes. The energy storage initiative sets New York on a trajectory to achieve 1,500 megawatts of storage by 2025, enough electricity to power 1.2 million homes, and up to 3,000 megawatts by 2030. First announced as part of the Governor's 2018 State of the State clean energy agenda, these energy efficiency and energy storage targets are vital to meeting New York's clean energy goals.

"As the federal government continues to ignore the real and imminent dangers of climate change, New York is aggressively pursuing clean energy alternatives to protect our environment and conserve resources," Cuomo said. "These unprecedented energy efficiency and energy storage targets will set a standard for the rest of the nation to follow, while supporting and creating jobs in these cutting-edge renewable industries."

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posticon Cuomo Announces Immigrant Community Services Expansion

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Last week Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the Office for New Americans is expanding and enhancing services to immigrants across the state who are under assault by the federal government. In response to federal immigration policies as well as feedback from impacted immigrant communities, advocates and service providers, ONA will establish Opportunity Centers in the North Country and the Southern Tier. ONA will hire 20 experienced, dedicated immigration attorneys to serve as full-time legal counsels in all regions of the state to provide free services to immigrants that need assistance. Additionally, ONA will partner with Cell-Ed to provide virtual English language courses, which can be more convenient than attending in-person classes.

"While the federal government pushes an anti-immigrant agenda, New York embraces our immigrant heritage and welcomes new Americans with open arms," Cuomo said. "In New York, the Office for New Americans is the first line of defense against a federal government bent on closing borders and breaking up families, and these critical services will help protect the immigrant community in the face of this assault."

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posticon United Increases Service Between Ithaca and DC

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United Airlines announced Wednesday it is continuing to strengthen its domestic route network by offering more ways for customers to connect between Washington Dulles (IAD) and Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH). United is adding a third daily flight to its schedule between Washington, D.C., and Ithaca with an ERJ-145 regional aircraft. From its hub at Washington Dulles, United offers customers access to more than 70 cities across the United States and nearly 40 destinations in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Tickets are now available for purchase for the flight.

"Ithaca is a vital economic centerpiece for business and tourism in Upstate New York, and United Airlines is proud to offer customers the only non-stop service between Washington, DC, and Ithaca," said Jill Kaplan, United's President of New York and New Jersey. "The addition of a third daily flight to our schedule offers our customers more choice and convenience to travel between Ithaca and Washington-Dulles."

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posticon Citizens Ask ZBA To Stop Gun Club Construction

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Lansing Rod & Gun Club

Members of 'Citizens for a Healthy Salmon Creek Watershed' asked the Town of Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Tuesday for an injunction on continued construction at the Lansing Rod & Gun Club.  The club is relocating shooting ranges to conform, in part, with a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consent order issued in August of 2016.  But the plan has seen heated opposition by Ludlowville activists and neighbors who say it will impact their health, property values, and quality of life.

"Since a code enforcement officer did not certify to the Board of Appeals a reason for why the gun club should be allowed to continue to build on this, what we feel is an unlawfully issued building permit, we would like you to intervene and have them stop," said Gay Nicholson on behalf of Citizens for a Healthy Salmon Creek Watershed.  "Since the hearing is not scheduled until January 29th, it gives the gun club ample opportunity to completely finish building their new, expanded trap field a second hazardous waste site in the Town of Lansing."

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posticon State Nixes Myers Park Grant Request

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Myers Park and Salt Point

Planning Consultant Michael Long told the Lansing Town Board Wednesday that New York State chose not to award grant funding that could have paid for improvements to Myers Park.  If the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) grant applications had been approved Lansing may have been eligible for up to $240,080 through the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation - Parks Program, and $632,075 through the NYS Department of State (DOS) Waterfront Revitalization Program (WRP).

"There are two factors when you apply for a grant," Long said. "One is, is it a good grant, well written and does it score well?  And the second thing is political.  Where's the capital?  Do you distribute it across the state?  I think that's what happened here."

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posticon Town 'Rights Zoning Wrong'

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Repair Shop near schools rezoned B1

The Lansing Town Board approved a zoning change for a property on the corner of Ridge and Myers Roads Wednesday, after much discussion about whether what is considered a temporary change is best for the community.  In July the Town Planning Board recommended that the parcel, which houses an auto repair shop, be temporarily rezoned along with four other small zoning 'adjustments'.  But in October when the Town Board passed them into law the repair shop parcel was missing.  But some town board members said that they were righting a wrong that had been done to property-owner Karl Kohlenberg when zoning for his property was potentially improperly changed from B1 (Commercial Mixed Use) to L1 (Lakeshore).

"My feeling is that we basically righted a wrong," said Councilman Doug Dake. "People that own these properties have been in this situation for years.  We righted the wrong for the other four properties.  Why not do the same for this one, with the knowledge that we are planning on moving on with more precincts.  We're writing a wrong.  I've felt that since day one."

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posticon On-Time Completion Of Cashless Tolling On NYS Thruway

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the installation of cashless tolling at all fixed-price toll barriers on the New York State Thruway is now complete. With cashless tolling now live at the Spring Valley and New Rochelle locations, the conversion of all seven barriers marks a significant milestone in the Governor's goal to convert the entire New York State Thruway to cashless tolling by the end of 2020.

"Cashless tolling is helping transform our state's transportation infrastructure and creating a state-of-the-art, reliable highway system that meets the needs of 21st century commuters," Cuomo said. "These new cashless barriers will ease congestion for millions of motorists each year and help strengthen the region's economy by increasing access to local communities."

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posticon Village Puts The Kibosh On Cottages

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Lansing Village Cottages

After close to six months of deliberation the Village of Lansing Planning Board said no to a Planned Development Area (PDA) that would have facilitated construction of Lansing Village Cottages, a project that would have included 97 rental units in 84 buildings, most of them small cottages, grouped in pocket neighborhoods around shared green space.  But Planning Board Chair Lisa Schleelein said the proposal didn't meet four of the eight objectives in Village code defining PDAs,

"The Village of Lansing was founded essentially because of the desire for protections provided by establishing a zoning code," she said. "The Village history underscores the seriousness of creating a PDA.  In the 40 years since the Village was founded there have been numerous requests for PDAs, but only two have been approved.  And there's a very good reason for this.  It's a very serious decision and it's complicated.  It's a law change and a creation of a brand new zone and district.  There must be a very clear and compelling reason for creating a PDA, because once it's created it can't be revoked."

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posticon Lansing Schools Attack Bullying

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Lansing Schools

Lansing School officials have been paying a lot of attention to bullying and how the school social climate can be improved, partly in response to the suicide of former Lansing student Will Czymmek a day before he would have turned 18, partly because of Beth Hogan Callister's demand last September that district personnel enact more effective responses to bullying incidents, partly because bullying has become a major topic state-wide and across the US, and finally because that is what school districts are supposed to do.  A series of surveys were distributed among district residents recently to get a handle on how bad the issue is, and a 'School Climate and Culture Improvement Initiative' has resulted in a task force and discussions across the Lansing campus.

"We've been talking about this comprehensively," Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso said at Monday's Board of Education meeting. "We have curriculum and things on how to improve climate and culture in each building.  And we're looking at it for our facilities about improvements and program.  So it's really a district-wide K-12 initiative.  We'll have to embed this into our planning and our goals as we move forward.  It's there, but I would like to include a specific goal for school culture and climate improvement.  You'll see that more and more for school districts because it's a state initiative."

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posticon County Launches New Electronic Benefit Card

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As part of a Statewide rollout, Tompkins County launched eWIC in October 2018. As an electronic benefits transfer card or debit card, eWIC eliminates paper checks and provides a more convenient way for families in the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) to shop for WIC foods. The new eWIC technology also allows families to roll over any unused benefits from a shopping trip toward future purchases during the same month.

Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director states, "We are excited to bring this vital benefits program online for Tompkins County families. We hope eWIC will make the shopping experience easier and more accessible for families."

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