January 19, 2022 Daily Headlines

By George Christopher | January 19, 2022

The Tompkins County Health Department is hosting a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Clinic for those 18 and older. The clinic will offer the Moderna Booster from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Ithaca Mall vaccine site. The vaccine is available to all residents who received their 2nd dose of either the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine at least 5 months ago, or the one shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least 2 months ago. The county is also hosting youth booster clinics for kids 5 to 11. Links for those have been sent out directly by local school districts. For more information visit the county website at Tompkinsny.gov/health

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Seneca Lake Guardian or SLG, a local environmentalist group, is urging local residents to sign a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul demanding the closure of the Seneca Meadows Landfill near Seneca Falls by the end of 2025. Permits currently require the landfill to be closed in 2025. Seneca Meadows is seeking an expansion to allow the landfill to remain open till 2040. SLG maintains the landfill is damaging to the environment and local quality of life..

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On Tuesday, Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced he would not run for Governor in 2022. According to the New York Times, de Blasio had spent months signaling a run, but still faced tough odds in a primary against incumbent Kathy Hochul. Hochul still faces two prominent challengers in New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi. 

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Yesterday Governor Kathy Hochul announced a record setting $216.3 Billion budget proposal for 2023. According to the New York Times, the budget would be a $4.3 Billion increase over the budget approved last year. Included in the funds is an expansion of tuition assistance, a $4 Billion bond for environmental upgrades, and $1.2 Billion towards bonuses for the state’s health care workers. New York State has seen an influx in cash from federal aid, and last year’s tax increase. New York is projected to have a balanced budget through 2027.

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