Headlines for December 13, 2022

“Table Talks” Build Financial Stability for Local Women

The Women’s Opportunity Center of Ithaca is inviting people to their two upcoming “table talks.” The non-profit focuses on helping economically-disadvantaged women in reaching their career goals, and fostering economic stability and financial freedom for local women. The two table talks focus on building financial independence and will cover topics such as economic abuse, bank account basics, and building good credit. The first begins tomorrow at 2pm at Lansing Library, and the other on Thursday at 1pm at the Southworth Library in Dryden. 

Ithaca Agency to Serve as Clean Energy Hub

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (or NYSERDA) has named  Cornell Cooperative Extension as our region’s “Clean Energy Hub.” The designation comes with a $3.5 million grant to serve as a center for outreach and education around energy conservation and green energy improvements. According to the Ithaca Voice, the Ithaca office will be one of 10 clean energy hubs around the state that will encourage community participation in transitioning New York to cleaner energy. At least 35 percent of the benefits from investments in clean energy is slated to support historically disadvantaged communities. 

Activists “SLAPP” Back Against Dump’s Owner

Area clean water advocates are pushing back against alleged bullying by the owners of the Seneca Meadows—the largest landfill in the state. According to a press release from Seneca Lake Guardian, the group received an 11-page cease and desist letter from the owner of the dump, Waste Connections. The letter demands the activists retract and cease making what it calls “false and defamatory” statements about the dump. Yesterday, Assemblymember Anna Kelles, attorney Philip Gitlin, and representatives from NYPIRG joined members of Seneca Lake Guardian to condemn what they call an effort to silence the activists and stifle their First Amendment rights. They point out that, in 2020, New York strengthened its so-called anti-SLAPP law which protects their right to agitate against the massive landfill’s owner. State Senator Brad Hoylman, one of the bill’s authors, said the anti-SLAPP measure is meant to help “prevent the rich and powerful from abusing our legal system to silence their critics.”