Local News: August 9, 2023

- Brock Announces She’s Staying In Race For Common Council -

Ithaca City Alderperson Cynthia Brock announced she’s staying in the race to keep her seat on the Common Council. Brock made the announcement on Tuesday evening at Steamboat Landing as it began to rain. She’s represented the First Ward for twelve years. Brock lost her Democratic Party primary election to Kayla Matos in June. 

Brock says she’s now running on the Ithacans for Progress line. She referred to the city’s administrative restructuring in her announcement.

"In order to ensure we are providing the support and services we need for our community, we must have a diversity of perspectives and voices on Council. We also need experience and continuity to carry forward," she said.

Without naming them, Brock put Cornell on notice. The City is negotiating a new payment agreement with the university.

"We must not only ensure that institutions with enormous economic power in our community pay their fair share we must also end the city’s map-based tax abatement programs for real estate developers looking to profit from market-rate," she said.

Constituents and union representatives also spoke in support of Brock’s candidacy at the event.

- State DEC Warns Residents About New Invasive Species -

There’s yet another invasive species that’s a threat to New York trees. The state Department of Environmental Conservation or DEC is warning residents about the elm zigzag sawfly. They eat leaves from elm trees. The DEC isn’t sure what their potential impact on our environment could be but warns that dense forests could be most at risk for defoliation. The species can be identified by the zigzag pattern their larva makes on leaves. The flies have been found in nine counties in New York state but not yet in the southern Finger Lakes. The flies were first spotted in northern New York last summer. The DEC wants residents to notify them of sightings through this link.