Headlines
Local News: Ithaca Common Council approves pay deal with Cornell
– Ithaca Common Council approves payment agreement with Cornell University – The Ithaca Common Council voted 9 to 1 on Wednesday night to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cornell University. Cornell has tax-exempt status. The MOU sets out what the Ivy League university will pay the city in place of property taxes. The…
Read MoreLocal News: Ithaca Common Council to vote on Cornell MOU tonight
The Ithaca Common Council is set to vote on a negotiated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cornell University in a special meeting tonight. I’ll have a report on the results of the vote tomorrow morning. This is a brief recap of what’s at stake. Cornell has tax-exempt status so it doesn’t have to pay property…
Read MoreLocal News: Cornell Faculty Issues Letter Opposing MOU
– Cornell Faculty Issues An Open Letter Opposing Proposed MOU with Ithaca – Over 200 Cornell faculty members have signed a letter opposing the proposed payment agreement between their employer and the city of Ithaca. In the letter shared with WRFI on Wednesday, the faculty call Cornell’s current contributions to Ithaca, “miserly” and says “Cornell’s…
Read MoreLocal News: September 25, 2023
– Budget for Slope Day more than doubled for 2024 – The Cornell Student Assembly voted to add $400,000 Slope Day budget making it $715,000 for 2024. That’s more than double the current budget. The day is an end-of-school-year celebration on the campus and headlines well-known musicians. The Cornell Daily Sun reports that the bump…
Read MoreLocal News: September 22, 2023
– Health insurance costs for Cortland County employees, retirees may rise – Cortland County retirees and employees may see their health insurance contributions rise by 10% in 2024. The Cortland Voice reports the county is facing a $1.3 million gap in the 2024 budget. The insurance increase would close that gap. The legislature is set…
Read MoreLocal News: September 21, 2023
– Ithaca Leaders Postpone Vote on Cornell Funding, Approve Homeless Encampment Policy – The Ithaca Common Council held a special meeting Wednesday night to vote on two highly significant matters. But, they postponed a vote on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cornell until an October meeting. Mayor Lewis said that would give Alderpersons…
Read MoreLocal News: September 20, 2023
– Tick-borne illnesses double in Tompkins County – Tick-borne illnesses are on the rise in our region and across the country. According to The Ithaca Voice, the number of cases of Lyme disease in Tompkins County has doubled in the past year. Part of the reason is milder winters because of climate change. Ticks, especially…
Read MoreLocal News: September 19, 2023
Opponents of the draft payment agreement between Cornell and the City of Ithaca protested on campus Monday evening. The new proposal would require Cornell to pay Ithaca $4 million a year over the next 21 years with regular increases for inflation. That’s up from the $1.6 million currently paid. Opponents like Kay Minnix don’t think…
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