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Coalition Pushes for “Just Cause” Employment in Ithaca The campaign for “just cause” employment legislation in Ithaca continues. According to the Cornell Sun, the Ithaca Just Cause Coalition has been pushing Common Council to adopt their proposal and a working group on the matter is being formed. The coalition includes unions, nonprofits and businesses. The proposal would end “at will” employment in Ithaca. Under the proposed rule, employers would need to demonstrate that progressive steps were taken to address poor work performance before terminating an employee. Employers would also be able to fire people for illegal or dangerous behavior, or for economic reasons like loss of income. Employers who violate the rule would…
Local volunteers are sewing face masks in response to shortages of protective gear for health care providers, people in the service sector and community members from COVID-19. Here we speak with three people in the community who have been organizing these efforts: Carol O’Driscoll, Director of Surgical Services at Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca Mask Makers…
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Juliana Garcia and Josh Dolan, two of the organizers of the Tompkins COVID-19 Mutual Aid Response Facebook Group, discuss what they and other activists are doing to assist local residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. They describe components of the Facebook Group and encourage folks to join whether they need assistance or would like to provide…
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WRFI’s Roger Smith interviews Ithaca storyteller and poet Jay Leeming, who talks about his career in the arts and why stories are like wild animals. Leeming also gives a sample of his performance style with an excerpt from the ancient Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh. Interview first aired on WRFI’s “Your Morning,” March 13, 2020. Jay…
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The Greater Ithaca Activities Center hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. community breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 18. Gathered in the Beverly J. Martin Elementary School gymnasium, community members enjoyed a meal, musical performances and guest speakers, primarily focusing on the themes of empowerment and racial justice. Photo and reporting by WRFI news contributor J.T.…
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Daily features and interviews from our community
Coalition Pushes for “Just Cause” Employment in Ithaca The campaign for “just cause” employment legislation in Ithaca continues. According to the Cornell Sun, the Ithaca Just Cause Coalition has been pushing Common Council to adopt their proposal and a working group on the matter is being formed. The coalition includes unions, nonprofits and businesses. The…
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Ithaca Passes Short Term Rental Ordinance, Green New Deal Plan- Ithaca’s Common Council passed to major resolutions at its regular meeting Wednesday night. The first enacts a long-discussed short term rental ordinance. Under the new regulation, a permit is required to operate a short term rental. A “short term rental” is defined as one for…
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Cornell Professors Condemn Student Suspensions On Tuesday, more than 325 Cornell professors signed an open letter condemning the University’s suspension of four students. The students were suspended for their role in the pro-Palestinian encampment on Cornell’s campus. The letter calls the suspensions “unwarranted and excessive.” Meanwhile suspended undergraduate protestor Nick Wilson rejected a deal from…
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Chemung Sheriff’s Office Gets Boost for Door Breach Training The Chemung County Sheriff’s office has a new training tool. WETM reports that the Elmira-based manufacturer the Hilliard Corporation donated a reinforced door to the Sheriff’s Special Services Unit. The door will be used in training deputies in breaching locked, reinforced doors. The technique is used…
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