Tompkins County Legislature Seeks Commissioners for Independent Redistricting Process

(Dominick Recckio / Tompkins County) TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY  — The Tompkins County Legislature is seeking commissioners for its independent redistricting process. These are volunteer positions. Commissioners will redraw the 14 Tompkins County legislature districts in accordance with 2020’s census data. The districts will determine the geography and constituents that will be represented by the County’s…

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Tompkins County Tourism Industry Showing Signs of Recovery

The Little House, Groton NY (David Neal and Gailanne Mackenzie) TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — Tourism seems to be on the up and up in Tompkins County. That’s the story Nick Helmholdt shared at a Tompkins County Legislature Committee meeting on July 22nd. He’s the Tourism Program Director for the County.  “Tourism is rebounding slightly more…

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Offices Remain Vacant as Tompkins County Economy Recovers from COVID

Empty  Office Space (Sergei Wing / Unsplash) ITHACA, NY — The Tompkins County Legislature heard a presentation on the county’s economic recovery from COVID at their July 6th meeting. It came from Heather McDaniels, president of Ithaca Area Economic Development.  McDaniels identified several areas that would require additional support to recover from the effects of the…

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New York’s Independent Redistricting Commission is Coming to Town (Virtually)

Tompkins County State Senate Districts 2021 (SUNY) ITHACA, NY — Before it dives into map making, New York’s Independent Redistricting Commission has scheduled a string of virtual listening events to gather public input. The Commission is a 10 member bi-partisan group. Each commissioner was appointed by State Senate and Assembly leaders. They’re tasked with redrawing…

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Tompkins County Infuses Local Tourism with $573,000

Canoeing on Cayuga Lake. (Unsplash) TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — The Tompkins County Legislature has allocated $573,000 dollars to support its tourism industry.  This was done in response to what they heard in April and May from the tourism sector at the Housing and Urban Development meetings. It was also recommended to the full Legislature by…

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Tompkins County is a Childcare Desert

Deserts vs. Non Deserts in Tompkins County. From the Center for American Progress. Tompkins County’s Desert Score. Desert Score score measures how many children there are relative to licensed child care slots. From the Center for American Progress. TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — Much of Tompkins County is considered a Childcare Desert. That’s according to the…

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Tompkins County Considers How to Spend $19.8M in American Rescue Plan Funds

Tompkins County Interim-County Administrator gives a virtual presentation on how Tompkins County could spend American Rescue Plan Funds on the County’s Capital Program (Provided) Tompkins County Legislator Deborah Dawson (Provided) SUMMARY Tompkins County has almost $20 million in American Rescue Plan Funds. The money is meant to get Tompkins County on track to economic recovery…

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Ithaca’s Public Safety Department has its Architects

ITHACA, NY — The City of Ithaca’s forthcoming Public Safety Department now has it’s architects. On March 31st, The City of Ithaca voted to adopt the Reimagining Public Safety Plan. Tompkins County voted to adopt the same plan on March 30th. Objectives in the plan are specific to the City and County’s jurisdiction. Of the objectives…

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