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Trump-Era Education Department Launches Investigation into Ithaca Schools Over Alleged Racial Exclusion
By Maddy Vogel
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has launched an investigation into the Ithaca City School District for hosting annual Students of Color Summit events, sparked by a federal civil rights complaint filed by a right-wing group which alleged the events intentionally excluded white students.
The complaint which prompted the investigation was filed in August by Legal Insurrection’s Equal Protection Project, an anti-affirmative action group founded by Cornell University Law Professor William A. Jacobson.
The complaint saw no action taken by the Department of Education until Monday, Jan. 27, just one week into the second Trump administration, when the department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced their investigation in a letter to the Equal Protections Project.
The investigation comes amid broader moves from the U.S. Department of Education to eliminate “harmful” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Shortly after Trump’s term began, the department took down hundreds of publicfacing DEI documents from their website and placed employees who led DEI initiatives on paid administrative leave.
In the complaint, Jacobson alleged that
the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by intentionally excluding white students from the event, which took place annually from 2021 to 2024.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans racial discrimination in federally funded programs, which would include public schools, while the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees all individuals equal protection under the law.
Jacobson notified the district of the alleged violation with a “letter of demands” just days before the 2024 summit was set to take place in May, prompting the district to respond with a public statement that the summit was open to all students, regardless of race.
“Please know that SOCU is open to all of our secondary students,” the district wrote in a mass email to the school community. “We apologize for any previous communication that included exclusionary language about the event.”
Despite the controversy, the Students of Color Summit has been a part of the ICSD’s inclusion and support efforts for BIPOC students for four years. The event, held annually by the ICSD, is a one-day gathering designed to celebrate and uplift students of color in grades 6-12, featuring a variety of activities focused on affirmation, academic
T ake n ote
X Tompkins County Launches Critical Incident Stress Management Team
Ithaca, NY — Effective as of February 6, the Tompkins County Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team is now available to assist local first responders with what is sometimes called ‘psychological first aid’.
CISM is an intervention protocol developed specifically for dealing with traumatic events. The CISM Team — consisting of first responders and mental health clinicians from across Tompkins County - will be activated for a specific incident and assist with short-term crisis response.
“The CISM Team is not a counseling or therapy provider or intended to be a substitute for either” said Joe Milliman, Tompkins EMS Program
Manager and CISM Leader. “But rather, it is a team of first responders here to support the mental health of our fellow responders utilizing peer support.”
A CISM Team response can be requested to the scene for large-scale events, or at a debriefing a day or two afterwards. CISM is open to, and encouraged for, all first responders involved in the event who wish to attend.
“The CISM Team will work hand in hand with Overwatch Peer Support (OPS), which will focus on providing individual support to those requesting it,” stated Danielle Schwarz, Peer Support Coordinator at the Department
excellence, creative expression, and fostering a sense of joy and community.
In their formal complaint, the Equal Protections Project provided previous communications from the district which indicated that white students were not invited to the event and claimed that the communication reflected “systemic discrimination against white students.”
“It is hard to imagine more open, prolonged, and intentional racial discrimination, despite ICSD’s denials,” Jacobson wrote in the complaint, citing a Frequently Asked Questions page which was removed from the event website which stated “Why aren’t white students invited?”
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of Emergency Response. “These two initiatives will work hand in hand towards addressing first responder mental health and removing the stigma surrounding it.”
Overwatch Peer Support (OPS) is a program that will launch later this year through a partnership between NAMI Finger Lakes NY, NAMI North Texas, and Tompkins County Emergency Response.
Questions regarding the CISM Team or inquiries about joining the team should be directed to Joe Milliman, EMS Program Manager, at jmilliman@tompkins-co.org or Danielle Schwarz, Peer Support Coordinator, at dschwarz@ tompkins-co.org
F r EE lan CE rs : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Jane Dieckmann, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, and Arthur Whitman
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A photo from the 2023 Students of Color Summit at the Ithaca City School District. (Photo: Ithaca City School District via Instagram)
By Mark Syvertson QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
“WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE COMMERCIAL DURING THE SUPER BOWL?”
Federal Funding Freeze Threatens $1.6 Million for Tompkins County Housing Initiatives
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — Local housing advocates are sounding the alarm after President Donald Trump’s recent federal funding freeze placed $1.6 million in Continuum of Care (CoC) funding for Tompkins County in jeopardy.
Despite the fact that the funding has already been congressionally approved, awarded through a competitive process and set aside for Tompkins County, the executive branch is attempting to usurp the power of the purse from Congress.
Without these funds, critical programs that support local housing and homelessness services could be at risk, impacting dozens of residents and destabilizing organizations that provide essential services.
Advocates fear that if the freeze is not reversed, local initiatives—including permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing for domestic violence survivors, and data management systems tracking homelessness—could face devastating cuts.
“There was a period of time when we were worried about dollars that we had been awarded in past years. I think that moment has passed,” said Liddy Bargar, Director of Housing Initiatives for the Human Services Coalition. “But right now, what’s most directly in jeopardy for Continuum of Care is this $1.6 million.”
According to Bargar, the threatened funds support key housing programs, including Magnolia House, Amici House,
Chartwell House, and Corn Street House — all of which provide stable housing for vulnerable populations. Additionally, the funding supports the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a critical database for tracking and responding to homelessness in the county.
The potential loss extends beyond existing programs. This year, Tompkins County had been awarded funding for two new initiatives:
Street to Housing Collaborative: A partnership between the Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources (OAR), Reach Medical, and Second Wind Cottages designed to enhance coordinated entry into housing.
Domestic Violence Rapid Rehousing Project: A program to quickly move survivors of domestic violence into stable housing using rapid rehousing vouchers.
“These are new tier-two projects. It’s actually a big reward for a community to get these,” Bargar said. “If that money disappears, dozens of people will be directly impacted, and then there’s the additional ripple effect—staff who work in these organizations, the families they serve, and the wider community.”
The potential funding loss is part of a broader issue affecting housing programs nationwide. National advocacy groups, including the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the National Low Income Housing Coalition, have warned that similar funding freezes could impact Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, putting thousands of renters at risk.
The City of Ithaca also relies heavily on federal funding for housing initiatives,
including HUD entitlement funds. Anisa Mendizabal, who administers these funds for the city, expressed concern about the uncertainty created by the freeze.
“We have received no direct information from HUD yet at this time about any changes,” Mendizabal said. “We’re wondering. We’re concerned. And we are going forward with our planning as we normally do. But if changes happen, we will address them at that time.”
HUD entitlement funds help the city support affordable housing projects, emergency rental assistance, and services for low-income residents. A loss of funding could stall or even eliminate future projects designed to address the city’s growing housing crisis.
Local legal advocates are also bracing for an increase in housing instability. Keith McCafferty from LawNY, a nonprofit legal services provider covering 14 counties, including Tompkins, warned that federal funding cuts could lead to a surge in evictions and housing insecurity.
“Our federal funding comes from Congress and then goes to a nonprofit organization called the Legal Services Corporation, which distributes grants to legal aid offices nationwide,” McCafferty explained. “The history of our organization is that President Reagan tried to eliminate funding completely, and lost. Then, when Clinton was president, Newt Gingrich and his Contract with America tried again. As part of the compromise that saved us, we agreed to restrictions on what we can do.”
Because of these restrictions, LawNY cannot engage in lobbying, participate in
“Seal singing Baha Blast.”
Ally
“I liked the old ladies Weather Tech.”
Gina
“I Am Someone, the Big Brothers/Big Sisters one.”
Sonya
“Yeah, Seal singing Baha Blast.”
Thomas
“The fleshy cowboy hat. I can’t stop thinking about it. I hate it.”
Rio
The Magnolia House, which provides 14-units of permanent supportive housing program for homeless women in substance abuse recovery, is among the supportive housing initiatives at risk of losing funding due to the freeze.
Liddy Bargar, Director of Housing Initiatives for the Human Services Coalition, discusses the potential loss of $1.6 million in federal funding for Tompkins County housing programs during a recent Continuum of Care meeting.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RE: In Support of Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne
“This is a letter of support for Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne, in response to an accusatory statement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
In his January 30 statement, Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said, “The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office in Ithaca, NY, a self-described sanctuary city, appears to have failed to honor a valid federal arrest warrant for a criminal alien with an assault conviction. … The Justice Department will not tolerate actions that endanger law enforcement and make their jobs harder than they already are, as they work to protect us all.”
According to a statement from Sheriff Osborne, “The individual in question was released in accordance with our policy, G.O. 719, which is based on applicable laws, New York judicial decisions, and guidance from the New York Attorney General’s office. … Our office did not
interfere with the enforcement of federal immigration law by ICE.”
In response, Tompkins County officials stated in part that, “There was no interference with federal immigration enforcement efforts. In contrast, Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] knew exactly when the individual in question was going to be released and had every opportunity to come to the Tompkins County jail to obtain the individual in question without any need for a pursuit or other incident.”
Sheriff Derek Osborne has been meticulous in his adherence to the law in this matter. He works for our community. He is an outstanding public servant. Following the accusations from the DOJ, he has been receiving death threats and fears for his own safety and the safety of his family. The signers on this letter realize that they might also be threatened.
In fact, as residents of Tompkins County, we might all want to consider that the new administration in Washington D.C. is painting targets on all of our backs. Will we stand up to bullies and stand up for each other, or will we allow good people and faithful public servants to be treated this way? History is being written as we speak. Sheriff Osborne must not be sacrificed on the altar of worship for the new regime in Washington D.C.” — Hilary Lambert & Emily Adams
RE: Trump’s Wrongheaded Approach to Education
“Amid all the noise and the disruption of the past two weeks, a presidential proclamation was issued on January 29, 2025, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 schooling.”
This is a very disturbing document that begins with a complaint that public school teachers are instilling “radical, anti-American ideologies” and it veers from the teaching of history to a complaint that teachers are compelling “innocent children to adopt identities” and to “question their own sexual identity.”
This is so wrong-headed. It vilifies our teachers and historians who have introduced over the past fifty years complexity to our past, both national and local.
Don’t we want children to know that the land on which we have built our towns was once the home of the Haudonausee—land taken from a people who had lived here for generations with their own culture and systems? And who live on today.
Don’t we want our children to know that once settlers in the Military Tract brought with them slaves, who were emancipated in 1827 by state law, and that free people of color also came here seeking what the settlers sought, and that was a chance of betterment?
Don’t we want our children to know that once women had no voice in government, in the courts, in many educational institutions and occupations, and that women fought mightily to obtain equal rights?
Don’t we want our children to know that not everyone was healthy, wealthy and wise, but some people were poor and struggled to make their way, that others were ill and needed care, and that not all our leaders were wise?
Do we really want to set up the past as a perfect place to which this presidential order hopes that “America’s aspirations is [sic] beneficial and justified” rather than a country that looks carefully at who we were and how we have moved (too slowly, for sure) to greater understanding and equality.
Our teachers undertake to tell the truth—not to indoctrinate; they present the past with its problems—and show how we have faced those issues and sometimes overcome them.
Our teachers are to be honored, not hounded as this presidential proclamation proposes to do. We need to support truth telling with an aim to make this a better country for all.” — Carol Kammen, Tompkins County Historian
RE: If You Had an Unlimited Budget, What Would You Build in Ithaca?
“I would build a place that has a dozen dance and exercise studios for yoga, line dancing, swing dancing, hip hop dance, Zumba, etc. I would build a no-kill animal shelter. I would build an indoor shooting range for the police who shoot outdoors and contaminate the environment. I would build a shelter complex for the homeless. I would build a big recreation center with bowling, pickleball, rock climbing, etc. I would build an organic only restaurant. I would build a water treatment facility that uses reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light instead of heavy chemicals that harm health. I would build more eco villages.” — Rebecca Sydney
RE: Ithaca Teachers Association Applauds Ithaca Common Council for Reaffirming Ithaca’s Sanctuary City Status
“When the Common Council first elected to declare Ithaca a Sanctuary City for immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized people in 2017, they committed to protecting all residents of the City of Ithaca and committed to not using our local law enforcement, courts, or legislative powers to jeopardize the individual safety of members of our Ithaca community. Now in 2025, we have seen an immediate escalation and doubling down on the federal policies and practices that led Ithaca to adopt Sanctuary City status, by eliminating “safe zone status” for public schools, hospitals, and houses of worship. We have heard from our union siblings in Chicago, another Sanctuary City, who have already had to implement district protocols to keep external law enforcement officers from entering their schools. We have held space for the panic that last week’s visit from ICE stoked in our community. We have done all of this while continuing to educate and care for our students.
As public educators, we understand how absolutely critical it is for every child in our community to be able to exercise their 14th Amendment right to access public education and to have their rights under New York State’s Equal Right Amendment and the New York State Dignity For All Students Act honored. As public educators we do not choose whom to educate and whom to exclude from school- everyone is welcome and celebrated. Our job is to serve every one of our students and allow them a safe and protected place to learn, grow, and develop into their own people. We believe in this commitment whole heartedly and are ready to fight for our students’ rights.
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
Last Friday Citizen Action of New York joined Assemblywoman Anna Kelles (D-125), Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo, local leaders, and community advocates in a forceful stand against Republican-backed tax cuts for billionaires—cuts that come at the direct expense of working families.
Downs
At 9:00 AM on Tuesday, January 28th, Cornell junior Sumitra Pandit was arrested from her dorm room on Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, New York and charged with unlawful assembly and obstruction of government administration. She was arrested for alleged actions on September 18, 2024, at a protest against weapons manufacturers Boeing and L3Harris at a career fair on Cornell’s campus.
HEARD SEEN&
Heard
New polling has found that 68% of New York voters support legislation banning the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) related to workplace abuse, harassment or discrimination cases.
Seen
On February 6, 2025 at about 11:18 PM the Ithaca Police Department located a missing juvenile, Shiasia Leshai. The juvenile was found to be safe in Newfield, NY, and is currently in the care of family members. The Ithaca Police Department would like to thank all that helped in this matter to locate this juvenile.
IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own praise or blame, write editor@ithacatimes. com, with a subject head “U&D.”
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) require Cargill to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cayuga Lake salt mine?
Financial Woes at the Advocacy Center Disrupt Services, Lead to Staff Turnover
T% I don’t care.
N ext W eek ’s Q
Do you support Ithaca reaffirming its status as a Sanctuary City?
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
By Maddy Vogel
he Advocacy Center, the only local resource for domestic violence victims in Tompkins County, temporarily pared down their services in the past few weeks after hitting financial roadblocks that placed all staff on a temporary furlough.
Executive Director of the Advocacy Center Jennifer Brownell notified employees on Wednesday, Jan. 29 that after months of “severe financial challenges,” she needed to temporarily furlough all staff. Brownell said that unexpected missed insurance payments caused the center to not be able to meet payroll, leaving 23 employees without pay for their last week and a half of work.
“My next steps, in addition to continuing to secure the funding that is owed to us, will be working with program supervisors to figure out in what capacity we can continue to provide basic services,” Brownell wrote in an email to staff.
The Advocacy Center is the local provider of services for domestic violence victims, survivors of child sexual abuse, adult sexual assault and rape. They provide crisis services, legal advocacy and educational programming. They provide the only safe dwelling for domestic violence victims in the county.
Brownell said in an interview with the Ithaca Times that the center maintained “limited crisis services,” like their 24-hour hotline, but without staff, wasn’t able to keep up with their regular services.
She said that the center continued to provide advocates “where possible” for victims who need court orders of protec-
tion and other legal support. She added that the center focused on providing referrals for their existing partnerships within Tompkins County.
Brownell said that the center’s 24-hour hotline and safe house were still in operation during the furloughs.
“We will ensure that we are providing those crisis level services,” Brownell said. “If someone is in a safety situation, if they need an order of protection, if they need a safe place to go, we will certainly be able to prioritize those and help those folks to find the resources that they need to stay safe.”
As of Friday, Feb. 7, the Advocacy Center has resolved their funding delays, allowing employees at the center to be paid and rehired. The center says it is “completely back to business as usual.”
Since late December, the center’s 24hour hotline has been rerouted to the state hotline from 5 p.m. on Fridays to 9 a.m. on Mondays due to a lack of local volunteers and staff available to be on call.
Advocacy Center staff successfully unionized with Communications Workers of America in January 2023, but despite this, the center has seen a high turnover rate of about one employee per month leaving, according to one former staff member.
One staff member who requested to remain anonymous said that there has been
talks of financial distress and potential layoffs since as early as September, though no layoffs took place.
The staff member said that after receiving the furlough notice on Jan. 29, staff were locked out of their work emails the following Friday and were unable to contact their clients and victims that they directly work with.
Employees were offered incentives to stay with the center on a volunteer basis until payments were resolved and staff who wished to return could be rehired. Employees were offered $500 or one extra week of paid time off to stay and work their normal hours, which would eventually be paid once funding was resolved.
“We are not closing our doors, we are continuing to operate,” Brownell said. “We have limited staff. We have staff who are continuing to volunteer to work right now to make sure that we are providing services to the community.”
As of Friday Jan. 31, Brownell said that five staff took the furlough, 16 stayed on as volunteers and two staff members were undecided.
The Advocacy Center is largely grantfunded, many of which require the center to spend funds before receiving grant reimbursements. Brownell said that the
A photo from a previous Take Back the Night Event, where local colleges and community groups come together to stand up against domestic and sexual violence and show solidarity for victims.
The annual event is organized by the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County. (Photo: Advocacy Center via Facebook)
Executive Director of the Advocacy Center Jennifer Brownell.
SURROUNDED BY REALITY
Fabulous Fables
By Charley Githler
Tall tales are the hot new literary genre, especially at the Algonquin Round Table that is the current White House Press Room, but nothing beats a good old fable. Talking animals, life lessons…plus they’re short! Here are a few that a friend of mine overheard while skulking around Reichsführer Musk’s bunker, under the West Wing of the White House. All similarities to real people are purely coincidental.
The Ass in the Lion’s Skin
Tall tales are the hot new literary genre, especially at the Algonquin Round Table that is the current White House Press Room, but nothing beats a good old fable. Talking animals, life lessons… plus they’re short! Here are a few that a friend of mine overheard while skulking around Reichsführer Musk’s bunker, under the West Wing of the White House. All similarities to real people are purely coincidental.
The Ass in the Lion’s Skin
An Ass once found an orange lion’s skin, which hunters had left out in the sun to dry. He put it on and made his way toward his native village. All bowed at his approach, and the Ass was proud that day. In his delight, he began to post on Truth Social with abandon, but then everyone knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgeling for the fuss he had caused. 34 cudgelings, in fact. Later, using voter suppression and playing on the limited acumen of 49% of his fellow creatures, the Ass was elected president of the animals. Believe me, nothing matters, as long as you win.
The Bundle of Sticks
An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered
his servants to bring in a bundle of sticks, and said to his eldest son: “Break it.” The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the bundle. The other sons also tried, but none were successful.
“Untie the bundles,” said the father, “and each of you take a stick.” When they had done so, he called out to them, “Now, break,” and each stick was easily broken. Purge the bureaucracy of one enemy at a time or it will be a total disaster.
The Dog and the Shadow
It happened that a dog had gotten a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat it in peace. Now on his way home he had to cross a plank lying across a running brook. As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath. Thinking it was another maybe Panamanian dog with another piece of meat, he made up his mind to have that also. So he made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth the piece of meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more.
It’s not about the meat, that other dog needed to be taught a lesson.
The Trees and the Axe
A man came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.
The Trees voted, and consented, 49% to 48%, to his request and gave him an orangecolored ash tree. No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest. Bernie, an old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all. If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”
49% of trees are dumb.
The Ass and the Lion
An Orange Ass and a South African Lion entered into an alliance so that they might capture the beasts of the forest with greater ease. The Ass agreed to assist the Lion with his ability to charm the animals, while the Lion provided the benefit of his
Fraud, Waste, & Abuse: A Critical Look at ICSD’s Bloated Budget & Unfair Tax Burden
By Joe Lonsky — Former Ithaca School Board Member
Iwas on the Southern Cayuga BOE from 2008 to 2014. The voters installed me chiefly to control spending but like everyone, I have beliefs about what good education looks like. My 6 years on the board gave me a basic understanding of how the system works; equivalent to my understanding of, say, electrical work. I can wire a house but I don’t know what electricity actually is.
I believe we now spend too much on formal schooling. You could say we’ve crossed the river of diminishing returns. It’s easiest to see in student debt.
NYS public schools are also a glaring example, spending double the national average.
Ithaca City Schools are at the upper end of NYS spending, putting the district amongst the most expensive schools in the country.
ICSD spends 50% more than a comparable school in Massachusetts and for inferior results.
If one has a look at an actual budget, it’s pretty easy to spot the inefficiencies and inappropriate spending; but let’s just look at my favorite: mission creep.
I got this term from a friend who worked at Lockheed Martin. It’s military jargon that means what it sounds like: the almost invisible but constant and relentless growth of your scope of operations. In this case it’s about putting more and more people under the umbrella of the local public school/property taxes.
The line items that stuck out to me the most as I looked over a very compressed, user unfriendly budget, was the 12 psychologists and 18 social workers. These jobs used to be state jobs that worked out of an office building downtown. Schools used to have a psychologist or 2 on staff but nothing like this. Obviously these are valuable people to have access to but definitely not appropriate to slip the bill for these expensive positions onto the property tax pile.
The MO for foisting more positions onto property taxes used to be to offer a 3 year grant for said positions, after which time the board votes on whether or not to roll them into the local expenses. I always pushed back on this at Southern Cayuga. It was obvious what was going on.
I would call this Abuse.
Onto the Fraud.
The property tax system is inherently unfair if income and general wealth isn’t considered. It’s antithetical to DEI (economic discrimination here) and not conducive to having an egalitarian society. An essential worker may not earn a great living dollar wise, but through much toil and sacrifice could build her family a nice home, only to find she can’t afford to live in it.
This unfair system could actually work, but it isn’t even APPLIED fairly! If we were all assessed at 100% market value and taxed accordingly, I probably wouldn’t be writing this letter. The Condominium tax loop hole and PILOTS are the ones we know about. But I believe there is murkier stuff going on. You would think that if a house sells for a million dollars, it would establish its market value. Doesn’t seem to. Everyone has their limit of what they think is right for them to pay into their local school.
If the McMansions were paying full shot, school vote outcomes would change drastically. I was fine with my excessive taxes 2 years ago. Not any more. We’re looking at mini homes and places to move after only being in our pole-barnhouse in Danby for 5 years.
Onto the Waste.
Twenty year flat roofs. Uber collegiate athletic fields with Astro Turf. Highschool classrooms designed for 30 kids look like flu season with 18 kids. That last one is tough for people to understand. Teachers teach 3 hours a day, 180 days a year. The rest of their day is prep and grading. It is a good balance. Younger grades need to be smaller. By highschool, teachers and kids should be able to function in a classroom of 25. Some of them will be going onto college and experience lectures with 100 or more in attendance. This is a city school with 15% (love that official level!) poverty and a median wage that can’t afford to purchase a median house. And the public School system is just that: a system. About a third of the budget goes directly to the financial sector: pension funds, insurances of all types, bonds, bans... At ICSD, that number
Ovid Comes Together After Fire
By David Durrett
The Ovid community has come together in the wake of a fire that destroyed the community’s only supermarket and cost residents their homes and jobs, and are working together to recover from the fire.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, a fire that started in an apartment above the Big M supermarket destroyed the Big M and multiple other buildings, causing 15-20 residents to be displaced from their homes and 60 residents to lose their jobs.
New York State Senator Tom O’Mara, who represents the 58th district, which includes Ovid, said the fire was devastating to the community as it resulted in key community establishments being lost, including the Big M, a decades-old “classic Americana establishment.”
“So many staples of the community were lost- its grocery store, its laundromat, a diner and a small restaurant,” he said. “The village of Ovid is less than 600 people.
This is an absolute devastation to the heart of the community.”
Sarah Davis, executive director of the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency(IDA), said the IDA was reaching out to those impacted by the fire to connect them with incentives and programs to help them with rebuilding. She said the programs people would need would depend on what kind of projects they hoped to do, but she hoped to connect people with tax abatements and state grants.
“In many ways, it’s still too soon to have real serious conversations about this,” Davis said. “Everybody’s still kind of reeling. They need time to get through cleanup and insurance process and all of that.”
New York State Assembly member Phillip Palmesano, who represents Assembly District 132, said that in the three weeks since the fire, there has been a swift, coordinated reaction considering the circumstances. He said the town and village would speak with property owners regarding what they wished to do next.
“Really, it all starts with a plan,” Palmesano said. “It’s going to be an all-encompassing engagement with local officials, the Regional Economic Development Council and the state. Our role is to do everything we can to facilitate those conversations.”
Joe Borst, supervisor of the town of Ovid, said he was in the process of meeting with local property owners to find out how they were doing and what their next steps were, and was also meeting with the IDA and the Land Bank to make plans.
All of the buildings that were destroyed in the fire were private businesses, and all of the residents who lost their homes lived in apartments, such as those above the Big M. Borst said that the business owners who lost buildings in the fire could apply for aid but that it was ultimately up to them whether they wanted to rebuild or to sell their property, since rebuilding could cost business owners millions of dollars.
“We’re doing what we can, a lot of behind the scenes work, but it’s tough because it is private property and there are limitations to what we can do and we want to respect (how) everybody has to make their own decision on what they want to do with their own property,” Borst said of himself and Ovid mayor Aaron Roisen.
Borst said that many state- and national-level politicians, such as Governor Kathy Hochul, Representative Claudia Tenney, Senator Tom O’Mara and State Senator Pamela Helming, among others, reached out to Ovid after the fire.
New York State officials, including Sen. Tom O’Mara and Assemblymember Phillip Palmesano, meet with local leaders in Ovid to discuss funding options, grants, and resources to aid in the community’s rebuilding efforts after the devastating fire.
Smoke and debris fill the air as firefighters battle the remnants of the fire that engulfed the Big M Supermarket and nearby buildings in Ovid on Jan. 21, leaving the community without essential services.
According to Davis, the IDA was looking into state grants, although it would mainly benefit the state. She said Ovid’s businesses do not qualify for grants or tax credits from the state because the state cannot incentivize individual retail businesses, but there are workarounds to incentivize projects in underserved areas. One such workaround would be businesses that provide goods or services to underserved areas, and since the Big M is the only grocery store near Ovid, making the community “a food desert,” it could qualify.
“Without the Big M, Ovid is a food desert,” Davis said. “Obviously, there’s a need for a grocery store locally. Those kinds of things give us a little more flexibility to help with the rebuilding efforts.”
Davis said that because the fire, which was caused by a charger in the apartments above the Big M, was not a natural disaster, Ovid does not qualify for disaster relief funds from the state or federal government. She added that from what she understood, not enough businesses were impacted to qualify for aid.
“It’s a significant impact for a community where the village is like 500 people,”
Davis said, “but unfortunately, existing programs don’t take those type of things into account.”
Borst said the town was working to help residents get access to food. Last week, Regional Transportation Services(RTS), the bus services for Seneca County, started a bus service on Mondays through Thursdays to bring residents up to Walmart, Tops and the Seneca County office building. He said Walmart has added grocery delivery to the south end of Seneca County, while Tops meets Ovid restaurants coming off the bus, helping them sign up for the Bonus Club card and show them where products are in the store.
“We’re working with anybody we can to make up that difference without it being there,” he said.
Borst said Ovid would consider whether the new bus service that RTS is providing is being used. If many people are using it, they could continue to provide it for some time to come.
Theresa Lahr, projects coordinator for STEPS, said that while STEPS had lost its office in the fire, it was now set up in the lower level of the community health center
potential state grants and tax incentives that could help Ovid businesses rebuild after
after temporarily operating out of the library. She said her organization was an asset-based community action project, and one of its greatest assets was its residents.
“We’re a connector,” Lahr said. “We don’t do employment services directly, make sure they have access to the resources to them.”
O’Mara said the recovery effort should be “a locally led effort to replace the heart and soul of this community.” Palmesano said Ovid’s recovery process would take a long time and require engagement from the community.
“It will take time,” Palmesano said. “It’s not going to happen overnight, I think everyone realizes it. But I think the positive side is I think everyone’s on the same page knowing we need to do this, it’s important.”
Davis said the IDA was keeping lines of communications open in order to share information. She said she hoped local residents could take charge of rebuilding their community.
“They should be able to shape the vision of the future, and address their own needs,” Davis said. “Far be it from someone to come from the outside and dictate ‘Oh, this is what I think you need.’ That’s not a good way for community growth or development.”
Lahr said Ovid was “strong and resilient,” and its residents have come together after the fire.
“They know that our greatest strength is our people, our partners in the community,” she said. “They really have rallied. It’s tremendous.”
Sarah Davis, executive director of the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency, discusses
the devastating fire.
Joe Borst, supervisor of the town of Ovid, has met with local property owners to assess next steps for recovery and explore options for rebuilding the businesses lost in the fire.
Charred remains of the Big M Supermarket and surrounding businesses stand as a stark reminder of the devastating fire that swept through Ovid on Jan. 21, leaving residents without a grocery store and dozens without homes or jobs. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
Airport Adds DC Flight Business Briefs
Ithaca Airport Reestablishes Connection to Washington, DC
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — United Airlines will launch direct flights between Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) on March 30, 2025, restoring a critical connection for the Ithaca region. The twicedaily service, with a third flight scheduled to begin in August, marks the first direct flights to Washington, DC, from Ithaca since United ended the route in 2022. The return of this service is expected to benefit travelers, businesses, and the local economy.
The route, which will use 50-seat jets, is designed to provide Ithaca-area travelers with convenient same-day trip options to Washington, DC, and seamless access to United’s extensive global network through its hub at IAD.
“We are excited to welcome United Airlines’ direct service to Washington
Dulles International Airport,” said Roxan Noble, Director of Ithaca Tompkins International Airport. “These new flights will offer our travelers more consistent and convenient connections to the nation’s capital and United’s extensive global network. This route is a significant step forward in enhancing connectivity for our community.”
Tompkins County legislators emphasized the importance of rebuilding Ithaca’s air travel connections, particularly to major hubs like Washington, DC.
“Tompkins County may be centrally isolated, but we want and need to be connected to the world,” said Dan Klein, Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature. “Having a direct flight to Washington, DC will provide economic benefit and improved travel options for Tompkins County and
for our region. I believe these flights will be very popular.”
United Airlines’ return to Ithaca is also expected to have a positive impact on the airport’s finances and the broader regional economy. Heather McDaniel, President of Ithaca Area Economic Development, highlighted the significance of the restored service.
“Restoring United Airlines service to Washington, DC provides convenient connections for the most frequently traveled destinations in the United States and over 105 international connections,” McDaniel said. “Thanks to the dedicated staff at ITH, United’s new service will not only increase connectivity for local travelers, but also increase revenue to the airport, which like many other regional airports, has struggled to regain market share post-pandemic.”
Lisa Holmes, Tompkins County Administrator, echoed the sentiment, underscoring the value of the route for the community.
“We’re thrilled that ITH will be offering these new direct flights to Washington, DC, providing travelers from Tompkins County and surrounding areas with greater options for connectivity and convenience,” Holmes said.
United Airlines views Ithaca as a critical part of its growing network of destinations connected through IAD, which serves as one of the airline’s premier hubs
for domestic and international travel.
“We are excited that Ithaca marks the 15th new domestic destination announced for Washington Dulles this year,” said Ben Sanchez, United Airlines Managing Director of Domestic Planning. “IAD is becoming the best connecting airport on the East Coast, and this twice-daily service provides Central New York travelers with seamless access to both our nation’s capital and United’s robust global network.”
The relaunch of the Ithaca-Washington route will provide travelers with convenient schedules for same-day trips or longer stays in Washington, DC, as well as access to global destinations through IAD’s newly expanded facilities. Washington Dulles is also now connected to downtown Washington, DC, via a Metro rail line, allowing travelers to reach the capital city in under an hour.
As United Airlines continues to expand its offerings at Washington Dulles, the return of the ITH-IAD connection reestablishes a critical link for the Ithaca community, promising enhanced travel opportunities and economic growth.
The addition of a third daily flight in August 2025 will further increase flexibility for travelers, solidifying Ithaca Tompkins International Airport’s role as a vital gateway for the region.
Roxan Noble, Director of Ithaca Tompkins International Airport, discusses the return of United Airlines’ direct flights to Washington, D.C., emphasizing the route’s impact on regional connectivity and economic growth.
The Ithaca Tompkins International Airport will restore direct flights to Washington Dulles International Airport starting March 30, 2025, offering travelers improved access to the nation’s capital and beyond.
Business Briefs
Viva Taqueria Welcomes New Owner After 30 Years
ITHACA,
N.Y. — Viva Taqueria & Cantina, a cornerstone of Ithaca’s dining scene for nearly 30 years, is under new ownership.
The beloved Mexican restaurant, which has long been a go-to spot for fresh, healthy cuisine and lively gatherings, is now owned by Katie Stone, a longtime local hospitality professional.
Stone takes over from Ursula Kurman Browning, who co-founded Viva with her husband, Pete Browning, in 1995.
Under Browning’s leadership, the restaurant became an Ithaca institution, operating for nearly three decades at the northeast corner of East State and North Aurora Streets before relocating to its current Ithaca Commons location in April 2023.
At the time of the move Ursula Kurman Browning said “The past three years have been turbulent for restaurants and the people that work in them. The restaurant industry has evolved and Viva must also.” Stone, who has worked in Ithaca’s res-
taurant and bar scene for over 15 years, expressed deep appreciation for Viva’s legacy and the community that has supported it.
“My goal is to honor Viva’s legacy by continuing to serve the dishes and good times that have made Viva an adored mainstay, and I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to build upon the institution that Ursula and Pete Browning and their team developed, grew, and sustained for almost thirty years,” Stone said.
She emphasized that while she isn’t ready to announce any specific changes, customers can expect the same warm and welcoming atmosphere that has made Viva a local favorite.
“Loyal patrons can expect the same friendly faces and high standards of hospitality that have made Viva a town favorite for so long,” she said.
For Stone, taking over Viva is about more than just running a restaurant — it’s about continuing the sense of community and connection that has defined the space for decades.
“I care about taking care of people — guests and staff. It’s all about how people feel when they come to eat, drink, or work
at Viva,” she said. “I already know Viva to be a place where longtime regulars and new visitors feel at home, but I’ll be working to take that even further.”
As Viva begins its next chapter, Stone is eager to continue serving Ithaca with the same spirit that has made the restaurant a mainstay for nearly 30 years.
“I look forward to being a part of and taking care of the Ithaca community in this new way,” she said.
For more information and updates, visit www.vivataqueria.com or follow @ vivataqueria on Instagram.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP Announces Kopp as New Partner
BINGHAMTON, NY, January 28, 2025 — Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is pleased to announce Nathan Kopp as the firm’s newest partner as of January 1, 2025! Kopp joined the firm after practicing for many years in Chicago, Illinois and Salt Lake City, Utah. He grew up in the
Continued on Page 17 Local & responsive coverage through your trusted hometown agents:
607-319-0094 | BaileyPlace.com
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Jonathan Biss
Ithaca Celebrates Educators with Ithaca Loves Teachers Tap & Craft Festival
IBy Matt Dougherty
THACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca community is gearing up for the 20th annual Ithaca Loves Teachers celebration, a two-week event honoring preK-12 educators with exclusive discounts, activities, and special events throughout Tompkins County.
Running from February 14-28, the celebration invites educators from across the country — including public and private school teachers, school district employees, teacher union retirees, homeschool educators, and childcare workers — to enjoy special offers from local businesses as a token of appreciation for their hard work.
Hosted by Visit Ithaca, Ithaca Loves Teachers offers over 150 activities and discounts, encouraging educators to explore the region while enjoying perks from restaurants, retail stores, lodging establishments, and cultural attractions. Registration is free, and participants can sign up for a digital pass to access the complete list of discounts. Educators must present a school ID, proof of employment in education, or teacher union retiree status to redeem offers.
A full list of participating businesses and promotions will be available in mid-January on the Visit Ithaca website, where educators can also sign up for the mobile pass once it launches. Special lodging discounts are available separately on the lodging coupons
page, with hotel and inn deals requiring direct booking for the best rates.
One of the highlight events during Ithaca Loves Teachers is the Ithaca Tap & Craft Festival, a craft beverage and artisan showcase taking place on Saturday, February 15, at The Hotel Ithaca. The festival, now in its third year, will feature over 30 breweries, cideries, distilleries, and makers from the Finger Lakes, Western New York, and beyond.
Attendees can enjoy live music from Cisco of The Soul Benders, sip on small-batch brews and spirits, and explore handcrafted goods from local artisans. This year, the festival welcomes several new craft beverage producers, adding even more variety for enthusiasts.
Tickets for the festival are available at www. tapandcraft.com, with pricing as follows:
VIP Ticket — $50 (Pre-sale only)
General Admission — $40 ($48 day of, if available)
Designated Driver Ticket — $10 (includes a bottle of water)
The VIP Session runs from 3-4 p.m., offering an exclusive tasting experience featuring limited-edition selections that will not be available during the general session. VIP ticket holders also gain early access to the main event, which runs from 4-7 p.m. and includes unlimited 3-ounce samples from participating craft beverage vendors. Each attendee will receive a commemorative tasting glass as part of their admission.
Festival-goers enjoy craft beer samples at the Ithaca Tap & Craft Festival, held at The Hotel Ithaca on February 15, 2025. The event features 30+ breweries, cideries, and distilleries, along with live music and artisan vendors.
Educators attending Ithaca Loves Teachers are eligible for a $5 ticket discount to the festival. To redeem the offer, teachers and school staff can email cheers@tapandcraft.com for a promo code.
In addition to craft beverages, artisan vendors will showcase handmade goods, including jewelry, ceramics, and watercolor paintings. Notable makers include SantaMaria Jewelry, Clay Designs by K, and Marika Chew Watercolor Paintings.
Festival-goers can take advantage of additional perks, including a discounted room rate of $159 at The Hotel Ithaca on February 15. Reservations can be made by calling 607-2721000 and mentioning the festival.
For those looking to continue the festivities after the event, Liquid State Brewing Co. is offering buy one beer, get the next one half-off to anyone who shows their festival wristband.
Both Ithaca Loves Teachers and the Ithaca Tap & Craft Festival serve as a reminder of the community’s appreciation for educators and its commitment to supporting local businesses. The festival, paired with the Ithaca Loves Teachers initiative, is expected to draw hundreds of visitors to Tompkins County, boosting tourism during the winter season while fostering connections between educators and local businesses.
For more details about Ithaca Loves Teachers, visit www.visitithaca.com/ithaca-lovesteachers/. To purchase tickets for the Tap & Craft Festival, visit www.tapandcraft.com.
Entertainment
The Hotel Ithaca, located in the heart of downtown Ithaca, serves as the venue for the Ithaca Tap & Craft Festival and offers a special $159 room rate for festival attendees on February 15, 2025.
Soars
Bird-Based Music is Theme for Cayuga Chamber
By Peter Rothbart
Orchestras love thematic programming. It allows them to organize their concert programs around a common idea that gives the audience focus and familiarity. It allows Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Music Director Guillaume Pirard more creative freedom to bring contemporary works to the concert stage.
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra’s upcoming Flight of Fancy concert on February 22 exemplifies the concept of thematic programming. Pirard cleverly links four disparate and adventurous works written with bird references in mind. The concert connects the old with the new around this common theme as bird motives manifest themselves differently in each piece. As was the fashion in the classical era, Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 83 was nicknamed The Hen by someone other than Haydn. It draws this sobriquet from the “pecking motive” that forms the basis of the second theme in the first movement. Listen and you will hear the chickens pecking dotted rhythmic figures after a brief introduction. The pecking is then reduced to single notes with attached
Flight of Fancy
Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
Friday, February 22, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Pre-concert chat at 6:30 p.m.
Ford Hall, Ithaca College
Tickets at https://www.ccoithaca.org/
grace notes. This theme scratches its way into all the other movements, albeit with a bit more camouflage. The first movement is in true sonata form.
If Haydn’s hen is peckish, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ lark is graceful and endlessly airborne, constantly in motion. His most familiar work, The Lark Ascending, opens with a violin flourish that is recognized as the epitome of bird-like musical manifestations. It is both flighty and soaring, lyrical yet intricate, perfectly suited to the intense and impressive violin playing of the CCO’s concertmaster Christina Bouey. Her interpretation promises to showcase her unabashedly assertive bowing technique and allow her musicality to soar.
Jocelyn Morlock, a Juno Award winning Canadian composer from the western provinces died two years ago in the prime of her creative career. She described her music as partially based on “… birds … nature ... other people’s music and art …” Her composition, Solace, is partially based on 16th century French composer Josquin de Prez’s Agnus Dei from his iconic L’Homme Armé Mass. She divides the orchestra into three sub-groups and places them in specific locations onstage. The “early music” ensemble plays with mutes and without vibrato, evoking the sound of Renaissance early music ensembles. The “harmonic violins” sub-group plays dronelike figures using the violin’s harmonics to create a nest-like bed of sound for the last group. The third group, a solo violin with the instruction to play “energetic, joyous, birdlike,” is in conversation with the
cello in its lower octave and advised to be “solemn.”
Cantus Arcticus, subtitled Concerto for Birds and Orchestra, by Einojuhani Rautavaarav, is a 1970s avant-garde work that captures audio recordings of birdsongs and then incorporates it into an orchestral work. The three-movements entitled The Bog, Melancholy (featuring a slowed down recording of a lark), and Swans Migrating each project their own viewscape.
Orchestral works with recordings (now called fixed media) were relatively rare in 1972. A performance raised new compositional and performance questions for a conductor. How do you balance live and recorded sound in a concert hall?
Where do you place the speaker(s); in the orchestra as if it is a sectional instrument, or from speakers above or to the side of the orchestra, where it is more likely to preserve its aural independence?
In his biography, Rautavaarav reflects that, “I have often compared composing to gardening. In both processes, one observes and controls organic growth rather than constructing or assembling existing components and elements.” In this sense, Cantus Arcticus is an aleatoric work; the conductor and the musicians are all given considerable freedom over what notes to play and when. This freely organized time and pitch structure gives Pirard plenty of interpretative possibilities. It allows the music to flow, free of a beat, although it eventually succumbs to a steady pulse. Each performance is therefore different and unique, subject to the interpretative whims of the conductor and musicians. Quarter tones
ADVOCACY CENTER CUTS SERVICES
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center had gotten behind on submitting claims when they discovered an unpaid insurance bill, which led the center to fall short on meeting payroll.
Brownell told the Ithaca Times that the center has seen a wave of turnover in its financial department after a long-time finance officer left his role last year.
The center hired a financial firm, Bowers CPAs & Advisors, last fall to help the
abound while chords collapse or expand into sonic clusters that defy traditional harmonic movement.
Aleatoric works are both easy and difficult to put together. Because timing is less beat oriented and more reliant on the conductor’s fluidity, it can be forgiving and even desirable if rhythms are slightly askew. At the same time, individual lines, more gestural than melodic, are fiendishly technical and require both facile fingers and unrelenting rhythmic preciseness. But listen for the texture, the fabric the music weaves, not for a melody or harmonic cadence. Listen for chance rhythms that emerge in the interplay between the orchestra sections. The chord clusters create an aural landscape. Don’t look for a specific melodic road, enjoy the vista. It’s about the colors, not the beat.
Peter Rothbart is a Professor Emeritus of Music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz and pop musician.
finance department keep up with filing their claims to receive grant funds. Despite this, she still described the financial crisis as “unexpected.”
When asked how the public can support the Advocacy Center during this time, Brownell stated that untapped donors or those interested in providing a shortterm gap loan can reach out to the center at development@actompkins.org. Due to limited staffing capacity, the center is not accepting new volunteers at this time, but donations can be made through their website.
Music Director Guillaume Pirard leads the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra in a rehearsal for Flight of Fancy, a bird-themed concert taking place on February 22, 2025, at Ford Hall, Ithaca College.
Ithaca area, attended Cornell University and returned to the area with his family to raise his children as Ithacans. His practice is focused on trusts, wills and estate planning, business representation and commercial transactions, and real estate. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Tompkins County Bar Association, and the Broome County Bar Association. He has practical experience across a broad range of different practice areas, including significant civil litigation and trial experience, which enables him to manage his clients’ risk exposure while guiding them efficiently through transactions and legal issues. Kopp was listed in the category of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch™ for (Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) for 2025. He sits on the board of the Ithaca Voice and is very active in the Tompkins County community.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nate as a partner,” said Rachel Abbott, Managing Partner, Coughlin & Gerhart. “Nate’s extensive legal experience, in trusts, estates, business, and real estate, coupled with his
impressive litigation background, makes him a tremendous asset to our clients and team. His recognition as one of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is a testament to his commitment to clients and excellent legal skill. We look forward to his continued contributions as we grow and serve our communities together,” said Abbott.
Cayuga Health Exceeds $5 Million Transforming Care Campaign Goal, Raising Over $5.75 Million
Ithaca, NY, January 4, 2025 — Thanks to the unwavering support of the Tompkins and Schuyler County communities, Cayuga Health has successfully exceeded its $5 million Transforming Care Campaign goal, raising over $5.75 million since its launch in 2022.
Led by Campaign Co-Chairs Tom and Lisa LiVigne, the Transforming Care Campaign set out to enhance patient care across the region by investing in patient services, professional development and education, and facility improvements. Philanthropy was the driving force behind these transformations, allowing Cayuga Health to expand its mission of healing and health in profound ways.
“This remarkable achievement is a testament to the incredible generosity of our communities,” said Steph Bailey, System Director of Philanthropy at Cayuga Health. “Every donation—large or small—has played a part in transforming healthcare for our region. We are deeply grateful to our donors, volunteer committee, and Board members who made this possible.”
During the campaign, Cayuga Health completed Cayuga Park, a new 65,000-square-foot medical office building, creating a patient-focused and accessible downtown care center that meets the grow-
ing needs of the community. The center was designed with evidence-based elements to enhance both patient care and staff well-being, including connections to the outdoors with respite spaces for mental wellness, and a five-story wellness staircase. Cayuga Park now offers oncology services, a walk-in clinic, laboratory services, diagnostic imaging, and a comprehensive women’s health center. Cancer services at the facility include on-site imaging, infusion services, and a patient laboratory, ensuring a seamless approach to care.
At Seneca View Skilled Nursing Facility, located at Schuyler Hospital, Cayuga Health modernized the main elevator to improve safety, access, and efficiency. This capital improvement ensures the smooth daily delivery of essential items such as supplies, equipment, food, and laundry.
The campaign also supported workforce and professional development, offering financial assistance through the Employee Scholarship Program to employees seeking to advance their skills and careers. Additionally, Cayuga Health invested in the new LEAD (Leadership Education, Advancement, and Development) Department to enhance leadership development and training.
Cayuga Health further strengthened
its commitment to comprehensive cancer care through an affiliation with the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes (CRC), officially announced in July 2024. Originally established as the Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance in 1994, CRC has provided essential support to individuals facing all types of cancer. The affiliation ensures that CRC can continue to offer one-on-one guidance, support groups, and a compassionate community for survivors and their families for years to come.
Projects funded by the Transforming Care Campaign will continue throughout 2025. At Seneca View, Cayuga Health will add a new salon, relocating it closer to the entrance to provide a welcoming space where residents can enjoy personal care services and visits with family and friends. A new welcome desk will be created at the main entrance of Seneca View, offering a centralized hub for guest navigation and personal support. Employee lounges will also be added throughout the facility, providing dedicated spaces for staff to rest, recharge, and connect with colleagues during their breaks.
For more information about Cayuga Health’s philanthropic efforts, or to make a donation, visitcayugahealth.org/giving.
Nathan Kopp
continued from page 3
On multiple instances, the district reaffirmed that the event was intended to provide a safe space for students of color, emphasizing the importance of affinity groups in cultivating anti-racist school culture. District officials became the targets of racist messages after the complaint received local and national media attention, including coverage from Fox News. The last time the district was the target of a federal civil rights complaint was in March of 2023, when non-profit group Parents Defending Education filed a complaint against the school district for hosting Black Lives Matter events, which the group claimed was “race-based affinity programming for students and staff that is not accessible to all.” The complaint was dismissed by the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights in September 2023,
HOUSING INITIATIVES
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political activity, or file class-action lawsuits on behalf of clients. However, they can still provide direct legal representation to individuals facing evictions or loss of
and did not lead to a federal investigation.
The Office for Civil Rights will investigate whether the district subjected students to different treatment on the bases of race and color by sponsoring the Students of Color United Summits. The launch of the investigation does not confirm that the district violated the Civil Rights Act or the Fourteenth Amendment.
Sean Eversley Bradwell, President of ICSD’s Board of Education, wrote in a statement to the Ithaca Times that the district welcomes the investigation.
“The District welcomes the investigation,” Bradwell wrote. “As stated last year, Ithaca City School District programs do not exclude. The 2024 event was created by students to support and affirm Students of Color, and all students, staff and educators were invited to attend.”
Jacobson said the Equal Protections Project was “pleased” to hear the announcement of an investigation being
benefits due to federal cuts.
“If folks are losing Section 8 or other benefits, please feel free to refer them to us,” McCafferty said. “We will certainly investigate whether there’s anything legally we can do to stop what’s happening. But from a legal perspective, we are in
opened and emphasized that “ICSD needs to be held accountable for a four-year-long campaign of discrimination.”
Luvelle Brown, superintendent of the ICSD, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story.
National Implications
The investigation into the Ithaca City School District falls into a national conversation of DEI in public education. Under the Trump administration and new leadership, the Department of Education has shifted its stance on policies related to race, gender and inclusion in schools.
Days into his term, President Trump appointed several individuals to lead offices within the Department of Education, many of whom served in leadership roles on the America First Policy Institute, a right-wing think tank which has promoted Trump’s policy agenda.
Since then, the department’s Office
completely uncharted territory. Nothing like this has ever happened before— where an unelected person is interfering in federal agencies without clear congressional authority.”
Housing advocates are urging policymakers to ensure that previously allocated CoC funds are delivered as promised. National advocacy groups, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, have launched campaigns to pressure Congress to protect housing assistance programs.
For local service providers, the situation remains precarious. A representative from Mutual Aid Tompkins, noted that food insecurity is already worsening due to rising prices and shrinking assistance programs.
FABULOUS FABLES
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greater speed, intelligence, utter lack of a moral compass, and complete access to all government files, secrets and payment systems. When they had taken as many beasts as they could get their paws and hooves on, and could take no more, the Lion undertook to distribute the prey, and for this purpose divided it into three shares. “I will take the first share,” he said, “because I am the most powerful: and the second share, as a partner with you in the chase: and the third share will be a source of great evil to you, unless you willingly resign it to me, and set off as fast as you can.”
Though the Ass didn’t see it coming, it seems like the Lion played the Ass for a chump.
for Civil Rights has dismissed complaints that claim book bans violate civil rights laws and has eliminated former President Biden’s 2024 Title IX changes, enforcing discrimination protections based on biological sex rather than gender identity.
On Monday, the department’s Office for Civil Rights announced they would investigate five major universities for antisemetic harassment and “illegal encampments” which Craig Trainor, Trump-appointed Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, said drove “Jewish life and religious expression underground.”
These moves from the Department of Education come amid reports of President Trump drafting an executive order which would dismantle the department. Politico reporting called the timing “a little awkward” as Trump’s nominee to lead the department, Linda McMahon, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate, and her hearing hasn’t even been scheduled yet.
“We have people in our community panicking about food stamps,” she said. “And now, with federal emergency food and shelter programs disappearing, it’s only going to get worse.”
As the funding freeze continues, housing agencies, legal aid groups, and community organizations are preparing for the worst—but hoping that congressional action can prevent a full-blown crisis.
For now, Bargar and others remain focused on advocacy.
“We’re talking about money that we have responsibly allocated for many years,” she said. “If it leaves, we will see an immediate impact — and it won’t just be numbers on a spreadsheet. It will be people losing their homes.”
FRAUD, WASTE, & ABUSE
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is approaching $60,000,000. Some of this extracted wealth comes back to the community — insurance claims, retirees, local vendors and service providers who do business with the school — but a good portion leaves our pockets to line someone else’s. I don’t have a huge problem with that. I have a problem with the unconnected and unsuspecting paying more than their fair share. The school system is bloated and the funding system is flawed and corrupt. People have to get over “yes” = good for kids “no” = bad for kids.
You are voting for THEIR future tax burden. When you think of it that way, “yes” seems a bit less magnanimous.
ICSD — Fraud, Waste, & Abuse 101.
Rolling Through Cuba
Cuba Bikers Pedal Past Bulls, Sugar Cane and ‘53 Chevy’s
By Steve Lawrence
When I took over this column in 1992, Rich John — the guy I would be interviewing for one of my first articles — had just dismounted from a pommel horse. The former Cornell gymnast was at that point a young attorney, and I was interviewing him about his efforts to help the men’s team stay afloat, as the university was planning to drop it as a result of some new Title IX regulations. Sadly, men’s gymnastics would not continue at Cornell.
Fast forward 32 years... I interviewed Rich again, and this time he had just dismounted from a bicycle. He and his wife, Vicki, had just returned from a week-long bike trip in Cuba, and Rich said, “It was a wonderful trip. Seeing Cuba was a longtime interest of mine, but I’m not sure it qualifies as a sports story.” I replied, “Hey, you two got on those bike trainers weeks ahead of time, trained hard indoors, and then rode as far as 42 miles for 7 days!.”
The Johns were among 16 riders on a trip with a group known as Intrepid, and Rich said, “We stayed in the homes of locals, and while our guide was required to show us a video on (Cuban revolutionary) Che Guevera, for the most part he spoke freely about what he saw as the government's failure to work for the people in every possible way, from health care to food to utilities to currency.” He added, “It was amazing to see such big sugar cane fields and banana plantations, and also so many fields that have gone fallow, but would be great for solar or wind farms. It was sad to see so much poverty and oppression in the
midst of so many great resources.”
The cultural components of the trip were a big part of it, and Rich said, “Riding day after day was hard. It was 70 or 80 degrees, with some humidity and some hills, but the people were wonderful, both in Havana and in the rural areas.” When asked about the language barrier, John laughed and said, “Their English was a lot better than my Spanish, and many of them wanted to talk about their relatives that have come to the U.S.” Rich recalled that “One of my friends from law school was on the trip, and he saw a beautiful ’53 Chevy Bel Air that transported him back to his childhood.”
In Vicki John’s words: “We shared the roads with buses, horse drawn carriages, motor scooters, 1950s cars and bulls. The riding was a bit like boot camp in that we were up by 6, we had breakfast at 6:30 and we were ready to ride by 7:30 every morning.” She added, “We rode through small towns with cobblestone streets, never quite sure what liquid you were riding through that sprayed you. We rode past sugarcane fields along the beautiful Atlantic Coast, and we swam in the Bay of Pigs! It was a very cool trip.”
One final note: Thanks to Rich John for his service to the community, as he will be stepping down after 10 years on the Tompkins County Legislature.
It was a historic Super Bowl for Cornell Football, given that for the first time in history, former Big Red teammates suited up for the Super Bowl, with Hunter Nourzad (’22) suiting up for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jalyx Hunt (’23) for the Philadelphia Eagles.
After the blowout win — in which Hunt made some significant contributions, including two tackles and an early sack that helped to set the tone for the Eagles’ defensive domination — he is the fourth Cornell alum to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Derrick Harmon (’84) won it with the 49ers in his rookie year in
1985, Kevin Boothe (’05) won two Super Bowl rings with the Giants in 2008 and 2012, and Bryan Walters (’10) won it with the Seahawks in 2014. One might ask, What about Ed Marinaro, Cornell’s most famous football alum? His Vikings made it to two Superbowls in 1974 and ’75, but lost both.
Former Gymnast, Attorney, Legislator Rich John and His Wife Vicki Biked a Week Through Cuba.