March 13, 2024

Tompkins County District Attorney Announces Re-election Campaign

By Matt Dougherty

Tompkins County District Attorney

Matt Van Houten officially announced his candidacy for reelection on March 4. Election Day for the local DA race will fall on November 5, the same day as the 2024 Presidential Election.

As District Attorney, Van Houten has overseen progressive criminal justice reforms in Tompkins County that have achieved significant reductions to the population of the county jail. He is seeking re-election to a third term in office to continue implementing a progressive public safety agenda.

Van Houten is a graduate of Dryden High School and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He has served as the District Attorney for Tompkins County since 2017 and was re-elected in 2020 following a narrow victory against local attorney Ed Kopko.

During the 2020 election, Kopko criticized Van Houten for not being progressive enough, saying that his office was not diverse and hitting him for pressing charges against two Black people who were “roughly tackled and arrested by Ithaca police officers” in April 2020. One of the individuals, Cadji Ferguson, was found not guilty, and the other, Rose De-

Groat, had their charges dismissed.

Van Houten has since acknowledged that “missteps” occurred in the case, saying that his office moved too quickly in pressing charges.

It remains uncertain if Kopko will ignite another rematch by throwing himself into the running for the position. As of when this story was written, no challengers have announced intentions to run against Van Houten.

In his campaign announcement, Van Houten expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community, emphasizing his dedication to fairness and dignity, even in challenging circumstances.

“I am extremely proud of the work that my office has done and will continue to do if I am re-elected,” stated Van Houten. “My mission is to make Tompkins County a place where people truly believe they will be treated fairly and with dignity.”

Throughout his tenure, Van Houten has focused on progressive criminal justice measures, emphasizing treating individuals with compassion. “I believe that treating people with compassion and dignity promotes public safety,” he remarked.

Under Van Houten’s leadership, the

T ake N ote

X Tompkins County Deputies Endorse Sigler for State Senate (Ithaca, NY)

This week the Tompkins County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (TCDSA) endorsed Mike Sigler for New York State Senate in the 52nd District, which covers all of Tompkins and Cortland Counties and most of Broome County. Sigler announced his campaign for the seat in January and has built up significant law enforcement support, having already earned endorsements from the New York State Union of Police Associations and Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar, among others.

In their letter of endorsement (attached), TCDSA President Neil Shipman noted that “the Association has voted to endorse your candidacy as a result of your continued,

vocal and active support of the men and women in law enforcement in the State of New York. Our Association’s endorsement is based upon your support and advocacy of the public safety issues that affect citizens of New York State, and your commitment to the men and women in law enforcement.”

“Thank you to the men and women of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association for their support in this year’s election for State Senate,” said Sigler. “I’ve prioritized Public Safety during my tenure as a County Legislator and will do the same as your new representative in Albany. If families aren’t safe, it’s nearly impossible to make progress on any other issue — from creating jobs to improving schools to expanding housing and more.”

District Attorney’s Office has achieved several milestones, including creating a model for progressive criminal justice systems within the State of New York. The office has also prioritized the decriminalization of non-violent crimes, resulting in a reduction of the local jail population. A Vera Institute study based on data from 2019-2022 states that the average daily inmate population was closer to 38 and that the jail population “decreased by 43 percent from May 2019 to May 2022.”

In September 2023, Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne said that the jail

Continued on Page 15

Sigler, 54, lives in Lansing with his wife, Sarah; they have four daughters. He has served as a Tompkins County Legislator for 14 years and has consistently fought to increase funding for police and public safety.

The 52nd District Senate seat is currently held by Democrat Lea Webb, who narrowly won with a 51-49 margin in one of the State’s closest races in 2022. She has been endorsed by the ultra-liberal Working Families Party, which has advocated for defunding the police and led the charge for Cashless Bail in New York State.

The 2024 General Election is slated for Tuesday, November 5. Early Voting will take place from October 26 to November 3. Absentee Ballot voting will also be available.

Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, and Arthur Whitman

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Tompkins County District Attorney Matt Van Houten is running for a third term in office. (Photo: File)

IN UIRING PHOTOGR PHER Q A

By Kenneth Waterhouse

IS SPRING CLEANING A THING IN YOUR HOME?

Ithaca Common Council Approves Ceasefire Resolution

By Matt Dougherty

During a packed and emotionally charged meeting in City Hall on March 6, the Common Council voted 9-2 to pass a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, in addition to calling for an end to United States military funding to Israel. It also recognized that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel is “plausible” for committing genocide in Gaza.

The resolution was supported by the Ithaca chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, the Tompkins County Working Families Party, and dozens of residents who showed up to speak during an hour-long public comment. The resolution was subject to intense debate among council members following public comment.

and responsible for calling for an end to violence that is supported by US dollars. Additionally, they say passing a resolution would add Ithaca’s voice to a growing movement of cities globally and nationally calling for peace in Israel/Palestine. Many who spoke explained that they viewed the resolution as a way to push the US government to support peace negotiations.

“We join the chorus of voices who have called for a ceasefire, immediate humanitarian relief for Gazans, and a release of the hostages held by Hamas.”

— Mayor Robert Cantelmo

With the passage of the resolution, the City of Ithaca joins the list of more than 48 other cities across the country that have called for an end to Israel’s bombing and invasion of Gaza.

Supporters of these efforts say that it is important for the local governments to pass ceasefire resolutions because US taxpayers fund a significant amount of military aid to Israel annually, and residents feel connected

The Vote:

The resolution passed 9-2. Alderpersons Matos, Brown, Nguyen, Haines-Sharp, Kumar, Kuehl, Lederman, Fabrizio, and Mayor Cantelmo voted in support of the resolution. Alderpersons Shapiro and Saint-Perez voted in opposition.

At the start of the meeting, before the debate on the ceasefire resolution began, Third Ward Alderperson David Shapiro interrupted the meeting by pointing to a sign reading “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free,” calling it racist and antisemitic. Shapiro said the Council wouldn’t allow someone with an “all lives matter” sign into a meeting. However, he is incorrect, as the First Amendment mandates the Council to guarantee free speech at public meetings. Shapiro abruptly left the meeting in frustration and returned after about 30 minutes.

The resolution was initially introduced by First Ward Alderperson Kayla Matos and called for supporting a permanent ceasefire to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. It recognized the ICC ruling that Israel is “plausibly” committing genocide in Gaza and put the continuing violence in Gaza in the context of the 75-year occupation that the Palestinian people have suffered at the hands of the State of Israel and the United States, which finances Israel’s military activities to the tune of at least $3 billion annually.

It stated that since the October 7 Hamas attacks that killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis and took hundreds more hostage, “The State of Israel has bombed

Palestinian civilians and infrastructure indiscriminately, destroying or damaging at least two-thirds of all homes in northern Gaza. 23 hospitals, 141 medical facilities, 70% of schools, over 100 places of worship, bakeries, refugee camps, roads, and other essential infrastructure.”

Israel’s bombing and invasion of Gaza has killed an excess of 30,000 — and that number is now widely known to be an undercount. Additionally, the Israeli military has already bombed areas in Southern Gaza they previously declared as “safe zones,” such as Khan Yunis and Rafah. They are now threatening to directly invade those same areas, where more than 1.4 million displaced Gazans are stuck.

The resolution introduced by Matos also supported both Palestinians and Israeli humanity by stating, “[We] recognize the right to self-determination and peaceful, safe futures for both Palestinian and Israeli people, and we unequivocally condemn the targeting and killing of Palestinians and Israeli civilians, which would constitute a violation of international law.”

However, Fourth Ward Alderperson Patrick Kuehl introduced an amendment to eliminate the language of the original resolution and call for a ceasefire using different language reflective of the stance of the Biden Administration — which now supports a temporary six-week ceasefire — not a permanent one.

Kuehl said he introduced the amendment because he and other council members felt that the original resolution introduced by Matos was not created through a collaborative process involving all council members. He noted that many council members felt “dissuaded” by the lack of joint work on the text of the resolution.

“Yea Definitely.”

– Shannon B.

“I’m never home to make a mess.”

– Jeremy T.

“I hate the cold, so I do winter cleaning.”

– Dominic P.

“Yes…of course.”

– Monica B.

“I always try, but sometimes it ends up on the back burner.”

– Mahalla R.

First Ward Alderperson Kayla Matos introduced the resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. (Photo: Kenneth Waterhouse)

Dozens of residents showed up to the Match 6 Common Council meeting to voice their support for a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Tompkins County Reports Increase of Tainted Street Drugs

By Matt Dougherty

In a recent health alert, Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) has released data showing that 100% of street drugs tested by the Southern Tier AIDS Program in a recent study found that 100% contained Fentanyl, and 74% contained Xylazine.

In response to the increase in tainted drugs, Tompkins County Whole Health Commissioner Frank Kruppa said, “Assume all illicit street drugs are contaminated with dangerous compounds that significantly increase the chance of death from an overdose.”

The health alert also included information regarding drug-related deaths from July to December 2023. The bi-annual report revealed 12 deaths during this period, contributing to a total of 28 overdose deaths in 2023. The report showed that the number of overdose deaths has remained the same over the last two years, but indicated that opioid deaths have risen consistently over the preceding years.

Additionally, there have already been a total of 31 overdose calls to local law enforcement since the start of 2024. The overdose calls come as the Tompkins County Alcohol & Drug Council is shutting down, leaving the future of local addiction and recovery services uncertain.

Kruppa recently said, “Our drug-related death numbers for 2023 were the same as 2022. So, we didn't see an increase, but they’re still way higher than we want them to be.”

The health alert comes in response to recent overdose deaths and testing data from the Southern Tier AIDS Program, revealing widespread contamination of street drugs with deadly Fentanyl and/or Xylazine.

Kruppa emphasized the critical need for community action saying, “We implore everyone in our community to pick up a Narcan kit and become trained in its use. Having a Narcan kit and being prepared to use it may save someone’s life.”

The Tompkins County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that three overdose deaths have already occured in 2024, with additional cases pending toxicology reports. The office conducts independent investigations into unattended deaths, covering criminal violence, accidents, suicides, sudden deaths, and any unusual or suspicious circumstances.

Illicit street drugs are often tainted with highly addictive synthetic substances like Fentanyl and Xylazine which pose a significant threat. The Southern Tier AIDS Program reported that of 105 collected “heroin” or “dope” samples in the past 9 months, 100% contained Fentanyl, and 74% contained Xylazine. The varying amounts of these substances in each sample escalate the risk of overdose and death.

UPS DOWNS&

Ups

Ithaca Carshare has insurance once again and will have many cars back in service this week. You might have seen some on the road already!

Downs

The Ithaca Police Department is investigating a hit-and-run that took place at the intersection of W Buffalo Street and Fulton Street at 12:48 a.m. on March 8. The incident sent one individual to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect fled on foot following the accident and is now being searched for.

HEARD SEEN& Heard

In response to the cyberattack that has impacted Cayuga Health U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has announced that after calling on the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS has heeded his calls to begin opening up accelerated payments to hospitals, like those issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seen

Tompkins County Whole Health urges the community to adopt essential overdose prevention strategies:

• Never use alone: Use with others and take turns. If alone, call the “Never Use Alone” Hotline at 877-696-1996.

• Use test strips: Employ fentanyl and xylazine test strips as a precaution.

• Carry naloxone (Narcan): Be trained in its use.

• Seek support: Ask someone you trust to check on you regularly before using drugs.

• Go slow: Take small amounts, especially if you haven’t used them in a while. There is no safe dose of opioids.

• Wait before redosing: Allow time to feel the effects before taking more.

• Avoid mixing substances: Especially drugs that induce drowsiness or alcohol.

• Seek professional help and treatment: Call 9-1-1 in a medical emergency.

Commissioner Kruppa stressed the need for proactive measures, stating, “We must take steps to reverse the deadly trend that we’re seeing. This data shows that approximately two or more people are dying each month in our community from an overdose.”

He emphasized the preventable nature of many of these deaths, referring to CDC

reports stating that 64.7% of drug overdose deaths nationwide had at least one potential opportunity for intervention.

Regarding overdose prevention resources, Naloxone (Narcan) is available at pharmacies through a statewide standing order. Individuals with insurance can access it at no cost. Those without insurance can dial 2-1-1 (1-877-211-8667) for assistance.

Narcan kits, fentanyl testing strips, and xylazine testing strips are available for free at local agencies like Tompkins County Whole Health, Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services, REACH Medical, and the Southern Tier AIDS Program. Additionally, these resources can be ordered for free through the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) online.

Individuals interested in obtaining free testing supplies can also explore resources via NY Matters. For further information about drug checking programs, the Health Department’s website provides valuable insights.

The mental health aspect is not neglected, with Tompkins County Whole Health, Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (CARS), REACH Medical, and Ithaca Community Recovery offering

The Tompkins County Legislature approved a resolution (13-1, Legislator Mike Sigler (R-Lansing) opposed) to authorize a mural to be installed on the Human Services Annex highlighting community resilience throughout the pandemic while illustrating the continued need for preventive measures such as COVID-19 vaccination.

IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own praise or blame, write news@ithacatimes. com, with a subject head “U&D.”

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Are you excited about the return of Ithaca Carshare?

45 5 % Yes.

15.9% No.

38 . 6 % I don’t care.

N ext W eek ’s Q uestio N : Should the Common Council pass Just Cause employment legislation to get rid of at-will employment in the City of Ithaca? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

The number of opioid deaths in Tompkins County remained the same in 2022 and 2023, but has steadily increased over previous years. (Photo: Tompkins County Whole Health)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

RE: Ithaca Common Council Approves

Ceasefire Resolution

“Was there also a resolution calling on Hamas to surrender and return hostages unharmed? Was there a resolution calling on Egypt to take down border wall and accept Gazan refugees? How about Jordan? Was there a resolution calling for Hamas to accept Israel’s right to exist even if on a sliver of land within a huge region dominated by Arabs and/or Muslims? Was there a resolution calling on Gaza to stop encouraging its children to hate and kill Jews?

I hear that over 80% of Americans support Israel in this war. The other 20% has generated a lot of media attention for many months with no impact on a) the +80% figure, b) US material support for Israel war effort or c) resolve of almost entire Israeli population to fully eradicate Hamas.” — Steven Baginski

“LOL. Meanwhile, Iran passes a resolution to imprison all women residing in the USA who refuse to wear the hijab

while in public. Also, the Taliban who control Afghanistan just declared that any woman in Sweden caught driving a vehicle will receive 30 lashes from a cat o’ nine billion tails that is so long it extends from Kabul to Stockholm. Don’t forget about Russia that just announced they’re joining NATO whether the West likes it or not.” —

Richard Ballantyne

“Don Quixote would be so proud!and look at the long article detailing the meaningless resolution and meeting! So everyone has context it’s 48 out of more than 100,000 cities in America. Not even a visible sliver of a single percentage. But everyone felt real important. And again the paper followed suit with its own version of quixotic reporting. Bravo folks. Bravo!!!!”

— Not Your Bidness

“What complete and utter nonsense and a serious waste of time. I would think that the Ithaca Common Council must have Ithaca issues to concern itself with, issues that directly affect the quality of life of Ithaca residents. To think that this resolution and the extensive debate that created it will have any effect whatsoever on the course of events is ludicrous. Stay in your lane, Common Council members.” — Frank Heine

“Ithaca Common Council approves ceasefire resolution — now we are talking SERIOUS business! It's the

breaking point we’ve been waiting for! A true green light for peace in the Middle East! Still, it makes us wonder... why didn't the Council approve it earlier? Why did so many have to die? Shame on you, Ithaca chapter of Democratic Socialists of America!” — Ewa Wdzieczak-Smering

“Interesting to see that Ithaca City Common Council members now represent Ithaca residents or think they do on international matters. When I took high school civics courses we were taught we were represented for foreign affairs by our House of Representatives member and the executive branch through the president. No one taught us that those running for city council should be questioned on foreign affairs as they would be voting on them. Shapiro was right to walk out. The Council was acting outsider its jurisdiction and has no power under state law to legislate on such matters. It is really a kind of hubris for city officials to claim any right to act or speak on behalf of city residents on any matter over they have no jurisdiction. On international issues, Ithaca residents are represented by Molinaro in the House and so council members as individuals should write to him speaking only for themselves, not act in their official capacities.” — Henry Kramer

“What a bunch of virtue signaling scum. What does a tiny city like Ithaca have to do with foreign affairs? These people were not elected to do this, they were elected to deal with local issues. No wonder the town and county taxes are through the roof and people are fleeing NY State.

I miss when they passed the resolution condemning the October 7th murdering of the Israeli citizens in an act of war.

I know it will never happen but STOP electing and voting for these useful fools.”

— Ragnar LodBlox

“Is there a way to suggest/forcing their recall? I mean, why are they not focused upon the immediate community needs, for which they where ostensibly voted in for? This “resolution” is not only way out of their league, but speaks volumes about their lack of attention to local issues. It is just weird....” — J. Zelinski

CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION

continued from page 4

The amendment stated, “All human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is

“Thank you, City of Ithaca Common Council, for passing last night’s resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. I agree with other commenters that it's not possible to craft a perfect resolution in an evening. But, I would also mention that Franklin Delano Roosevelt might have been persuaded to direct some bombing runs to take out rail connectivity to German concentration camps during WWII if US cities like Ithaca had passed resolutions asking for that. Such resolutions might have helped to counterbalance the earlier voices of rich or famous people like Joseph Kennedy and Charles Lindberg who had advocated for appeasing Hitler.” — John Dennis

RE: The Rent is Too Damn High

“Basic reasons for increase costs to housing are increased expenses to owners. Blame who you will, but the reason is the property who increase the costs. Look there first.” — John Butler

“Article twists into a proverbial pretzel to avoid the obvious because it does not comport with writer’s leftist priors. The solution to a housing shortage is more housing. Build more housing. Repeat… build more housing. Said differently, get out of the way of people who are ready, willing and able to build housing. Forget “affordable” housing. Just let people build. When there is a lot more housing, prices will come down and opportunities for virtue signaling about affordable housing will decrease as well.” — Steven Baginski

“Hello, yes, affordable housing will follow good housing..to force "free" or subsidized housing will hinder proper development of communities that include productive citizens rather than foster innovation and productivity and work-ethic. Common sense....” — J. Zelinski

RE: Asia Cuisine

“Probably the best Asian food I have had in Ithaca...I am from China nd married a Philipino lady and certainly influenced from other areas, and their cuisine was quite good for the local food...like it a lot...good spices and all of that...no fuss.” — J. Zelinski

a violation of international humanitarian law.” It continued, stating, “On October 7, 2023, Hamas perpetrated a terrorist attack against the State of Israel.” However, it failed to include language recognizing the

Women’s Fund to Host Panel on Equal Rights Amendment

By Matt Dougherty

In a move to champion and elevate awareness of the significance of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation for Tompkins County is set to present a compelling panel discussion via Zoom on Tuesday, March 18, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to noon. The event also serves as an educational platform for the 2024 election cycle, emphasizing the opportunity for New Yorkers to add the ERA to the State Constitution.

The featured panelists will bring a diverse range of expertise and advocacy efforts to the discussion, creating an intergenerational dialogue on the ERA and broader issues of equality. Sheila Squier, the Women’s Fund chair, emphasizes the importance of this event, stating, “We want everyone to be aware of how significant this is and to begin getting the word out to residents.”

The panelists, including Janet Schwenke, 1st Vice President of Central NY NOW; Nia Alvarez-Mapp, Organizing Director of New Yorkers for Equal Rights; Belan Yeshigeta, Co-Founder and Director of Young Feminist Party; and Carolyn Maloney, former Member of Congress and cosponsor of the ERA ratification bill, will bring their unique perspectives to the table.

Sheila Squier underscores the urgency of understanding the ERA at both state and federal levels: “Most people are only vaguely aware of the ERA at the federal level and what it would provide if it were signed into being once and for all, and why that has not happened yet.”

The core of the discussion revolves around clarifying protections for various citizens. According to the ERA (S.108-A Kreuger/A.1283 Seawright), it would prohibit discrimination by the government based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex. This includes their sexual orientation, gender identity,

gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. The amendment aims to explicitly categorize discrimination based on a person‚s pregnancy or pregnancy outcome as sex discrimination. This clarification becomes pivotal in light of the national trend of criminalizing individuals for different pregnancy outcomes and the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court.

“The ERA would prohibit discrimination by the government based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex — including their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes,” Squier said.

The language of the ERA goes further, safeguarding against any government actions that would curtail a person’s reproductive autonomy or access to reproductive health care. This resonates strongly with ongoing discussions surrounding rights to abortion, contraception, and reproductive care in the aftermath of the Supreme Court overturning Roe Vs. Wade. The ERA could mark a milestone by explicitly including language to protect individuals from government interference in matters of reproductive health, ensuring autonomy and access to care.

The event, accessible via Zoom, offers an opportunity for participants to engage with the panelists, posing questions and contributing to the dialogue. Sheila Squier encourages active participation, telling attendees, “Bring your questions [and] be ready to leave with hope and a new understanding.”

To register for the Zoom event, interested individuals can visit the link: [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/ reg/qw88bwq].

Attendance is free, aligning with the Women’s Fund’s commitment to promoting educational, economic, social, and political equality for women.

GUEST OPINION

Farewell, My Friend – a Love Letter to the Taughannock Falls Summer Concert Series

By Jana Hexter

Ihave spent dozens of hours over the last 6 months trying to save the Taughannock Falls Summer Concert Series and it is clear to me that it is untenable for it to continue. I know many people love the concert series and have wondered about the reasons for its cancellation and I think you deserve an explanation.

Last summer, I reached out through Facebook to ask if other people missed the concert series and wanted to offer support tothe park to address the issues that caused it to be cancelled. A small group of us have been working diligently towards this end. We have met with park officials, requested data and interpreted it, called elected officials, reached out to potential collaborators and allies, submitted FOIL requests, written letters, created a website and posters. We launched a petition and received over 1500 signatures and some wonderful comments. Thank you. I want you to know that our very best efforts have not been enough.

I have been a professional grant writer for 25 years and worked with hundreds of non-profit leaders to help bring their visions to reality. It is clear that while the NYS Parks team is enthused about infrastructure expansion and upgrades, the concert is not on their list of priorities. I understand. They have a limited staff and budget and I do appreciate the work they have done to build the Black Diamond Trail and their plans to expand it for us.

The reasons cited for cancelling the concert series have included lack of interest by bands, budget shortfalls, sound conflicts with music emanating from the Inn at Taughannock, and the lack of park capacity to meet the demands of the rising numbers of visitors and also host a concert series.

TOMPKINS

COUNTY REPORTS

continued from page 5

various services and support groups. The NYS OASAS HOPEline (1-877-8-HOPENY) and the 9-8-8 Lifeline call service

provide 24/7 support.

In the face of escalating opioid-related fatalities, the community is urged to utilize local resources and take advantage of the available support systems. Dialing

Continued on Page 15

The park is not willing to host the concerts on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday at all. They are open to having an event Monday-Thursday under a permit but the requirements for meeting that would entail tripling the existing budget and limiting revenues. I’m exhausted by the process and concede that it just isn’t possible for our small group of volunteers to

proceed without the help, support, and willingness of the park.

Regardless of my own searing frustration, I am not interested in assigning blame or vilifying anyone. We all do the best that we can and the park works with a lean staff and constrained budget. And in the end, we all live in the same community and cross paths with each other in everyday life and there is absolutely no value in public venting.

So, it’s time for me to accept life as it is and that means accepting the loss of something that is truly precious to me — the concert series.

The reason that I have worked so hard to preserve it is because the concert series is not nothing. It is priceless. The concert series isn’t just about the music, it’s about us. It's a low cost, high value arts event in a beautiful environment that has endured for 44 years. It’s the place we go to see each other after months of being cooped up indoors, dance our hearts out, hang out with our family and friends, watch our kids run and play with their friends, flirt a little, and drink in the sunset over the lake while hearing the music waft through the air. Some of us performed there, met our spouses there, went into labor there, and proposed marriage there. Some people who went as kids are now bringing their own little ones to the concerts. Some of us cherish dancing with our grandkids there.

It is part of the fabric of our community and it’s what makes Trumansburg special.

It humanizes us. We see our kids’ teachers and the pharmacist there. We see people who we’ve known for decades but only cross paths with once in a while. We might have a disagreement with someone but when we see them hanging out at the concert series with their family, we’re reminded that they are a person with good and bad days just like us.

When we come together like this, it’s hard to demonize each other. Regardless of race, religion, or political beliefs we can all agree that we love going to the lake on those sultry summer evenings with a glass of wine and our favorite companions to

Continued on Page 15

Workers Center Advocates for Just Cause Legislation to Challenge At-Will Employment Norms

By Matt Dougherty

The Tompkins County Workers Center (TCWC) has started a campaign to pressure the City of Ithaca to pass Just Cause legislation that would increase protections for employees by getting rid of at-will employment in the City. A rally to launch the campaign was held this past Sunday, March 10, and the TCWC organized the event alongside the Ithaca Solidarity Slate and Democratic Socialists of America.

During the rally former Fourth Ward Alderperson and Ithaca Democratic Socialists of America organizer, Jorge DeFendini, discussed the issue of at-will employment in New York State and its impact on workers. He said that under at-will employment, workers can be fired at any time for no reason at all, with no notice. He advocated for implementing Just cause protections in Ithaca — similar to New York City’s Secure Jobs Act, which aims to prevent discriminatory firings and give workers more job security.

“As it stands right now, in the state of New York, and in this city, you could be fired at any time for no reason at all,” DeFendini said. He continued saying that just cause protections “basically state that if you’re an employer, and you want to fire a worker, you need to give a just cause for termination.”

that Just

Pete Meyers has said that over 26% of individuals reaching out to the Worker Center have complained about being fired without reason — which would amount to a total of 1,300 complaints.

(Photo: Matt Dougherty)

First Ward Alderperson Kayla Matos said that she supports Just Cause legislation because of her personal experiences growing up with a single mother who struggled under at-will employment. Matos explained that her mother “had to make sure she worked extended hours [and] really never said no to her boss,” out of fear of retaliation. “At-will appointment is probably one of the scariest things,” Matos said.

Vi Englehart, a member of the Gimmie Baristas Union, spoke at the rally saying that Just Cause protections should be considered fundamental rights that ensure fairness and dignity in the workplace. Englehart said, “Every worker deserves to feel secure in their job and to know that their livelihood won’t be taken away without warning and fair reasoning.”

Englegart continued saying, “As a union, having a Just Cause clause in our contract has given us protection we didn’t have before, including the protection that we need to bargain with less fear of retaliation.” Englehart also mentioned that when the Gimmie Union won JustCause protections in

Ian Greer says that just cause legislation is not preempted at the city level, referencing a federal court ruling related to similar legislation in New York City for fastfood workers, emphasizing that localities have the authority to enact such measures.

(Photo: Matt Dougherty)

their contract, it actually helped reinstate an employee that had been fired for union organizing activity. “We’ve experienced firsthand the power of Just Cause protection and we believe every worker deserves the same,” Englehart said.

Rally organizers mentioned that there will be an upcoming town hall on Saturday, April 16 at 2pm at the Tompkins County Library to provide more details on how just cause legislation would work in the city of Ithaca. The town hall is intended to answer questions about just cause and how to get involved in the effort to pass just cause protections.

While discussing the origins of the initiative with the Ithaca Times, Worker Center Director Pete Meyers highlighted that the center has one of the few workers’ rights hotlines in the country. Since its establishment in 2003, the hotline has received over 5000 cases, with a significant number involving individuals feeling unfairly treated at work. Meyers emphasized, “The number one reason people call is feeling unfairly treated for work.”

To further underscore the need for such legislation, Meyers cited data indicating that over 26% of individuals reaching out to the Worker Center have complained about being fired without reason. That would amount to a total of 1,300 complaints.

According to Meyers, the driving force behind the push for Just Cause legislation came from former Fourth Ward Alderperson Jorge DeFendini.

DeFendini has told the Ithaca Times that efforts to advance a conversation about Just Cause legislation began in 2022 when Starbucks began firing workers and closing storefronts in the City to retaliate against union organizing. “It started right after the College Avenue store got shut down in my district,” DeFendini said.

He continued saying, “I was trying to figure out what’s the best way for us to prevent something like this from ever happening again…ultimately, what I found out is most labor law is settled at the federal level, but there are some recourses, and just cause was one of those recourses.”

According to DeFendini, the previous Common Council had some discussions in the City Administration committee regarding Just Cause legislation, but a busy election season and prioritization of other agenda items put Just Cause “on the back burner.” Despite the setback, DeFendini said that he has “spoken to a number of common counselors, both my former colleagues and newer ones, and I believe that there’s an appetite for this.”

One key aspect of the proposed legislation is its potential impact on at-will employment, a prevalent employment model in the United States. Meyers clarified, “It would actually get rid of at-will employment in the city of Ithaca. So somebody could live here and work in the city, and this would protect them.” Meyers continued saying, “Right now if somebody gets fired, unless it’s discrimination [or] certain things that are protected, they don’t have to give you a reason.”

In a recent conversation, Ian Greer, a Director at the Cornell ILR co-Lab who works closely with the TCWC, said that the core idea behind just cause legislation is to eliminate at-will employment in nonunion workplaces and replace it with a set

Cornell ILR Co-Lab Director

Workers Center Director

Vi Englehart, a member of the Gimmie Baristas Union, spoke at the rally saying

Cause protections should be considered fundamental rights that ensure fairness and dignity in the workplace.

may not be directly affected if the legislation is confined to city boundaries.

Addressing concerns about preemption, Greer pointed out that just cause legislation is not preempted at the city level. He referenced a federal court ruling related to similar legislation in New York City for fastfood workers, emphasizing that localities have the authority to enact such measures.

However, local attorney Russ Maines has said that if he had to bet, he would bet that this legislation would need authority from the state of New York. However, he noted that this was just an educated guess and not a definitive legal opinion, since he is not a labor attorney.

state Supreme Court decision asserting that municipalities couldn’t pass such laws before the state did.

Greer delved into the historical context of at-will employment in the United States, tracing it back to the 19th century. He emphasized that the country’s courts have sustained this doctrine, and unions have only been successful in overturning it through collective bargaining.

of regulations governing employer firing practices.

Greer highlighted that the centerpiece of this legislation is the notion that employers must provide a valid reason for terminating an employee. The legislation would also introduce additional regulations such as notice periods, disciplinary procedures for feedback and improvement opportunities, proof requirements for layoffs due to economic hardship, restrictions on electronic monitoring, and the inclusion of severance pay.

What makes this legislation noteworthy is that it aligns Ithaca with employment standards seen in many European countries. Greer pointed out that the United States currently boasts one of the most deregulated systems globally when it comes to discharging workers.

According to a survey from the National Employment Law Project (NELP), “More than two out of three workers who have been discharged received no reason or an unfair reason for the termination, and three out of four received no warning before discharge.” This lack of transparency and job security is a pervasive problem affecting the majority of the workforce.

The survey also revealed that just one in three discharged workers receives severance pay, indicating a significant gap in financial support during the crucial postemployment transition. Particularly troubling is the revelation that over 40 percent of currently employed workers, including more than half of Black workers, possess savings sufficient to cover merely one month or less of expenses if they were to lose their jobs today.

According to the survey, two-thirds of workers express support for the adoption of “just cause” laws that would ensure a valid reason and a fair process before job termination. A parallel two-thirds majority advocates for the guarantee of severance pay for all discharged workers. The survey results demonstrate a widespread desire for regulatory changes that prioritize job security, fair treatment, and financial stability for the workforce.

If passed, just cause legislation would shift the burden of proof regarding employee termination from the worker to the employer. Greer emphasized this change, stating, “It puts the onus on the employer to prove that a worker should be fired because there’s a good reason for firing them.” This stands in contrast to the current scenario where terminated employees often face an uphill battle in court, having to prove unfair treatment or discrimination.

While the exact number of jobs in Ithaca that fall under non-union categories is challenging to quantify, Greer acknowledged that the vast majority of workers in the city are not union members and would be covered by the proposed just cause legislation. However, it’s essential to note that the legislation’s enforcement would apply only within the city limits of Ithaca.

According to Meyers, “If somebody lived in the city of Ithaca but got hired somewhere else, like outside the city, that wouldn’t be covered.” Clarifying this, Greer mentioned, “It covers employers in the city. The city of Ithaca is considering it; it’s not at the county level.” This distinction is crucial, as large employers like BorgWarner, despite being significant contributors to the local economy,

Maines continued saying that local businesses would likely oppose such a law since it would eliminate the ability for business owners to have flexibility in their hiring and firing practices. He compared the situation with Good Cause Eviction laws saying that sometimes landlords just don’t like a tenant, or a tenant is creepy, problematic, untrustworthy, and the landlord-tenant relationship is not working. He argued that employers — like landlords — should have flexibility to hire and fire employees as they see fit, without being forced to continue employing someone if the relationship is not working out.

The Ithaca Times reached out to the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Cornell University to comment. The Chamber of Commerce refused to comment, and Cornell University has yet to respond.

If Greer is correct, his explanation should reduce fears of potential roadblocks similar to those faced by Good Cause Eviction legislation, which was hindered by a

According to Greer, the weakness of unions in the United States compared to other wealthy nations, and the focus on collective bargaining rather than political avenues for regulation have contributed to the nationwide normalization of at-will employment. Greer emphasized that addressing this issue has been necessary for a long time, even during periods when the labor movement and worker protections were stronger.

As conversations and advocacy continue, the city stands at the forefront of pioneering change at the local level, aiming to create a more secure and just working environment for its residents.

To support the Just Cause legislation, Meyers encouraged more community involvement. The Worker Center is actively engaging people through petitions and collaborating with a coalition of local organizations to push the campaign forward.

Organizations supporting Just Cause are as follows:

Tompkins County Workers Center, Solidarity Slate, Ithaca CPUSA, Ithaca Tenants Union, Ithaca DSA, Sunrise Ithaca, Cornell YDSA, National Employment Law Practice, Peoples Organizing Collective Cornell, Cornell Progressives, Climate Justice Cornell, Cornell On Fire, Starbucks Workers Union, Via Cookies.

First Ward Alderperson Kayla Matos said that she supports Just Cause legislation because of her personal experiences growing up with a single mother who struggled under at-will employment.

Former Fourth Ward Alderperson Jorge DeFendini has said that efforts to advance a conversation about Just Cause legislation began in 2022 when Starbucks began firing workers and closing storefronts in the City to retaliate against union organizing.

Dozens of residents attended the March 6 rally on the Ithaca Commons to launch the Workers Center campaign to pass Just Cause employment legislation at the city level. (Photo: Gabriel Ewig)

Overlap Season

Winter Sports Head for Tourneys; Spring Sports Take the Field

By Steve Lawrence

This is truly overlap season, as winter sports are in the thick of the playoffs and spring sports are just getting underway. As for local winter sports,the Cornell men’s basketball team wrapped up its regular season with a statement win of sorts, putting a thumping on Columbia to show the Big Red is ready to head back to Manhattan this weekend for Ivy Madness. The #2 seed Cornell will face #2 Yale in the semifinal, and #1 Princeton will take on #4 Brown. The final will be played on Sunday, with the winner getting an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, aka March Madness. Cornell wraps up the regular season with a 22-6 overall record, going 11-3 in the Ivy League. The games can be seen on

various ESPN channels (see ESPN’s website for details).

Both Cornell hockey teams are ready to go into the post-season, as the #6 women will travel to Colgate to play the Stonehill Skyhawks in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. The winner will race regional host Colgate Raiders on Saturday.

The men’s team will face Harvard at home on Friday and Saturday, and if Game Three is needed, on Sunday as well. That will be a tough ticket to get, but if you wish to try, go to www.cornellbigred.com.

The season has wrapped up for the Ithaca High girl’s hockey team, but five of its players have yet to hang up the skates for the season. I have written about the Syracuse Valley Eagles, a AAA Tier 1 hockey team, and the fact that five players

from Ithaca are on the roster. Over the weekend, the Eagles — coached by former Cornell player Ryan Smart — won the 14U NYS Championships, and will head to Florida for the Nationals on April 2-7. Congrats to the Eagles, and to Vera Mae Camel, Lucy Levine, Heather Gao. Elly Syer and Sonia Enns. These young women — and their families, given the players are not old enough to drive — started their travel team season last August.

The Ithaca High girl’s lacrosse team never fails to graduate an incredible amount of talent to the college ranks. This year’s Little Red squad features three players that are already committed to Division 1 schools, and I will devote a column to the 2024 team in an upcoming issue. For now, I will provide a list of Ithaca High alums playing at the next level (with many thanks to a parent who prefers anonymity).

(# 6 team in the nation) as the starting goalie.

Shea Baker plays at DI Boston College (#1 team in nation) as a key midfielder. She is also a member of the USA National Team. Elizabeth Joffrey is at Colgate, starting on defense. Jamie Lasda stars at Ohio State as a team captain at midfield, and was named Big Ten Player to watch in the 2024 season. Mackenzie Rich is a midfielder at Syracuse (#3 team in nation), Alicia Nicolas plays at UNC Chapel Hill (# 6 team in nation) as the starting goalie, and was named to the 2023 Tewaaraton Award watch list. Quinn Howe is at St. Joseph’s University, starting at midfield. Julia Blakeslee is a Lemoyne midfielder and draw, and is starting as a freshman. Skylar Orlowskey plays at Seton Hill as a starting attack, and was a 2023 IWLCA All Atlantic Region First Team selection. Zoe Getzin play on defense at

Williams, and Maddie Hall stayed local, playing attack at Ithaca College. Mark Train, was quoted — or misquoted — as saying “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” and now, I can relate.

When the news hit the wire that singer Steve Lawrence had died, it startled many people in my circle. When they saw that he was 88 years of age, they relaxed a bit. Since I was a child, I was teased about the name, and asked “How’s Eydie” (he was married to Eydie Gorme’) Or, “Are you named after him?” Well, he was born Sidney Liebowitz, so I liked to point out that perhaps he was named after me. R.I.P. Sidney/Steve.

Ithaca High School alum Alicia Nicolas plays at UNC Chapel Hill

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY IS BACK

By Maddy Vogel

For the first time since the pandemic, Educational Technology Day, also known as Ed Tech Day, will return to Ithaca College’s Campus Center on Thursday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event brings students, the public, vendors, and guest speakers together. It allows participants to connect and explore how advancements in technology can be integrated into the classroom and their daily lives.

In partnership with NYSERNet.org, Ithaca College will have a vendor technology showcase with over 60 hardware and software vendors. In this college showcase, faculty will demonstrate how they use technology in the classroom and several seminars and demonstrations covering a wide array of topics.

The free regional technology event is a unique one to the region, according to the Vice President for Information Technology and Analytics at Ithaca College, David Weil, who created the first Ed Tech Day in 1991. Weil said he was inspired to start the event after attending a technology conference in

Florida, which made him want to bring a similar event to the Ithaca College community.

“This year, there’s a lot of focus on artificial intelligence,” Weil said. “That’s sort of the topic of the time. We’ll also be talking about information security and a lot of sessions on

teaching and learning… It’s an opportunity to see in one place what’s happening across a broad variety of technology providers. I think there’s really no other thing exactly like this in the region.”

Although the event was restricted to only the Ithaca College community when it first began, it has grown to welcome the public, including over 1,000 attendees annually and people from over 100 colleges and universities across New York State in past years, according to Weil.

“I know that people enjoy connecting with one another [at Ed Tech Day],” Weil said. “I see some of my counterparts from other institutions [there], and one of the nice things about higher ed is we’re very collaborative, so it's an opportunity for that. I think people are interested in technology and where it’s evolving and how we can use it to help our institutions.”

This is the 30th time that Ed Tech Day has taken place, and although the technology and content have evolved over the years, the event’s objectives have stayed the same, according to Weil.

“At its heart, the core of Ed Tech Day has remained the same, which is that it’s a place to explore,” Wiel said. “Technology plays an important part in all of our lives every day, whether it’s via Zoom or the phones we carry in our pockets. We look at Ed Tech Day as an opportunity to really spend some time looking at how things are evolving.”

For more information and a complete list of seminars and vendors, visit https://www. ithaca.edu/educational-technology-day.

Arts & Entertainment

This years Educational Technology Day will focus on artificial intelligence. (Photo: Provided)

Ithaca College will have a vendor technology showcase with over 60 hardware and software vendors. (Photo: Provided)

Struts and Frets Upon the Stage

Theatre Incognita Stages MacBeth at CSMA

By Aoise Stratford

Macbeth has always been one of Shakespeare’s most loved plays and it has been long on the wish list of Theatre Incognita’s artistic director, Ross Haarstad. The production that will take place at CSMA opens on March 15 and features a large cast of local actors, ranging in age from 12 to 70. Haarstad makes full use of the space with clever staging and a simple but flexible set of platforms which help us track the rise and fall of Scotland’s most infamous king, brought richly to life by Barbara Geary.

Macbeth was performed several times during Shakespeare’s lifetime, likely first in 1606 for King James. Shakespeare was no doubt catering to royal tastes when he wrote this tragedy; King James was a Scott and something of a self-proclaimed expert

on witches, having written his own treatise on the subject. The Scottish setting, the three weird sisters, and allusions to the 1605 Gunpowder Plot—a failed attempt to assassinate King James by blowing up the houses of parliament—must have made the play very topical in its day.

Audiences today are likely less familiar with the history behind the play, but in fact Macbeth was a real person. Shakespeare’s literary source was Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, a popular but often fanciful and subjective account of history. Shakespeare takes plenty of poetic license with his source material, embellishing and reshaping events, timelines and family trees. In fact, everyone is related to everyone else in this play making bloodlines and blood-spilling complicated. Incognita’s production embraces the importance of family relationships, and the use of

younger actors helps bring this vividly to life.

Popular in Shakespeare’s day, and in ours, the play also had a wave of popularity around the end of the 18th century. Macbeth’s regicide and reign of terror resonated with English anxieties about mad King George and the French Revolution, and actors found plenty of heightened emotion in the drama. Sarah Siddons became one of England’s most loved actresses playing the ferocious and impassioned Lady Macbeth who, in Meg Elliot’s portrayal, emerges as a darkly complex and human character.

Theatre Incognita’s staging underscores the violent and unstable world of the play,

which is every bit as resonant today. From the opening moments of this production we are made aware of the bloody and disruptive potential of power. This is a world of refugees, violent opportunism, duplicity and unrest. But it is also a world of magic and mystery, as the witches, played with eerie power by Marie Sirakos, Samantha Sloma and Elizabeth Livesay, never let us forget.

produced by Theatre Incognita March 15-17, 21-24 7 p.m. Community School of Music and Arts 330 E State St., Ithaca https://www.theatreincognita.org/ 607-391-1121

Something about the mystery and turmoil of Macbeth has, over the years, attached to the play’s reputation and lore. Whether or not people believe in the curse of witches today, many actors still only dare call Macbeth “The Scottish Play” (though luckily, it’s okay to write it). Some say Lincoln was reading Macbeth the night before he was killed…in a

Continued on Page 14

Lady Macbeth (Meg Elliott) and Macbeth (Barbara Geary) in the Theatre Igognita’s presentation of Macbeth at the Community School of Music and Arts March 15-17 and 21-24.

St. Patrick’s Spirit

Gaelic Storm Brings the Celtic to Town

By Peter Rothbart

There are many reasons to attend The High Kings/Gaelic Storm concert at the State Theatre two days after St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, March 19. You missed St. Patrick’s Day. You are still celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. You need to take it down a notch after celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. You need some Celtic music to remind you that St. Patrick’s Day is only 363 days away. Gaelic Storm has gone on record stating that every day is St. Patrick’s Day so be prepared. Along with The High Kings, their concert promises to deliver everything from rowdy drinking songs to tender Celtic ballads more at home in an Irish pub.

Ireland and Scotland both treasure their local musicians in a way that seems foreign to our megastar-lit culture (Bono excepted).

High Kings and Gaelic Storm

March 19, 8 p.m.

State Theatre of Ithaca

107 W State St., Ithaca

CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION

continued from page 6

ICC genocide ruling or language calling the Israeli Military “terrorists” for actions in Gaza — which have resulted in significantly more civilian deaths and destruction of civilian infrastructure.

The amendment passed with the support of all council members except for Matos and her First Ward colleague Phoebe Brown. After his amendment passed, Kuehl said, “If there are things that people would like to add to this resolution, I would support that.”

In response, Fourth Ward Alderperson Tiffany Kumar introduced an amendment to remove the word “terrorist” from Kuehl’s amended resolution because she felt the term has been weaponized against brown people, including those who look like her and her family, and that using it in the resolution could perpetuate that harmful stereotyping.

Across the “pond,” pub music is a way to spend an evening with friends and family. Kids are welcomed and enjoy the musicmaking as much as the adults. Pub musicians are often paid in beer. They play a little, drink a little and settle in for the evening of socializing and music making. Very chill.

The State Theatre is hardly a neighborhood pub-like environment, but Gaelic Storm and The High Kings guarantee to make its cavernous and dimly lit interior seem like one and the beer (it may or may not be green, I have been assured) will be flowing.

Celtic music is filled with fiddles, guitars, Irish flutes, bodhrans (a single drum played with a double-sided stick by someone with an incredibly agile wrist), strident yet plaintive Scottish bagpipes along with their smaller and some say sweeter relative Uillean pipes (sweeter being a relative term when describing bagpipes).

Gaelic Storm’s often hard-driving singing is both lyrical and melodic, closely harmonized in a traditional style. The lyrics are personal and can wash over you like a wave of nostalgia as they describe love, drinking, loneliness, more drinking, sorrow for the past and hope for the

“I think we can call it wrong. I think we can call it terrible, but I think that the use of the word terrorist, regardless of what it technically means…has been weaponized against all brown people, including people who look like me and my family,” Kumar said. Her amendment passed 10-1.

Matos then introduced two amendments to the new resolution, calling to change the title of the resolution back to the original title of “Support of permanent ceasefire and preventing loss of human life in the Middle East,” in addition to including language recognizing the ICC’s genocide ruling. The amendment to change the title passed 9-2, and the amendment to recognize the ICC genocide ruling passed by a thin 6-5 margin.

Then Second Ward Alderperson Ducson Nguyen introduced an amendment to include language calling for ending United States military funding to the State of Israel. After a brief debate, Nguyen’s amendment passed by another thin 6-5 margin.

Several council members, like Third

Hard-driving, lyrical and melodic music can turn the State Theatre into the area’s largest pub when Gaelic Storm performs with the High Kings Tuesday. (Photo: Provided)

future, all of which leads to…more lyrics about drinking.

But it’s not all rowdiness. Gaelic Storm can be as sweet as the girl next door or at least her avatar, as musically dexterous as a North Carolina bluegrass picker and as entertaining as a comedy duo. Early in their career, they scored a musical cameo in the film “Titanic” singing their song, “Irish Party in Third Class.” Their career didn’t founder and after touring for 20 years and performing up to 200 shows each year, this self-described blue-collar working band continues to ride the wave powered by their philosophy of “contemplative escapism.”

The High Kings present the softer and more traditional side of Celtic music. Playing a variety of traditional Celtic instruments, their vocal harmonies are more sonorously blended and tightly controlled, very much reminiscent of the four-men folk music groups of the 1960s such as the

Ward Alderperson Pierre Saint-Perez, expressed concerns about the resolution. He said crafting policy on such a complex issue in a single meeting without proper consultation with experts was not the best approach. Saint-Perez added that he wanted to see a standing committee or commission of community members to systematically advise the council on human rights issues. “I am incredibly dubious that we can create it [good policy] tonight in this fashion,” Saint-Perez said.

Fifth Ward Alderperson Clyde Lederman also expressed concern about the process of passing the resolution, saying that he, too, would have liked to see more time spent discussing the matter in a committee. However, he stated that if the resolution for a ceasefire were put up for a vote, he would support it.

Lederman said, “I’m going to vote for a permanent ceasefire tonight because I believe that’s the path forward, but I also don’t believe that's the path forward

Irish Rovers, the Limelighters or the Brothers Four. But the sound is as contemporary and relevant as it was then. Their musical ascendancy confirms that folk music never dies, it evolves and blossoms by cultivating new roots while hanging onto the older ones, family, folklore, storytelling about love and loss, adventure and adversity, and an effervescent optimism for the future.

To listen to The High Kings and Gaelic Storm is to hear the antecedents of what is now called Americana music and to remind us of the richness of relationships with family and friends that underscores it.

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.

without acknowledging the fact that there’s nuance and that this needs clarity.”

Ultimately, the final version of the resolution called for a permanent ceasefire and an end to United States military funding to the State of Israel while also recognizing that the ICC has ruled that the State of Israel is “plausible” for genocide in Gaza.

Following the vote, Mayor Robert Cantelmo released a statement saying, “The City of Ithaca made it clear that we stand for peace in the Middle East. We join the chorus of voices who have called for a ceasefire, immediate humanitarian relief for Gazans, and a release of the hostages held by Hamas.”

Cantelmo continued saying, “All democracies have a moral obligation to ensure they conduct military operations in a proportional manner and in a way that adheres to international law. It is my sincere hope that the Biden administration does everything in its power to end this suffering and establish a durable peace in the best interest of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.”

DreamCycle Circus Coming to Ithaca

By Amelia Buzzard

At age ten, Cirque Us director Doug Stewart was kicked out of gymnastics class for breaking all the rules. Now, he’s built a life doing that very thing with Boston-based circus entertainment and education company Cirque Us. Since their founding year in 2016, Cirque Us has rapidly grown into a nationally renowned circus company, producing and touring original, full-length works year after year, alongside educational camps and workshops.

This spring, they are traveling across America to perform 45 shows in the space of 15 weeks. The season’s production, DreamCycle , “unravels like the fabric of a dream” as six award-winning circus artists “lead the audience on an adventure through a strange yet familiar world, performing astounding feats that

will make you say, ‘I must be dreaming!’” This year, DreamCycle features some bold new acts, including tightwire acrobatics, hoop diving—in which performers flip and throw one another through a series of hoops—and a lawn-flamingo juggling act.

If you’ve never seen a Cirque Us show, you may be in for a surprise.

“Cirque Us strives to create a new genre of circus that blends together traditional old-school circus with more modern, contemporary circus,” Doug Stewart explained. “People usually expect one thing, and then they come and experience something completely different.”

Everyone in the troupee wears ten different hats, which makes for an astoundingly multidisciplinary experience. “We have something for everyone—juggling, contortion, tightwire, aerial acrobatics, clowning,” said Doug.

But the performance isn’t just about the technical prowess of the artists, though that is impressive.

“There’s also really good thematic storytelling and theatricality,” said Doug. “People will be laughing, they’ll be sad, happy. They’ll go on a whole rollercoaster of emotions as we take them through this dream world.”

The troupe’s joyful spirit of collaboration shows in how they share the spotlight. Rather than seeking to dominate the stage, they invite others onto it. Cirque Us has been performing in Ithaca twice annually for the last few years and is well connected with our thriving local arts scene. The upcoming performance nights will feature opening acts from four different Ithacan organizations: the Cornell Juggling Club, the Ithaca Circus Club, The Village Circus, and Circus Culture. These local artists come from all different levels of professionalism. “For some kids it’s their first performance,” said Doug. “Other performers are more seasoned.” But that’s the fun of it. “We all warm up together and we all get to hang out,” Doug told me. “It’s fun for us to get to know the community and our audience.”

STRUTS AND FRETS UPON

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theatre! Reports of injured or dead actors are particularly plentiful including four people dying during Gielgud’s 1942 production and Kenneth Branagh’s accidental (but non-fatal) stabbing of a fellow actor.

The unfortunate use of real swords is likely to blame. Happily, Incognita’s cast has been led by the expert choreography and training of Jacob Lehman, lending fight scenes both gravitas and beauty.

At approximately 2,100 lines Macbeth is ruthlessly economical and much shorter than other tragedies (Hamlet comes in around 4,000), but it packs a punch. Power-

perfect blend of sophistication and fun,” and “non-stop action that keeps you guessing as to what is to come next.” But don’t take their word for it. “The sheep are counted and the acrobats are all tucked in,” reads Cirque Us’s invitation. “It’s time for DreamCycle!”

The 2024 troupe of DreamCycle is: Doug Stewart, Maeve Beck, Mariah Fraker, Jeremy Cifonie, Sam Hollis, and Charles Keidel. The DailyUV.com calls them “the

fully insightful and disturbingly ambiguous, it remains fresh and thrilling. Across the centuries, Shakespeare’s vivid characters speak immediately to us about love, fear, ambition, guilt, power, sacrifice and deception. Macbeth is a stunning theatrical free-fall that grabs us by the shoulders right from the first scene and doesn’t let go. Hold on to your seats, and enjoy the ride.

Cirque Us will be performing DreamCycle at The Cherry Arts on March 19th, 20th, and 21st. The show runs approximately 75 minutes and is appropriate for all ages. Find affordably-priced tickets at https://cirque-us.ticketleap.com/dreamcycle/.

Aoise Stratford serves both as an Advising Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, and as a lecturer in Performing and Media Arts at Cornell where she primarily teaches writing. She has written many plays and stories including short films and fiction and is serving as dramaturg (research assistant) on the production of Macbeth.

Bold new acts, including tightwire acrobatics, hoop diving, and a lawn-flamingo juggling act. (Photo: Provided)

Cirque Us will be performing DreamCycle at The Cherry Arts on March 19th, 20th, and 21st. (Photo: Provided)

DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES

continued from page 3

could house 82 people and that about 60 people were being held. He said those numbers were much lower compared to the numbers from 2015, when the jail was over capacity housing an average of 90 individuals.

Data from Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources (OAR) of Tompkins County shows that 62 percent of the jail population consists of “pretrial detainees” who can be incarcerated for a year or more while going back and forth to court appearances. According to OAR’s website,

FAREWELL , MY FRIEND

continued from page 7

dance to some great tunes. You can arrive feeling lonely or down and bump into a friend, dance the grizzlies out, or start chatting with someone new.

We need this like we need oxygen — especially now.

Recently, researchers have shown the health benefits of walking in a forest — or forest bathing. Living here, we know that. The concert series is community bathing. Our souls need community — desperately so, these days. What did we miss the most during the pandemic? Hugs and being with each other. Our society is ignoring this deep core need for community at our peril — the rise in loneliness, anxiety, depression, drug use and suicide are not unrelated and are costing us a fortune psychologically and financially.

We need each other, we need community, and we need places like the concert series to keep our community healthy.

I want to live in a community that treasures and cherishes these traditions which why I have done my best to preserve it. I have walked the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage three times. On a pilgrimage, you carry the bare minimum and learn to rely on the kindness of strangers. Along the way, local people sometimes leave out drinks and snacks with a note saying that it was provided through donations of those who walked by yesterday, to take whatever you need, and leave a small donation, if you can, so that provisions can be left for those who will walk by tomorrow. It’s all on the honor system. On the Camino I learned that, despite the obvious viciousness we see in today’s world, we also have an intrinsic capacity for taking care of each

“Of those sentenced individuals, 18% are female, 82% male, 17% African American (Tompkins County African American population is 4.4%), and nearly 80% white (white population is 81.5 %).”

In addition to reducing the local jail population, the District Attorney’s Office has supported the introduction of several data dashboards that have been designed to improve transparency and accountability between law enforcement and the public. The Sheriff’s Office has recently launched Civilian Response and Use of Force dashboards. Additional dashboards with information about incidents, arrests, and vehicle crashes will be online in the coming weeks.

other in community, that the world is a gift, and we can be gifts for each other. The concert series is a place where I can sniff a hint of that reality in the air and it buoys my soul.

So, with a broken heart I say adieu.

Thank you to Kathleen Damiani for starting the concert series in 1979 and thank you to all the park staff and volunteers who have kept it going in all its incarnations since then. My life has been so much richer for its presence.

I thank my fellow ‘good trouble’ makers for their friendship and camaraderie throughout this process. I’m sorry that it did notwork out.

My hope is that the spirit that created this event lingers among us and it may rise from the ashes in another form and another time. I will be there and bring my dancing shoes.

“I value progress and accountability,” Van Houten stated. “We have maintained high standards of integrity in the promotion of public safety, addressing the underlying issues that cause criminal behavior.”

Another notable initiative is the support for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, demonstrating a commitment to finding alternative solutions to traditional criminal justice approaches.

Van Houten has worked to address public safety concerns by ensuring that his office has taken tough cases to trial, including violent crimes, domestic violence, and sex offenses.

TOMPKINS COUNTY REPORTS

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2-1-1 (1-877-211-8667) can provide local referrals and resource connections for those in need.

Commissioner Kruppa has said that the County Whole Health Department is “urging everyone to become familiar with overdose prevention resources because we know that many of these deaths are preventable.”

Kruppa underscored the importance of harm reduction in public health, stating, “For us in public health, harm reduction is at our core.” He has continuously advocated for the use of fentanyl test strips as a way for users to stay alive longer so the system can work to eventually get them into treatment.

Reflecting on his career before taking office, Van Houten mentioned his twenty years of legal practice in Ithaca, where he represented indigent litigants and children in Family Court, as well as handled criminal defense cases. He says that those experiences help inform his response to cases that come before the District Attorney’s office.

Looking forward, Van Houten expressed optimism about the opportunity to continue serving Tompkins County. "It has been a true privilege to serve the people of Tompkins County, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to dedicate myself to this community as District Attorney," he affirmed.

However, local options for treatment are sparse as the Alcohol and Drug Council of Tompkins County has recently shut down and fired most of their employees. Kruppa has said that the Whole Health Department is working closely with ADC to transition their current clients safely into care at other organizations.

As the community grapples with this crisis, proactive measures and community support remain vital in curbing the rising tide of drug-related deaths in Tompkins County.