Black Diamond Trail Bridge Project Enhances Connectivity and Pedestrian Safety
By Maddy Vogel
The Black Diamond Trail is an 8-mile long trail that extends from Taughannock Falls in Trumansburg to Cass Park in Ithaca. In recent years, the City of Ithaca has been making efforts to construct a pedestrian bridge across the flood control channel near Wegmans. These efforts have finally been completed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place on Friday, June 28.
Passing through woodlands and farmlands along the western side of Cayuga Lake, the Black Diamond Trail is a stone dust trail that was converted from an old railroad bed. The Finger Lakes Land Trust calls the trail “another success story of repurposing old industrial infrastructure to serve and enhance present-day communities.”
Trail access points, with parking, are available at Cass Park/Allan H. Treman State Park in the City of Ithaca and Taughannock Falls State Park in Trumansburg. Visitors to the trail enjoy recreational opportunities, including hiking, jogging and biking in the summer, along with snowshoeing and crosscountry skiing in the winter.
In 2022, the City of Ithaca began the next steps for a project to construct a new multi-use trail over the Flood Control
Channel to connect pedestrian traffic from the two sides of the channel near Wegmans, between the intersection of Cecil Malone Drive and Cherry Street on the east of the channel to the Floral Avenue Trail on the west side of the channel.
The project, which City of Ithaca Mayor Cantelmo announced was completed this past Friday, will provide a safe walking and biking connection between parts of the existing trail. The new bridge will be
the only non-motorized crossing of the Flood Control Channel, which will save a 0.75 mile walk around.
The project will enhance the trail’s connection from Trumansburg to Ithaca and make the trail more pedestrian-friendly for generations to come.
According to the City of Ithaca, the project was designed by Erdman Anthony
X First Methodist Church of Forest Home in Ithaca Receives $10,000 Sacred Sites Grant
The New York Landmarks Conservancy has awarded a $10,000 Sacred Sites Grant to the First Methodist Church of Forest Home in Ithaca, New York. This grant is part of a total of $228,000 distributed among 14 historic religious properties throughout New York State.
The funds awarded to the First Methodist Church will be used to upgrade the church’s entrance steps, copper gutters, and drainage systems. Located in Ithaca’s Forest Home Historic District, the church was completed in 1915 by C.A. Martin, the then Dean of the Cornell School of Architecture. The church’s adjacent parsonage was home to the author Pearl Buck in the 1920s when her husband served as minister.
The First Methodist Church of Forest Home serves approximately 1,000 people annually through various community activ-
ities, including meetings of the Forest Home Improvement Association, the League of Women Voters, Red Cross Emergency Preparedness trainings, and the Cornell Protestant Cooperative Ministry. Additionally, several music groups use the church’s space for rehearsals and concerts.
“We are delighted that our grants will help these diverse congregations maintain their buildings and continue to serve their communities with social service and cultural programs,” said Peg Breen, president of The New York Landmarks Conservancy. “These 14 congregations reach a total of 60,000 people beyond their congregations with no-cost or low-cost services.”
The Sacred Sites Program has been supporting congregations since 1986 by providing matching grants for exterior restoration
projects, technical assistance, and workshops. The program has awarded nearly 1,700 grants totaling over $13.8 million to more than 850 religious institutions statewide.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private non-profit organization, has been dedicated to preserving New York City's architectural legacy for over 50 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $62 million, leveraging nearly $1 billion in restoration projects. These efforts have revitalized communities, provided economic stimulus, and supported local jobs. The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, non-profits, and individuals, saving over a thousand buildings across the state and protecting New York’s distinctive architectural heritage.
Kathy Taylor, Director of Sales, and Taryn Moore, Executive Director, at the new downtown Ithaca conference center.
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
THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2024, BY NEWSKI INC.
All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $89 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is
(1972–1978) and The
Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was
The Black Diamond trail, extending from Trumansburg to Ithaca, now has a new pedestrian bridge after the opening ceremony took place on Friday. (Photo: Visit Ithaca)
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: WHAT'S YOUR SUPERPOWER
ICSD Faces Program Cuts Amid Budget Constraints
Teachers Left in the Dark Amid Language Program Cuts: “No One Informed Us that it Was a Layoff Meeting”
By Maddy Vogel
After voters approved a reduced budget at the budget re-vote on Tuesday, June 18, the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) is now facing $6 million in budget reductions, resulting in Mandarin, Latin and AVID programs being cut.
These cuts mean that students in the district will now only have three language offerings — Spanish, French, and German. At Tuesday’s board meeting, several students, teachers, parents, and supporters of the budget spoke during the public comment period, asking the board to reconsider what cuts they are making.
The programs cut thus far are likely a result of the district implementing a 17-student class size minimum, a decision that was made after the first budget was voted down in May in an effort to reduce the budget while still keeping the essential classes that students need to graduate.
The Mandarin program was introduced two years ago, after it was proposed 10 years ago but failed to garner enough support to be officially implemented. The Latin program has just one part-time teacher, Suzanne Nussbaum, who has taught five levels of Latin since 2006.
The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is a college and career-readiness program that assists underrepresented students and students of low socioeconomic status background.
Valerie Evans, a retiring teacher at Boynton Middle School, spoke out against cutting the AVID program, describing how it enhances equity among students at the district.
“Please consider cutting programs that won’t hurt children that need it the most,” Evans said. “So many of my children have gone on to college because of AVID. AVID is more important than AP classes because it is one of the ways that we level the playing field.”
New York State requires students to complete at least one unit of credit in a world language to graduate with a traditional regents diploma, and three units of credit, all in the same language, to graduate with a regents diploma with advanced designation. Since 2013, over half of graduates each year in the district have earned diplomas with advanced designations, according to the ICSD Equity Report Card. From 2022 to 2023, student enrollment in advanced world language
classes in the district dropped 2%.
Liya Zhou, founder of the Mandarin program at ICSD, said the program has seen 36% growth over the past two years, since the program was first implemented.
“The mandarin program not only meets a steady demand at ICSD, but also serves as a cultural anchor for AANH [Asian American and Native Hawaiian] and other minority students,” Zhou said. “Removing the Mandarin program would deprive minority students of deserved visibility and support, impacting their sense of belonging and happiness.”
For students who have taken two years of Mandarin or Latin entering high school hoping to earn their advanced regents diploma, they will have to start over with a new language, unable to complete the required three years of language.
Board Member Garrick Blalock responded to concerns that community members voiced over the limitation of language offerings for students, with some calling it “eurocentric” to only offer european languages to students.
“As a district, we offered five languages, which is three or four more than most schools,” Blalock said. “We’re hit with a budget crisis. We funded these programs in the first budget, but the public didn’t fund that budget. [...]I really can’t fault leadership for seeking language as an area to find cuts, as unfortunate as it is,” Blalock said. “We are not denying students the right to study a language, we’re limiting their choice of language, but it’s terrible.”
Board President Sean Eversley Bradwell said that the cuts, along with other future cuts that may occur, will not make everyone happy.
“By saying, ‘we’re going to hold to a class size of 17,’” Bradwell said. “In some regards that is equitable, and in some regards it’s not equitable, and we have these
difficult decisions to make.”
According to a language teacher who reached out to the Ithaca Times, students were notified of the cuts to the language program before teachers were.
“The students heard the news from the school counselor, who asked them to choose another language,” the teacher told the Times. “We, as teachers, learned about it from our students. There was no prior notification or communication before we discovered that the Chinese program had been cut.”
Additionally, the teacher said that after students broke the news that they were being told to select another language, teachers received a call to schedule a meeting with the human resources department, which turned out to be a layoff meeting.
“We received a call to schedule an immediate meeting with HR, but no one informed us that it was a layoff meeting,” the teacher continued.
Blalock responded during the meeting, acknowledging that the order in which teachers, students and families were notified was “a failure.”
“I understand that there was a situation where some students or other groups heard before the faculty heard,” Blalock said. “That’s a failure. That shouldn’t have happened. Let me be clear that our policy should always be to talk with faculty before sending out a decision to the public and try to work with the faculty to make the decisions as least painful as possible, and I think that’s what we should do moving forward.”
The ICSD board of education members, Superintendent Luvelle Brown and Deputy Superintendent did not respond to a request for comment on the cuts the district was facing and how teachers were notified of these cuts.
“My sense of visual and musical aesthetics.”
Community members voiced their concerns over program cuts at Tuesday’s ICSD board of education meeting. (Photo: Maddy Vogel)
The Talk at
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
MAGA Molinaro
“Our congressman, Marc Molinaro (NY-19), is supposed to be a “moderate” Republican. So we might have expected him to refrain from joining MAGA Republicans’ cries of outrage following Donald Trump’s conviction in a NY court on 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to interfere with an election. But no! Molinaro fell in line, saying on Facebook: “This is a perversion of our justice system.” And: “This is how we’re going to do politics now?” Molinaro knows better, but he doesn’t dare say so. “Politics”? No, Marc, this is how we do criminal trials in this country. A jury of 12 was approved by both sides. The standard they had to follow for conviction was proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Having served on a grand jury, I find Molinaro’s comments insulting. I took the work seriously, and the trial jurors who convicted Trump certainly did as well. “Perversion”? No, this was the system
working the way it’s supposed to. For Molinaro to trash our justice system in this case shows how scared he is of crossing Trump. He could have just remained silent. Instead, he trashed the work of 12 dedicated jurors, and thus insulted anyone who’s served on a jury. He should be ashamed.” — Joel Rabinowitz
In Support of Good Cause Eviction
“I would like to respond to some claims made in Lyman’s recent opinion piece on the Good Cause Eviction bill in Ithaca. I'm afraid I have to disagree that this bill, at its core, is imposing incomecrippling rent control on applicable landlords. Those not exempt from the policy can impose annual rent increases up to 10% PLUS inflation. This is not promoting wage stagnation, but preventing profitability margins so unreasonable that rental options price out low and middle-income Ithacans. Landlords can still impose increases beyond this very generous cap, provided they prove cost justifications. Additionally, I understand that it's hard to gauge the extent of evictions in Ithaca. So I wanted to provide some important numbers from Cornell’s eviction filings dashboard. In Tompkins County, nearly 400 local eviction filings were made in 2022 — impacting 1 in 50 renters. In Ithaca, 152 local eviction filings were made in 2022, four times higher than 2021 numbers. In short, there is a rising
eviction issue in our city and county that calls for reasonable renter protections. This policy doesn’t prevent all evictions, just those without a fair cause. Landlords can still evict tenants for the most common reasons — disruption, destruction, payment avoidance, etc. If they choose to evict for a reason beyond those considered a ‘good cause’, it can be justified with the court.
The Good Cause Eviction bill is a simple and flexible policy. Although it's fair to consider the real-life implications of any bill, productive discussion won’t stem from drastic assumptions.” — Danielle Smith
RE: Killed on Route 13
“Many thanks for the article. Suspicion alone would seem to provoke a thorough investigation for either DUI and Distracted Driving. It’s not brain surgery! I would also bring to our attention that the case of Dejour Gandy has never been resolved. Again, why? A failure of responsibility lies in the lap of either incapable or apathy.” — Nancy Raza
“If the car insurance company is offering only $52,000, (generally one is insured for $300,000 ), the family in any event should receive the entire amount, whatever that be, not a partial amount as the $52,000 suggests. In order to receive the full amount from the car insurance company, a pro bono lawyer should represent the family so that 1/3 of the amount does not go to a lawyer, as is usual in liability cases I believe. If the driver was using a cell phone, the driver should be charged with that offense. If, in addition, it is thought that this case involves discrimination (as indicated by the length of time involved with no forward motion), perhaps a national organization should be approached for their involvement in the case (e.g, AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (ACLU), the NYS District Attorney's office, American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity, AmericanArab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Civil Rights Division | Department of Justice).” — Pamela Poulin
RE: ICSD Leadership
“I'm retired on a fixed income and my grandson attends South Hill School. Next year he will be entering 3rd grade and every year he gets off the bus and tells me he has the best teacher in the school. I have found the school responsive to his needs and issues which I appreciate. Our roots are deep within this community. I was just leaving a position of recreation
and youth coordinator with the town of Ithaca when Superintendent Brown was hired. Years previously I had worked as an investigator for the Tompkins county human rights commission. Historically especially at Ithaca High School there were division’s between rural and city youth. When John Carren was an administrator with the school district he worked with the county and rural communities to create the rural youth services programs to address issues of transition from elementary school to the middle school. It was my understanding that Superintendent Brown was hired to address some of these longstanding issues. I assume from my service on other boards that some sort of performance evaluation is conducted on the superintendent’s position. How has progress been measured? Given published reports of the annual salary as $260,000 annually I feel the public and taxpayers are entitled to that information. Given respect for the employee/employer relationship at least the tool and methodology should be shared. The purported annual salary is more than my current income for five years. With 4 schools (including both middle schools) on the state’s in need of improvement list some difficult questions need to be asked. I regret that threats have entered the discourse as it distracts from the conversation of what needs to be done to improve things for all of the children. Years ago I served on a board where the executive director refused his raise requesting it be divided amongst the other staff, maybe as a show of good faith that's an option here. Even if the insinuation that middle school administration is leaving now because Dr. Brown’s contract won’t be extended it sounds ludicrous to me. We need individuals at the helms of those schools who can acknowledge and create strategies to address the issues now. I appreciate it’s the school board’s responsibility to set policies and staff’s job to implement it yet dialogue with the teaching staff, parents and larger community need to happen as we are all in this together.” — Marnie Kirchgessner
“Left wing bias on full display. “Don’t come to school” morphed into “need more resources”. Public school monopoly always needs more resources. Let’s try basic logic — ICSD spends $30,000 per student per year (one of highest in nation and way more than cost of a teacher and a classroom), there is exceedingly high absenteeism among students of color at certain schools and the answer is… more money is needed? Another possible (and more likely) conclusion is that enormous amounts are already being wasted. The extent of the spending is so vast that it will probably never be known where it’s all actually going.” — Steven Baginski
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
The Ithaca Farmers Market is back at DeWitt Park every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. from June to October. The market features a diverse array of farm and artisan products, as well as prepared foods, all produced within 30 miles.
Downs
A bicyclist died last Monday after losing control of an electric bicycle and striking a tree on Hudson Street, Ithaca Police confirmed.
HEARD SEEN&
Heard
The Visitor Center at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is now open again to the public, following a multimilliondollar redesign that began last fall and focused on interactive exhibits, art and accessibility.
Seen
Cortland County Sheriff Mark Helms has endorsed Republican candidate Mike Sigler for New York State Senate in the 52nd District, which covers all of Cortland and Tompkins Counties and most of Broome County.
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
Do you think making it easier for residents to build Accessory Dwelling Units will have a positive impact on Ithaca’s housing supply?
67 3 % Yes . 29.1% No.
3.6 % I don’t care.
Landlords and Advocates Grapple with Good Cause Eviction Law at Public Hearing
By Maddy Vogel and Dorothy France-Miller
The City of Ithaca held a public hearing on their proposed Good Cause Eviction law, set to be voted on by Common Council on July 10. During the hearing, both advocates and opponents of the law shared their perspectives regarding the law.
The law is intended to increase tenant protections in the city and prevent arbitrary evictions, requiring landlords to provide a legitimate reason — or “good cause” — for evicting or non-renewing tenants. It would prevent landlords from raising rent more than once a year, and also require landlords to cite specific reasons for raising rent when increasing it above 10% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 5% — whichever is lower.
There are several different reasons that qualify as having “good cause” for eviction, including tenant violations of the lease, failure to pay rent and committing or permitting a nuisance — among others.
The state law went into effect on April 20, applying to new and renewed leases in New York City and allowing other cities in the state the choice to opt-in. Albany was the first upstate city to opt-in, with others anticipated to follow suit.
Under New York state guidelines, units in buildings constructed after 2009 are subject to a 30-year moratorium on the law's applicability, meaning they won’t be eligible to be included in the law until 30 years after they were built.
For example, the Ithacan Residences is a prominent 13-story apartment complex located in downtown Ithaca, built by a developer from Long Island. A one-bedroom apartment in the Ithacan costs $2,900 per
month. The apartment complex was built in 2023, meaning that units in the complex will be exempt from the Good Cause Eviction law until the year 2053.
Additionally, Ithaca’s version of the law will not apply to tenants who pay above 345% of fair market rent. According to 2023 data from the City of Ithaca, fair market rent for a one-bedroom is $1,276. This would mean that any apartments above $4,402, which is 345% of fair market rent, would be excluded from the law.
The state law excludes landlords who own less than 10 units from good cause, but the city is expected to limit that number to one, making the law apply to all landlords who don’t meet the other exemption criteria.
The City planning department was unable to provide data on the number of units that the good cause eviction law would apply to and how many units would be exempt ahead of publication.
In the hearing, landlords shared that they think the City limiting the number of units from 10 to one is unfair, while proponents of the law explained that it prevents bigger landlords from creating individual LLC’s for each property they own, making it appear as though they are small landlord.
cludes Good Cause protection,” Pro-Good Cause speaker Angel Devivo said. “It would be impossible to tell who is a small landlord and who isn’t.”
Many landlords present at the hearing believed the one-unit limitation will burden “mom-and-pop landlords” with unnecessary rules and regulations.
“We have vintage properties which are not exempt,” Anita Graf, a local landlord, said. “If you want to ask, will these laws have an economic impact, ask yourself why the new builds are being exempted. Because you don’t want to stop people from building new things because it has an economic impact.”
In contrast, others believed that all rental properties should be regulated equally.
Should more be done to address the issue of increasing Harmful Algae Blooms in Cayuga Lake?
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
Advocates affirmed that regulations including one-to-ten property landlords will increase tenant protections from large out-of-state landlords who use the “LLC loophole” to effectively exempt themselves from Good Cause eviction laws.
“Landlords are encouraged to [register their properties as an LLC] this because it protects them from liability, and that in-
“We’ve heard people complain about the definition of small landlord inside the law as if it has some effect outside the law, but it doesn’t. That’s a distraction,” Veronica Pillar, a Tompkins County legislator for District 2, said. “A person’s right to stay in their home, and to know they have the right to stay in their home, doesn’t depend on how much other property their landlord owns […] those two things shouldn’t be connected.”
Landlords expressed concerns that the law would make evicting tenants more difficult and burdensome, with many claiming that if the law passes, it will encourage local landlords to sell their properties to out-of-state buyers. Landlords also expressed frustrations that if a tenant doesn’t decide whether they want to renew their lease or seek new housing, the landlords will have no way of knowing whether to seek new tenants until the current tenant’s
Members of the Ithaca Tenants Union came to Thursday’s public hearing on good cause eviction, uniting in favor of the proposed law. (Photo: Maddy Vogel)
Landlords came to the public hearing to express frustrations of certain aspects of the law, claiming it will disproportionately affect small landlords. (Photo: Maddy Vogel)
Back to the Playground
Adults Revisit Kickball; This Time with Beer
By Steve Lawrence
In some ways, it was a flashback to the sixth grade playground. In other ways, not so much.
As it has been for the past dozen years during kickball season, the parking lot at the corner of Sandbank Road and Rt. 13 was full, as ten teams took the fields. Reminiscent of that sixth grade playground, the 10” red rubber balls were pumped up and ready, the players were looking to get the right pitch to blast over the fielders’ heads, and there were boys and girls — well, men and women — on each team.
Unlike the sixth grade experience, some of the players swigged beers and took a pull on a cigar while waiting their turn to “bat,” and the team names — like the Ball Busters, the Alcoballics and Balls to the Falls would have landed us in the principal’s office.
I chatted with some of the players as they actually stretched, played catch and did some legit warm-ups. Some wore running shoes, while others sported cleats, determined to give themselves every edge. One player actually wore orange cleats to perfectly match his jersey, but the crisp and consistent color scheme was interrupted by a blue beer can.
One players told me that while Westy’s (an establishment on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. In Ithaca) was the overall league sponsor, the players were tasked with coming up with $65 each for the season. To thank Westy’s, I was told, many of the
BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL BRIDGE PROJECT
and constructed by Economy Paving Inc. The project was funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the City of Ithaca.
The City of Ithaca and Mayor Cantelmo held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completion of the Black Diamond Trail Bridge Project over the Flood Control Channel on Friday, June 28, at 2:30 p.m. at the east end of the bridge, near the intersection of Cherry Street and Cecil A. Malone Drive.
players stop there after games for fluid replenishment.
The Ithaca Kickball League’s summer season is in full swing, running from early June to mid-August, and the fall season will commence on September 8 and run through October 27. Each team has a minimum of 12 players on the roster, nine play at any given time, and there must be three women on the field. There is quite a range of athletic skill — and competitive fire — and while some players are clearly there for a beverage and some companionship, others are there to win.
I recognized one player as a food service worker I see often, and I asked if dealing with the public made her want to kick a ball really hard. “Actually,” said the former high school and college athlete, “now that you mention it, it does feel like an outlet for some pent-up aggression.” She paused and added, “Does that sound horrible?” I assured her that it sounded tongue-in-cheek enough to sound less than horrible, and she went to join her teammates in a pre-game pep rally. As the Let’s Go Kicks prepared to take the field against the Big Scary Monsters, they chanted in unison “Let’s Go Kicks!”
The “field” game features some twists and turns the “playground” game does not see, as the uneven field of play and the tall grass (bordering on a hay field) gave pitchers an advantage. With the right spin and speed, it could be challenging to get any solid contact, and the rain earlier in the day made the “batters’ boxes,” if you will, resemble a slip-and-slide.
Daily trail closures are expected from Aug. 9 through Sept. 20 this summer due to necessary work on a high-voltage power line that runs adjacent to the Black Diamond Trail between the Glenwood Heights Rd and Cass Park sections. According to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, this work is badly needed to ensure reliable power supply to areas in Ithaca, Trumansburg and beyond, including the hospital.
NYS Parks encourages visitors of the trail to stay off the trail and plan alternate routes accordingly if the barricades are up so that they help the work to be done safely and quickly.
Just like in the schoolyard, the defense can make a put-out by catching the ball in the air, throwing it to a teammate before the runner reaches the base (given it’s a force play), or by throwing the ball at the runner. In this league, the rules say that the runner’s head and neck (and face) are off limits when throwing the ball at them.
The game I watched saw the Kicks grab the “W,” and while the Monsters were not so big — or scary — on this day, there’s always next week.
For more info, visit www.ithacakickball. com
Huge news from down the road, as Union-Endicott and Binghamton University grad Emily Mackayfinished 2nd in the 1500m final at the Team USA Olympic Track & Field Trials. Mackay ran in a talent-packed field, and her time of 3:55.90 clinched one of the three spots on Team USA for the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics.
The Ithaca Kickball League sees ten teams take the fields on Sundays. (Photo: Provided)
If You Build It, Will Business Come? Ithaca
Opens Nation’s First Fully
Electric Conference Center
By Matt Dougherty
After nearly eight years in the making, Ithaca is finally ready to welcome a landmark in sustainable infrastructure with the opening of its new fully electric conference center. The state-of-theart facility, located on Green Street, will have a soft opening on July 1, marking the completion of a project that has been in the works since 2016.
The Ithaca Conference Center is the first of its kind in the United States, entirely powered by electricity with no reliance on fossil fuels. This groundbreaking achievement aligns with Ithaca’s Green New Deal, which aims to significantly reduce the city’s carbon footprint by 2030.
The project has cost between $35 million and $40 million, making it a significant investment in the city’s future. According to the Executive Director of the Downtown Ithaca Local Development Corporation, Suzanne Smith Joblonski, a 5% City hotel room occupancy tax has been the primary source of funding for the Center.
“We are incredibly proud to introduce this fully electric conference center,” said Kathy Taylor, Director of Sales. “It’s a testament to Ithaca’s commitment to sustain-
ability and innovation. This center will serve as a model for future developments nationwide.”
Construction of the conference center began three years ago, and the pandemic delayed it, presenting numerous challenges for developers to overcome.
For example, since conversations about the conference center began, local officials and community members have voiced concerns about whether it was a wise investment. When the pandemic hit, those concerns grew as conferences moved from in-person meetings to online options.
However, supporters of the conference center have said that it’s a good investment because it will bring new foot traffic to downtown, which will increase revenue and economic activity at local businesses.
The building, managed by ASM Global, spans three floors and includes flexible meeting spaces designed to accommodate a range of events. ASM Global operates more than 300 arenas, stadiums, convention centers, and performing arts venues across five continents.
Asteri Ithaca is located on the remaining floors above the conference. It will be managed by the Vecino group—which also manages the Ithaca Arthaus—and will provide 181 units of affordable housing for people making between 50% and 80% of the area median income (AMI). Additionally, 40 units included in the Asteri project have been set aside for permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals.
The fully electric design was not without its hurdles. “No one has done this before,” said Taryn Moore, Executive Director. “We faced several stumbling blocks, but our team’s dedication and the support from the city made it possible. Now, we have a facility that truly embodies the principles of sustainable development.’
At the heart of the conference center’s sustainable features is its fully electric kitchen, the first in the country for a conference venue. This kitchen is designed to operate without using any fossil fuels, aligning it with the goals of the Ithaca Green New Deal, which aims to achieve a carbon-neutral city and electrify all of Ithaca’s 6,000 buildings by 2030.
Electrifying the conference center was made possible as a result of $2 million in federal funding that was announced by U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer in March of 2022.
In addition to it being the first fully electric conference center in the nation, Moore said that 30% of the kitchen’s menu will consist of plant-based foods by 2025, further enhancing its eco-friendly credentials. The kitchen’s development has already drawn interest from institutions such as Cornell University, which has shown interest in learning from its design.
In addition to the kitchen, the center features energy-efficient lighting systems that adjust based on occupancy, water bottle refill stations to reduce single-use plastic waste, and windows with special glazing to help regulate indoor temperatures and take pressure off the building’s HVAC system.
The center’s café, Green on the Go, will also source approximately 25% of its products from local vendors, supporting local
Kathy Taylor, Director of Sales, and Taryn Moore, Executive Director, discuss the center ’ s partnerships with local businesses and its commitment to aligning the conference center with the goals of the Ithaca Green New Deal. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
The state-of-the-art, fully electric kitchen at Ithaca’ s conference center, set to be 30% plant-based by 2025, represents a groundbreaking achievement in sustainable catering. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
businesses and reducing food waste by repurposing event leftovers.
“We’re decreasing food waste by utilizing ingredients and any overage from events to repurpose into grab-and-go items,” Taylor explained. “It’s a practical way to reduce waste and support sustainability.”
Despite concerns about businesses moving away from in-person meetings as a result of a shift towards remote work that took place during the pandemic, the conference center is expected to be a significant asset to the Ithaca community, offering a versatile space for a variety of events. From corporate meetings and public hearings to nonprofit board meetings and community gatherings, the center is designed to cater to diverse needs.
“We want as many people as possible to utilize this space,” Moore said. “Our flexible pricing structures are designed to accommodate different budgets, making it accessible for a wide range of clients.”
Already, the conference center has a busy schedule lined up for the summer, with 12 to 15 events booked through August. These events range from multi-day conferences to one-day meetings and public hearings. The first official event is scheduled for July 18.
“We have a number of events signed, and daily we receive inquiries for various types of gatherings,” said Moore. “The community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive.”
The conference center offers several adaptable meeting spaces, including the Junior Ballroom, which can host up to 240 people, and the Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 600 guests. These
spaces can be divided into smaller rooms, offering flexibility for different event formats. Each room is equipped with advanced audiovisual capabilities, including rigging points for more elaborate setups.
“Our facility is designed to be versatile,” said Moore. “Whether it’s a large conference or a small board meeting, we have the space and the technology to accommodate a wide range of events.”
The center’s strategic location next to the renovated Green Street parking garage enhances accessibility for visitors. The garage, which has been expanded and improved, is shared with nearby businesses, including the Marriott Hotel and Cinemapolis, providing ample parking options.
“The location is ideal for both local and out-of-town visitors,” Taylor noted. “With improved parking facilities and close proximity to other businesses, it’s a convenient choice for event planners.”
The new conference center is also expected to create between 40 to 60 jobs, contributing to the local economy. These positions will range from event coordinators to kitchen staff, reflecting the comprehensive services offered by the facility.
“We are excited about the job opportunities this center will bring,” said Taylor. “It’s not just about the events; it’s also about supporting our local community through employment and economic activity.”
The Ithaca Conference Centers innovative design and commitment to environmental responsibility set new standards for development in Ithaca. As the City continues to push the envelope in sustainability, the conference center stands as a reminder of what can be achieved through dedicated
planning and community collaboration.
The center is poised to become a hub for both local and national events. The soft opening on July 1, followed by an open
house on July 15, will allow the public to explore this groundbreaking facility and see firsthand the future of sustainable conference hosting.
The new Ithaca Conference Center, expected to create between 40 to 60 jobs, promises to boost the local economy while providing a versatile space for community and corporate events. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
The Grand Ballroom at Ithaca’ s new fully electric conference center, capable of hosting up to 600 guests, showcases its elegant design and advanced technology. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
The Ithaca Conference Center is set to host a variety of events this summer, including multi-day conferences and public hearings, with the first official event scheduled for July 18 by Express Employment Professionals. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
BusinessTimes
REI Union Demands Company Settle Contract with Every Unionized Location by End of Year
By Matt Dougherty
During the grand opening weekend of the new REI Co-op store in Ithaca, a rally took place outside the storefront calling for REI to respect workers’ rights to unionize and settle a contract with all ten unionized REI locations by the end of the year.
The rally, organized by REI workers and supported by local elected officials and community members, underscored Ithaca’s reputation as a strong union town. Unionization efforts at REI began during a nationwide wave of union organizing that started during the pandemic at companies like Starbucks, Amazon and Trader Joe’s.
“Ithaca is a union town, New York is a union state, and workers will continue to struggle for a fair contract at every union shop,” said Steve Buckley, Senior Sales Specialist at REI SoHo. REI employees, particularly from the SoHo location in New York City — the first to unionize — have been vocal about their desire for a union to secure better working conditions.
Workers from various REI locations have accused the company of hiring antiunion attorneys and engaging in unfair labor practices, with 47 charges currently filed against REI at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB is investigating these charges, which include allegations of bad faith bargaining, retaliatory practices such as reducing hours and altering work schedules, and disciplinary
actions against employees involved in union activities.
Buckley emphasized the need for guaranteed minimum hours and consistent scheduling. “Even as a full-time worker, you have zero hours guarantees at REI, even though they demand that you be available to work seven days a week whenever they say you should work,” said Buckley. “Does that sound like the kind of place you want to have in Ithaca?”
Buckley also detailed the aggressive tactics used by REI to counter unionization efforts, including targeted termina-
tions and harassment. “As the first store to unionize, we saw some of the most aggressive and consistent union-busting tactics,” Buckley said. “We have faced two years of targeted terminations, discipline, hours cuts of union leaders, ongoing harassment from our managers, and threats that we will lose our health insurance.”
The rally drew support from local organizers and politicians, including former Fourth Ward Alderperson Jorge Defendini, who said, “Workers are asking for guaranteed minimum hours so they can have a reliable paycheck, more consistent scheduling with
more advanced notice so they can plan their lives…These aren’t radical demands of a worker Co-Op folks. It's the bare minimum.”
Defendini spoke about how working without the support of a union in a society that has normalized at-will employment can cause fear and anxiety among workers asking for better working conditions. He recounted Ithaca’s history with union efforts, saying, “When a new chain comes in with a union-busting reputation, it raises an alarm… We will not tolerate another Starbucks in our city.”
In April 2022, Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) successfully unionized every Starbucks location in Ithaca as part of its nationwide unionization effort. In response, Starbucks retaliated by firing several organizers and permanently closing every unionized storefront in the City. Starbucks workers have unionized under SBWU at more than 300 locations nationwide, but the corporation has still not settled a contract with any of the unionized locations. Similarly, despite over two years of organizing and ten stores voting to form a union at REI, the company has still not settled a contract with a single unionized location. REI’s official stance has been to support workers’ rights while maintaining that unions are unnecessary. However, this stance has been criticized as contradictory because it undermines workers’ ability to make their own decisions.
First-ward Alderperson Kayla Matos echoed these pro-union sentiments,
Supporters gather outside the new REl Co-op store in Ithaca, NY, during its opening weekend, demanding fair treatment and the right for workers to unionize. (Photo: Matt Dougherty)
tions for Ithacans. [But] when a new chain comes in with a union-busting reputation, it raises an alarm.”
Alderperson Phoebe Brown, who represents the First Ward alongside Matos, highlighted the contradiction of REI calling itself a Co-Op while engaging in antiunion activity. “When I pulled up here, what was most misleading for me was to see this big word Co-Op. Because when we think about Co-Op, we think about doing something really good together for the people, but when I read the history of what they are doing to people, it makes you say that’s unfair.” She added, “We need to let our neighbors and community know that everything that says Co-Op isn’t always a Co-Op.”
Cornell School of International Labor Relations (ILR) Professor Iris Ackman compared REI’s alleged actions to its public commitments. “REI is committed to sustainability but hasn’t applied that concept internally,” Ackman said. “Reducing employees’ hours below full-time so they don’t qualify for benefits and relying on a part-time workforce instead of ensuring that employees earn a living wage — that’s not a sustainable practice.”
table are basic things REI used to do before they decided not to during COVID.”
Buckley continued, “We used to have guaranteed minimum hours, and [REI] was profitable. We used to have stable, predictable schedules, and [REI] was profitable.” He added, “These things are not in conflict. Having that stability allows REI to have the skilled and dedicated employees it needs to serve our members and guests.”
emphasizing the need for REI to respect fair election principles. “I hope REI will treat its workers with the utmost dignity, whether they form a union or not. If they’re committed to that, they should go ahead and agree with the fair election principles now,” Matos said.
She continued, “When a new business comes to my ward, I want to be excited about the new jobs, tax revenue, and op-
Brown reminded the crowd of the community’s commitment to workers’ rights, saying, “We need to keep our eye on REI. You have to do right by the workers.”
Brown also voiced concerns about representation within the company. “I don’t see any Black management out here. I don’t see any Black workers, and that’s very important to me,” she said. “We’re out here today for union busting, but we’ll be back to make sure REI hires people that represent this community.”
DO RESIDENTS SAY ABOUT
- Mary
Ackman also challenged REI’s claims of supporting the community. “If you’re making only $18,000 a year, you’re not buying a $2,000 mountain bike, and you’re not spending a week’s wages on a tent to go camping and enjoy the outdoors,” she noted. “You’re deciding which bills to pay this month and working a second or third job.”
The rally was a call for better wages and hours and for the company to embody its cooperative values genuinely. “We want REI to settle a fair contract with all ten unionized locations by the end of the year,” Buckley said. “We want a fair and neutral process from REI.”
Regarding union demands for guaranteed minimum hours and stable predictable schedules, Buckley said, “Many of the things we’re demanding at the bargaining
As the NLRB continues to investigate the 47 complaints filed against REI, recent news regarding the Supreme Court’s overruling of Chevron Deference could significantly impact the NLRB’s ability to hold REI accountable for unfair labor practices.
Chevron deference is a legal doctrine that requires courts to defer to a federal agency's reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous statute.
Overturning this doctrine effectively shifts the responsibility of interpreting ambiguous statutes from experts in federal agencies to the courts, which strips these agencies, like the NLRB, EPA, and FCC, of massive amounts of regulatory authority.
Despite these concerns, Saturday’s rally made it clear that Ithaca and its leaders stand firmly behind REI workers in their fight for union rights.
Flower Prerolls Vapes Concentrate Edibles Tinctures
Harmful Algal Blooms Strike Early
By Kira Walter
Suspicious blooms from Seneca County reported on June 3rd to the Cayuga Lake HABs hotline.
With record-high temperatures earlier this month, the health of Cayuga Lake is back in the spotlight. Three harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been reported from the shoreline since June began and continuous hot weather promises more for the summer.
After HABs were first reported on the lake in 2014, they have become central to the conversation around protecting water quality in the Finger Lakes. HABs are caused by excessive cyanobacteria growth that results from multiple stressors on Cayuga’s ecosystem. These include excess phosphorus pollution, the presence of invasive dreissenid mussels (Zebra and Quagga mussels), and rising water temperatures due to climate change.
Some species of cyanobacteria produce toxins that accumulate during a bloom event and threaten the health of other organisms that come into contact with them. Following a warmer-than-normal spring, the early HAB sightings were not unexpected. Nonetheless, they prompted crucial discussion around the HABs monitoring season, including when lab analysis of samples should begin.
“The official HABs monitoring season doesn’t start until July,” Dr. Grascen Shidemantle told the Times. Shidemantle is the Executive Director of the Community Science Institute, a local nonprofit organization with an E.L.A.P certified laboratory that leads the Cayuga Lake HABs Monitoring Program.
On June 3 and 12, C.S.I. volunteers reported two blooms at the north end of the lake near Seneca Falls. On June 16, another bloom was discovered just south of the Ithaca Yacht Club. Because these reports occurred before official monitoring, samples were not collected. Still, they appear as “suspicious blooms” on C.S.I’s publically accessible online HABs database.
According to a June 24 press release by Tompkins County Whole Health, cyanobacteria takes on a bright green color. HABs have a paint-like appearance, materializing in “blue-green oily swirls, parallel green streaks, or floating mats.”
TCWH advises residents to keep a fair distance from potential HABs and look for them throughout neighboring bodies of water.
“Avoid contact with the water if it appears discolored or has an unpleasant odor. Do not allow pets to swim in water where suspicious cyanobacteria blooms are present. Hot weather and intense rain and runoff events can lead to an increase in the presence of HABs,” the press release warned.
If contact does occur with a suspicious bloom, Tompkins residents are instructed to rinse quickly and thoroughly. They should seek immediate medical attention if they experience “vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, skin, eye or throat irritation, allergic reactions or breathing difficulties.”
Homeowners with private ponds should be wary of blooms as they can grow in smaller areas as well. The Tomkins County Soil & Water Conservation District can offer guidance on handling HABs. Calling C.S.I. is also in the best interest of a HABs witness.
While nothing has been spotted since, staff and community scientists are prepared for the next blooms outbreak. With one of the most comprehensive HABs monitoring and testing programs in the state, all eyes are on Cayuga. And C.S.I. is taking new scientific measures to address blooms in the coming months.
“Despite our disappointment that HABs have popped up in June this year, we do have two things that we’re quite excited about in 2024,” Shidemantle said. “We’re going to be investigating HAB clumps more closely.”
Clump or benthic cyanobacteria was discovered at Cayuga Inlet during the 2022 and 2023 bloom seasons. After studying samples, C.S.I. has started training members of their HABs Monitoring Program to identify and collect these specimens. Over 90 volunteers for this initiative are “HABs Harriers,” responsible for hunting down local blooms and packaging them for scientific inquiry.
Shidemantle and her colleagues are ecstatic about increasing surveillance involvement. They also look forward to pioneering laboratory work.
“We will be collaborating with the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center to find a screening tool for microcystin toxin,” she said.
Advanced testing and screening procedures are unique to Ithaca’s watershed. While other protection agencies in the Finger Lakes region rely solely on photo monitoring, C.S.I. has established pristine methods for observing blooms more closely. With coordinated “HABs Carrier” volunteers that transport samples to the institute’s state-certified testing lab, scientists can measure the concentration of the cyanotoxin microcystin with each new bloom. The composition of blooms is assessed for trends so that the severity of different HABs is understood.
In addition to running these volunteer programs, C.S.I. also works in tandem with Cayuga Lake Watershed Network (CLWN) and Discover Cayuga Lake. Both non-profit organizations help lead HABs education and outreach for communities around Cayuga Lake.
CLWN runs a weekly newsletter that updates concerned citizens on recent algal blooms and informs them on how to handle HABs if spotted. The Network also publishes pamphlets and helpful information on how to live “lake friendly,” reducing negative impacts homeowners may inadvertently have on water quality.
Looking back at the partnership between these organizations, CLWN Executive Director Liz Kretinger was proud of the partnership’s effect.
“Together, our organizations have been providing trusted science-based water quality monitoring, education, and stewardship programs for 25 years,” she said.
Meanwhile, Discover Cayuga Lake offers learning opportunities to learn about the Lake’s ecosystem via their boat, the
MV Teal. A public lake monitoring cruise leaves from the Ithaca Farmers Market on Sundays at 2 p.m. DCL also runs “The Floating Classroom,” a water science course that allows students to explore the microscopic organisms native to our the while on board.
Regarding HABs, Executive Director Bill Foster expressed some of DCL’s teaching objectives.
“We want to put across the idea that there is not a simple solution,” he said. “We want to encourage as many people to be talking about it as possible.”
Entering the HABs season, watershed organizations are putting more emphasis on having conversations about cyanobacteria.
Fayette Town Supervisor Jeff Trout brings a broader perspective to the occurrence of HABs happening in freshwater regions. As his town falls between Seneca and Cayuga, his responsibility extends to both watersheds. Over time, he’s identified sensitivities unique to this lake.
“Because Seneca Lake is deeper and colder, it doesn’t have the HABs issue that Cayuga Lake does,” Trout told the Times. Shallow warm waters at the north end of the have already been invaded by HABs this month. Blooms are causing closures, threatening tourism, and contaminating Cayuga before swimmers even hit the water. So, what should citizens do to keep cyanobacteria away?
“The best thing you can do is volunteer,” Shidemantle says. “We’re always looking for more harriers to monitor the shoreline and more carriers to help get samples to our lab.”
Suspicious blooms from Seneca County reported on June 3rd to the Cayuga Lake HABs hotline.
Arts & Entertainment Lighting Up the Night Sky: This Year’s July 4th Fireworks Round-Up
By Kira Walter
As weekend plans get patriotic around the Finger Lakes, America’s flag isn’t the only thing gracing the skies. A plethora of different groups around Ithaca are planning fireworks displays for the July 4th season.
Heading further and further from the pandemic, outdoor fireworks productions are annually revitalized. In 2024, Ithacans can expect the American tradition to be back in full bloom.
One of the most popular fireworks shows in the Southern Cayuga region is held by the Inn At Taughannock Falls. Since the current ownership team purchased the property in 2015, fireworks have been launched here for almost a decade. At its Gilded Age property with waterfront views, the luxury venue hosts a yearly Independence Day Party with a multicourse buffet and live music.
Events Director Stephenie Monroe expressed how special July 4th festivities are to the Inn At Taughannock team and how they improve community outreach.
“The Fireworks show is a great opportunity for us to remind the local area that this magnificent estate is open to the public. Any day of the week, folks can come and sit in the Enchantment Garden outside or on the deck and enjoy a drink at the bar,” she said.
Though tickets are sold out, the hotel will commence with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, July 5th. They can be viewed from Taughannock Falls State Park and all along the lake’s shoreline.
Another favorite fireworks display in Tompkins County occurs at the Groton Elementary
School. A half an hour drive from Ithaca city’s center, the Groton Fire Department has orchestrated July Fourth celebrations for several consecutive years. This upcoming Friday, fireworks fans can enjoy the return of food trucks and a DJ for one night only on the school field.
Fireworks will begin at dusk, roughly around 9 p.m., but entertainment will be available beforehand. All are welcome to the open event graciously coordinated between the school district and volunteer firefighters.
A quick trip in the opposite direction, fireworks will also explode over Candor on July 5th, with several other thrilling activities. 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of this Independence Day tradition. Each year, there is a July 4th parade and a series of outdoor games that Candor residents partake in with pride.
The Youth Explosives Corporation will decorate the sky with fireworks at sundown while bands Gary Jennings, Flashback and Burn The Boats will perform until 9 p.m. These events will be followed by an open car show on Saturday the 6th and a horse pull on Sunday the 7th. As Wheelock Amusements has gone out of business, Candor plans are slightly different than usual, but a resilient celebration committee still preserves the town’s customs.
Though fireworks are not always close to home, cruises are a local staple that makes shows more accessible. Both Discover Cayuga Lake and Ithaca Boat Tours take passengers out onto the water every Independence Day for a better view of the celebrations. Aboard the MV Teal, DCL is hosting sunset cruises on
July 5th and 6th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
On July 4th and 5th, Ithaca Boat Tours offers a similar experience with three-hour narrated trips around the lake. Departing from 708 West Buffalo Street, the company delivers guests directly to a front seat on Cayuga starting at 8:00 p.m.
Ithaca Boat Tours manager David Openshaw is particularly enthusiastic about fireworks for 2024 as displays rebound since the pandemic.
“This is the first season where tourism is feeling back to normal,” he told the Times. Born and raised in Ithaca, he’s watched the fireworks scene evolve over time. This year, he is optimistic about reviving a Finger Lakes tradition called the Ring Of Fire. It involves dedicated waterfront residents privately lighting flares on the shore so the lake’s edge glows red.
“I can remember the Ring of Fire happening since the 80’s,” Openshaw recalled. “Everyone, right at dusk, would light flares on shore. So by 8:45 or 9 o’clock, you could see hundreds and hundreds of flares along the lake perimeter.”
Since the pandemic, this ritual isn’t the only American festivities that’s “lost steam.” Fireworks at Myers and Stewart Park have been canceled again this season, with Ithaca Rotary Club unsure about the financial ability to return displays.
Nonetheless, fireworks transitions in a changing time keep fans like Openshaw hopeful. Even if July 4th is not back to its pre-pandemic glory, an increasing trend in fireworks promises a fuller night sky in years to come.
Fireworks light up the sky over Cayuga Lake, offering a dazzling display visible from the shores during the Inn at Taughannock Falls’ annual Independence Day celebration.
Crowds will gather at Groton Elementary School for an evening of food, music, and fireworks, as the Groton Fire Department continues its beloved July 4th tradition with a spectacular show at dusk.
Timeless Dining at the Antlers Restaurant
By Henry Stark
Ihave frequented the Antlers restaurant for over 40 years, stretching back to its original opening as The Stables. It has occupied the same footprint on Route 366 the entire time.
The atmosphere is on the rustic side with forest green painted wood walls and a working fieldstone fireplace which, in winter, adds to the warm feeling throughout.
My impression of the food served during this period is that there haven’t been a lot of changes, which is probably because of very few management changes. In fact, other than expected price rises over the years, the change I notice the most is the name on a single dessert, probably to be politically more correct, from Indian Pudding to New England Pudding. There is, however, a major change in the way management markets the restaurant. They used to place discount coupons in a local paper and if I didn’t read that paper, on the appropriate day, I always felt I was paying too much. Now, they have a different marketing scheme which I much prefer: they offer a different special on each night of the week. For example, everyone who would like an Angus beef steak, and who comes on Monday evening, will get a $5 discount off the menu price. I just had a roasted half duck for $30 instead of the $35 menu price on a Tuesday evening. Wednesday, there’s a nice size portion of Prime Rib. Thursday is the chef’s special choice of a three-course pairing for a special price. Friday is BBQ, Saturday is a beef flight, Sunday, at brunch we all can have two for the price of one Bloody Mary’s or Mimosas. (I just learned that they’ve discontinued the Thursday
LANDLORDS AND ADVOCATES GRAPPLE
continued from page 6
lease expires or they decide to renew.
“We wouldn’t have the time or finances to bear the burden of proof that will be required of us in court when we don’t want to renew a tenant,” Local Landlord Grace Petrisin said. “It would be my responsibility to
chef’s three course special, at least for the summer, and will substitute a seafood entrée “special”.) The most recent “special” was a scallop dish for $35 which was similar to the only scallop dish on the menu which also happens to be $35.
The meal commences with a serving of a warm roll and a ramekin of house made citrus butter.
The Santa Barbara Salad, ($8/$16), includes cold mixed greens, tossed with maple pecans, slices of apples, and crumbled Gorgonzola dressed with a maple walnut vinaigrette dressing. It reminds me of Waldorf salads I’ve enjoyed elsewhere. There’s also a simple Caesar salad at the same price.
Among the Antlers Classics, I’ve enjoyed Chicken Marsala, ($29), a panseared chicken breast with mushrooms, garlic, shallots, and a Marsala wine pan sauce. Chicken breasts, in restaurants, are often dry…this one wasn’t. The roast duckling comes with a house made thick Marsala stuffing topped with a light cherry glaze. Baby back ribs, and brisket bourguignon are in this same section of the menu.
There are a half dozen steaks, made from angus beef, on offer ($39-$79). Recently I ordered a Big Mike ($19) which is an angus beef burger. There was a large beef patty, a slice of tomato, bacon strips, and some lettuce. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the French-fried onions, or the blue cheese listed on the menu so, to be absolutely fair, I took most of it with me to examine it at home. There were no onions or cheese. It was a good angus burger even though it lacked some of the items on the menu.
I like crab cakes however the only ones on the menu are served as an appetizer, Baltimore-Style. ($14). There were two and
take the tenant to court to prove that they stopped paying rent, or were a nuisance to other tenants in the building, or one of the other allowed reasons for renewal.”
As landlords push for Common Council to delay their vote, advocates encourage the Common Council to pass the law before most of Ithaca tenants’ leases expire on July 31 — in line with the academic year timeline that accommodates the large student population.
Antlers restaurant, a Route 366 staple for over 40 years, retains its rustic charm and timeless appeal, serving consistently delicious food.
they were delicious, with a toasty, crunchy exterior and served with some house made chutney. (I learned something which you might find helpful: If you want to make a meal out of crab cakes, ask your server for “the crab cake entrée.” You can get a third cake, the vegetable of the day and a starch for $24. Some of the servers don’t know about this but the bartenders do.)
For dessert I like the New England pudding, ($9.50). It’s the same rather unique combination of corn meal, molasses, ginger, and cinnamon served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that I enjoyed 40 years ago.
Beverages: The wine menu is impeccable. It has all the appropriate grape variet-
ies, and then some, as well as countries of origin and vintages. The by-the-bottle selection, ($34-$120), is much more extensive than by the glass, ($9-$15). Beer drinkers will have no problem finding a routine, or an interesting, offering, ($5-$8), in bottles, cans, or draft and there are a dozen “house cocktails”, ($11-$13). Mocktails and nonalcoholic options are also available.
I think the Antlers is popular because diners can rely on consistently well-prepared fare, attractively served, at fair prices. I have also noticed there is a singular lack of strong seasonings in all the dishes which might come from a desire to please everyone and offend no one. If I’m correct, it’s definitely working.
