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By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — For the eighth time, Ithaca has come up short in its bid for New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant, as officials announced that Binghamton was selected as this year’s recipient for the Southern Tier region.
However, Tompkins County will still see state investment, as the Town of Dryden was awarded a $4.5 million grant through the New York Forward program, a smaller-scale initiative aimed at revitalizing smaller communities.
The DRI grant, launched in 2016 by former Governor Andrew Cuomo, provides $10 million to one municipality in each of New York’s 10 designated economic regions to support downtown revitalization projects.
Ithaca has applied nearly every year since the program began but has never been selected as the winner. This year’s application focused on the West End and West State Street Corridor, aligning with the city’s recently completed downtown neighborhood plan.
Despite efforts to strengthen the application — including hiring a grant writing consultant for $40,000 — state officials once again bypassed Ithaca, instead select-
The City of Ithaca has once again been passed over for New York State’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant, with Binghamton selected as the Southern Tier’s 2024 recipient. However, the Town of Dryden secured a $4.5 million New York Forward grant to support its downtown revitalization efforts.
ing Binghamton, which will use the funding to enhance its downtown economic development and infrastructure.
Mayor Robert Cantelmo previously expressed optimism that shifting the focus away from the Commons and toward the West End would improve Ithaca’s chances. However, past feedback from grant reviewers has suggested that Ithaca’s continued economic activity and support from Cornell University have made it a lower
priority compared to other applicants. While Ithaca’s application was unsuccessful, Tompkins County still secured state investment through the New York Forward program, which provides smaller grants to villages and towns looking to boost their downtown districts. The Town of Dryden was awarded $4.5 million, which will be used for projects aimed at
Continued on Page 15
X Free Tax Program at Tompkins County Public Library, Help Paying Taxes Before April 15
ITHACA N.Y. — As the tax filing deadline of April 15 nears, the free tax preparation service at Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL) continues to provide critical assistance to residents of Tompkins and Cortland counties.
The program, which began on February 4, is offered in partnership with Cornell University and the Human Services Coalition, helping lowand moderate-income individuals navigate tax season with confidence.
The initiative, facilitated by IRS-certified volunteers from the Tompkins Area Volunteer Income Assistance Program (VITA), has already helped hundreds of local taxpayers file their federal and state returns. The service is available to individuals earning $65,000 or less in tax year 2024, with appointments held inside the TCPL Digital Lab.
Leslie Tabor, TCPL director, emphasized the library’s commitment to making tax season less stressful for community members.
“Our partnership with VITA and Cornell University for tax preparation is an important part of services the library offers to the community,” Tabor said. “We are happy to be able to continue this essential program that helps ensure people have qualified help for what can be a daunting task.”
Appointments are available through April 15 on Tuesdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with select Tuesday sessions extending until 7 p.m. Friday sessions run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and tax preparers are also available on select Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The full schedule is available on the TCPL website.
Those interested in scheduling an appointment must call 2-1-1, or 1-877-211-8667 if
they are outside Tompkins County. No walk-ins are accepted, and there are no appointments available during Cornell University’s spring break from March 29 to April 6.
In addition to in-person tax preparation, TCPL provides free tax forms at the central service desk at 101 East Green St. in downtown Ithaca.
For those who earn more than $65,000 but less than $87,000 annually, Tompkins Area VITA offers additional tax preparation services outside the TCPL program. More information, including a list of required documents for appointments, is available at ithacafreetax.org.
With just over a month remaining in tax season, local residents who need assistance are urged to schedule an appointment soon to take advantage of the free service before the filing deadline.
F r EE lan CE rs : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Jane Dieckmann, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, and Arthur Whitman
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Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca
(1972–1978) and The
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
“IF YOU WERE GOING TO DESIGN A FLAG FOR THE CITY OF ITHACA, WHAT WOULD YOU PUT ON IT?”
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca Common Council took significant steps toward crafting an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) policy during a meeting on February 19, as members debated about whether or not property owners should be required to live on-site and whether ADUs could be used as short-term rentals.
Deputy Director of Planning Megan Wilson outlined the framework of the proposed ordinance and addressed some misconceptions about its intent. The policy aims to expand Ithaca’s housing options by allowing small, secondary housing units on residential lots, a model that has been implemented in other communities across New York State.
Wilson emphasized that the ADU ordinance is designed to encourage modest infill development while maintaining neighborhood character. “This legislation is about providing more flexibility for property owners while ensuring that new units fit within the scale of existing residential areas,” she said.
The ordinance would allow attached and detached ADUs in certain zoning districts, including R-1, R-2, and R-3, as well as select commercial and mixed-use zones.
According to the proposed size restrictions detached ADUs can have a maximum footprint of 600 square feet.
Attached ADUs can have a maximum footprint of up to 40% of the primary structure’s size, and the height limit is 20 feet.
Wilson also addressed concerns that ADUs could lead to increased density beyond what neighborhoods can handle. “There’s been some confusion between ADUs and second primary dwellings…An ADU is a smaller unit, it’s not a full second house or apartment building. The ordinance would not allow multiple duplexes on a single property, which is a separate zoning issue.”
Another provision includes setback requirements to maintain space between structures. Based on public feedback, the city is proposing a five-foot side setback for new ADUs, an increase from the original four feet, aligning with New York State fire code standards.
Mayor Robert Cantelmo said the ADU policy is a critical tool to address Ithaca’s housing shortage, which has placed significant pressure on both renters and
homeowners.
“This is one piece of a larger housing strategy,” Cantelmo said. “It won’t solve our affordability crisis overnight, but it will provide additional housing choices for residents, allow families to create multigenerational living arrangements, and help homeowners generate income by renting out an ADU if they choose to.”
Cantelmo also highlighted that ADUs could help older residents age in place by giving them the option to downsize while remaining on their property.
“This is about adaptability,” he added. “We want to give people the ability to modify their homes to fit their needs while ensuring that new development remains in character with the surrounding neighborhoods.”
Alderperson Margaret Fabrizio emphasized the importance of ADUs for seniors and those looking to downsize, stating, “I think it’s really important that people have this as an opportunity to try to help cover the cost of their taxes, which, as we all know, is extraordinary.”
One of the most debated provisions of the ordinance was whether ADUs should be restricted to owner-occupied properties.
Third Ward Alderperson David Shapiro, who represents South Hill and Bell Sherman, raised concerns that removing the owner-occupancy requirement could lead to speculative development, increasing the number of student rentals and absentee landlords in residential neighborhoods.
“We want to make sure this policy benefits the people who actually live in our community,” said Shapiro. “Without an owner-occupancy requirement, we could see investors buying up properties, adding ADUs, and essentially turning single-family neighborhoods into rental hubs.”
However, other council members and city staff argued that requiring owner-occupancy would significantly limit ADU development. Wilson pointed to research showing that municipalities with owner-occupancy requirements have seen far fewer ADUs built than those without such restrictions.
“It’s an extra hurdle that makes financing and resale more complicated,” Wilson said. “In cities where these requirements were relaxed, ADU construction dramatically increased.”
Mayor Cantelmo echoed that concern, saying, “It be fair to say that if we went with
an owner occupancy requirement, that would be tantamount to not legalizing ADUs.”
In a straw poll, a majority of council members indicated support for allowing ADUs on non-owner-occupied properties, though this will be revisited in future discussions.
The council also deliberated whether ADUs should be permitted as short-term rentals (STRs). Under Ithaca’s existing STR regulations, only owner-occupied properties can operate short-term rentals, a policy that would extend to ADUs.
Wilson noted that survey data showed broad public support for allowing ADUs to be used as STRs, provided they were part of an owner-occupied property. A straw poll of the council reflected this sentiment, with overwhelming support for maintaining the owner-occupancy requirement for STR use.
While advocates of ADU’s say they can be part of the overall solution to the housing crisis, it’s unlikely that ADU’s will significantly increase the supply of affordable housing. Alderperson Patrick Kuhel said the estimated $250,000 cost to build an ADU would likely result in rents between $2,500 to $5,000 per month.
“I’m still not convinced that this is going to change housing stock that much at all — with or without owner occupancy requirements,” Kuhel said. “I think it’s great that we’re doing this and allowing more flexibility, but I don't want to suggest that this is going to drastically increase housing stock to the point where it’s going to drastically reduce rents.”
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — The living wage for a single adult in Tompkins County has surged to $24.82 per hour, a 34.5% increase from the 2023 figure of $18.45, according to the latest Tompkins County Living Wage Study conducted by Cornell University’s Ithaca and Buffalo Co-Labs.
While the minimum wage for upstate New York rose from $14.20 to $15.50 over the same period — a 9.2% increase — the study indicates that this rate still falls $9.32 short of what a full-time worker needs to afford basic necessities.
For Amber Gerrity, who has worked as a cook at Cornell’s Risley Dining Hall for 11 years, the increased living wage highlights the struggles of full-time workers who still cannot afford basic necessities.
Gerrity is a member of the UAW Local 2300 union that went on strike at Cornell University last summer to fight for better wages and working conditions. While the union won some wage increases, many lower tier workers will still be earning less than the living wage given the increase to $24.82.
“I’ve been working my whole life, I went to culinary school, and it took me 20 years to pay off my student loans,” Gerrity said. Despite her hard work, she said that meeting monthly expenses remains challenging.
“I do my best not to let my seven-year-old son see the difficulties. I try to explain to him that we work hard for our money, and it should be enough to cover our home, child care, and food,” Gerrity said. She added that she makes “just a little too much” to qualify for assistance programs, “so I fall into this gap where I struggle to get by every month.”
This highlights an issue known as the “benefits cliff,” which occurs when a worker's wage increases to the point where they no longer qualify for means-tested public assistance programs but continue to struggle to keep up with the costs of living.
Past research conducted by Cornell’s ILR co-Lab found that benefits cliffs impact roughly 2-4% of families who have a wage earner whose wages are brought up by a minimum wage increase. The research suggested that larger, more rapid wage increases could mitigate the impact of benefits cliffs. “The more rapid the minimum wage increase, the lower the percentage of workers affected by benefits
The City of Ithaca was awarded LEED for Cities Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, demonstrating a measurable achievement of community-wide sustainability across a variety of focus areas. This certification is proof of the hard work and leadership happening under the Ithaca Green New Deal that is creating a culture of sustainability and raising the standard of living within the city.
The Applebee’s Grill & Bar in Ithaca’s northeast will close on May 19, with staff informed that rising rent costs made the location unprofitable.
cliffs,” said Ian Greer, Director of Cornell’s ILR co-Lab. “If you’re making higher wages, at some point those higher wages compensate for the loss of benefits.”
The study calculates the living wage using a basic needs budget that includes nine spending categories, including rent, food, transportation, healthcare, and taxes. According to the study, housing remains the most significant expense, with the HUD Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Tompkins County reaching $1,489 per month — a 17% increase since 2023.
The study continued, stating, “Since 2019, the county has experienced a 58% increase in one-bedroom Fair Market Rent and a 62% increase in the living wage… But the minimum wage has only increased 40%, and the average weekly wage has risen 25% over the same period.”
Transportation costs also significantly increased, from $320.02 per month in 2023 to $519.98 in 2025, reflecting higher fuel prices, insurance costs, and vehicle maintenance expenses. Healthcare expenses increased 71%, climbing from $203.43 to $348.09 per month.
Greer highlighted that almost half of local wage earners make less than the updated living wage. According to the study, 47.7% of workers in Tompkins County earn less than $24.82 per hour, which equates to roughly 23,000 people.
He added that the problem is more severe for women and people of color, who are more likely to earn sub-living wages.
“More than three out of every five Black or African American workers (64.3%) in Tompkins County earn below the living wage,” the study said. “Women are also more likely to earn sub-living wages than
men, with 49.9% of women falling below the threshold, compared to 45.4% of men.” Greer also pointed out that 49.9% of Latinx workers earned less than a living wage.
Among full-time workers — defined as those working at least 30 hours per week for 40 weeks per year — 43.2% still make less than $24.82 per hour, meaning nearly 14,762 full-time employees struggle to meet basic needs.
“One of the key takeaways from this is that wages are not keeping up with the cost of living, and the impact of this involves stark racial and gender disparities,” Greer said.
The study does not include childcare expenses in its living wage calculation but provides separate estimates. Greer said that if childcare costs were included, the living wage would be “much higher.”
According to the study, full-time infant care in Tompkins County now costs an average of $2,383 per month ($28,600 annually), toddler care costs $2,186 per month ($26,236 annually), and preschool care averages $1,894 per month ($22,724 annually).
“Childcare remains one of the most significant expenses for working families in Tompkins County,” the report states.
The Cornell ILR living wage estimate ($24.82) is slightly lower than the MIT Living Wage Calculator, which estimates the living wage for a single adult in Tompkins County at $25.35 per hour.
The report also calculates a housing wage — the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford a one-bedroom apartment without being cost-burdened, meaning spending more than 30% of their income on rent — at $28.63 per hour. Continued on Page 15
A wildcat strike by New York correctional officers continues to escalate despite a mediated agreement suspending parts of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. Officers cite safety and staffing concerns while criminal justice reform groups argue the strike is a tactic to resist oversight and accountability in the wake of the murder of Robert Brooks.
On March 4, 2025, Indivisible Tompkins hosted The People’s Address to Congress rally at the Bernie Milton Pavilion, where community members gathered to share their concerns about national issues ahead of Trump’s remarks to Congress. Participants held signs, took photos, and sent messages to elected officials, addressing topics such as U.S. foreign policy, government accountability, and the influence of corporate power.
IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own praise or blame, write editor@ithacatimes. com, with a subject head “U&D.”
OF THE WEEK What do you think Ithaca’s
to submit your response.
“Ithaca has a problem with car-superiority. Despite there being clearly marked pedestrian crossing signs and zebra crosswalk markings, trying to cross at any of the one-way streets downtown is a death trap and gamble. Try it! Not one driver will slow down and yield to let you cross, and it seems like they would rather run you over than concede to the mild inconvenience of letting a pedestrian cross. I drive, I walk, I bike, I know how it is, and I don’t buy the argument that it’s dangerous to slow down because a car might hit you from behind. Negligence like that means you shouldn’t be driving. So, I must make this rallying call, may it be heard far and wide: Pedestrians of Ithaca, do not cower at the designated crossings along Seneca, Green, and Clinton Streets. Raise your arms forward with hands out, and cross! Boldly step forward and know this in your heart: you are the priority, legally and morally! Join us as we slowly and defiantly turn the tide so we can cross in safety and dignity, together. I know everyone loves an unsolic-
ited opinion from someone who just moved here, but let my fresh set of eyes be a mirror to this dystopian reality. Ithaca pedestrians, this is not normal. Cars have asserted their dominance and you have to collectively fight back.” — Daniel Rotsztain
“ Six weeks after the inauguration unemployment claims are up. With inflation high consumer confidence is down and a major recession is looming. It appears our government is being driven into the ground by a greedy immigrant billionaire. I have Republican friends who I love and respect. I know this isn’t what they voted for. My grandmother was born here in Ithaca in 1890. My dad survived the Spanish flu and both parents made it through the depression. They never wanted to visit our country again. Yet with images of golden statues of himself on AI generated video that is what Trump is doing to our America. It is not alarmist when one looks at the facts. We have a school yard bully for president. His disrespect for others be it Panama, Denmark or Ukraine is horrifying. He will do whatever because he believes he can. It’s his supporters, the Republicans, who must hold him accountable. Although we have all had issues with some aspect of government it is not a joke or a boondoggle it has an important purpose in all our lives. Chaos will be most painful
Continued on Page 7
By Stephen Baxter
I’m not sure this is a great idea, may not be the best way to open a letter to the editor? But I had to do something! After I sobered up around November 9th, I spent the next three months alternating between comatose depression and homicidal rage. You see I’m a 75 year old white male living on Social Security. I get help with my housing, receive food stamps and aid with my winter heating bills. If Elon Musk has his way, and cuts these programs, by this time next year, I will be in serious trouble! It’s not inconceivable that I could join the ranks of the homeless!
I give what I can to support candidates and calling my representatives is moot since they are all Democrats. I felt powerless and terrified and hopeless. Then I chanced upon a 1/24/2025 article by Heather Cox Richardson. I encourage you to find it and read it. The article described the final German counteroffensive of WWll commonly know as the Battle of the Bulge. It recounts when the town of Bastogne in Belgium, containing 14,000 American troops and 3,000 civilians, was surrounded by 54,000 German soldiers, artillery and tanks. On December 22, 1944 the German Commander sent a two page letter to General Anthony McAuliffe demanding the American Army’s immediate surrender otherwise the Germans would destroy the town and everyone in it. After some deliberation General McAuliffe replied with a single word; NUTS! As I read this account and Professor Richardson’s commentary I began to think about what it means to be an American and how much my father and the men and women of his generation gave to defend the World from Fascism. The audacity and courage of General McAuliffe reminded me that Americans don’t give up, give in or lay down. We fight, we resist and even against hopeless odds we persevere.
I am on the internet. I would often waste my time trying to argue with people who are obviously brainwashed and unable to agree to the most basic of facts. After reading the Richardson article, if I
found myself in a fruitless conversation, I would simply reply NUTS! I highly recommend this technique; it saves a lot of time and is very satisfying. It’s kind of an inside joke, a poke in the eye of the fascists and a restatement of what our brave soldiers fought and died for over 80 years ago.
Now the crazy idea. I went to a little shop in the Ithaca Mall and ordered some T-shirts with the word NUTS! In bold letters on the front. I got the addresses of our representatives in the Congress and Senate and sent them a copy of the Richardson’s Article, a letter introducing myself, and a T-shirt. I sent these T-shirts with the hope that perhaps NUTS! Might become to the American Resistance what MAGA is to the Fascists. I realize that what I am trying to do may seem at best silly to some and at worst futile to others. But regardless I feel better. Whatever happens at least I’m trying to do something! And I think that is the point. It doesn’t matter, as Americans, if we fail a thousand times. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died for the institutions and freedoms that seem to be taken away more and more each day. Hate feeling helpless? I encourage you to get a T-shirt or a baseball cap with NUTS! On it. If anyone asks for an explanation you can just wink or reference the Richardson article. I plan on wearing my T-shirt around town and I’m going to price some caps on Tuesday. This may catch on or not but I no longer feel helpless, NUTS! Is my middle finger to Musk and his henchman. Perhaps it will be yours as well?
By Mason Bennett, Ithaca Resident
These discussions about war, governance, and social justice often get reduced to false choices. Pick a side. Pro-this or anti-that. Support this group or that one. As if our only options are total victory for one or total defeat for the other. But reality is rarely that simple, and the longer we let these narratives define our conversations, the more we reinforce a system that thrives on division and inaction.
Recently, I had a discussion that made this painfully clear. When it comes to foreign conflicts, particularly long-standing ones like the Israel-Palestine crisis, the conversation is often framed in terms of which side is more deserving of support. Some argue that because one group has committed acts of violence, they forfeit their right to self-determination. Others say that history has always been about survival of the fittest, and that the only logical outcome is for one group to dominate the other.
But this kind of thinking is exactly why conflicts never end. War is never as simple as good versus evil, and entire populations should never be held accountable for the actions of extremists. When oppression breeds desperation, extremism takes hold. When people are bombed, blockaded, and stripped of their land, they resist. When they resist, the oppressor justifies more force. And so the cycle continues, generation after generation, with each side seeing the other as an existential threat.
Some say the United States should step away and let these conflicts “play out,” as if history has not already shown us what happens when the world turns a blind eye to atrocities. Others argue that continued military aid is necessary for stability, ignoring the fact that weapons rarely bring peace. The truth is, we have spent decades approaching these issues through the same failed strategies, and each time, we act surprised when war persists. If military intervention, occupation, and blind finan-
cial backing were the answers, wouldn’t we have solved these problems by now?
The same flawed thinking extends to domestic politics. There is a deep distrust of government, not just in terms of corruption, but in the very idea that government should have a role in shaping a functional society. Some say people should simply “fend for themselves,” that government shouldn’t be expected to provide healthcare, education, or economic safeguards. But the purpose of government is not to hoard power—it is to ensure that a society functions for the people who live in it. If the system is broken, the answer isn’t to abandon it completely—it is to fix the structures that have allowed it to serve the few instead of the many.
Healthcare is a prime example. The U.S. has some of the highest medical costs in the world, yet the argument persists that government should stay out of it. But what has “less government” done for healthcare except allow private corporations to dictate who gets care and who doesn’t? The same people who claim to fear government control often have no problem with billionaires making decisions that affect millions of lives. Power is power, whether it sits in a government office or a corporate boardroom. The difference is that at least one of those is supposed to be accountable to the people.
The conversation on social justice follows a similar path. Some dismiss discussions about marginalized communities as distractions from more “important” issues like inflation or national security. But all of these issues are interconnected. Economic inequality, discrimination, and political power struggles do not exist in isolation. If a system works for some while failing others, it is still broken. And just because someone has not personally experienced oppression does not mean it does not exist.
There is a recurring question that surfaces in these discussions: What is the alternative? If war is not the answer, if unchecked capitalism is not the answer,
Continued on Page 15
By Charley Githler
By far, the column in this space that I regret the most was the one that ran on September 29, 2016 (the Before Time). It was called “Life Goes On”. The gist was that we should dial down tensions about the election, most things will go on as always regardless of who the president is, the system will prevail. I listed a lot of everyday things that seemed more or less eternal. Boy, did I misread the situation. If I could be permitted to bleat a defense, I never dreamed that the man would actually be elected, and I thought our institutions were far stronger than they have proven to be. Poor naïve fool that I was. This time around, the result was more vexing than shocking. How could even more people vote for him? Are we a nation that is half dimbulbs? (Yes.) There is a strong impulse to throw up one’s hands and let the chips fall where they may, but of course that’s not the answer. I’m certainly not checking out entirely. Doing that would play right into their hands. Still, there’s such a thing as self-care, and I’ve found myself seeking the solace of entertainment. For me, that means mostly books.
Sometimes I’m in the mood for sci-fi horror stories, and right after the most recent election I found a book that looked suitably gruesome. It was about a neurodivergent egomaniac alien from the planet Pretoria who used his superpowers of writing checks for large amounts, and shameless flattery to outflank a dimwitted president and seize control of the United States. It got too scary and, frankly, a little far-fetched, and I abandoned it in the early chapters. I remember
continued from page 6
on the vulnerable, not those who learned from history.” — Marnie Kirchgessner
“As we all scratch our heads over Trump’s clear affinity for Vladimir Putin, we might want to consider the concept of “conflict of interest”. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Banking Committee Democrat, says about Elon Musk’s “special interest as owner of Starlink” that’s a “conflict of interest”. Could it be possible that Trump’s crypto family
the alien’s name was a synonym for ‘funky odor’.
More satisfying was a nonfiction book about Rasputin. You remember him – the neurodivergent egomaniac monk who wormed his way into the Russian royal family and exerted enormous power, eventually even overseeing the Russian Army during World War I. This story had a real feel-good ending. A group of nobles figured out that Rasputin’s influence threatened the Russian Empire, so they decided to kill him. It wasn’t easy — they poisoned him, stabbed him, shot him, then rolled him in a carpet and threw him in the Little Nevka River. It’s hard, sometimes, not to feel nostalgic for the good old days.
Another nonfiction gem was a book about Huey Long’s Share Our Wealth program. In 1934, the Louisiana Senator proposed using taxes to cap personal fortunes at $50 million (about a cool billion in 2025 dollars) and using the revenue for old-age pensions and free higher education. Finally, a demagogue with a decent idea. Last night, I watched Disney’s Aladdin with a six-year-old pal of mine. Pure escapism. It features a neurodivergent egomaniac royal vizier named Jafar who charms a dimwitted Sultan into handing over all his power. Eventually, Jafar’s insatiable lust for total power leads to his downfall and he’s sucked into a tiny lamp and chucked into the Cave of Wonders, and once that was accomplished everybody else lived happily ever after.
As you can see, there’s no discernible pattern, just need to take mini-vacations from reality from time to time while tidal waves roll over the zone. I highly recommend it.
business called World Liberty Financial is selling crypto to Vladimir Putin, which would be another “conflict of interest”?
The Banking Committee points out that “we need new laws to crack down on crypto’s use in enabling terrorist groups, rogue nations, drug lords, ransomware gangs, and fraudsters to launder billions in stolen funds, evade sanctions, fund illegal weapons programs and profit from devastating cyber attacks”.
Yesterday, Feb 27, the largest heist in crypto history (Ethereum) was done by North Korea, 1-1/2 billion dollars. Conversely, is Putin buying crypto from
Continued on Page 14
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — Despite its rich history and strong community identity, Ithaca lacks an official city flag. Benjamin Anderson, a Dryden resident, self proclaimed “flag activist” and civil engineering student at Clarkson University, is working to change that.
Anderson has designed a proposed flag featuring a waterfall shaped like an “I” for Ithaca, and he hopes to gain community input and support to come up with an official symbol for the City’s flag.
Anderson says that Ithaca is long overdue for an official flag, noting that its sister cities — Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Utica, and Binghamton — have all adopted flags of their own. While Ithaca’s population of 32,700 (as of 2023) is smaller than some of these cities, it has been growing, increasing 1.9% between 2020 and 2023, according to the U.S. Census — so why not adopt a flag our own?
“Ithaca is a unique city with a strong identity, but it doesn’t have a flag,” Anderson said. “As the city continues to grow, it needs a symbol that people can rally around — something that represents its history, its geography, and its character.” He added, “A great city needs a great flag.”
Anderson first started exploring the idea in spring 2024 after watching a video by the
Anderson initially presented his flag idea to Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo, who expressed enthusiasm and planned to form a committee to explore the idea further. However, after several follow-ups, Anderson says he has received no response from the mayor’s office, leaving the proposal stalled. (Photo: Provided)
Despite its rich history and strong community identity, Ithaca remains one of the few cities in New York without an official flag. Clarkson University student Benjamin Anderson hopes to change that by designing a flag that represents the city’s natural beauty, history, and diverse culture. (Photo: @flagforIthacany Instagram)
YouTuber CGP Grey, who analyzes government symbols, country borders, and flags.
“He made a video explaining how most state flags are terrible,” Anderson said. “That got me thinking about New York’s flag, which is just the state seal on a blue background. It’s too detailed, not very creative, and isn’t something people take pride in. A flag should be a simple symbol that represents a community.”
Curious about whether Ithaca had a flag of its own, Anderson did some research and discovered that no official city flag existed. “I thought, if there was ever going to be a symbol to represent Ithaca, what would it be? And I realized that one of the first things people associate with Ithaca is waterfalls.” He added, “Waterfalls are a de-
fining feature of the area, and they are universally recognized as a symbol of Ithaca’s natural beauty.”
Inspired by the city’s slogan, “Ithaca is Gorges,” he drafted an initial flag design featuring a cascading blue waterfall. The proposed flag design is inspired by Taughannock Falls, and is designed to be displayed vertically, which Anderson says is a unique feature for a flag. “This flag would be unique in the world of flag design,” Anderson said. “There are very few flags based on natural features, and almost none are designed to be displayed vertically. This would make Ithaca’s flag truly one of a kind.” He said that the flag could also be displayed horizontally, which provides another perspective of the waterfall.
To visualize the concept, Anderson collaborated with Clarkson University business major Nichole Wing, who helped create a physical version of the initial flag design. However, following feedback from North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) — a group dedicated to the study of flags — Anderson has made minor modifications to the design since the first version was printed.
After speaking with NAVA, Anderson said he was encouraged to incorporate the colors of white and azure blue into the flag to mirror the colors of the Greek flag. This represents a nod to Ithaca’s namesake, the Greek island of Ithaca.
ural beauty, and cultural significance. “The colors weren’t chosen randomly,” Anderson said. “Each one represents something unique about Ithaca.”
The dark green symbolizes Ithaca’s deep connection to nature, sustainability, and green spaces like Six Mile Creek and the Cornell Botanic Gardens.
“Ithaca is a unique city with a strong identity, but it doesn’t have a flag. A great city needs a great flag.” — Benjamin Anderson
“I wanted to refine the flag based on expert feedback,” Anderson said. “The updated version still represents a waterfall, but with a cleaner, bolder design that I think people will connect with.”
The flag incorporates six carefully chosen colors that reflect the city’s history, nat-
The cherry red pays tribute to Ithaca’s claim as the birthplace of the cherry sundae, first advertised in the Ithaca Daily Journal in 1892. Gold represents the Voyager Golden Record, a project led by Ithacan astronomer Carl Sagan to send Earth’s sounds and images into space. The dark blue honors Cayuga Lake, a defining natural landmark, while azure connects Ithaca to its namesake, the Greek island of Ithaca. Ice blue references the glaciers that shaped the Finger Lakes region.
“The flag also acknowledges the Indigenous Cayuga people, the original inhabitants of the area. The use of six colors
The proposed flag is designed to represent Ithaca’s identity through its color choices and waterfall motif. Inspired by Taughannock Falls, the design incorporates six colors that symbolize Cayuga Lake, Ithaca’s natural landscape, the Voyager Golden Record, the city’s Indigenous heritage, and even the birthplace of the cherry sundae. (Photo: Provided)
Nichole
an early mock-up of the proposed Ithaca flag. Wing helped create the first physical version of the design, which has since been refined based on feedback from flag experts. (Photo: Provided)
symbolizes the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora). Additionally, Anderson proposes incorporating the letter “C” on either side of the flag to represent the Cayuga Nation.
“Ithaca’s flag should recognize the past before looking toward the future,” Anderson said. “This design is meant to honor the Cayuga people and their deep connection to this land.”
Anderson’s goal is to engage the Ithaca community in shaping the final design. He has launched an Instagram account (@flagforithacany) and started a petition (sign here) to generate support.
“I don’t want this to just be my project — I want the community to be involved,” he said. “I’m asking people to submit their own designs and ideas. My plan is to compile all the community input and bring it to the Ithaca Common Council to show that there’s real interest in this.”
Anderson said that he will be holding a public design meeting in the near future to discuss critiques and other people's design ideas for the flag. He said that anyone who wants to participate should email him at: flagforithacany@gmail.com
Anderson initially reached out to Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo, who responded
positively and invited him to City Hall for a meeting.
“He was really enthusiastic and said he would create a committee to look into it,” Anderson said. “But after following up multiple times, I never heard back. The idea just kind of sat dead in the water.”
The Ithaca Times reached out to Mayor Cantelmo for comment but did not receive a response. So if you think Ithaca should adopt a flag you should tell the Mayor.
Despite the lack of official progress, Anderson remains hopeful. He points to cities like Burlington, Vermont, which adopted a city flag that now flies outside buildings and is embraced by the community.
“There are so many benefits to having a strong flag,” Anderson said. “Look at Maryland—people wear their state flag on swimsuits, hats, everything. Ithacans are passionate about their city. A good flag could really catch on.”
He added that businesses, local artists, and organizations could integrate the flag’s color scheme and design elements into merchandise, signage, and promotional materials. “I can see the flag being used on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and banners at events like Ithaca Festival and Porchfest,” Anderson said. “It’s meant to be something the entire community can take pride in and make their own.”
When it comes to maintaining overall well-being, many people focus on common concerns such as heart health, bone strength, or mental clarity. However, one crucial connection often goes unnoticed: the link between kidney health and hearing health. Emerging research suggests that there may be a signi cant relationship between the two, highlighting the importance of taking care of both organs for optimal health. In this article, we will explore the connection between kidney and hearing health.
Understanding Kidney Health
The kidneys are vital organs that play a central role in ltering waste products and excess uids from the blood. They also help regulate blood pressure, produce hormones that manage red blood cell production, and maintain the balance of essential minerals such as potassium and sodium. When kidney function begins to decline, waste products and toxins build up in the body, leading to a variety of health complications, including heart disease, and damage to other organs.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition where kidney function progressively worsens over time, a ects millions of people globally. Patients with CKD face an increased risk of other systemic issues, one of which is hearing loss.
The Link Between Kidney Health and Hearing Health Research shows that kidney disease and hearing loss share common factors, such as poor circulation, vascular changes, and metabolic imbalances, which can a ect both the kidneys and ears in similar ways.
1. Vascular Health and Circulation: The kidneys and inner ear both rely on good blood ow. When kidney function declines and blood pressure rises, it can damage blood vessels, a ecting the cochlea and leading to hearing loss over time.
2. Toxins and Waste Buildup: Healthy kidneys lter toxins, but in kidney disease, waste products like urea build up. These toxins can harm the inner ear and disrupt hearing function.
3. Medication Side E ects: Some medications for kidney disease, like blood pressure medications and antibiotics, can damage hearing. The risk is higher in people with kidney issues since their kidneys can’t lter out these drugs as well.
4. Chronic In ammation: Kidney disease often causes in ammation in the body, which can also a ect the ear and cochlea, leading to hearing loss over time.
Studies show a connection between kidney disease and hearing loss. One study in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases found that people with kidney disease are more likely to have hearing problems compared to others. This highlights the need for doctors to check hearing regularly in these patients. Another study in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation found that people with more severe kidney disease, especially those on dialysis, are at higher risk for hearing loss due to kidney problems, medications, and toxins. However, this connection might not always be prioritized, which means some individuals with kidney disease may not have their hearing concerns properly addressed.
People with kidney disease should monitor both kidney and hearing health. Regular hearing checks should be part of their care, especially for those on dialysis or at risk of kidney failure. And maintaining good kidney function helps prevent hearing loss. This can be done by managing blood pressure, blood sugar, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking or too much alcohol.
The link between kidney and hearing health is important and needs more attention. Both are a ected by factors like blood vessel health, toxin buildup, and medications. As studies show a connection between kidney disease and hearing loss, kidney patients should regularly check their hearing. By managing kidney health and staying on top of hearing checks, you can protect both your kidneys and your hearing for years to come.
Act by calling one of our o ces for a complimentary hearing checkup!
Timeless Hearing (Ithaca, NY): (607) 327-4711
Cortland Hearing Aids (Cortland, NY): (607) 327-4712
Timeless Hearing (Skaneateles, NY): (315) 800-0616
Southern Tier Audiology (Elmira, NY): (607) 327-4714
Tri-City Hearing (Vestal, NY): (607) 327-4713
Ashley Hardy grew up in Cortland in a family with hearing loss and knows the impact communication can have on quality of life. She received her Bachelor’s in Human Development from Binghamton University in 2004 and has over 20 years of experience as a hearing aid dispenser.
By Maddy Vogel
Parents and members of the South Hill Parent Teacher Association (PTA) are calling for air purifiers in classrooms to improve student health and attendance rates. The current Ithaca City School District (ICSD) policies prohibit air purifiers in classrooms, but the South Hill PTA is requesting approval to introduce a gradual rollout across classrooms in South Hill Elementary.
During recent ICSD board of education meetings, parents and representatives of the PTA have spoken in favor of the effort.
Laura Vineyard, a parent of a student at South Hill Elementary, highlighted the positive impacts that improved student health could have on student attendance, an issue that drew attention from the state education department in recent years.
“Currently, the chronic absenteeism rate is 25% for 2024 compared to 16% for 2019, while the board’s vision of success is a rate below 10%,” Vineyard said. “Poor health is one of the main factors contributing to chronic absenteeism. The EPA has compiled extensive evidence supporting the correlation between indoor air quality and student performance.”
One study cited by the EPA found a correlation between increased air ventilation rates and higher standardized math and reading test scores.
Casey McGrath, the parent of a student at South Hill said that her son caught the
flu in his second grade classroom and developed pneumonia. Despite both receiving their flu shots this year, they still came down with the flu, which disrupted her son's school attendance and prevented her from going to work.
On January 10, Tompkins County Whole Health alerted the community that there was a spike in influenza cases in Tompkins County and statewide. Although the number of cases across New York State are lower than previous years, the number of hospitalizations is disproportionately higher.
“Addressing a key driver in absenteeism, namely illness, and the associated impact on educational outcomes of inadequate ventilation is an opportunity to improve a vital metric that disproportionately impacts less advantaged members of our community,” Vineyard said.
Vineyard added that without adequate air purification, schools can face higher direct and indirect costs, including the cost of hiring substitutes for teachers who are out sick.
Although several board members seem in favor of the program, some voiced concerns on the potential strain that the air purifiers could put on the school’s electrical grid and the inequities of only introducing the program at one school in the district.
Some say that although the PTA is planning to provide the air purifiers, the district would still face some costs associated with electricity use and maintenance of changing the filters. Others questioned
if any noise from the air purifiers could be distracting to students.
Many parents, including South Hill parent Erika Mudrak, pointed out that illness can have the most harmful impacts on students and families that are more vulnerable and economically disadvantaged.
“Preventing illness is not a trivial matter,” Mudrak said. “For many in our community, it can be a matter of life or death, or a risk of hospitalization for our medically vulnerable and disabled community members.”
By Steve Lawrence
Given Ithaca does not have a television station, I got quite a Monday morning boost when I turned on WBNG (out of Binghamton) and saw an interview with Ithaca High hockey player Owen Simons. I interviewed Owen a few weeks ago, and he shared how proud he was to be the third member of his family to co-captain the Little Red hockey team, and that he was really looking forward to helping the team repeat as Sectional champs. First things first... the Little Red made it to the Sectional final, and traveled to Binghamton to take the ice against Broome County. The hosts were determined to dethrone the perennially strong Little Red, and given the Bulls were up 4-2 in the third period, their chances looked really good. To quote Lenny Kravitz, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
After scoring his third goal of the contest to put Ithaca in the state tournament,
Owen said, “It’s all a blur right now. This is the kind of thing you dream about.”
Behind 4-2 in the third period, the Little Red stormed back to tie it on a goal from Leland Walker, then saw Simons end it in OT on a highlight-reel breakaway. Ithaca will travel to SUNY Broome for a 4 pm face-off on Saturday to open the NYSPHSAA tournament.
It really was quite a weekend overall for local hockey fans, as the #3 Cornell women swept Union to move to 22-4-5 on the season and move on to the ECAC Hockey semifinals this weekend. The women will play in the semifinal game on Friday, with hopes of moving on and wrapping up the ECAC title on Saturday.
It will be a part of a hockey-heavy weekend, as the 6th-seeded men will also host an ECAC match up, facing off against #11 Yale. The puck will drop at 7:30 pm on Saturday. Details on all ECAC playoff games can be found at www.cornellbigred.com.
A follow up on the injury suffered by head coach Mike Schafer on Friday... Schafer was hit in the head by a puck during the Big Red’s loss to Union, and was diagnosed with a concussion. The coach returned home before the RPI game, and with Casey Jones (who will take over for Schafer next season) in charge, and junior goalie Remington Koepple registering his first career shutout, Cornell rolled over RPI by a 6-0 score to head into the playoffs with a good head of steam.
For a period of time on Sunday, Cornell fans experienced quite a swing of the pendulum... While the news from the action taking place at Newman Arena was great — the Big Red men’s basketball team was picking up where it left off after thumping Penn 90-62 on Friday night by steamrolling Princeton from the opening tip — the 3-0 men’s lacrosse team was trailing Richmond 6-1 in the first quarter. The #3 Big Red, it seemed, may have taken the #12 Spiders too lightly, but by the time the final buzzer sounded, Cornell had escaped with a 12-11 road win to remain undefeated,
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Cornell will play four of its next five games at home, starting with a 12 p.m. match up against Penn State on Saturday.
As stated, there was virtually no drama at Newman Arena, as the hosts would explode for 102 points against the Tigers to assure themselves a spot in Ivy Madness. After putting up an eye-popping 63 points in the first half in Friday’s dominant win over the Quakers, C.U. would burst out of the gate and score the first 10 points versus the Tigers, and would continue to pour it on to move to 16-10 overall, and 8-5 in the Ivy League, making Jon Jacques the winningest first-year head coach in program history.
By Peter Rothbart
Musicians and composers generally resist having their music pigeonholed into a single genre. In a pre-streaming world, when record stores set trends by selling records, musicians worried about “which bin are we in?” Today, algorithms decide the virtual bins. This is why so many groups cite their musical influences rather than their style. Or they rename or invent a new genre. Legendary drummer, Max Roach, who helped to define bebop, preferred to call his work “Black classical music.” Leonard Bernstein described Western classical music as “precise music.” And, Philip Glass referred to his oeuvre as “music with repetitive structures.” Everyone else called it Minimalism.
So, when trumpet player, composer, and instrument designer Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah takes to Cornell’s Bailey Hall on Friday, March 7, his self-proclaimed genre-blind “stretch music” will intentionally defy conventional definition.
Adjuah was born as Christian Scott into a multi-generational music family with deep New Orleans roots. Some of his ancestors escaped enslavement and formed hidden communities with indigenous native American tribes in the backwoods and bayous of the Louisiana wilderness. Black Indians, also called Maroons, were able to preserve much of their culture relatively untouched by the white communities that surrounded them. We see remnants of this culture in the brightly colored fantastic costumes of the New Orleans Mardi Gras. We hear it in the Creole music of Louisiana, and we taste it in the gumbo for which the region is famous.
Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah comes by his honorific honestly. He is a chief of the Black Indian group, Xodokan Nation, just as his uncle and grandfather were before him. “I’m born into a West African stylized chiefdom system that obviously has a relationship to the First Nations persons of this country … and being born into that particular cultural space in New Orleans, it kind of tethers you to the roots of a lot of these musical expressions that
Friday, March 7, 2025
Bailey Hall
Cornell University
7:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: https://www.cornellconcertseries.com/tickets
we’re still contributing and building today.” He possesses a keen intellect and a deeply articulate philosophical perspective coupled with a strong sense of personal and political responsibility that is often reflected in the social and political commentary of his music and lyrics.
Adjuah acknowledges that jazz is the backbone of his stretch music. He explains, “ … just because it can be said that my work is inherently jazz does not mean that it is exclusively jazz.” In another interview, he articulates his concept of stretch music. “It’s true that we are attempting to stretch—not replace—jazz’s rhythmic, melodic and harmonic conventions to encompass as many musical forms/languages/cultures as we can.”
The resulting sound incorporates unadulterated African rhythms with indie rock beats, jazz fusion harmonies with hip-hop beats. Add in contemporary electronic drums that underpin traditional West African and Black Indian melodies. Post-bop solos exploit the dissonances of the extended scales pioneered
by Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Pharoah Sanders, and Freddie Hubbard. Mix in improvisational elements of Free Jazz from the 1970s New York loft scene and the sophisticated extended forms of the Art Ensemble of Chicago and the San Francisco Jazz Collective.
To further embrace his self-defined concept of genre-blindness, Adjuah constructs unique musical instruments by combining components of Western and African instruments into a new one. The result resembles a Steampunk assemblage of European instruments (trumpet and harp) and West and Central African instruments (kora and n’goni). The look and sound are amalgamations of old and new, European and African, one that defies categorization and allows Adjuah to discover new ways of making music.
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.
By Peter Rothbart
Ithaca’s geographic isolation – or weather – doesn’t seem to impinge upon its ability to attract world-class chamber music artists. Our venues provide an intimacy often missing from larger metropolitan concert halls. Smaller halls often mean higher overhead and more expensive tickets, but in Ithaca the opposite seems to be true. Ticket prices are usually quite reasonable and packing a smaller hall such as the popular Unitarian Church on Aurora Street, creates more of an exciting atmosphere for the performers and audience. That intimacy is hard to create in a larger space that is only half-filled.
Sunday’s concert by the Finger Lakes Chamber Ensemble in the church should be exciting, intimate, and fill the house. Collectively, the featured artists, violinists Janet Sung and Jessica Tong, violist Roberta Crawford, cellist Stefan Reuss, flutist Barry Crawford, and pianist I-Fei Chen have performed in the large spaces such as Carnegie, Tully, Zankel, Weill and Merkin Halls, as well as the Kennedy Center and the Gewandaus. They have played with world-class orchestras such as the San Francisco Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic and closer to home, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra. That the Finger Lakes Chamber Ensemble, which has existed since 1990, can attract such masters, is testimony to the tenaciousness and resourcefulness of the local musicians who have scrambled for funding in the leaner years.
Sergei Prokofiev’s Sonata for Two Violins, Op. 56 was written in 1932 just before he returned to his native Russia. Although
Sunday, March 9, 2025
4:00 p.m.
Ithaca Unitarian Church
Tickets: https://fingerlakeschamberensemble.com/tickets
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Trump, and is that an incentive to flip US support for Ukraine?
It is imperative that we scrutinize
born in Ukraine, he was trained at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and considered himself Russian. His life and his musical output were heavily influenced by the political winds of the early 20th century. He left Russia at the beginning of the Russian Revolution, eventually landing in France. His early writing was solidly in the neoclassical camp, infused with a Russian sense of drama and orchestral color.
Upon returning to Russia and despite his growing international reputation, he found restrictions being placed on his creative output by the new Communist government. His compositions began to reflect a “new simplicity” as he called it, suggested by his Christian Science leanings and his rejection of the increasingly complex music being heard in France, Germany, and the United States.
His Sonata for Two Violins was commissioned and premiered in 1932 by the Paris-based Le Triton Chamber Ensemble, ironically noted for their advocacy of modern music. The four-movement work’s large structure harkens back to the baroque sonata da chiesa form that alternates slow and fast movements. Numerous folk music and dance phrases appear in the later movements.
Eschewing a traditional musical training, Heitor Villa-Lobos learned music by playing in street bands in Rio de Janeiro. He later found work in theater and cinema orchestras, then spent ten years traveling the Amazon exploring local folk music. He moved to Paris in the 1920s where he was exposed to the burgeoning American jazz movement and met European composers such as Stravinsky, Ravel, and Prokofiev.
He is arguably Brazil’s most famous composer, and his music has become the heartbeat of the nation’s cultural identity, an ever-lively beat infused with Latin rhythms, tonal harmonies that touch upon jazz chords, and populist melodies that float up and down like a raptor riding the air currents above the Amazon River.
His Assobio a Jato (The Jet Whistle) was written in 1950 and gets its name from the flute’s jet-like sound, produced
cryptocurrency, since it has a broad impact on our banking and financial systems. Corey Frayer of SEC, says “new SEC leadership proposes to remove the speed limits and guardrails that made our capital markets the strongest in the world.”
Church on March 9, 2025, featuring works by Prokofiev, Villa-Lobos, Beach, and Schumann. The ensemble, known for attracting world-class musicians, continues to be a hidden gem of Ithaca’s chamber music scene.
by an unusual blowing technique heard in the third movement. Villa-Lobos is fond of creating cross rhythms by juxtaposing triplets against duplets. Coupled with his penchant for multiple tempo and time signature changes, his manipulation of time is the propellant that fuels his engine. His music reflects effervescent love; rapturous and enchanting with a slithering sensuality that oozes from every phrase.
Amy Beach was a composer of prodigious talent, an under-recognized titan of the Romantic era. Her Gaelic Symphony was the first symphony written by a woman and played by a major American orchestra. As was the culture at that time, her husband only allowed her to perform at one or two concerts per year, so she turned to composing, foregoing any formal training, and published under the moniker, Mrs. H. H. A. Beach. She is now recognized as the first American classical composer who never studied in Europe, as did so many other composers of that era.
Her Romance was originally written for violin and piano in 1893. The violin part translates nicely to flute and has become equally popular in in performance. It is quintessentially romantic, with a yearning, almost singable melodic phrase that
is repeatedly emphasized in the opening flute passage.
Just after his marriage to Clara, an enraptured Robert Schumann dove headfirst into writing chamber works, a genre he had always avoided. His Piano Quintet in Eb from this period proved to be a genre-defining work, solidifying the piano and string quartet collaboration into a major Romantic era musical form. The string quartet had already established itself as the premier chamber ensemble of the era. Revisions to the piano’s mechanism and construction had just improved its power and sonic qualities. Schumann married these two developments, writing for the increased expressiveness now available to him. The work helped break the barrier between the salon and concert hall music.
The Finger Lakes Chamber Ensemble often flies below the local advertising radar. They are Ithaca’s under-known, under-advertised gem of the chamber music scene.
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.
Remember the 2007-08 “Great Recession” when the world banking system ground to a halt? It took so much effort to climb out of that crisis, which affected the US’ reputation with investors. Putin is enthused about investors backing away from the US dollar, embracing cryptocurrency instead.
Should we expose our country to lousy foreign policy AND a banking system crypto crash?” — Dorothy Pomponio
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improving infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and enhancing walkability.
The New York Forward program, created in 2022, is designed to assist smaller communities that may not qualify for the larger DRI grant but still seek to revitalize their downtown areas. Dryden’s
selection marks a significant win for the town, which has been actively working on economic development initiatives.
“Dryden seeks to reinvest in its historic downtown by continuing to support an attractive and inviting Main Street with a robust mix of shopping, dining and residential spaces to foster a high quality of life for its residents,” the statement announcing the grant recipients said. “The Village will foster a welcoming and walkable downtown com-
than the state minimum wage, the study raises concerns about how local employers will be able to keep up with rising business costs.
munity where residents can live a sustainable lifestyle in friendly neighborhoods with convenient access to goods and services.”
State Senator Lea Webb said, “These state initiatives provide critical funding to support the revitalization and growth of downtowns small and large across New York.”
Assemblymember Anna Kelles said, “These much-needed funds will play a key role in revitalizing the Village of Dryden’s original business section on West Main Street,
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“The big increase — from $18.45 to $24.82 in two years — is mostly driven by increases in housing and transportation costs,” the study states. “A worker earning right at this ‘living wage’ level would have a gross annual income of $51,626 and take home just over $40,715 after taxes.”
The study's findings could have significant implications for local wage policies, especially as Tompkins County officials continue to discuss efforts to increase the minimum wage closer to the living wage. The Tompkins County Workers’ Center has been advocating for legislative action to address the wage gap.
Pete Meyers, Director of the Tompkins County Workers Center (TCWC), said, “We are doing a campaign right now at the county level where we're attempting to get the county to pass legislation that would increase the minimum wage to a living wage.” Meyers continued, “The county agreed back in August to fund a $50,000 study to get input from both workers and employers to find out what that looks like for them.” He added, “Hopefully, this study will get off the ground very soon.”
With the living wage now 60% higher
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She underscored the effects improper ventilation in classrooms can have on teachers, who typically don’t have access to flexible work from home options and extensive sick leave.
“Adding air purifiers is a disability, justice, equity and inclusion issue,” Mudrak said. “Schools are a major driver of infectious diseases in our community.”
McGrath emphasized that air purifiers can help students in more ways than simply preventing illness, they can benefit students with allergies or asthma.
“Better classroom filtration would have the added benefit of reducing volatile
While discussing the possibility the county increasing the minimum wage to the living wage, former President of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Tavares, told the Ithaca Times, “This action would not make us competitive amongst our peers across the region or state, and will make retaining the businesses and jobs we have much more difficult.”
Meyers has already said that he is worried that the county will see a decrease in living wage employees as a result of the increase. “I’m afraid that we're gonna lose some employers with $24.82,” Meyers said.
The TCWC keeps track of the number of living wage employers (LWE) in the area. According to Meyers, the number of LWEs was at its highest when the local living wage was $16.61 in 2022 — when a total of 127 employers were living wage certified. When the living wage increased to $18.45 in 2023, 66 of those businesses chose to recertify as living wage employers.
According to Megers, it remains uncertain how many more businesses will choose not to recertify as living wage employers, given the rising costs of paying workers a living wage.
organic compounds, particulate matter, mold and allergens, which also contrib ute to health issues,” McGrath said. “For students and staff with asthma or other chronic conditions, allergies and sensitivi ties, this could mean fewer missed days of school, less medication, fewer asthma attacks and trips to the hospital.”
She added that many respiratory ill nesses, including COVID-19, can have long-term health impacts. She said she believes having air purifiers in classrooms can eventually have larger impacts on overall community health.
if government corruption is not the answer—what do we do?
First, we stop treating these problems as inevitable. History has shown that change happens when people demand it, not when they resign themselves to the way things have always been. Ending war requires a shift from military-first foreign policy to actual diplomatic engagement. Stability is not built with bombs, but with infrastructure, education, and economic opportunity. Ending corporate control over public systems requires recognizing that privatization does not always mean efficiency—it often means prioritizing profit over people. Strengthening democ-
an area rich with history.” She continued, “By restoring and enhancing this district, the grant will not only preserve the village’s heritage, but also foster economic growth by attracting new businesses and visitors to support a vibrant walkable downtown. Despite the latest setback for Ithaca, officials are likely to continue to seek alternative funding sources to support the long-term redevelopment projects that were included in the DRI grant application.
racy means holding leaders accountable, refusing to accept the idea that only two parties can define the future, and ensuring that political power is not just available to those who can afford it.
None of these changes happen overnight. But if we continue repeating the same failed strategies and expecting a different result, then we are the ones ensuring that nothing changes. The world’s biggest problems remain stuck in a broken loop not because they are unsolvable, but because we refuse to stop using the same tools that created them in the first place.
The conversation does not have to be about choosing sides, but about asking a different question entirely: How do we stop choosing the same outcomes we claim to want to avoid?
“Even if just a few percent of the children in our district go on to develop long-term health problems, that’s a huge impact on our children and our community,” McGrath said.
