The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/tag/common-council/)
At their virtual meeting on Nov. 4, Ithaca Common Council discussed defunding the police, Myrick’s declaration of Nov. 20 as the Transgender Day of Remembrance and finalized the 2021 municipal budget.
Recent arrests during increasingly contentious protests have led to calls for the Ithaca Police Department deputy chief to resign.
Common Council discussed nine expenditures to potentially include in the roughly $80 million 2021 budget, approving the hire of a part time staff member for Greater Ithaca Community Center, increased funding for Community Outreach Center and the purchase of a new fire pumper.
The Common Council discussed police funding, the city budget, and voted to remove the White Settlers Monument from Dewitt Park during their Oct. 8 meeting.
The Common Council discussed 5G installation, the budget deficit and Newman Golf Course during Friday’s meeting.
On their July 1 meeting, the Common Council discussed Ithaca’s pandemic-driven $2 million deficit, 5G internet and a commemorative marker for writer Alex Haley. Comments and questions were also brought up on the national debate over defunding the IPD.
During a May 6 Common Council meeting, the city discussed paying for residents’ rent with federal funding from a grant program. The council also discussed the planned 5G installation and responded to residents’ concerns.
The Ithaca Common Council passed several resolutions regarding furloughs and health insurance for city workers — and also discussed a potential $13 million budget deficit.
With the COVID-19 outbreak requiring most New York State residents to stay home and stripping thousands of workers of their jobs, activists are calling for a rent freeze to protect Ithacans who have lost income.
The demonstrators stood in support of Christine Barksdale, a former Ithaca Police Department investigator and member of the Tompkins County law enforcement community for 25 years, who was terminated as senior investigator by the IPD in response to her department’s failure to investigate crimes.