ITHACA, N.Y. — Teachers and community members urged voters to approve next year’s school budget during an Ithaca City School District (ICSD) board meeting Tuesday night. The proposed spending plan has drawn opposition from a vocal group of taxpayers in recent weeks, in large part due to a larger-than-typical increase in the district’s reliance on property tax dollars. Because the proposed budget exceeds the tax cap set by the state, a supermajority of voters must approve it during elections on May 21. The recent display of support is in contrast to a school board meeting earlier in April, whi ..read more

ITHACA, N.Y. — In a unanimous vote Wednesday, Common Council adopted what city officials are calling a nation-leading climate justice policy.  Justice50 sets out a framework that city government is supposed to direct financial investment towards “climate justice communities,” or communities that were historically or currently marginalized. The legislation will include major changes in the city’s budget process.  Rebecca Evans, the city’s sustainability director, said before council’s vote Wednesday that approving Justice50 would make Ithaca the “first city in the United States to op ..read more

In loving memory of my daughter, Brittany L. Turner, who I lost in August 2023. I miss you so much, not a day goes by when I don’t think of you. If Brittany touched you in your lifetime in anyway please keep her close to your heart and forever in your memories. I thought I’d share a little insight as to her passions. First and foremost, her greatest love was for her children and family life, she loved her music, poetry, the love of nature & art inspired by her photography, crocheting. Also, there were certain passages of the Bible she kept special. Anyon ..read more

ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca Farmers Market has announced the reopening of its East Hill location for Wednesday markets and the addition of the Sunday Market at Steamboat Landing. The Wednesday Markets at East Hill will run weekly through October from 3-6 p.m. The market is held in the grassy area at 330 Pine Tree Rd. A press release from the farmers market’s leadership states the Wednesday market will feature meat, eggs, dairy, fresh produce, honey, bread, baked goods, are and more. Products sold will all be sourced from within 30 miles of Ithaca, according to the release. The Sunday Market, wh ..read more

ITHACA, N.Y. — The city is auctioning off 11 abandoned vehicles at local tow lots on the morning of May 3.  Nine cars, an electric scooter and a motorcycle will be available for the public to purchase with cash, cashier’s check or certified check, in accordance with the state’s “abandoned vehicles” law.  The law considers cars left unattended for more than 24 hours on any highway or other public place on which parking is legal, though the length of allowable time changes for different circumstances. If the vehicle is without license plates when authorities determine it was abandoned ..read more

ITHACA, N.Y. — Over the weekend, The Ithaca Voice was recognized four times for its coverage throughout 2023 at the annual New York Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The Voice received awards for feature writing, crime and courts coverage and overall website during a weekend conference in Saratoga Springs.  Most notably, The Voice was awarded third place in the Best News Website category in the Excellence Awards, a statewide competition that gauges website design and content delivery. Our website finished behind two New York City-based newsrooms, City & State New York and ..read more

ITHACA, N.Y. — A former Tompkins County Corrections Officer has been charged with official misconduct and harassment after unnecessarily striking an incarcerated person on April 26. Mark Vanderhoof was charged with both counts by Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne, who issued a press release about the incident. Vanderhoof was arraigned Monday evening and released on his own recognizance. Osborne stated that Vanderhoof was alleged to have “forcefully struck an incarcerated individual housed in the Corrections Division in the back of the head and face with an open hand” as the person was sit ..read more

ITHACA, N.Y. — Students at Cornell University continue to occupy their pro-Palestinian, anti-war encampment on the lawn of the university’s Art Quad as of April 30, despite four student participants being suspended in the last few days.   Student organizers pitched their tents before the sun rose on April 25 in solidarity with other university students nationwide who, over the last week, organized similar encampments to protest the U.S. government’s involvement in the Israeli-Gaza war.  At Cornell, students are calling for the school to endorse a permanent ceasefire and divestm ..read more

ITHACA, N.Y. — A leaking gas cylinder at the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility prompted a response from the Ithaca Fire Department (IFD) hazmat team on Saturday. In a statement, facility officials said “no one was injured and the public was never in danger.” The roughly 4 foot tall cylinder contained sulfur dioxide gas and was leaking due to a “manufacturing defect” on the valve used to control the flow of gas, according to a joint statement from Scott Gibson, the City of Ithaca’s Assistant Superintendent of Water Sewer, and Ed Gottlieb, the wastewater treatment facility’s safety mana ..read more

ITHACA, N.Y.—Teachers, parents and students rallied outside DeWitt Middle School Friday after the sudden departure of its associate principal, Ramelle Liverpool. Roughly two dozen people gathered near the entrance to the school before and after school to show support for Liverpool and call for greater transparency from school district leaders. An email sent last Tuesday to DeWitt staff said Liverpool is “on leave until further notice” and “unfortunately, we cannot provide any additional details at this time.” The email, which was signed by DeWitt Principal Carlan Gray, was sent from the distr ..read more