Ithaca · Local digest

Ithaca Common Council voted to purchase the former Army Reserve Center on West Hill for $1.7 million, with a $170,000 down payment required. The 5.67-acre property, vacant since 2018, will initially be used for city government operations before being offered for redevelopment through a request for expressions of interest. City officials aim to redevelop the site for mixed-income and affordable housing to address housing needs, with the property eventually returning to the tax rolls. The vote passed 9-1, with Alderperson Shapiro citing budget concerns about the purchase and temporary municipal use of the facility.

The Ithaca Common Council approved a new policy requiring police to seek council approval before applying for grants to purchase tactical equipment and surveillance technology. The resolution, which passed 9-1 on Wednesday, mandates that police provide details about proposed equipment, grant obligations, and how requests align with public safety priorities. The change was introduced by Alderperson Hannah Shvets to increase transparency and allow public discussion before grant applications are submitted. The expansion to include surveillance technology grants came after debate over potential AI-powered automated license plate reader systems. Police Chief Thomas Kelly expressed concerns that advance approval requirements could create challenges with short grant deadlines, while Alderperson Margaret Fabrizio cast the sole dissenting vote, arguing the policy micromanages the police department. Mayor Robert Cantelmo stated the goal is to know about grants "before they go out the door" and noted that the city manager's office is developing a broader grant procurement policy covering all city departments.

The Community Foundation of Tompkins County awarded $678,700 in 178 grants to 106 organizations in its 2026 Empowering Resilient Communities to Thrive Grant Cycle. The funding came from multiple sources including the Tompkins Today and Tomorrow Fund (52%), Donor-Advised Funds (12%), Field-of-Interest Funds (29%), and the Howland Foundation (7%). The foundation received more applications seeking more dollars than ever before, but limited resources meant many deserving organizations, including some long-time recipients, could not be funded at requested levels or at all.