Ithaca · Local digest
One Ithaca story today you'd miss anywhere else. Skip national politics. Prefer transport, housing, council decisions, openings, and city-level policy — the things that change life for someone living in Ithaca. Always cite the local outlet (e.g. Tagesspiegel, RBB) so I can read further.
← Zur aktuellen AusgabeRod Howe exits Friday, county budget cuts airport support
Supervisor interim named
Rod Howe's final day arrives this Friday.
After decades leading the Town of Ithaca, the supervisor steps down September 18 [Quelle: Tompkins Weekly]. The town board must name an interim replacement by end of business Friday to keep operations moving through budget season and the Seneca Street garage redevelopment. The formal hunt for a permanent successor will unfold mid-cycle, tangled with the 2027 budget and downtown revitalization oversight.
The interim pick telegraphs what the board prioritizes next.
County cuts airport funding
Ithaca Tompkins International Airport faces a lean year ahead.
The Tompkins County Budget Committee trimmed airport support from $853,200 in 2026 to a proposed $604,000 for 2027, eliminating one full-time position [Quelle: Tompkins County]. The county continues covering debt service on the terminal and customs project to keep airline fees competitive. The move reflects broader county budget pressure heading into fall deliberations.
Airlines and travelers will watch whether cuts translate to higher landing fees or service reductions.
Cornell plans Beebe Hall overhaul
Cornell wants to turn Beebe Hall into a student makerspace.
The university is proposing renovations including an outdoor porch, rooftop equipment, and a 350-square-foot addition for pedestrian access [Quelle: 607 News Now]. The Town of Ithaca Planning Board will review the project, which signals Cornell's continued investment in collaborative student workspace. The hearing will test how town review handles campus-based infrastructure changes.
Watch whether the Planning Board raises concerns about traffic or campus footprint.
Transit faces mobility barrier ahead
Medicaid funding for transit rides expires in March 2027.
The county's Transportation Planning team received a modest $2,000 budget boost to its $51,000 local share, but flagged the looming end of New York's Medicaid 1115 waiver that has subsidized mobility for older adults, people in recovery, and transit-dependent residents [Quelle: Tompkins County]. The department is beginning contingency planning now. Riders relying on Medicaid-backed service will need clarity by winter on what alternatives exist.
County leaders are already weighing whether to seek state exemption or fund gaps locally.
Rod Howe steps down as Ithaca supervisor after decades of to...11 hours ago ... For Rod Howe, the decision to leave the Town of Ithaca Supervisor's ... town of Ithaca to be one of the best municipalities in New York state.” The ...tompkinsweekly.com
Highlights of the 9/10/26 Expanded Budget Committee meeting9 hours ago ... ... Planning, Workforce Development, and Ithaca Tompkins International Airport ... Legislator Hubbard (D-Ithaca City, Town) said she sees value in the ...tompkinscountyny.gov
Cornell looks to turn Beebe Hall into makerspace - 607 News Now13 hours ago ... A 350-square-foot addition for increased pedestrian access would also be constructed. The Town of Ithaca Planning Board will talk about the project tonight. The ...607newsnow.com