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 AusgabeSpencer's sole grocer is gone; community fights food crisis
Spencer food insecurity
Fire destroyed Spencer's only grocery store nearly a month ago.
The Shurfine supermarket fire left the Tioga County community without access to fresh food, and a putrid smell still hangs over the rubble [Quelle: Ithaca Voice]. Residents are organizing mutual aid networks and crowdsourcing solutions to bridge the gap while the town waits for rebuilding or a replacement tenant. The loss hits harder than a typical store closure—Spencer sits far enough from Ithaca that this was the lifeline for elderly residents and families without reliable transport.
Watch whether the city's zoning and planning boards fast-track a reopening plan.
Zoning board seats open now
Ithaca's zoning and planning boards need you—deadline November 1.
The city is recruiting residents for vacant commission seats on zoning, planning, sustainability, landmarks, and community police relations [Quelle: Ithaca Voice]. These boards approve or block housing projects, development permits, and neighborhood changes—the mechanics that control where apartments get built and what gets preserved. No prior government experience required, just willingness to show up and vote on decisions that reshape your block.
Your application directly affects whether the next housing crisis gets solved or stalled.
'It truly felt like a death': After Shurfine fire, Spencer community works ...17 hours ago ... As the area continues to grapple with the loss of a longtime community staple, residents and local ... © 2026 The Ithaca Voice Powered by Newspack Privacy Policy ...ithacavoice.org