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The county legislature met on June 1 and passed resolutions focused on cryptocurrency mining and a transition from fossil fuels to heating, as well as news from the Emergency Operations Center on the latest responses. COVID and the director of the Tompkins County History Center about a project he is working on. at.
Environmentally focused advocacy resolutions adopted
A resolution calling for a moratorium on the operation of cryptocurrency mining centers until the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation can review environmental impacts unanimously passed (14-0). Cryptocurrency mining takes a large amount of energy and became a popular industry before regulations could be put in place at the state level. A conversation took place on whether renewables should be considered to power these centers. Lawmaker Mike Sigler said he has been following bitcoin since 2014 and lawmakers have spent a lot of time researching something they are not voting on, this is a vote of support. I will vote for it, but there are a lot of unanswered questions.
A resolution calling for the New York State Public Research Commission to conduct and publish research on the transition from fossil fuels to heating was passed 13-1, with Sigler in opposition. The resolution calls for gas reduction and analysis of the electricity grid among other analyzes of greenhouse gas emissions.
A resolution tabled by lawmaker Dan Klein to adopt a policy of managing a county-owned old-growth forest with minimal human intervention and no commercial exploitation passed 11-3, with lawmakers Anne Koreman, Leslie Schill and Martha Robertson voting against . Klein shared an impassioned speech on the importance of protecting old forest lands and provided historical examples of the impacts of commercial logging on the environment and local ecosystems. Koreman said she was not in favor of the bill due to inaccuracies in the text of the resolution. Two attempted amendments proposed by Robertson, one to change the wording of the resolution regarding the city of Caroline and the other to call for directional felling of trees allowing hardwood saplings to thrive in areas with cleared canopy, have failed. Klein argued that when pines naturally fall, hardwoods then naturally rise to take their place, subsequently sharing photos of the process taking place in the forest in question.
Emergency Operations Center provides update on COVID-19 response
Public Health Director Frank Kruppa and Deputy County Administrator Amie Hendrix shared an update on the COVID-19 response, including the currently low prevalence of the disease and the high rate of vaccination. The Department of Health continues to host pop-up vaccination clinics to reach different populations across the county. Kruppa said: The reopening guidelines continue to evolve, seeing fully vaccinated people able to not wear masks in most settings, although some private companies still need masks. We continue to answer many questions from the community and encourage the patience of the community. He continued: The data is all heading in the right direction, the number of cases is very low and our vaccination numbers are increasing steadily, most of the people who received their first dose also received their second dose.
Legislature hears presentation on HistoryForge project
Tompkins County Historic Center Director Ben Sandberg and Project Manager Eve Snyder joined the meeting to present the HistoryForge Project and its expansion both locally and nationally. The Project is a digital web application that connects local communities to history using census records, maps and photos. Hundreds of local volunteers have contributed over the past few years to entering data into the system. The program allows you to search via a person’s name or address to discover a complete building or resident record.
Snyder shared examples from the early 20th century story of homeownership and local black employment records highlighting segregation in the city. The program will expand by offering current residents of Ithaca to upload historic photos of their properties. Sandberg noted that this is a powerful tool for local history. And continued, We strove to map the entire county, to provide a systemic means of examining census demographics over time.
Sandberg added that this product was made possible by the legislatures’ sustained investment in the Tompkins County History Center. Elmira and Auburn, NY and a small town in Ohio are also using the tool, the History Center plans to allow for future expansion in the future. Schill praised the work of volunteers analyzing local history and Koreman and Sigler shared examples of properties they researched and their enthusiasm for expanding into the rest of the county.
More details can be found at: https://www.historyforge.net/
Among other matters
A proclamation was read celebrating June 2021 as LGBTQ + pride month, commemorating the contributions of the LGBTQ + community and the continued protection of human rights by local and national groups and advocates. Rainbow flags will be hoisted in county buildings throughout Pride Month. Koreman proposed that the proclamation be delivered to the Tompkins County Youth Services Department to celebrate LGBTQ + youth in the community.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Leslyn McBean-Clairborne also read a proclamation commemorating Juneteenth, the annual celebration of the liberation of black people from slavery. The proclamation pointed out that news of emancipation did not reach slaves in Texas until two years after Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation, and the celebration that erupted following this delayed announcement became the Juneteenth. The resolution recognized the continuing injustices present in American society and celebrated the contributions and progress made by African Americans in society. Dr Ken Clarke, director of the Office of Human Rights, was on hand to accept the proclamation, acknowledging the ongoing struggle for liberation and the continued pursuit of justice, freedom and equality. McBean-Clairborne has announced that the County and City of Ithaca will collaborate on a week of programming from June 17 starting June 14, details to be announced in the coming days.
An additional proclamation was read recognizing June as Dairy Month and paying homage to milk. McBean-Clairborne encouraged residents to reap the benefits of consuming dairy products. Sigler moved the resolution in favor of the county’s dairy farmers.
The legislature voted to allow the waiver of the tax levy by an 11: 3 vote, with lawmakers Sigler, McKenna and Morey all voting against.
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