Archive: News

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a nation-leading initiative Monday between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the state's investor-owned utilities for a new framework to increase access to energy efficiency and clean energy solutions for low-to-moderate income households and affordable multifamily buildings.

The collaborative partnership and investments made as part of this initiative will result in cleaner and healthier indoor air and more affordable energy options for households, including more than 350,000 low-to-moderate income households throughout the state. The framework, submitted to the New York State Department of Public Service, will more than double the number of low-to-moderate income households and multifamily buildings receiving energy efficiency services such as insulation, air sealing, electric load reduction, and HVAC improvements, annually and increase outreach, education, and community-based support programs for energy efficiency improvements.

New York State has suspended liquor licenses for 12 bars in New York City after finding egregious violations of pandemic-related Executive Orders. As of Tuesday, the state's multi-agency task force -- led by the State Police and State Liquor Authority -- has conducted 1,131 compliance checks, observing violations at 55 establishments. Businesses found in violation of COVID-19 regulations face fines up to $10,000 per violation, while egregious violations can result in the immediate suspension of a bar or restaurant's liquor license.

"While New York State's COVID-19 numbers continue to steadily decline, there are alarming increases in states across the country and now is not the time to let our guard down," Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said. "Local governments need to do their job, but the state is supplementing their efforts in every way we can. Noncompliance will lead us right back right where we were just a few months ago -- so we must continue to crack down on the bad actors who violate the law and risk everyone's health and safety."

Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. met the metrics Tuesday to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those areas, all of which have significant community spread, to quarantine for 14 days.

No states have been removed. The quarantine applies to any person arriving from an area with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or an area with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

"Our job is to do everything we can to control COVID and anticipate possible future issues, and in that regard, the issues we watch are the infection rates spreading across the country and compliance with the rules that we now have in place across the state," Governor Cuomo said. "The situation across the nation is still very bad and there are more states that have exceeded our thresholds for quarantine."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo updated New Yorkers Thursday on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"New York State continues to closely monitor the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases throughout the nation, and as that situation worsens, we're taking every action we can here at home to slow the spread and save lives," Governor Cuomo said. "While yesterday's numbers show New York is continuing on the right trajectory, we cannot get complacent. With much of the rest of the country surging, we are still vulnerable and have to continue to wear masks, socially distance and be New York Tough. We will get through this, together."

Here's a riddle.  A small hamlet has three roads leading into or out of it.  One will be closed for bridge repair.  Another leads to a State Road, which also has a bridge that will be closed for repair.  The third has a newly repaired one-lane bridge that, after taking you far out of your way leads to a road with a damaged bridge that takes you to another long road that gets you to the state road with that other closed bridge.  How do you get out?

For residents of Ludlowville that's no joke.  It is likely to become a reality later this year.  But the answer to the riddle isn't as bleak or as simple as it may seem.  The Salmon Creek Bridge on Route 34B, traversing the gorge behind Lansing Middle School, can be bypassed using Myers Road.  So it won't be as inconvenient as it could have been for Ludlowvilleans to get to South Lansing or Ithaca.  According to Lansing Town Supervisor the work on the Ludlowville and Salmon Creek bridges may overlap for about two weeks -- or it may not.  One thing is sure.  There will be well over a year of disrupted traffic in South Lansing.

TCAT announced Tuesday that summer Route 22 to local parks on both sides of Cayuga Lake started running on Wednesday.  The route will begin after 9 a.m. and end late afternoon traveling to and from Ithaca Commons and Taughannock State Park, serving northwest destinations to include the Ithaca Children's Garden and Cass Park. In the city's northeast, the route will travel between Stewart Park and the Commons, stopping at Ithaca High School and the Fall Creek area. Afternoon trips will serve the recently opened Alex Haley Pool at GIAC with a stop nearby at Albany and Court.

TCAT typically operates the route 22 every summer service period, which this year started May 24. Anticipating low ridership due to pandemic-related cancellations of summer camps and activities, TCAT chose not to run the route this season.

Washington, DC - CongressmanTom Reed (NY-23) joined the bipartisan 'Defund Cities that Defund the Police Act 'Wednesday, which would prevent jurisdictions that defund the police from receiving certain federal grants and stop specific federal taxpayer dollars from supporting jurisdictions who intentionally make their communities less safe. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), along with Reps. Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Will Hurd (TX-23), and Jared Golden (ME-02).

"We will continue to stand with the many brave men and women in law enforcement who work tirelessly to keep us safe. Defunding or degrading our police officers is not a legitimate policy proposal; it is simply a dangerous, extremist platform that would put our law enforcement in harm's way and leave our communities more susceptible to crime," said Reed. Instead of taking critical resources away from our police, we should provide law enforcement with more tools, funding, and support to do their jobs effectively. Working together in a bipartisan fashion, we can develop real solutions that will encourage positive reforms, improve training protocols, and facilitate the removal of bad apples in the force."

The Tompkins County Health Department has identified a positive COVID-19 case in a local skilled nursing facility (SNF). In the event of a positive case in a SNF, the New York State Department of Health assumes responsibility of the contact investigation in conjunction with the local health department. The positive individual is asymptomatic, was identified through routine screening procedures, and is in isolation at the facility and all close contacts have been identified and are in quarantine.

The SNF has notified all staff, residents, and family members of all residents that a positive case was identified. The Tompkins County Health Department is working closely with the facility to ensure all safety protocols are being followed.

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Mathylde Frontus announced Tuesday that the Assembly has passed legislation that would require video recordings of all interrogations of juveniles in family court (A.7970, Frontus).

"The Assembly Majority has fought to ensure that when our youth end up in our juvenile justice system they are treated as children, not adults. We must protect their future, and that includes ensuring that they are treated justly," said Speaker Heastie. "This legislation protects our youth during interrogations by providing accountability and transparency during the process."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday that the largest combined clean energy solicitations ever issued in the U.S., seeking up to 4,000 megawatts of renewable capacity to combat climate change. New York's second offshore wind solicitation seeks up to 2,500 megawatts of projects, the largest in the nation's history, in addition to last year's solicitation which resulted in nearly 1,700 megawatts awarded. The solicitation includes a multi-port strategy and requirement for offshore wind generators to partner with any of the 11 prequalified New York ports to stage, construct, manufacture key components, or coordinate operations and maintenance activities. This solicitation has the potential to bring New York State halfway toward its goal of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035 and meet Cuomo's nation-leading climate and environment goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Funding for port investments will include $400 million in both public and private funding.

"During one of the most challenging years New York has ever faced, we remain laser-focused on implementing our nation-leading climate plan and growing our clean energy economy, not only to bring significant economic benefits and jobs to the state, but to quickly attack climate change at its source by reducing our emissions." Cuomo said. "With these record-breaking solicitations for renewable energy and new port infrastructure, New York continues to lead the way with the most ambitious Green New Deal in the nation, creating a future fueled by clean, renewable energy sources."

Legislature Hears Update on COVID-19, Including Demographic Breakdown of 202 Total Positive Cases

Tompkins County Administrator Jason Molino and Public Health Director Frank Kruppa provided a local update on COVID-19. The update included a demographic breakdown of positive cases, information on the reopening plans for K-12 schools, and details on a New York State travel advisory. Kruppa shared additional details on the number of positive cases over time resulting from individuals traveling outside of the county and returning, including a recent increase in cases resulting from such travel.

During discussion on the impact of colleges returning for the fall semester, Kruppa stated "This is not a student problem to-date, what we know about our cases so far is that it is community behavior, not student behavior." The Tompkins County Health Department and Emergency Operations Center continue to work closely with the colleges on development of their plans for campus reactivation. Kruppa added a reminder on the details of quarantine, stating "The important thing about quarantine is that it is always 14 days, and you cannot test out of it. Testing only tells you results in that moment; the quarantine is about the full incubation period of the disease which is 14 days."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday that 10 additional states meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those states, all of which have significant community spread, to quarantine for 14 days. The newly-added states are Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia and Washington. The quarantine applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

"As infection rates increase in 41 other states, our numbers continue to steadily decline, thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers and our incremental, data-driven opening. Yesterday, we had our lowest death toll since the pandemic began - and with no fatalities in New York City. While today's numbers are encouraging, we must remain vigilant," Cuomo said. "We are adding 10 states to the travel advisory - individuals coming from Alaska, Indiana, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia and Washington must quarantine for 14 days. The restaurants and bars that encourage young people to congregate threaten to bring us back to the hell we experienced three months ago - yesterday, the State Liquor Authority suspended the liquor licenses of four bars and restaurants. This is a dangerous situation, and the bad operators will make it worse for themselves and everyone, so be smart, wear a mask, stay New York Tough."