Archive: News

Corning – Tom Reed’s campaign Sunday announced that Reed has become the first candidate in New York to sign the Shooters Committee on Political Education (SCOPE) anti-SAFE Act pledge to publicly support the repeal of the New York SAFE Act and oppose any similar gun-ban legislation at the federal level. His campaign used the occasion to criticize Tompkins County legislator Martha Robertson, who is challenging him for his Congressional seat in November's election.

Reed joined the United Gun Owners of New York in Ovid Sunday to address the crowd and become the first candidate to sign the pledge.

Rep. Tom Reed welcomed U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz’s recent comments on the benefits of domestic natural gas development in New York State. In an interview this week, Moniz said natural gas – through hydrofracking – has enhanced the industry by more than $100 billion. He went on to say Governor Cuomo should look at the economic prosperity natural gas development is bringing to neighboring Pennsylvania as he weighs whether or not to lift the five-year moratorium.

“New York, and our region in particular, is missing out on much-needed jobs and energy security as the Governor continues the moratorium into its sixth year,” Reed said. “The state has been slow to act and is missing out on economic prosperity, as Secretary Moniz correctly points out. Our country will continue to need energy and demand will only continue to grow. New York can and should be a part of that growth. After more than five years of investigation and study, New Yorkers fairly deserve the benefits of safe, careful development.”

Security in the schools is an ongoing concern.  While administrators try to keep low key when incidents occur, they do occur.  Even in a rural community where some people think it is part of life to keep their doors unlocked, Lansing school officials have a responsibility to remain vigilant and to respond.  That is a responsibility they take very seriously.

"Certainly security is on all our minds," said Board Of Education President Glenn Swanson last week.  "It is something we are looking at."

The Legislature considered, but failed to approve, a proposal to authorize a one-year delay on the planned renovation of the county jail—that moratorium urged by community members deeply concerned about the addition of seven more jail beds.  Legislator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne proposed the measure to delay the project to allow the new Jail Alternatives Task Force, being formed through the County’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board, to complete its work before any action is taken on the jail project.  While noting that Tompkins has been “at the cutting edge of counties” in the area of incarceration alternatives, she maintained delay would be prudent to allow the new task force to do its work before proceeding with the capital project.

Legislators listened to nearly two hours of impassioned comments by those concerned about the project and urging the moratorium.  More than 100 people packed the Legislature Chambers, and at least a quarter of them addressed the Legislature—urging that the county not join in what was described as society’s move toward mass incarceration and maintaining that the time had come to make a difference at the local level in the criminal justice system.  In more than an hour of thoughtful discussion that followed, many Legislators thanked those expressing concern for their initiative and their input—saying they have had an impact in prompting the renewed examination of additional ways to reduce the jail population.

Grant Funds Accepted For New Alternatives-to-Incarceration Program
The Legislature, without dissent, authorized acceptance of a more than $100,000 grant from the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services—$35,000 each year over three years—to support a defender-based advocacy sentencing initiative for criminal defendants in Tompkins County, in partnership with the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA), of Syracuse.  CCA will work in partnership with the County Assigned Counsel Office and defense counsel to provide training, consultation, investigation, and report preparation services for identified cases, as well as referral information for relevant support services for defendants.

Public Safety Chair Brian Robison told legislators the grant award is very significant, and could almost be considered the first step in the county’s study of additional alternatives, to be examined in depth by the new Jail Alternatives Task Force being formed through the County’s Criminal Justice/Alternatives to Incarceration Board.

Dylan BlandOn Saturday February 15 at Cornell ‘s Barton Hall, ten Lansing athletes competed in the Section 4 meet qualifier for the State Championship meet.  Hayley Wigsten, Anders Prestus, Max Jordan and Dylan Bland advanced to the State Championship meet to be held Saturday March 1, again in Barton Hall. 

Dylan Bland won the boy’s pole vault competition by clearing 14 feet on his first try.  Max Jordan placed second with a successful jump of 13 ft 6 inches.   Hayley Wigsten placed second in the girl’s competition by clearing 9 ft.

Congressman Tom Reed Monday highlighted Congress’ recent failure to hold the line on the national debt and in turn, the interest payment on the debt which is set to quadruple within the decade. Reed opposed the clean debt limit increase Congress passed last week, saying a glance at the country’s interest payment on debt alone is enough to crush the next generation.

“Raising the debt ceiling without any reductions or reforms simply increases spending and increases our debt – irresponsible moves I cannot support. Maintaining the status quo with business as usual in Washington is not fair to the next generation and does nothing to address the crisis that is our enormous debt.”

Lansing's representative to the Tompkins County Legislature Mike Sigler announced Wednesday that he will solicit signatures on a petition to the new York State public Service Commission to repower the coal-fueled Cayuga Power Plant with natural gas.  The petition is an eleventh hour push to show Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York Public Service Commission that there is plenty of local support for the repowering plan.

"A lot of what people have done so far has been great, like calling the governor's office and calling their representatives," Sigler says.  "But there is no surety about how many people have called.  I looked at the turnout from (the PSC Public Hearing held in Lansing at the end of last July) and it was huge.  It seems like if we could get together and put all those names on a petition, then we'd have some hard copy to show the commission that, hey -- these people do care about keeping this plant open."

The Lansing RFP (Request For Proposals) Committee held the second of a series of developer presentations Wednesday to evaluate proposals for a Town Center.  About a dozen members of the public joined the committee to hear NRP Group Vice President of Development Chris Dirr and Better Housing for Tompkins County, Inc. Property Manager Rick Cowan talk about their project that would bring 80 rental townhouses to the mix. 

"We had an opportunity when we were approached by NRP to be a local partner for them," Cowan said.  "Chris invited people from Better Housing, Andy Sciarabba, (Supervisor) Kathy Miller to fly to visit some of the sites.  We were extremely impressed with the quality.  The Calimar site was stunningly beautiful.  I manage 500 units in this area.  The workforce housing apartments we saw were far superior to anything I see in our local market.  So we were very excited to partner with NRP.  When we started talking about the Lansing Town Center, (we thought) it would fit nicely into this community."

Village of Lansing Deputy Mayor Lynn Leopold reported Monday that the Village Deer Population Management program has ended for the season.  She says total number of deer taken in the Village is down this year, as is the number of automobile accidents involving deer.

"We had fewer deer this year, probably because we're beginning to make a difference," said Deputy Mayor Lynn Leopold.  "In our program we had 41 adults and eight fawns.  37 does and 12 bucks.  So that's good: we're getting a lot of does out of our population."

A two-family home at 403 Auburn Road between Buck and East Lansing Roads was severely damaged by fire January 30th.  12 emergency vehicles arrived at the scene and had the fire under control within 45 minutes, but not before much of the south half of the house was burned out.  Lansing Fire Chief Scott Purcell says the fire may have been caused by an electrical problem in a light fixture.  He says with high winds the fire quickly spread to the roof.  No one was injured.

A couple with a child were living in the southern part of the house and their parents in the north part.  The parents discovered smoke on the ground floor and called 911.  Purcell says the first truck  arrived almost immediately.  About 20 Lansing fire fighters responded to the call with 5 large trucks, the chief's vehicle and a pickup truck coming from Lansing, one tanker each from the Freeville, Locke, Genoa, Groton and Dryden Fire Departments and personnel from Freeville and Groton.  Tompkins County Deputy Sheriffs were also on the scene.

With a major addition on Central Station and a new fire station in the Village of Lansing, district officials are planning upgrades to Station 4.  Architect George Breuhaus met with the Lansing Fire Commissioners Tuesday to review preliminary plans for the North Lansing fire station.

Central Station and Station 5 in the Village are the hubs for Lansing emergency responders.  While emergency equipment is kept at Station 4 and Station 3 in Lansingville, they are also frequently used for meetings and meals.  Station 4 famously hosts the election day dinner and supper each year, as well as a series of breakfasts to raise money for charitable works of the North Lansing Auxiliary.  Construction will focus on the meeting room and kitchen portions of the building.