Archive: News

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker today announced a joint multi-state agreement to develop a regional supply chain for personal protective equipment, other medical equipment and testing.

"Our states should never be in a position where we are actively competing against each other for life-saving resources. By working together across the region, we can obtain critical supplies as we begin the process to restart our economies, while also saving money for our taxpayers. This concept is at the heart of the regional approach we've established," Murphy said.

Congressman Tom Reed called on House Leadership, the Office of the Attending Physician, and the Architect of the Capitol Monday to quickly establish guidelines for the Capitol press corps that carefully balance public health best practices and the important access the media must be given to provide the American people with the latest news.

Reed previously noted the urgent need to develop such a plan in a letter to congressional leaders and Attending Physician Dr. Brian Monahan last week. Though the Senate did circulate some important health guidelines last week, the House has not shared any additional press-specific plan or communications regarding this topic with reporters.

While the global pandemic has shut down many businesses, many others have remained open.  Several Lansing restaurants, for instance, are open for takeout, Lansing Market is open, local guitar teacher Bob Keefe is offering online lessons, and the list goes on.  A new Facebook group was created for Lansing last weekend, based on a Cortland Facebook group that promotes that city's businesses during the pandemic. The Lansing group has become immediately active.

"It's a group in which you can consistently put your information out there," LaVigne says. "What are your specials for Wednesday? Thursday? Is it Taco Tuesday, for instance, at a Salt Point Brewery? Is this pulled pork Friday at Flynn's Roadhouse, or is it this week we're doing pizza?  So it's a way to communicate to everybody. That started up over the weekends."

Social distancing rules and state mandates that close down in-person public meetings during the coronavirus pandemic have presented a special challenge for municipalities.  The Lansing Town Board livestreamed its regular March and April meetings on Facebook with mixed results.  The picture was just OK, and it was very hard to hear what people were saying.  There was some improvement in sound in the April meeting, but some board members were unintelligible.  Now that a new camera and livestreaming software has been installed, Town officials are hoping the third time will be the charm.

"Picture quality and sound should be improved but it's a work in progress," says Parks and Recreation Supervisor Patrick Tyrrell, who also manages computer and technical projects for the Town. "We're still learning.  Private computers are the real issue with sound quality for the past couple meetings.  That's out of my control.  The last meeting was better with the use of speakers but one computer in particular had very poor sound quality.  Again, it's a process we are working through, we'll get better each month."

Governor Cuomo Announces Collaboration with Gates Foundation to Reimagine Education
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday that New York State is collaborating with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a blueprint to reimagine education in the new normal. As New York begins to develop plans to reopen K-12 schools and colleges, the state and the Gates Foundation will consider what education should look like in the future, including:

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday that the results of phase two of the state's antibody testing survey. The preliminary results show 14.9 percent of the population have COVID-19 antibodies. The preliminary results of phase one of the state's antibody testing survey released on April 23rd showed 13.9 percent of the population have COVID-19 antibodies.

The Governor also announced the state is expanding its antibody testing survey starting today to further determine the spread of infections among frontline workers and first responders. The state is testing today 1,000 New York City Fire Department officers and 1,000 New York City Police Department officers from across all five boroughs, and this week will test 3,000 health care workers and 1,000 transit workers for antibodies.

Facing uncertain revenue cuts due to the final closing of the Cayuga Power plant and especially because of looming state aid cuts, Lansing Central School District officials are considering a raft of cuts that may save $740,500.  Many of the reductions involve staff reductions, but one potential program reduction has already ignited passionate protest in the community: $130,000 in savings by reducing aquatics instruction.  Superintendent Chris Pettograsso told the Board of Education t its April 22 meeting that misinformation about the cuts has muddied the discussion in the community, and she sought to set the record straight.

"This is our first time discussing it outside of the leadership team and with our aquatics director,"Pettograsso said. "So I'm a little disappointed in the misinformation that's gone out around this program because it's very difficult to clean misinformation than it is to allow us to share it and then get feedback.  We are looking at a lot of unknowns as we move forward. What we do know is that we have a significant reduction in our aid and tax revenue and we have to make some adjustment to that."

This weekend, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that testing for COVID-19 will be made available for essential workers. This is in addition to individuals who should seek testing because they are symptomatic or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Public Health Director Frank Kruppa said, “As many essential workers are still interacting directly with the public, increased testing is vital to stopping the spread of COVID-19. This increased testing will allow us to identify positive cases, and reduce potential exposures.” Kruppa continued, “Essential workers have been on the front line responding to this crisis, I want to thank all of the essential workers in Tompkins County who are continuing to serve our community during this difficult time.”

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