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The Ithacan
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The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
From left, Cornell senior Patrick Kuehl, Fourth Ward alderperson elect, and Jorge DeFendini, incumbent Fourth Ward Alderperson. Kuehl received 49 votes in the general election while Defendini received 40.

Successful write-in campaign stirs conversation about Ithaca’s political climate

By Lorien Tyne, News Editor • December 1, 2023
While some express frustration with Fourth Ward Alderperson-elect Patrick Kuehl's write-in campaign for Common Council, others raise concerns with the priorities and tactics of the Solidarity Slate and local Working Families Party club, including incumbent Fourth Ward Alderperson Jorge Defendini's sudden attempt to unseat WFP leadership.
The Memorandum of Understanding includes a $4 million payment in lieu of taxes. The MOU’s term will expire in June 2039, which is six years shorter than the original proposal stated.

Cornell will contribute $4 million to Ithaca annually until 2039

By Lorien Tyne, News Editor • October 25, 2023
The Ithaca Common Council voted to accept the Memorandum of Understanding proposal Oct. 11 in a 9–1 vote and Cornell’s Board of Trustees voted to pass the MOU on Oct. 13.
The city of Ithaca has been revising policies to help manage homeless encampments, and continuing its search to find the first candidate to fill the city manager position. The council also approved raising the salary of its alderpeople.

Common Council updates on homeless encampments, council changes and November ballot

By John Baker, Contributing Writer • October 4, 2023
The city of Ithaca has been revising policies to help manage homeless encampments, and continuing its search to find the first candidate to fill the city manager position. The council also approved raising the salary of its alderpeople.
The city of Ithaca's Common Council strengthened the Trans Safe Haven Resolution and officially declared Ithaca as a sanctuary for transgender healthcare when it passed new gender-affirming laws Sept. 6.

Ithaca declared sanctuary for transgender healthcare

By Jaquelyn Reaves, Contributing Writer • September 20, 2023
The city of Ithaca's Common Council passed new gender-affirming laws Sept. 6 to strengthen the Trans Safe Haven Resolution, officially declaring Ithaca as a sanctuary for transgender healthcare. 
Current alderpeople, including Cynthia Brock, Jorge DeFendini, Tiffany Kumar and Phoebe Brown are running for reelection. Kayla Matos, deputy director at the Southside Community Center, is a new candidate running to represent the 1st Ward.

More candidates for Common Council elections come forward

By Lorien Tyne, News Editor • February 21, 2023
More candidates for the City of Ithaca’s Common Council have announced their campaigns for the November 2023 general election.
All 10 of the Common Council seats will open up this year with all the members’ terms ending Dec. 31 and each seat will be filled after a primary election in June and the general election in November.

Local officials begin election campaigns for Common Council

By Lorien Tyne, News Editor • February 1, 2023
Robert Cantelmo, current 5th Ward Alderperson, announced his campaign for the 2023 Ithaca mayoral race. As of Feb. 1, no other candidates for mayor have come forward.
Ithaca's abortion sanctuary law prohibits city resources to aid out-of-state investigations seeking to bring criminal charges against people performing or receiving an abortion and individuals are encouraged to sue Ithaca if the law is not upheld. 

City of Ithaca protects abortion access with sanctuary law

By Lorien Tyne, Assistant News Editor • September 7, 2022
Ithaca became a sanctuary city for abortions July 6 after the Common Council voted unanimously to make the ordinance brought forth by Alderperson Robert Cantelmo into city law. 
Common Council Representative Laura Lewis was assigned as acting mayor by former mayor Svante Myrick. Lewis will be retaining her vote and seat on the Common Council as the Fifth Ward alderperson until the next election.

Acting mayor intends to continue community initiatives

By Lorien Tyne and Olivia Stanzl • February 23, 2022
Local government officials in the City of Ithaca are confident that the community initiatives started by former mayor Svante Myrick will continue.
Ithaca had multiple races including the City of Ithaca Common Council, Tompkins County Legislature, town councilpersons and town justice. Residents also had five statewide proposals to vote on which all passed. All results are considered unofficial until all mail-in ballots are counted after Nov. 9.

Tompkins County Board of Elections releases race results

By Caitlin Holtzman, News Editor • November 3, 2021
Election Day was Nov. 2 and voting occurred across the United States in the first general election since the 2020 Presidential Election.
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