The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
32° Ithaca, NY
The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
The elections in Ithaca in November will focus primarily on local offices, including the City of Ithaca's Common Council and the Tompkins County Legislature.

The Ithacan’s 2025 Local Politics Guide for City of Ithaca and Tompkins County

October 22, 2025
Ahead of the Nov. 4 general election, learn more about candidates for the City of Ithaca's Common Council and the Tompkins County Legislature
In November 2023, Cornell University’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine organized a protest and die-in. At the Jan. 2 and Jan. 16 Tompkins County Legislature meetings community members urged the legislative body to develop a local resolution calling for a ceasefire. TCL rejected a ceasefire resolution for the ongoing Israel-Hamas war Feb. 6 in a 7-6 vote. 

Legislature rejects local ceasefire resolution in a close vote

By Vivian Rose, Assistant News Editor • February 12, 2024
The Tompkins County Legislature rejected a ceasefire resolution for the ongoing Israel-Hamas war Feb. 6 in a 7-6 vote. 
In addition to new student groups being formed, the local community of Tompkins County has also pushed for more action. At the Jan. 2 and Jan. 16 Tompkins County Legislature (TCL) meetings community members urged the legislative body to develop a local resolution calling for a ceasefire. 

Students continue to seek support from IC while community urges for Israel-Hamas war resolution

By Vivian Rose, Assistant News Editor • January 24, 2024
After more than 100 days of the Israel-Hamas war, some Ithaca College students have been pushing for more action from the college to support Muslim and Palestinian students on campus. 
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, Editor in Chief • 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.
The campus community was informed of the incident at 10:49 a.m. Oct. 16 via an email from the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management (OPS). According to the email, the Ithaca Police Department (IPD) is investigating the burglary with support from the OPS. It was reported that someone broke into the building, stole a television and fell asleep in the building.

Tompkins County and Ithaca pass public safety reforms

By Chris Tolve, Staff Writer • April 8, 2021
The Tompkins County Legislature and the Ithaca Common Council each voted to approve a set of resolutions seeking to reform local law enforcement.
Seventh District Legislator Daniel Klein speaks at the forum held March 25 to discuss concerns regard the effects of the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport expansion.

Local activists hold forum to protest airport expansion

By Sam Haut, Staff Writer • March 27, 2019
A forum was held to discuss community members’ concerns surrounding the effects of the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport expansion.
Local resident Stephanie Heslop comments on the airport expansion during the Tompkins County Legislature meeting Feb. 19. She was one of several activists to express her disapproval with the expansion.

Locals protest airport expansion during county meeting

By Ryan King, Assistant News Editor • February 20, 2019
Local activists expressed their concerns with the expansion of the Ithaca Airport during the Tompkins County Legislature meeting Feb. 19.
From left, Susan Allen-Gil, professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences, and Trevor Strother ’18 conduct research on microplastics in Cayuga Lake. The research will be used in a plastic bag ban proposal for Tompkins County.

Professor and students conduct research for plastic bag ban

By Alex Hartzog, Contributing Writer • December 4, 2018
The Tompkins County Legislature will be receiving a proposal in early 2019 to ban all single-use plastic bags in the county.
Bill McKibben spoke about climate change April 11 at Ithaca College. Nancy Jacobson writes that people need to find a common ground when discussing the impacts of climate change.

Advocacy journalist speaks about climate change

By Laura O’Brien, Staff Writer • April 16, 2018
Bill McKibben, influential environmental author, journalist and creator of 350.org, said activism is the most important tool in the fight against climate.
Amanda Champion, candidate the Distrcit 12 seat for Tompkins County Legislature, writes that students must become involved in their local democracies to have an impact on both local and national politics.

Commentary: Students must vote in local elections

By Amanda Champion • October 3, 2017
Though many have come to Ithaca from someplace else, if you call Ithaca home right now, you’re one of us.
Dr. William Klepack, medical director of the Tompkins County Health Department, speaks to the County Legislature Chambers about the health issues related to tobacco products.

Tompkins County votes to raise tobacco purchasing age to 21

By Zoë Freer-Hessler, Staff Writer • April 25, 2017
The Tobacco 21 bill would not make it illegal for those under the age of 21 to consume or possess tobacco, only to purchase it.
Keith Hannon ’04, lecturer in the Department of Media Arts, Sciences and Studies, said he had an interest in politics during his time as a student at the college, but was never very involved. Hannon is now running for Tompkins County Legislature in hopes of promoting progressive values that are important to many people in Tompkins County.

College alum and professor runs for Tompkins County Legislature

By Steph Siok, Staff Writer • March 22, 2017
He spent over two months researching the position and realized that the reasons to do it outweighed the reasons not to, he said.
Load More Stories
Donate to The Ithacan
$701
$4000
Contributed
Our Goal