March 31st, 2022 Daily Headlines

The City of Ithaca has released answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding the city’s Reimagining Public Safety Plan. The FAQ denies claims that the city is abolishing the police stating that the city will continue to use armed police officers in addition to unarmed civilian first responders. The report, outlining proposed reforms, was presented to the Common Council on March 2nd receiving mixed reactions from councilors. In an Op-Ed published in the Ithaca Voice last Monday 3rd Ward councilor Jeffrey Barkin expressed concern over the recommended changes including the proposal to split the department into two branches overseen by a civilian commissioner. At the March 2nd meeting 1st ward councilor Cynthia Brock said the council did not explicitly endorse that proposal when approving the Reimagining Public Safety report in February of 2021.

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According to WHAM, New York state plans to use funds from the Seneca Nation to offset some of the costs of a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. The state has pledged to put $600 Million into the $1.4 Billion project. The state will use $418 Million paid to it by the Seneca Nation as a part of a new casino gaming agreement. The nation paid a total of $564.8 Million to New York State and local governments this week after the state froze nation bank accounts. 

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Local DAs are divided over the legality of “gifting” marijuana. According to Syracuse.com, state regulators sent cease and desist letters to 50 operators suspected of selling marijuana illegally through a gifting loophole. State law doesn’t currently allow the sale of marijuana, but does allow it to be given as a gift. Some stores have offered to sell stickers and other memorabilia with marijuana as a gift. New York Cannabis Insider reached out to five local DA’s finding a variety of opinions on the matter. The Onondaga County DA took no legal position on the matter while the Erie County DA said the “gifting” was legal so long as the amount was within the legal limit. Albany County DA said they were awaiting further guidance.