Headlines for November 22, 2022

The Ithaca Times reports that Ithaca’s Community Police Board met last week to discuss increasingly urgent staffing issues in the city’s police department. Officers have been recently stretched thin and recent officer injuries have forced remaining workers to cover longer than usual shifts—including on designated off days. Acting Chief John Joly noted how requiring officers to stay late and come to work early is having what he called a “pretty drastic effect on morale.” However, the department has made strides to solve the issue, and has already interviewed 24 people who are eligible for service. Many of the applicants have already taken the civil service exam and physical agility test and could join the department as soon as August. 

According to the Times Union, New York’s Adult Survivors Act goes into effect on Thursday. The new law will allow hundreds of sexual assault survivors to file lawsuits against their alleged accusers for a period of one year after the law goes into effect. The suspension of the statute of limitations only applies to civil claims involving sexual assault, and lawsuits can be made regardless of how many years have passed since the crime occurred. Senator Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat, explained that the goal of the legislation is to allow survivors to present their case in the courts, and to make the public sphere a safer place by ousting perpetrators.

The Ithaca Concert Band is set to perform on December 8th at Ithaca College’s Whalen Center. According to the Ithaca Times, the theme is “Christmas Throughout Time,” and the band will play well-known Christmas and holiday classics. The performance is free to the public, and more information can be found at the Ithaca Concert Band’s Facebook page.