Local News for Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Caroline Broadband Expansion Gets Boost

The town of Caroline is taking steps to expand broadband access to its residents. The expansion effort was awarded more than $130,000 from the Tompkins Community Recovery Fund. Caroline is investing additional $330,000 of its American Recovery Act funds toward a feasibility study and partial buildout of broadband. At its February meeting, the Town Council also approved new and expanded tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters, ambulance workers, veterans as well as for seniors and disabled citizens.

State Cannabis Licenses Remain Despite Injunction

As WRFI reported last week, Ithaca’s first state-licensed cannabis dispensary has opened. However, according to the New York Times, before any licenses to sell weed were granted, a federal judge had imposed a temporary injunction blocking the issuance of licenses. The ruling affects the Finger Lakes and several other regions across the state. A Michigan-based company filed the lawsuit which claims New York’s rules for issuing licenses violate the Constitution’s interstate commerce protections. New York’s Office of Cannabis Management has declined to comment on the case. Ithaca's dispensary licenses are granted to the Office of Cannabis Management's Southern Tier district and are not affected by the ruling.

Ithaca Taco Stand to Relocate

The Ithaca Voice is reporting that the wildly popular Tacos CDMX stand will be moving to a brick and mortar location. The Acevedo family moved to Ithaca from Chicago last summer to open the business. The eatery will open in a month or two in the space currently occupied by Lucky Hare Brewery in Press Bay Alley off of Green Street in Ithaca. After the relocation, the metal hut where the Acevedos have operated the taco stand may remain in place to host pop-up restaurants.