Local News: August 14, 2023

Ithaca Planning To Vote on Encampment Policy 

The Planning Committee of the Ithaca Common Council will vote on a homeless encampment policy at its August 16 meeting. Residents are welcome to attend and speak about the policy or other issues on the agenda. A link with more information go here. 

Attorney General and Education Commissioner Issue Guidance To School Districts About DEI Principles

New York school districts are being urged to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The new guidance is from State Attorney General Letitia James and Education Commissioner Betty Rosa. They are reminding school districts that all students have the right to learn free of “fear of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation.” The guidance memo says school districts should focus their efforts on teaching and learning, in-school discipline, and addressing harassment and bullying. James and Rosa say they issued the new guidance in light of increasing exclusionary educational policies like book banning, in other states. 

Tompkins County Sheriff Gets $337,000 Anti-Gun Violence Grant

The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department has received over $337,000 in state funding for anti-gun violence efforts. The Ithaca Voice reports the majority of the money will be spent on “hot-spot” tactics. That means focusing strategies on specific areas where the most violent crimes take place. The grant was supposed to go to the Ithaca Police Department but it was unable to accept it because of staffing issues.

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