Local News: November 9, 2023

- Housing costs push Tompkins County living wage up 11% since last year -

The living wage in Tompkins County is $18.45 per hour up from $16.61. That’s an 11% rise since last year. The Ithaca Voice reports that a recently released study concluded that housing costs are driving the increase.  The 2024 Tompkins County Living Wage Study was conducted by Cornell University’s Ithaca and Buffalo Co-Labs. The researcher found racial and gender wage disparities persist. Statewide the minimum wage is $15 an hour in New York City and its metro region and $14.20 for the rest of the state. 

- Molinaro proposes investigations to identify Hamas sympathizers from federal government positions -

Rep. Marc Molinaro introduced legislation to identify federal employees who have ties to or show support for Hamas. The bill would require the Departments of Defense (DOD), State, Homeland Security (DHS), the FBI, and the CIA to conduct internal investigations and tell Congress employees who have shown support for or have ties to Hamas. Molinaro’s bill is co-sponsored by Democrat Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey. Molinaro represents the 19th Congressional District. It includes Broome, Tompkins, and Tioga counties. In October The Daily Wire reported that a Homeland Security immigration official was previously a spokesperson for the Palestinian Delegation to the U. S. and has made social media posts that condemn Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks using profanity and antisemitic tropes. The Daily Wire is a conservative new website founded by political commentator Ben Shapiro. The U.S. has designated Hamas a terrorist organization.