Local News: December 5, 2023

- Residents of Ulysses to vote in special election on land purchase for recreational area -

Voters in the Town of Ulysses will decide whether to buy 30 acres to become a recreational area in a special election on December 6. The town includes Trumansburg and is a few miles north of Ithaca. The town’s board voted unanimously in June to buy the property on Krums Corners Road.  But enough residents signed a petition for the special election to be scheduled. Tompkins Weekly reports supporters of the purchase say the town needs a recreational area. Some residents oppose it and say the $210,000 price tag is too high and almost double the price per acre of similar land in the area. The town would use federal American Rescue Plan funds to buy the property. Opponents also say that residents were not consulted or allowed to participate in the selection process before the board voted on the purchase. Polling places will be open from 11 am to 8 pm.

- Ithaca Common Council to vote on new police chief and first city manager at December 6 meeting -

Also on December 6, the Ithaca Common Council is scheduled to vote on the appointments of a new police chief and city manager. Deb Mohlenoff was chosen to become Ithaca’s first city manager. She is the city’s current chief of staff and a former Common Council member. Schenectady police lieutenant Thomas Kelly was chosen to become the new police chief. Both candidates went through a multi-tiered interview and application process.

- Thank you! We reached our goal, your yearend donations will make a difference  -

And thank you to all of our recent donors! We reached our goal of raising $10,000 in our fund drive last week. If you didn’t give you can still make a difference. We have to raise $16,000 before the end of this year to balance our books. Help us close the gap by giving at wrfi.org. Thank you all for your support. It keeps independent community radio in the heart of the Finger Lakes.