Local News: December 11, 2023

- Enfield to vote on fire commissioners but new voting restrictions have some residents concerned -

Voters in Enfield will choose new fire commissioners on Tuesday. Last Monday, all except one of the interim commissioners voted to only allow voters to select one candidate on the ballot. But there are ten candidates and five open positions. Each commissioner’s term is a different length from one to five years. That and the fact that some candidates have previously suggested the fire department isn’t needed have some residents concerned.  Enfield’s fire company is all volunteers. Across the state volunteer fire and ambulance services have been facing a shortage of workers, especially in rural communities like Enfield. Last December, Gov. Hochul signed new legislation that allows local governments to give volunteer fire and ambulance workers a 10% discount on property taxes. The measure was meant to help encourage people to volunteer. Polls will be opened in Enfield, 3-8 PM.

- Tompkins County asks residents to weigh in on 20-year transportation plan -

Tompkins County is updating its long-term transportation plan. It wants residents to give their input. The plan covers infrastructure maintenance, public transit, traffic patterns, pedestrian and bike transportation, and other topics.

- License plate reading cameras coming soon to Ithaca -

Ithaca will soon have 20 license plate reading cameras around the city. The Ithaca Voice reports that the Ithaca Police Department and Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department plan to install cameras that can take pictures of license plates and store them for 30 days before they are automatically deleted. The interim police chief told the city administration committee that the cameras will be placed a main thoroughfares and roads not in residential neighborhoods. The ACLU has criticized the company, Flock Safety, that provides the cameras saying they are building a “centralized mass surveillance system of Orwellian scope.” Fifty-one police departments in New York state already have cameras from the same company.