Local News: March 19, 2024

A pro-Palestine group at Cornell is agitating for the university to divest from weapons manufacturers supplying Israel’s war efforts in Gaza. According to the Cornell Daily Sun, the Coalition for Mutual Liberation, or CML, held a campus-wide action Thursday. Members of the group said they would continue to violate Cornell’s controversial Interim Expressive Activity Policy until university president Martha Pollock calls for a Trustee vote on divestment. A flier distributed by CML pointed to the Trustee’s Standard Guide to Divestment. The 2016 document says the Trustees will consider divestment from any company who’s actions are “morally reprehensible,” and specifically identifies genocide, apartheid, and systemic cruelty to children. The next meeting of Cornell’s Trustees is this Friday, March 22.  

Several area chapters of the League of Women Voters will present a talk examining the possible effect of fracking in New York using carbon dioxide. The state assembly passed a ban on the practice last week. The Senate version of the bill awaits a vote. Coordinator of Fossil Free Tompkins, Irene Weiser will speak via Zoom at 7pm Wednesday, March 20 on Zoom. 

According to the Albany Times Union, Governor Hochul has ordered a month-long assessment of the Office of Cannabis Management. The agency charged with overseeing the introduction of legal recreational marijuana has faced criticism and legal battles. Hochul has called pot’s rollout in New York “a disaster.” Jeanette Moy of the Office of General Services will conduct the review.