Headlines for September 12th, 2022

Governor Hochul announced on Thursday that qualified New Yorkers would receive tax relief checks in the coming weeks. According to the Ithaca Times, those who claimed the Empire State Child Credit or the Earned Income Credit on their 2021 tax returns are eligible. The spending was approved as a way to help New Yorkers with rising prices. An estimated 1.75 million New Yorkers claimed one or both of the tax credits. The average recipient will receive around 270 dollars. The State legislature approved the 475 million dollar program earlier this year. 

Negotiations are continuing over funding for TCAT. The Ithaca Voice is reporting that the Ithaca Common Council moved on Wednesday to continue debate over funding for the bus operator and how it’s shared between  Cornell, Tompkins County, and the City. Cornell and Ithaca have indicated they want to renegotiate the underwriters’ responsibility in the event of a TCAT deficit and make stopgap payments optional. However, a unanimous letter from the County Legislature says changing the 17 year old agreement to give any underwriter veto power is “fundamentally inconsistent with our goal for TCAT’s future.” 

Tompkins County Health Department is alerting residents of increased levels of Legionella bacteria in the region. The particles were detected in the cooling tower of the Mental Health Building on Green Street in Ithaca. Legionella bacteria remains a low risk for most people, but has been linked to Legionnaires’ disease. Legionnaire’s is treatable with antibiotics. Older people and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk. The tower has been decontaminated. The building has remained open and the Health Department will continue to monitor bacteria levels.