Local News for June 12, 2023

- Legislation To Save Ithaca CarShare Passes State Assembly on Last Day of Session 

Late last Thursday, the state Assembly passed the legislation that would solve Ithaca Carshare’s regulatory problems. The nonprofit has been closed since last month because of a technical issue that left it unable to get insurance. The bill only needs Governor Hochul’s signature to go into effect. The legislative session officially ended Juen 8, but lawmakers were due to work through the weekend. This was recorded on Friday so by today, it may have been signed. We’ll keep you posted.

- Former Common Council Member Donna Flemming To Fill 3rd Ward Vacancy -

The Ithaca Common Council has appointed former Alderperson Donna Flemming to fill the Third Ward vacancy. Flemming will finish out Jeffrey Barken’s term which expires at the end of the year. Barken’s resignation goes into effect at the end of this month. The Ithaca Voice reports Flemming was the only person to apply for the position. Flemming previously served on the Council from 2012 to 2021. 

- Ithaca Resident Wins International Human Rights Award -

An Ithaca resident has won an international human rights award. Political cartoonist Pedro Molina has been awarded the Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent. The award recognizes artists who use their craft to speak out against dictatorship. Molina is being honored for his cartoons about the dictatorship in Nicaragua. He fled to Ithaca in 2018 after the offices of the news outlet that published his work were attacked. The award ceremony will be in Olso, Norway this week.  

Tune in this evening to hear the first of our conversations with Ithaca Common Council candidates Tonight is Cynthia Brock and Kayla Matos of  Ward 1.