Human Services Coalition Presents on County Agency Funding Process
Director Cindy Wilcox and Deputy Director John Mazzello of the Human Services Coalition presented on the funding review process used by the Coalition to review not-for-profit agency grant requests and distribute County funds.
Mazzello detailed that in 2023 over $1.1 million from Tompkins County’s budget went to support the not-for-profit agencies through the Coalition, along with $411,000 from the City of Ithaca’s sales tax receipts. The Coalition’s approach spans the entire year, with applications for funding and review occurring in the spring with recommendations made to the County Administrator in July.
Wilcox presented on themes experienced by local not-for-profit organizations this spring, including workforce and volunteer recruitment and retention continuing to be difficult, State funding not keeping pace with inflation for rent or operating costs, and that most agencies are working on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Among Other Business
A proclamation was read celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Tompkins County. The proclamation, read by Chairwoman Shawna Black (D-Ithaca) detailed the history of Pride month in the United States, New York, and Ithaca and Tompkins County while calling out backlash against the LGBTQ+ community, including that books about LGBTQ+ history and people are being banned from libraries and that “over 600 hateful laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community” have been introduced across the country in 2023. The proclamation highlighted local Pride Month celebration efforts and was accepted by Leslie Tabor, Director of the Tompkins County Public Library and other Library representatives. Tabor thanked the Legislature for their support of the Library’s work in this area.
Director of the Tompkins County Veterans Service Department J.R. Clairborne accepted a proclamation acknowledging Women’s Veterans Recognition Day on June 6, 2023. The proclamation detailed the history of involvement of women in the armed forces and celebrated women veterans who work for Tompkins County.
In her Chair’s statement, Chairwoman Shawna Black (D-Ithaca) provided a brief update on the asylum seeker situation, stating:
Since our last meeting the County has held two briefings for community partners and municipal officials regarding the Asylum Seeker situation. We still are not aware of any planned arrivals, but we are staying up to date with information from the Governor’s Office and NYSAC (NYS Assoc. of Counties).
The State has committed to brokering better communication between New York City and upstate counties and cities as they find additional spaces in the city to house asylum seekers.
Locally, we continue to do what we can to be prepared, and we’re in constant contact with departments and partners in case we do receive newcomers. To reiterate what I’ve heard from some of our partners, it’s great to be a welcoming community, but we have to put those ideas and policies into action to truly serve immigrant communities. There’s also more to do, but I’m very proud of the stance and progress we’ve made to date.
We’re going to continue to keep the community updated on this issue as things develop.
I also want to reiterate my challenge to apply the same leadership and political will to the issue of homelessness. I met with a developer this week that is talking about a new project that they’re hoping to open off of Meadow Street that would include around 60 low income and SRO units that for me creates huge potential to house a great amount of people that really need housing. We have more tools coming into place to address the issue, and we’re going to have a Housing and Economic Development committee meeting this week which is going to talk about in depth the topic of housing by our staff and partner organizations.
Several representatives from local organizations supporting immigrants and asylum seekers spoke during public comment, thanking the County for its efforts on the issue and upholding values that are in support of immigrants and offering ongoing support to any asylum seekers who may arrive in Tompkins County. Chair of the Human Rights Commission, Peyi Soyinka-Airewele read a statement from the Commission acknowledging the County Legislature’s compassion on the issue and decrying the actions of other governments in the region ordering that asylum seekers from the southern U.S. border are not welcome.
A resolution adopting a local law amending the Tompkins County Charter was passed 13-0 (Legislator Mike Sigler (R-Lansing) excused) to move the department of Weights and Measures into the Highway Department, making it a division of the department rather than keeping a one-person department. This move is slated to offer more administrative support to the Director of the division.