reimagining public safety

Last spring, Tompkins County opened an ethics investigation into Ithaca’s landmark police reform effort. Now, some are calling for the county legislator heading the investigation to recuse himself due to an alleged conflict of interest.

City employees, from building managers to engineers, testified about their frustrations with contract negotiations and what they say are stagnant wages.

The police department’s sign on bonus for lateral transfer hires has grown significantly since it was introduced last November in the city budget.

"People like me have been hearing the word 'wait' for as long as we can remember," Alderperson Phoebe Brown said. "It is imperative that we move on."

Alderperson Cynthia Brock said she’s working with the Tompkins County Ethics Board to open an investigation into the former mayor.

"We're talking about reimagining public safety. And we're still hiring more [armed] officers," said Common Council member Phoebe Brown.

The proposed Department of Community Safety would oversee the current police force, as well as a new division of five unarmed responders.

Former Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick gained a reputation as a rising star in progressive politics since he was elected at age 24. He stepped down as mayor this past weekend.

A task force will now take over the work for designing how the new overarching Department of Public Safety would work.