Common Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening and welcome to the March 4th meeting of the Ithaca Common Council. We'll go ahead and call this meeting to order. Uh first, since there is a number of folks in the room, I will be reading the emergency evacuation notice. Um, in case of an emergency, we are to take one of two exits. The door that almost all of you came through or the door over my left shoulder. We are to wait at the trees on the same side of the street on South Kyuga and Green Street. We do not cross Green Street unless it is absolutely necessary. Those with restricted mobility in the event of emergencies, it is best to move to one of the stairwells, and first responders will arrive to aid you. In the event of other emergencies, you'll be notified on how to proceed at this time. Uh we want everyone to be aware of their surroundings and offer help when it is not to your own detriment as you were your own best advocate. Before turning to tonight's agenda, I have an announcement. Late this afternoon, I was informed of a serious fire safety concern at the Asteri residential tower next door. Acting City Manager Rekio, the Ithaca Fire Department, the city attorney's office, and the building division, as well as other senior administration officials conducted an emergency review of building safety. Out of concern for the residents, we have determined that the city has no choice but to post a notice to vacate for all 181 residential units in the building. We are working with state, county, and regional partners to support residents during this critical time. I personally am furious with the critical mismanagement and abject failure of the Vino group to maintain a habitable and safe housing environment for our fellow Ithacans. I want the public to know that we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety and health of these residents

and that we are working with state and local officials to hold property management to account. The city has released a statement with more information and further statements and information will be provided as appropriate through the city's public information officer, Alan Carrison. Thank you. Uh with that we will turn to our order of business uh for agenda review. Um given that we have an enormous amount this evening, I am without objection proposing to move the select committee for rules committee and order the coordinated unhoused service and planning resolution. The rest and posh NY act resolution. the petitions and hearings of persons before council amendment and the dignity not detention act and New York for all act all to consent agenda. Any objections? There's an objection for Mr. Su. Okay. Is it possible to remove one? Yeah. What? Oh, the pash. Okay. So, um Okay. Uh Mr. SU uh which is friendly to me. Um we just just for the purposes of time right we as as just for the public's not edification uh the two committee resolutions are just establishing committees of jurisdiction and most of these other things are that I've that I've named are um statement resolutions from the body. Um without objection as Mr. Su has amended and I will repeat them just for public edification. We're just proposing to move the two committee formations, the petitions and hearings of persons before council amendment and the dignity not detention act and New York for all act to consent agenda. Any objections to that? Great. Um I have been informed

that legislators Vincent and Pillar are somewhere around here. There they are. Uh and you are welcome up because we're ready for I'm sorry you make your way up because the room's full. I should have also asked colleagues any further additions or deletions to the agenda. Seeing none. Okay. Uh legislators, thank you for joining us this evening. Um and also thank you to your colleagues for working uh so diligently with city staff to address the issue that I announced at the top of the meeting. Um any report that you have is welcome.

Yeah, it's always good to be here. Um so since my last report, we've voted on around 37 items over two meetings. So I'm only going to focus on the highlights. And before I go into that, I know that today the big issue on your, you know, agenda is flock. Um, and there's been, you know, a lot of discussion between the city and county about this. I want to say that the info that I have at this point, I believe, is the same info you have. Um, so I don't really want think I can say anything that would really influence any decisions and I don't really want to weigh in on this tonight. Um I just uh don't feel like it would be a good move uh in my position. Um I will say regardless of what happens uh we are going to be forming uh a uh a working group on this issue uh to deal with it on our end. We have our own cameras for those that don't know. Um so at our meeting on February 17th uh we had a presentation from NYAG um about their uh their rate case. Additionally, we also had a presentation from our sustainability director, Terry Carroll, on this exact same issue. Um, NYG is proposing a 34.7% rate hike for electricity and a 39.4% rate hike for its gas usage. Uh, we heard from constituents still struggling to deal with the previous rate hike back in 2023. in our public comment and via email. Uh Nice says that these rate hikes are being driven by uh wages to employees, infrastructure upgrades and changes to state policies that they must comply with. Uh including uh having to deal with base activity needs such as vegetation maintenance, uh which came up repeatedly. I will say it's a very entertaining watch. uh our uh so if you want to see um a lot of debate um I'd suggest checking out our uh February 17th meeting recording. Um we also voted on a increase to our maximum property tax exemption from seniors from 50% to

65%. I mentioned this uh when it was being proposed at the last report. Um this is from legislator Ben Con at our March 4th meeting. Um we uh had uh finally some public uh you know um action on our center of government. Um we reviewed two proposals and I'd go into detail about them but both failed. Um, so it looks like we are going to be defaulting and looking at uh our res the resolution from 2025 um which um as a reminder was uh a 45,000 square foot building with up to $50 million in funding allocated through cash debt and grants. I don't know if it's going to stay that plan, but that's what we're looking at right now. Um additionally, the Office of Human Rights is going through structural changes. Um, we have a new program manager position. Um, I'm unsure of the exact responsibilities. Um, I know Veronica might have more information on that. Um, uh, also, um, we have a new chief equity and diversity officer. It's someone you guys might know, Leon Holden. Um and uh finally uh the consultant that we have hired for designing the purpose-built emergency shelter is holding a community engagement session on Tuesday, March 10th at 4 p.m. on the uh 50 facility at 55 Brown Road. So that's all I have to say. Legislator Pillar, anything?

No, he got it all. But all right, I'll help answer questions. All right. Any questions for our colleagues on that report? Mr. Just quick question or clarification about what you're saying in terms of flock. You're saying it's inappropriate for you to talk about it or it's inappropriate for us to vote on it. No, it's I just don't know if I want to it might be inappropriate for me to say that in my reports. Thank you. That's it.

All right. Oh, maybe. All right. Uh thank you for that report. Please uh know that I suspect our lack of engagement with this particular one is more to do with the length of our agenda and less to do with the uh questions and interests we have in the county's report. So, thank you so much and again, thank you for your partnership with the emergent issue next door. Um, with that, it is my distinct pleasure to turn to our quarterly employee recognition. And I don't really even have to stand up for this one. I mean I will but it's because it's it's because it's Katherine. Um I am going to uh share we are uh honoring today assistant city attorney and acting city attorney and at various times acting HR director, acting deputy fire chief unofficially. I know. Um, uh, Katherine has been nominated by, uh, Justin Perkins who's here today as the president of the, uh, CSEA DBW unit. Uh, and he has written on several occasions. He has had the pleasure of working with Katherine Muskin on labor related issues. Katherine has always approached any problem with kindness, fairness, and true professionalism in reaching a remedy or a solution. She has made herself available to discuss matters that relate to the 80 DPW city employees that Mr. Perkins represents. CSEA DPW unit is thankful for the working relationship that they have with attorney Muskin and the city of Itha is a better place because of her efforts which I heartily cosign. Uh though they both represent risk mitigation, they do so by working together. And I hope you all will please join me in showing your uh congratulations and sincere appreciation to Miss Mustin

today. So excitations I asked I asked speech was declined. All right, with that we will turn to approval of the common council minutes. May I have a mover? Mr. Defendini moves. Miss M seconds. Any comments, changes, discussion of the minutes? Seeing none, all those in favor? That carries unanimously. All right. And we'll now turn to statements from the public. Uh we have 30 speakers and if any of you are first- timerrs that means that uh we are limited to two minutes per person which is what happens once we exceed 20 speakers. Um and I will announce the speaker and then the person who is on deck so to speak just so uh if you are in the back of the room you can make your way to the front. So my first speaker is Linda Glazer. My second speaker will be Stacy Lemon Leman excuse me. Um welcome. You have two minutes once you begin. Um, I've been a resident of Ithaca for more than 20 years, and one of the things I love is how welcoming it's always been. The mural project has been a beautiful celebration of the history of this place. The Frederick Douglas and Harriet Tubman mural was commissioned, designed, and approved to celebrate black history. But instead, the artist decided on his own to change the approved design. He decided to impose his own politics on us all. A politics that has nothing to do with black history and everything to do with attacking Jews. The Free Palestine slogan has been increasingly used to target, harass, and intimidate Jews. It holds all Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government and paints a target on our backs. The rhetoric of free Gaza and Free Palestine, the artist added, leads directly to violence and discrimination

against Jews. Local Jews have been denied service in coffee shops and stores simply for advocating for the hostages to be freed. This is exactly the same as gay people being refused service. Is this the Ithaca you want to endorse? The man who killed Jews in Washington was chanting free Palestine as was the man who killed Jews at a rally in Boulder. None of these Jews had anything to do with whether Palestinians are free or not. They were killed because they were Jews. By allowing this free Gaza and free Palestine graffiti to remain in the mural instead of the beautiful quilt designs that were approved, the council is endorsing divisiveness and hatred in Ithaca and advocating for rhetoric that leads to violence against Jews. It means you are fine with the artist violating his contract in order to help make sure that Jews in Ithaca are ostracized and shut out of the community. It gives permission to other people to use the same rhetoric. I ask you to have the graffiti removed from the Black History mural and restore it to its original contracted purpose. Thank you.

Thank you. My next speaker is Stacy Leman. I'm sorry. I'm going to need to have order in the chamber. Uh my next speaker is Stacy Leman, followed by uh is it Ava Winkler or Eva? I don't. Eva, apologies. Uh Stacy, welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Thank you. I concur with the other speakers who will raise objections to the free Gaza and Palestinian flag graffiti. The more you support expressions of Jew hate, the greater the likelihood that we will see an escalation to violence against Jews. However, I would like to make a point that might otherwise be lost. Where you now see free Gaza, you should be seeing additional images of the coded quilts that were used to point the way to freedom or to warn of danger. These quilts were made by enslaved women who risked their lives to save lives. They should be honored. I've been around long enough to know that throughout history, men have erased women's contributions in order to advance their own agendas. That is what has happened here. Quilt making was crucial during slavery as a tool for resistance and a means of cultural expression, community bonding, and survival. Quilting offered a form of silent resistance, allowing enslaved women to assert their identity, creativity, and agency in a system that tried to dehumanize them. The coded quilts raised craft to the status of art. They are subversive and brilliant. By replacing the images of quilts with free Gaza, you are erasing the women who did that life-saving work. We don't know their names. They don't have faces. and they don't have a voice. The approved mural was an opportunity to fully honor enslaved women's contributions to the Underground Railroad given the constraints of space. Mayor Cantelmo, you noted in our earlier correspondence that you gave Ithaca murals an opportunity to propose a cure for the offensive graffiti. Had you extended the same courtesy to us, we would have asked that the mural be painted as it was initially approved. Instead of a divisive political statement that should not be allowed on public property, we

would have a lasting tribute of which we could all be proud. Thank you. Thank you very much. My next speaker is Eva Winkler, followed by um Nancy is it Poek POT? Apologies. Welcome. You have two minutes. Why don't you begin?

Here in Ithaca, there is a movement of people who claim to be humanists who demand equal rights, fairness, and freedom. They say black lives matter and free Gaza, but they also say [ __ ] the Jews and death to Israel. They've said it to my face and you applaud that. Disgusting. with such conviction. And they will use their energy to rip down posters of innocent people that Hamas raped, tortured, murdered, and kidnapped, erasing voices speaking up for victims, claiming Israel started it, but do two wrongs make a right? Will that lead to peace? tearing down posters of children whose only crime was to be born in a place that their parents felt ancestral and spiritual connections to. Just like the only crime that black people who are targeted by police, for example, is the color of their skin or what they were born into. Can't we see the common oppressor? It's man thinking they have a right to say what everyone else should and shouldn't have practice and believe. Man saying where we belong. It's man not willing to compromise. How ironic that I have to point out that Frederick Douglas himself aligned the plight of the black people with the Jews. And Harriet Tubman her work was aligned with the freedom of the oppressed people like Moses leading the Hebrews out of the Egypt to the promised land. Aside from deviating from the approved grantgiven contract, it is not a contentneutral statement and its sneaky propaganda. At the very end of the project, the artist adds a personal, political, and biased opinion on public property. It is bad politics and a breach of ethics to hastily accept the added work of free Gaza and free Palestine that offends people and is foreign politics that is linked to

anti-semitism. How can we feel safe? Thank you very much. That is your time. You may submit the rest of your comments in writing. Um, next is Nancy Potok followed by Sher Negria. Negria, apologies. Uh, welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Hi, thank you for um having me here. I'm a relative newcomer to Ithaca. Um, I have spent my life in public service, now retired, and I would like to appeal to your spirit of public service. Um, all of you, thank you for serving. Um, the the mural is beautiful. Um, and the thought behind it is beautiful. The graffiti mars it. I agree with everything that was said previously about that and particularly recognizing the quilters, those unknown quilters. Um I will say that since I've been in Ithaca, um I have felt um really unwelcome in many respects as a Jew who supports Israel. Um and you know, businesses as was mentioned have refused to serve people. Um but to have the government itself um officially support such a divisive message and something that was publicly funded um is very problematic and it it's not only offensive but it does make me personally feel unsafe um in Ithaca. Um and I know that's not the intent of the council. The council should be bringing people together, um, promoting dialogue, um, promoting collaboration and cooperation. And if you approve grandfathering in and setting this precedent, um, it's actually promoting divisiveness. And it's a very bad precedent to set because the next artist could put a message that maybe you don't agree with. I don't know whether you agree with this one or not, but the next one could be just as hateful to another minority group in Ithaca. And you've already set a precedent that you're going to

grandfather in that deviation. Thank you very much. Uh Sherry, you're next, followed by Terresa Alt.

Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin. My name is Sherry Negria and I'm co-chair of the Ithaca Area United Jewish Community Anti-semitism Task Force. I speak tonight to voice my opposition to the free Gaza mural on Green Street and the graffiti depicting a Palestinian flag on the wall off Tyogga Street. My father's family are all survivors of the Holocaust who lived in Romania. After the war, they all moved to Israel except for my father, whose dream was to come to America. In the recent war in Gaza, my cousin's son, a reserve officer in the Israel Defense Forces, was called up twice to serve in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza has been very difficult for both sides of the conflict. That war which was started by Hamas with a brutal attack on Israel cannot be reduced to a two-word slogan that says free Gaza with a ceasefire in place. That phrase is also no longer relevant to what is happening in Gaza. More importantly, why would the city of Ithaca allow murals about a geopolitical war in the Middle East on public city property? Allowing political slogans like free Gaza on city property shows the city is taking a side in this conflict. For members of the Jewish community, this has created a hostile and unwelcoming atmosphere in Ithaca. Allowing graffiti depicting the Palestinian flag, which was not authorized by the city, just steps away from the largest synagogue in Ithaca has also alienated members of Temple Bethl where I am a member. Murals on city property should bring the community

together and not divide us. That is what you had with the uh with the quilt patterns, which would have been wonderful. Thank you very much. That is your time. My next speaker is Terresa Al followed by Jeremiah Craig. Welcome Teresa. As you know, you have two minutes once you begin.

I'm Teresa Alt of 206 Eddie Street in College Town. As usual, I'm here to speak about housing. I think it was a real inspiration to combine into one resolution advocacy for the rest act and advocacy for the passion act. Rest rent emergency stabilization for tenants broadens the scope of the old ETPA to forbid unreasonable rent raises in far more buildings. Thus, it enables more tenants to remain in their homes if that is what they want. Pashny, permanently affordable social housing for New Yorkers, founds a state authority that could finance the construction of new state or cooperativelyowned housing. The financing could involve state tax money either from graduated income taxes or from new kinds of taxes on corporations and the rich. The financing could also involve stateisssued bonds. When you own bonds, you help to finance something, but you don't get to run it. Such money could also be used to acquire and rehabilitate existing housing. Thus, this act addresses the shortage of housing at various rent levels that working people could afford.

Thank you very much. My next speaker is Jeremiah Craig, followed by um is it Shauna Stillberstein? I can't read your first name. Apologies. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

My name is Jeremiah Craig of 123 Hudson Street. I'm an active community member and serve on the board of the Tomkins Chamber of Commerce and the board of the Ithaca Rotary Club. I've come before the council today to share my thoughts regarding the public art amendment reawakening mural contract and I encouraged the council to approve the amended design of the reawakening mural to keep it as it is. My understanding is that a small number of people have concerns about the free Gaza, Black Lives Matter, and Choose Love portions of the mural, which were not originally outlined in the contract. The fact that this is even being debated runs counter to the mural's theme of freedom and progress tied to the Underground Railroad. In my view, censoring these elements would reduce a meaningful public artwork to something treated more like graffiti. In terms the terms in question are not separate from the theme of reawakening the underground rag railroad. I would argue the message is the same and the people who would call for the censorship of these terms would be the same people of the past to call slave catchers on runaway slaves making their journey to freedom on the underground railroad.

To censor the mural as it I need order in the chamber.

Censor the mural as it is is to censor the conversations they lead to as well. These portions of the mural have not been may have not been in the original contract with Ithaca murals. And it's important to remember that working with artists means accepting that their work may evolve beyond the original concept. If art never challenged or expanded ideas, it wouldn't truly be art. Other murals in Ithaca have evolved beyond the original concept. So, it's suspicious to me that this particular mural is receiving this attention now after Israel and the US have used their Axis of evil style alliance to promote violence across the globe. I urge the con council to reflect what censoring these messages at this time would tell the citizens of our sanctuary city. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. My next speaker, order in the chamber, please. Order in the chamber. My next speaker is Janice Silverstein, followed by Lynn Jacier.

I'm here today to express my dismay regarding the Free Gaza mural, which has replaced the approved city mural regarding the Underground Railroad, and to request that it be removed. While individuals in a community are free to express on their own property and at their own expense whatever opinions they wish, public space is governed by different conventions. The public should have some say over what is expressed in public space. As such, there was public approval for a mural regarding quilt patterns used in the Underground Railroad. Instead, the artist unilaterally used public space for personal and divisive political expression. I wish to re reiterate that as an individual in the US, an artist has every right to make art at his or her discretion. Even if I deem it racist, anti-Semitic, anti-ionist, offensive, cruel, or hateful, the artist may sell it where he or she wishes to whoever chooses to buy it. And I am free to identify artists who share my values um which I respect and act accordingly. But public art is different. Public art is supposed to represent the public. Public art is supposed to recognize that we all share public space. It is meant to be approved by a consensus of the public. Let's have public art that follows public procedure and public policy. Art that is meant to build bridges and mutual respect. Mostly I would respect that the city respect and enforce its own process. Thank you.

Thank you, Lynn. You're my next speaker. Followed by Carol Stone. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

One second while I change my glasses. Hi everybody. All right. My name is Lynn Jackear. I am with Immigrant Solidarity and I live in Ward One. My representatives are Kayla and Jorge. I urge you to vote to remove lock cameras from our city and to pass the resolution in support of two pieces of New York State legislation, dignity, not detention and New York for all. Both of these actions are connected. They each serve to protect New York State residents from the excesses of an authoritarian, lawless federal government. Any benefits that might acrue from the flux surveillance are offset by the fact that information is being gathered about random people with no reasonable suspicion of any wrongdoing on their part and that there is no reliable way to ensure that the information won't be used by bad actors. In the current political reality, it almost certainly will. The two pieces of legislation being considered at the state level will keep New York State from using our resources to aid the legally and morally bankrupt federal mass deportation agenda and will keep us out of the business of building detention centers to warehouse human beings, most of whom have no criminal record. In other regimes, the people did not intervene in time to prevent large-scale atrocities. We see and know what is being planned. We have the time to intervene for good. If we see and know and do nothing, we are complicit in what follows.

Thank you. Thank you very much. My next speaker is Carol Stone, followed by Danny Crever. It looks like my handwriting, Danny. So, if you know who you are, you're next. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Thank you very much. My name is Carol Stone. I live at 1013 North Tyogga Street. That's the far end of Tyogga Street, farthest from here. That's very close to the high school, Junior High School. And I'm here because I'm sick and tired of looking at the graffiti on the green bridge that leads across Kyoga Street to the high school. I know that every kid who passes by there every day on the way to school or on the way home from school gets the same message which is that there is no difference between public property and private property. There's no difference between the will of the people and my own will to mar whatever property I care to. It's not right that we have to put up with graffiti of any kind. This happens to be very sloppy graffiti and I'm kind of tired of looking at it. If you go down Kyoga Street farther and you get to where just about where the Triangle Park is, where Kenny's just about was, where Gimme Coffee is, there's there's graffiti that's been on the wall there on the retaining wall for more years than I can remember. It says free Marius Mason. I don't know if anybody knows who Marius Mason is. I had to look it up. I didn't know. Marius Mason is a great eco terrorist vandal who was serving 22 years for doing $4 million worth of damage in Michigan. I don't really care whose name is there. I don't really care what it represents. What I do care about is that it's it's graffiti that's been there so long that most people don't even notice it. And similarly on Tyogga Street, there's a Ukrainian flag and a Palestinian flag that have been up for several years now. I keep walking by them. I see them. I every every time I expect that the city's going to come out with a a roller and just roll over them. No, it doesn't happen. What I'm here to tell you is that cleaning up graffiti is a simple

thing. We can do it at almost no cost and I recommend that we do. Thank you. Thank you very much, Danny. You're next, followed by Richard Rosen. Welcome. You have 2 minutes once you begin. Hi. Um, a couple things first. Going to get it out of the way. Uh, free Palestine. Keep the stuff up. These people are silly. Order.

Um, also, uh, I do a lot of stuff with the, uh, anarchistr run warming center in First Baptist Church. Uh, and uh, since you made that announcement, I've been uh, messaging some folks with the Ithaca Tenants Union that we work closely with, and folks are a bit confused about the timeline of when they have to like get out, get all their stuff out. Uh, they said the thing says immediately, but they would like some clarity on the timeline. Um, and then the thing I originally came here for, uh, don't let flock be in our city. Pretty please. Um, I don't know which of you are aware, but on February 19th, uh, a friend of mine, uh, who is 54 years old, walks with a cane, uh, used some yarn to, uh, put some yarn on a telephone pole where a flat camera was allegedly. And, uh, they were, uh, five IPD officers responded. Uh, they were tackled and pepper- sprayed, and now they have two broken bones in their leg. Uh this just goes to show that uh there is an insane cognitive dissonance and disconnect and the will uh and just how much this fascist state cares about enforcing the fascist surveillance state. And I'm just going to ask all of you please do not aid and abet the fascist. You are our elected officials. Please don't be a fascist.

Thank you. My next speaker is Richard Rosen followed by Kelly Gates. It's uh Richard Rosen Field. It does not say that on your card. Leave it out. Is there another Richard Rosen? Do you live in the village of Lancing? Yes. Then that's you. That's me.

You have two minutes once you begin. This region of New York served as part of the Underground Railroad to bring folks of color to places where they could be free. I have visited the Harriet Harriet Tubman home in Auburn, New York, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Underground Railroad was nothing short of a remarkable effort of many to free Americans who were freeing who were fleeing slavery in the 19th century. The mural on Green Street celebrating the efforts of Frederick Douglas and Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad stop at Ithaca St. James Zion Church should spark people's curiosity to learn more about this courageous effort. Unfortunately, the racism that folks on the Underground Railroad were running from has not gone away. It continues to be a scourge on our entire American culture through gerrymandering, voting access laws, mass incarceration, felony disenfranchisement, and forced labor. Images depicting any of these scourges could add relevance to the newly revised reawakening of the Underground Railroad mural. But none of them are depicted. Rather, a mural saying free Gaza is added. Freedom for Gazins is a serious international issue that needs its own separate space and draws attention to other current international conflicts and wars around the world that deprive people of their land and their humanity. The Gazan issue might well be relevant to what the US did to deprive Native Americans of their ancestral lands, but it certainly is not relevant to African slavery and the slave trade and to the continued

suppression of Africanameans in this country. The free Gaza mural, which was added to the Underground Railroad mural, detracts from both issues. That is your time removed. My next speaker is Kelly Gates, followed by Anne Johnson. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Thank you. Um I I first just want to say I'm Kelly Gates. I live at 618 West Clinton Street. And I want to thank all of you for all of the work that you do to make this city such a special place that I'm so happy to to be part of to live here. Um I I believe that all that we have in this world is each other and uh we all have to do what we can do to uh protect each other and to support each other and I'm I'm here trying to do that and I'm also here to ask you to do what you can do to do that. And um I I'm here to ask you to to please turn off the flock cameras and also to please lend your support to the state legislation dignity not detention act and the New York for All Act. Thank you very much.

Thank you. My next speaker is Anne Johnson followed by Katie Church. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Thank you. I'll I'll be pretty quick. Um I'm here to ask you to please uh get rid of Flock. Uh the last time I was here, I commented on the nationwide searches that were in IPD search logs. And since then, Flock, and I believe it was Flock, removed the camera count field from the search logs. So the camera count field is no longer visible in many transparency portals. Um this was an important data point because it showed the public how far and wide searches were going. Um and the removal of this field illustrates blocks dishonesty. Uh second, we asked the Cornell Civil Rights Clinic to reach out to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and we got confirmation today that um non-renewing or ending the Flock contract will not affect any funding that we receive from the give grant. So, that's pretty big news. Um, I'd also like to address IPD really quickly. Uh, people have been bringing their concerns forward about flock since last summer. So, IPD has had eight months to address these concerns and speak openly to the public. Um, they didn't really do that until the last couple weeks. Um, and just finally, I'll say that uh this community, I don't think will stand for any other sort of ALPR system. Um, we will definitely actively resist any other mass surveillance ARPR system that might take its place.

My next, thank you very much. My next speaker is Katie Church, followed by Aaron Fernando. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Thanks. Uh, hi, my name is Katie Church. I live in the second ward represented by Mr. Mr. Win and Mr. Kirby. Um, I came here to speak about the issue of flock. I would also like to say that um, my family are members of the temple Bethl and we are proud to live in a community with a mural that says free Gaza. Um, I came into this issue through the lens of Ithaca as a sanctuary city. I was in these chambers when the council voted to reaffirm our sanctuary city status in early 2025. The room was packed. There was no opposition. It was a fullthroated yes. A few months later, I learned about the flat cameras. One was right on the corner outside the school where I work. And while we were busy talking about how to keep our students safe from ice goons, the city was operating a system that feeds right into them. I started educating myself about the flock surveillance company. The abuses on human rights and human safety are so so many and clearly the technology is fun functioning exactly how it is supposed to function. Their goals are mass surveillance and data collection to feed on enormous AI technology system lining billionaire fascist pockets. A report in the ethic of voice came out yesterday about very recent ICE arrests in Spencer, New York. They were done with full cooperation of the police department. I think 11 people were arrested and deported and disappeared a 15-minute drive from where we stand. This is not the time to help out big brother. We can find other ways to find stolen cars, which is mainly what IPD claims flock is used for. And by using this technology, we're in direct violation of our promise to be a sanctuary city, and we have never needed to stand with more strength in that commitment than we do now. Is okay to change your mind. That shows courage. The world is changing quickly and we must too. So, please turn off the cameras. Um, also we have, as Ann said, learned that we can keep the gr give grant funding and just not give it to flock. We can use it for programs such

as the YEP program, which everyone loves and is awesome and actually deters violence in our community. Thank you very much. My next speaker is Aaron Fernando, followed by Jared Barnhart. That's Aaron Fernando followed by Jared Barnhart. Aaron, good to see you. Welcome. You have two minutes. Why don't you begin?

Good to see you all. Um yes. So I was going to say that um I'm obviously here to talk about flock. Um we understand I think I think we all understand that we are dealing with a rising authoritarianism. Um and it should be noted that mass surveillance is in fact a key tool of authoritarians. It's a key tool of authoritarians in Iran. It's a key tool of authoritarians in China and Russia. And it is very much a key tool of authoritarians in America as well. Um, I think you have heard and you will continue to hear the needs of the community in terms of what is necessary to keep us safe from this tool of author authoritarians. Um, and I just want to say that I know uh some to some extent the the complications of the decision that you're trying to make today um especially when it comes to entanglement around funding. Um, and I want to I want to in I just want to drive home that um having integrity and courage in your decision-m as a leader uh it it isn't tested when things are very neat and simple and safe and easy. It it is tested when you adhere to your principles and to the needs of your constituents, the needs of your community when things are messy and when they are challenging. Um and so what there is a certain level of urgency with which flock needs to be cancelled because every day that this is in our streets. This is logging data. We don't know if that data is being saved. I mean I can you've seen a lot of information from me. I will I will continue to share more information about how that data is is actually misunderstood by local and uh county police. Um, and so I think it is ve it is very important for you all to make sure that you make it known that you have our backs on this and that you are able to to pass this uh flock flock non-renewal and that you are able to

make that decision tonight. Thank you. Thank you. My next my next speaker is Jared Barnhart followed by Anne Sullivan.

Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin. Hey. Okay. So, uh, from what I hear, this council has made, uh, some pretty good progress, uh, on the, uh, the general mood against Flock. That's cool. Let's keep that going. Um, Flock Safety is not the only company that is going to sell us mass surveillance. When we when we kick Flock out, uh, another surveillance capitalism company will be here the very next day with an even smoother sales pitch. Uh swapping one surveillance system for another is unacceptable. Some are going to lose focus when we clear this first hurdle, but now we are watching. We're not going to let another one sneak by us. I have an idea that that would save everyone some time. We could be proactive and adopt the ACLU's cops legislation to prevent this from happening again. We don't even need to look into the future. There's other mass surveillance tech right here, right now. Uh it's time for them to go too. ALPRS, gunshot mics, your neighbors ring cameras. These are all mass surveillance tools that have a chilling effect on assembly and expression, irreparably damage civil liberties, and are ripe for abuse, no matter how many pinky promises are made about their security. Uh, the tools that we use fundamentally shape how we interact with the world. Hammers only see nails. No matter how nicely you ask it, a hammer is not going to slice a tomato tomato for you. Surveillance tech has one use, and that is surveillance. If we think this tool is safe in the hands of Sheriff Osborne, who I guess as far as cops go is pretty cool. Uh what if something happens to Sheriff Osborne? If our civil liberties depend on the good guys being in office, then we don't really have civil liberties at all now, do we? There's some rules right over here about what it means to come in here. Uh ways that we can be civil when

we're talking in front of you. I think it's pretty univil to ignore my civil liberties. Um just fourth amendment gone. That that's pretty silly. So um thank you very much. My next speaker is an Sullivan followed by Melanie Bush. Welcome an you have two minutes once you begin. I just am here to urge you to support Councilman Zuul's um resolution to open up public comment to other committee meetings of the whole. It's long overdue. Um number one, we should have more than one chance. For the past three years, I've been a caregiver uh to someone who has Alzheimer's whose meetings are exactly at the same time. I shouldn't have to choose between publicly addressing you and getting the emotional support that I that I needed. I I no longer go um because my husband died, but it was very important. Secondly, it would also give us an opportunity to weigh in publicly to you as a group earlier in the process when we had the old committee meetings. People came to them and I saw the members of the committee reacting in a very positive way and it saved a lot of time before um things uh came to you as a committee as the whole. And third, and God bless you all for speaking out whether I agree with you or not. Um I agree mostly with you. Um the constitution which is our sacred sacred document says congress shall make no law abridging the right of the people to assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances. That is exactly what's going on here tonight. Now someone told me oh but you can write to us and I can have meetings. It is very important for you to meet as a body to hear all of us some of whom you often disagree with. Some of you don't interact with an older person who's having trouble paying their property taxes. It's just not in your millu. They will come and they will talk to you. Some of you might not interact often with younger people or parents of people

whose kids had trouble walking to school this this winter because the roads weren't clear. So, I urge you to vote for this to open up the opportunity for public speaking more often and to side with democracy. We need to speak to you. We need to be heard. We need to push back against authoritarianism because getting rid of flock cameras isn't the only way. We have to raise our voices.

My next speaker is Melanie Bush, followed by Sam P. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin. My name is Melanie Bush and I'm here to ask you to immediately remove the flock surveillance cameras. I don't know if this is what you want for yourselves and your children, but it's not why I moved to Ithaca, New York, and have stayed here for 22 years. I didn't agree to be a guinea pig for how much illegal surveillance I'm willing to submit myself and my family to or to be a test case for Palunteer to make additional billions in the stock market. We the residents of Ithaca did not agree to live in a panopticon style dystopia to serve the police or the billionaires. We were not consulted. You are are our representatives. We pay you with our taxes to carry out our will to ensure that our decisions are implemented. We have made our decisions perfectly clear to you over the course of many meetings. We demand that you immediately remove the flock surveillance cameras. They bring shame to our city and to all of us in this community. Thank you.

Thank you. My next speaker is Sam P followed by Claire Grady.

Good afternoon, older persons. My name is Sam Pool and I'm a resident of Ithaca. We have an incredible turnout here today to talk about the flock cameras, so I won't belabor it. The cameras should be shut down immediately and the contract terminated as they represent a threat to our immigrant communities and all Ians. There are other incredibly important issues before council today that affect the safety of our community as well. This council is voting on resolutions in support of New York for all and dignity not detention. Two bills in the New York State Legislature which would protect immigrant New Yorkers by banning collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE and banning state contract with ICE to hold immigrants. We also have resolutions today in support of the REST Act and permanently affordable social housing. These two promote safety because when people can afford to stay in their homes, avoid traumatic evictions, and keep communities stable, they have a strong foundation to get the rest of their needs met. and all of us are safer. All of these are incredibly important and I urge you to pass them. Lastly, I want to talk about something that doesn't make us unsafe. There are those here today who believe that statements such as free Gaza are a threat to the Jewish community here in Etha. I'm proud to be a member of the Jewish community here in Etha, to have attended services including last Yom Kapoor at Temple Bethl and Shabbat at Habarra and Hillel on Cornell's campus. Supporting safety and justice and freedom for the Palestinian people is not dangerous for Jews or anyone. The liberation of black Americans and Palestinians are deeply intertwined and racism and Islam racism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian racism come from the same source. Our city should embrace this display of solidarity for the black community, Palestinian community, and Jews who recognize that our people cannot be safe or free until all other oppressed peoples are safe and free. Thank you.

My next speaker, order in the chamber, please. My next speaker is Claire Grady, followed by excuse me, followed by Ruth Yaro. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Thank you. I not only thank you for serving, but I thank all the people here. This is a democratic process and I don't come just to speak to you. I come to speak to my community and I come to listen to my community. We are learning from each other. So limiting this democratic process, this ancient practice of being in each other's physical presence and listening and talking, don't disregard it. I live on Ithaca's west side on Elm Street. The flock camera at the bottom of the hill records all of the cars, all of the people, all of the neighbors every time we go in and out of our homes. That's what's going on on Elm Street. Last time I spoke in this chamber, I spoke about the cameras. This was in 2023. I had been in Ferguson. I was driving wi in Ferguson with my friend, former neighbor on Elm Street, actually. Um, and she noted the cameras in Ferguson. She said, "These cameras are the gateway for criminalizing black men." Her she was the mother is the mother of a black man. I took her words to heart and I come here today to say we have choices. As this country plunges deeper into fascism, I say turn away from choices that militarize choices of militarization and surveillance. I suppose I support the resolution in support of New York state legislation, dignity not detention and New York for all. And I'm grateful for all the people who come here on their own time to teach us about that. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Welcome, Ruth. You're the next speaker, but first um uh forgive me if I mispronounce uh Kenton um abe. So forgive you forgive me if I pronounce your name, but you're the next speaker. Ruth, go ahead. You have two minutes. Why don't you begin?

Thank you. I'm Ruth Yarrow. I've lived a total of 30 years in this town, more than that. Uh I live at 222 Cleveland Avenue on the south side. I'm here to talk about government agencies that make me feel safe. And I'll start with a couple that make me do not make me feel safe. One, it is our Department of War that's attacking an increasing list of nations. That does not make me feel safe. Flock cameras do not make me feel safe. I worry even though uh I've heard from our chief that they can help uh that the data that is collected there is shared with other municipalities that may not be uh sanctuary cities and uh they're very good at picking up skin color uh dress and all the things that make it possible for uh various kinds of profiling. What does make me feel safe is that we're here and talking to each other and listening and that we have a very strong representative in this assembly and in the state uh senate that have supported the bills that you're I hopefully going to pass resolutions for tonight. um the dignity not detection act the New York for all act double checked and both Anna Kellis and Leah Webb have uh co-sponsored both of those bills so you

are providing wind at their back and I'll just quickly mention some other agencies that help me make Thank you very much Ruth that is unfortunately your time but you may submit the rest of your comments in writing Could you pronounce your name for me? Katton. Kaitton, I apologize. So, Kaitton, you're next, followed by um Agneska Rodriguez Vigil. You have two minutes once you begin.

Hi, my name is Kaitton Abbe and I'm here with the state policy and advocacy clinic to advocate for support for the dignity not detention act. The dignity not detention act does exactly what the name implies. It ensures that the dignity of some of our most vulnerable communities is upheld. Currently, over 2,500 immigrants have been detained in local jails and facilities in New York State. And I want to start off by highlighting how detaining people in local jails can have detrimental effects on our communities. Firstly, immigration detention run local jails or facilities has repeatedly been documented as unsafe and harmful. Detainees have experienced neglect, abuse, inadequate medical care, and sometimes prolonged isolation or solitary confinement. Local detention is also very costly. The cost of holding someone in detention in New York State is approximately $167 per day, a price that is paid for by taxpayers. This money could have could be directed towards other community needs like education, healthcare, food assistance, and efforts that are able to sustainably develop our communities for our constituents. Lastly, this has real world impacts on families and communities. In New York State alone, roughly 300,000 children have at least one parent who identifies as undocumented. And ripping people and families away through detention physically separates them, which has lasting physical mental health consequences for children and overall family members. The Dignity Not Detention Act is rooted in a simple but powerful principle. Our communities deserve dignity, not detention. The act ensures that our state, county, and city resources are used for constituents, not against them. This is especially important when we consider the role immigrants already play in strengthening New York. There are small business owners, our homebuilders, our caregivers, our students, our neighbors, our classmates, our co-workers, and our friends. Here in Ithaca, this act would help protect 18% of our foreignb born population and help our city be truly gorgeous. As a student, a community member, and an immigrant myself, I personally call on you to support the Dignity Not Detention Act and continue empowering members of our community who call this place home. Thank you.

Thank you. My next speaker, I added an unnecessary G to your name which is not written here. Anesca. Yeah. Apologies. No, it's okay. Uh, welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Good evening. My name is Anesca Rodriguez and I am a student from the Cornell Brooks School Policy and Advocacy Clinic. I'm here today to advocate for the city support of the New York for All Act. New York for All broadly limits state and local collusion and data sharing with immigration enforcement. Beyond mere cooperation, this measures an essential response to the increasing network of flock and surveillance cameras around Ithaca, which creates a digital drag net for ICE. This allows federal authorities to evade our sanctuary safeguards by identifying and tracking New Yorkers as they walk or drive using automatic license plate readers and facial recognition. Currently, many immigrants are are living in fear of being detained and deported by ICE. Basic errands such as going to the doctor, buying groceries, or even commuting to work puts them at risk. This environment of constant fear makes everyone less safe, not just immigrant communities. Um, when local police work with ICE, survivors of violence and people in emergencies are less likely to call for help out of fear of themselves or their loved ones being deported. Um, Ithaca has a rich history of immigration and has become a place of refuge for many immigrants in the past years. In 2024, the foreignb born population in Ithaca was around 33,763 people, 18 of whom were non- US citizens. Many immigrants in Ithaca own local businesses, attend our schools, and participate in community events, making Ithaca their forever home. If we continue to allow for collusion with ICE, not just immigrants will suffer, but their children in the economy as well. As one study notes that the likelihood of school dropouts increases to 11% when local communities cooperate with ICE, small farmers and construction companies in upstate New York are reporting that they are beginning to feel the impact of immigration raids. And the bottom line is that involvement with ICE hurts families and our communities as a whole. I thank you for your time and I urge you to support New

York for All and concurrently dignity not detention. Thank you. I playfully said that there was a speaker whose handwriting was as bad as mine. There is someone whose is worse. Um, maybe your name is William. If you live on Senica Street and you know you have bad handwriting last time, also I it was legible last time. I I do know you by sight now, but was it legible? Welcome. You have two minutes. Why don't you begin?

All right. Thank you for having me here. Last month I was here, as you all know. I gave a speech about the flags up there, the Gaza sign, the Black Lives Matter sign. When I left, everybody booed me. Everybody spit at me on the way out. Everybody cursed at me. They pushed me. They made me feel like [ __ ] when I left here. That's the only reason I'm here. I'm still here for the same reason. Now, that's the end of the story. And I thank you all for listening to me last time because you did. You listened to me. I didn't give a [ __ ] about them at all because what they were doing to me. So, that's the only reason I'm here. And there's only one thing else I got to say is I I I like I like the flock camera because I'm doing everything legal. That's the reason. The other thing I like to say to the audience is flock you. My next speaker, my next speaker is Zachary Win, followed by Ray Wall. Zach, welcome. You have two minutes. Why don't you begin?

Uh, thank you uh very much. Uh, I had a whole thing. My name is Zach. I live downtown here. I had a whole thing about the Asteria. So, the evacuation is hopefully good news that we'll get things moving in the right direction. and you can't have people living in a building with all the fireboxes ripped out of the walls and stuff. So, uh, I was also going to ask that the council send a letter to the Tomkins County Industrial Development Agency asking them to look into clawing back the asteris tax abatement from the vicinino group and this would be an opportunity to kick vino while they are down. Um, I understand that we're sending the contract with flock this evening as a virtual certainty. Uh, the county public safety committee recently formed a working group to look into the flock issue. uh renewal of the flock grant and by extension flock uh excuse me the give grant and by extension flock is only six months away. I've suggested the legislature and the public safety committee have the working group ask the department of criminal just uh New York uh division of criminal justice services who manages the give grant if l can be removed from future iterations of give uh and I ask you as a body to make a similar request of DJS previous uh speakers um indicated that it's just not a problem that would be good news um there's a lot of money at stake give opens the county up to $700,000 in annual youth employment funding accepting give means about 1.1 million uh for the county on an annual basis including funds for flock. And if the answer comes back from DJCS that no flock can't be removed from GI in 2027 and the county legislature execs elects not to renew the grant, it would be beneficial if the funds from the city's uh flock contract be used towards any shortfall resulting from not renewing give. Turning down a million dollars for the sake of civil liberties would be a powerful statement uh especially if the city and the county split the cost together. and I sent you pictures of uh the hysteria with a bunch of gross stuff that uh hopefully can get dealt with. It's been a couple of years and I've done what I could to raise awareness of what was going on over there. So, I appreciate something finally being done. Have a wonderful evening.

Thank you. My next speaker is Ray Wall followed by Chubby. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Thank you. Today I had the occasion to walk past the Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the First Baptist, St. John's Episcopal Universalist Church, St. Paul's Church, and also walk by the Presbyterian Church and the Jewish Synagogue. And I noticed one thing that they all had in common and one thing that they didn't. What they have in common is that they all exist on highly trafficked streets. And I understand that flocks cameras are there to notify and record traffic. One thing they don't have in common is that none of these institutions have a flock camera anywhere near their pre premises. And I looked very carefully. As you may know, there are some streets in Ithaca that have virtually zero traffic on them. One such is Cleveland Avenue. It has a dead end attached to it. I walk on Cleveland Avenue with some regularity. And I noticed two weeks ago that there is a flock camera installed, freshly installed on the tiny street staring a mere 50 ft directly into the front entrance doors of the AM St. John James Church. I had to ask why, and I have to ask, what are you doing? I informed the Reverend. I had a sitdown conversation today with a co-pastor of the Presbyterian Church as well as the administrator of the Jewish synagogue and informed them informed them that the camera was there. They were not happy and I think by the end of the week every religious institution is going to know that that camera is there and I don't think they'll be happy either. I don't think they're going to like that their religious freedoms and religious activities are being monitored and surveiled. And I think that any religious institution in Ithaca individually or collectively that seeks due diligence legal advice on this are going to find that the city of Ithaca is in a dubious legal position to put a camera in front of a church. So I'm asking you please win lose a draw in the Fox question. This particular camera needs to be

removed. It would not be tolerated. Thank you very much.

You're Chubby. Then my next speaker following you is Alexis Boyd. Welcome. You have two minutes once you begin.

Hi y'all. My name is Chubby. I'm here asking you all to cancel your contract with Flock to remove it immediately and cancel any type of AI surveillance systems like Flock. It places all community members at risk, especially community members who are undocumented. People come to Ithaca to receive abortions, reproductive care, and gender affirming care from all over the nation. We are a sanctuary city. I also call on y'all to support the Dignity Not Detention Act and the New York for All Act. We must stop state and local law enforcement and government agencies from collaborating with ICE border patrol and all federal agencies. And then last but not least, I'd like to speak on the mural. When people say free Palestine, they are saying end 80 years of apartheid genocide, settler colonialism. This is not anti-semitic. If you are threat threatened and scared by this, my dear community members, that is called Zionism, white privilege, and white violence. If you think that you are not contributing to this genocide, do not be mistaken. Every single paycheck that you have contributes to this genocide, whether you like it or not, you can go to notmytaxders.org and you can see how much Ithaca alone contributes to this genocide. In New York, we have um in Ithaca, New York, we have contributed um $2,62 and $361 to this genocide. Um in New York State, it is close to um almost 150 billion. Um so whether you like it or not, you are actively contributing to this. And I invite y'all to please read some of the amazing heroes that we have on those murals because I can tell you that they would agree that we should free Palestine. And also stop weaponizing anti-semitism. It is not the same as Zionism.

That is your time. My next speaker, my next speaker is Alexis Boyd, followed by my last in-person speaker, Reverend Weaver. Uh hello, I am Alexis Boyd. I live on Titus Avenue. I am here to talk about flock. Ever since I moved to Ithaca has felt like a very welcoming community and in the rise of fascism, one of the best ways to fight it is to have a strong community. And if we have to worry about being surveiled by a fascist state and having our own city contribute to that, that can lead to a breakdown in community and that would let fascism overcome our locality. And as part of that, I would also like to speak that the council should support New York for all and uh dignity. Attention as more measures to protect uh local community. Anything else I had to say was already said by a very vocal community. So I will end my time there. Thank you.

Thank you,

Reverend Weaver. Thank you for joining us. You have two minutes. Why don't you begin? I thank you for having us. Um, as Mayor Canelmo has said, I'm Reverend Weaver and I'm joined also today by my colleague, Reverend Cindy Weaver. Um, together with the pastors of the First Presbyterian Church, um, next to Dwit Park. Um, and I'm glad to see some other members of the religious community here as well. I'm here to speak out against flock um, and in favor of ending our contract with them. As a church, um we have a number of people in our congregation who worship with us because they know they can remain anonymous when they have professional agreements that require their neutrality on different things. Um and at the same time as a church, as a building, we host Open Doors English, which is Ithaca's only um open to all English language classes for adults. IA welcomes refugees and also since um in the last year, the immigrant solidarity group meets at our church. Um but this issue of flock is not only about our immigrant neighbors. Um although we care deeply about them, we also care about those who come to Ithaca um for abortion services, for a gender affirming care and other issues. Um there are other states that are making it or in the process of trying to make it illegal to leave their state in order to get that kind of care. Um, and it's important for us since we have providers here in town that we are not creating data that can be subpoenaed and warranted without our knowledge. Um, I don't know if all of you are aware that Flock handles national warrants and subpoenas on behalf of its clients and does not disclose those subpoenas and warrants. They have no requirement to because it's a legal matter. So, we would never know if our data were being used to harm um and go after people that we would rather protect. we want to protect and I don't think any of us here um would really put it past our current Department of Justice on the national level to look for a subpoena warrant

that disagreed with common morality and human rights. This is why I think it's just not safe to have that data exist. It's not about how well we can protect it. It's about the simple fact that when it exists, it's dangerous. That is your time. Appreciate it. Thank you. That is our last in-person speaker. I have uh Mr. Morell uh as our final speaker who is joining us via Zoom. Uh I'm assuming it's that phone number. Shenika. Yeah. Thank you.

Mr. Morell, can you hear us? You're muted.

Yes, sir. I sure can. Hi, my name is Mike Morel. on the record here in the jungle. Um, if y'all want to remove the cameras, put them down here in the jungle cuz y'all kicking people out of the stair, you're going to need him down here to watch these criminals. Um, but the real reason why I'm calling in is I would like to give a shout out to the mayor. He's a great guy, as well as the DPW crew, uh, Nick Thomas, uh, Roger Ashley, uh, Hank Bennett, uh, Phil Davis, y'all, bunch of great guys. Uh we had problems with the water uh after it was turned on for us. It froze up a couple times and then the guys were right on it. You know, they did what they had to do to get it uh up and going again for us. And you know, pretty much the timely fashion was the same day. Well, following day after I, you know, noticed it was froze up. They those guys were dra took care of the you know, issue real quick. And I'd like to say thank you to every one of the the DPW guys and women. They're a bunch of great people and uh mayor's great guys. And thank you very much uh Mr. Win uh for being in contact with me as much as you are. I know I can uh be a nuisance at times you know complain about things going on but uh you all have been very professional. I really thank you all for it. Thank you. That's all I have.

Thank you Mr. Morell. Glad we were able to address that for you.

All right, with that, that concludes our uh public speakers. Um I will uh reserve most of my comments on the two items that are in fact on the agenda for later this evening. I do want to address and I believe the speaker left, but I do want to address um just clarity of information around around the um the notice to vacate. Uh that notice has gone into effect effective immediately. Uh the building is not safe to inhabit at this time. Um and again I would just encourage folks if the residential portion thank you Mr. Reio the uh this does not obtain to the uh conference center which has separate means of egress. Um please again do look to the public information office for more uh information as that develops. Uh with that I will turn to my colleagues if there's any additional privilege of the floor. Uh but again, thank you all for joining us this evening and for your your comments. Um Mr. Shapiro is recognized and then Mr. Keel.

Um just want to say thank you to everyone for coming out tonight. I'm going to save um and and congratulations um for your award, of course. Um I'm going to save my comments about the agenda items that we talked about um for when those are um on the agenda to talk about. Um, but I did want to say that for anyone in the room that's listening to Jewish voices, and we've heard Jewish voices having different opinions, um, it reminded me um, of a saying that I might not get right, but it's kind of like a Jewish saying, and it's like um, anytime you get two Jews in a room, you'll be sure to have at least three opinions. Um, and I just wanted to remind us all of that because um, someone could have the opinion that um, they feel safe. Someone can have the opinion that they feel welcomed and belonged, but that doesn't negate the opinion that somebody else has where they don't feel safe, where they don't feel like it's belonging to them. And um that kind of respect for disagreement and that kind of um that value of um appreciating and acknowledging differences of opinions. Um that's so central to the culture and the Jewish culture that I grew up in and believe in. And um it's just something I want to see more of in the world today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Shapiro. Mr. Keel.

Um, I just wanted to again like the mayor and Mr. Shapiro, I'll save my comments on both the mural discussion as well as the flock discussion for those sections of the agenda, but I did just want to say thank you all for coming out. This is truly listening to all of you is truly the highlight of uh the meeting for me. Um, I enjoy doing the other stuff, too, but it's just really great to hear everybody um speak. I also wanted to give a a special uh thank you to the state policy and public advocacy clinic for coming out. Um, for anybody who's uh not a junior and senior but is a Cornell student, um I'm a I'm a graduate of that program and it was the most important developmental class I took uh while I was a Cornell student. Um so thank you all for being here. Um I also wanted to mention um the College Community Collective uh which Rob and I are both uh a part of um which works to uh build community and uh enhance community development in the College neighborhood. um has made great strides this year and we're we're in the process of finalizing um our summer concert series schedule for this year. So um there will be more advertising as as the summer approaches. But um hopefully uh for those of you who which I would assume is most of you uh don't ever make it up to College Town. Um we've got great restaurants. We've got uh good good folks up there and uh hopefully some great uh live music this summer. Um and we'd really appreciate your support up there uh when the students aren't around. And there's great parking too when the students are in town.

Mr. Su, thanks. Just like everyone, I reiterate how important it is to hear your voices along that line. I've heard a lot of people talk about dialogue, communication, feeling that they can share their ideas. Please do not attack each other when you're in the space. We have rules of decorum for that reason. Please go online to do that. There's plenty of space for that. When you're here, I want to hear what people have to say, and I want people to feel respected. Uh the second thing I wanted to point out is that a number of people spoke on the dignity not detention act and the new york New York for all act when we moved that to the consent agenda. We approved it. So that has already been approved for folks who didn't realize. Point point of point of order. It it has not. We are going to vote on that act.

We haven't consent. Yep. Oh, I'm sorry. It'll be approved. Uh sorry. Uh and then the second thing is uh someone spoke of the petitions and hearings before council. That's also on the consent agenda. Last thing which is a point of information I guess uh one of the speakers a couple of speakers said the free Gaza tax covered up the approved approved mural design is can I get clarification on that or should we wait till 8.1 you cannot during privilege of the floor got it any further comments on privilege of the floor

all right with that um I'm going to ask I will entertain a motion for a twominut recess because what often happens is that Uh maybe these folks will all stay, but we often get a lot of public comment and then the room likes to filter out and so just while council deliberates. So may I have a motion for a two-minute recess moved by Miss Fbritzio, seconded by Mr. Trumbull. All those in favor of a two-minute recess that carries unanimously, please stay. I mean, they got two minutes, so I can't get very far. Yeah, go ahead.

Well, you'll you'll be updated soon. Um, we are back in session. Uh, may I have a motion while my computer boots up to move consent agenda moved by all the person Moss, seconded by all the person Kirby. Uh, all those in favor of consent. That carries unanimously. All right. Now, Pat, you want to say point of information? Is that all right? No, that it passed. Yeah. Congratulations. Passed. Yep. All right. Uh, all right. Now I need someone to move the thing that everybody's here for, bond authorization for green hydrogen as a non-wires alternative project. May I have someone move and second? Um, all the persons, please summarize and move.

This resolution just increases the capital project to $1 million. Thank you very much. Is there a second? Second by all the person Moss. Any discussion on this, Mr. S? Yeah, quick question. It looks like this these funds are reimbursable by the DOE. Is that correct? Correct. Okay. And is there any concern about those funds being clawed back from the BBB? Uh did they come from the IRA? We have not received any indication, okay, that these funds are at risk for federal clawback. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Keel. Okay. Any further questions on this item? All those in favor of moving this resolution or approving this resolution that carries unanimously. Thank you very much. Um we've passed that. May I please someone please summarize and move uh item 8.1 public art amendment reawakening mural contract. Mr. Deandini. Okay. Uh, sorry. Uh, result. I'll read the result. Um, that the city of Ithaca common council approves the amended design of the reawakening the underground rail bureau, uh, painted by artists Miriam Adib, uh, Cypress Wright and Terrence Van in collaboration with Itha Murals and Southside Community Center and be it further resolved that the city shall execute an updated agreement with Ithaca Murals as reviewed by the city attorney's office. I move as written.

Thank you. Is there a second? Second all the person win. I know Caleb and I believe the artists are here. So I'll welcome them up to answer any questions from common council and I will take a list or I'll turn it over to you all if you have anything you want to say as preparatory comments.

There's another Oh, sure. I thought there was but there is not. No, no, no. Do you have any preliminary comments, Caleb and team? Otherwise, I'll turn it over to council. Um, yeah, sure. Will we get a chance to speak after council? This is the time. This is the you're we are we are debating the resolution to uh approve the amended project. So, this is the time to say anything. Um, can I should I start? Sure.

I I I want to firstly uh say that I appreciate everyone's time here tonight and I and I appreciate the um the gravity that comes with the phrase itself, free Gaza. But that's why we're here today because of the phrase that is on the wall. And um I'm actually not here as a a uh artist. I'm not here even as a man. I'm here as a father. And um as this conflict has raged on um as a dad, I have a four-year-old and a 2-year-old daughter. Um, and I would imagine how tragic I actually I don't want to imagine um for a father to lose their children in a reign of gunfire um with a hypersonic hypothermal missile that will liquefy their entire body. That is a horrifying thought for me and that's happened over 5,000 times documented. So during the Underground Railroad mural, I look at the Underground Railroad mural as a response to tyranny. And the connection is made for me. I decided to paint this and we can all speak to our feelings, but I I take responsibility for this. I take responsibility for us all being here as a antithesis to violence as an as an opposing force to the violence against children. That's that's why I'm here. That's why I painted it. As a father, I think the conflict should should end. And whether

the words written on the wall uh rub people the wrong way. I I have nothing against Jewish people, Zionists. Hey, I don't know. We could we could have a greater conversation about how I feel about that. But I'm here uh full of love uh speaking words of love to everyone and for everyone to think of the children that have been slaughtered because as these skyscrapers go up, probably in the next five years on that site, there won't be as many VO. You see how hard it is to speak on this? We're here now. It's it's getting it wants to be it's being voted to be covered up. And let's ask ourselves who are we covered up. What's what's next? Will those screams be heard? Will the dignity be given? I don't know. I mean, that's it's up for debate for you all. It's uh I'm an artist. I'm born to express and I'm born to be honest. That's all I have to say.

Order in the chamber, please. Order in the chamber.

Hi, I'm Mari Madib. I'm one of the other artists, the other artist on the project. And Terrence really wrapped that up very well. I think we need to question our morality if there is so much controversy around a statement that advocates for the ceasing of mass killing of a majority population of children. 50% of Gaza's population is children. Tens of thousands of children have been blown up before our very eyes for the last 3 years. And I don't know how we can proceed and have any consciousness around that if the mere sight of the advocation of the freedom of an oppressed group of people brings so much hate and vitrial to people's hearts as we have witnessed it for over two and a half years on our phones seeing children's heads being blown up. Like I I do not understand how people can have so much hate in their heart. Israel has occupied Palestine for the last 80 years and this siege has progressed for the last two and a half and we've seen it. We've seen the UN confirm that this is a genocide. I don't understand how advocating against the genocide of a population that's majority children is controversial. I think art is something that is supposed to reflect our times. What what Terrence was saying about the artist is meant to tell the truth. That's what we're doing. And like someone earlier said today, the people that we represented on the mural, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, they would be on our side. They would be anti-Zionist. They would be pro Palestine. They would be calling for the freedom of Gaza.

Absolutely not. No. If you read the context of their work,

direct your comments to the chair. Thank If you the context of their work and you understand history and you understand those leaders, you can put the dots together that they would advocate for the oppressed because they always have. I am advocating for a free Gaza. I am advocating for the freedom of all oppressed people. I hope that we see a free Gaza in our lifetime. And if we can't even bear to see ourselves and our complicity reflected in a mural that says free Gaza, then I really really urge you to check where your heart is and check where your influences are coming from. This is should not be a debate. Even the way that it's framed as like we're debating whether this mural should exist or not. Morality should not be a debate. A statement to free oppressed people should not be so controversial. And I think that art is supposed to open people's eyes, open people's hearts. And that's exactly what me and Terrence tried to tried to do with this mural. And I hope that the more that people see this, they become more exposed to what is going on and people's hearts soften around this this terrible subject. Free Gaza.

Order in the chamber, please. Order in the chamber. Um, my name is Caleb Thomas and I first spoke at the mic here probably around 2004. Um, pretty soon after Caleb, one moment. I'm not going to again ask for order in the chamber. Thank you.

I first spoke at the mic here around 2004 um sometime soon after I met Gino Bush and he was working with teenagers at Ithaca High School who came up with an idea to change a street name in Ithaca to Martin Luther King Jr. Street. And it was through this that I started spending time in these chambers and this building and then was invited onto the public art commission. And pretty soon after that, well around that time, I saw the Mission District in San Francisco, the Latin American arts taking up space in the neighborhood pushing up against the the white supremacy and the gentrification. And we had this idea of maybe we we organize a mural here and we chose this wall and Downtown Ithaca Alliance found funding for it. And in 2010, Jonathan Mattis painted a mural honoring the Underground Railroad in the site where we're talking about this mural today. And it and I saw that impact, the ripple that it had in our community. And then we did it again and again and again. and now it's been 400 murals um since then in the last 16 years. I could speak about um numerous projects in the city um honoring indigenous people honoring this as Gaakona land. Um, I was to this this evening I'm coming from the history center where I was with a group learning about Asian history here in Ithaca and in plans for a mural in College Town to honor Asian culture. Um, you think about the Khalil Bay who painted the Alex Haley mural and the Dorothy Cotton mural um down on Tyogga Street and new mural at Art House

and all the electrical boxes and I'm working with Tik Kunvore right now to do a fourth our fourth annual Jewish justice mural um with them with the the Bitzvah group and it's you know and then you know This just the first mural of this year um honoring Diane Sams and Dr. James Turner um in the Beverly J. Martin gym. I hope that you can see that. And so I say all that in the context of of this culture shift, you know that and to say that murals aren't the goal, but it's these conversations. And I could be really upset about tonight. I could be upset that this is up for question, but I also recognize that this is um these conversations are important and and so I'm grateful for for people questioning in their hearts. Um, I would say that in the same way that Black Lives Matter is on the wall and that's not anti-white, it's not not anti-Latino, it's not anti-Asian, but to have Black Lives Matter up there recognizes and honors black folks. and to have Sudan on the wall and honor Gaza isn't anti-Tanzania, isn't anti-B Brazil, isn't anti- any other nation, but is recognizes what Gaza is going through right now and will be one to stop.

Anything else you'd like to share? Order in the chamber, please.

Well, you know, I'll say one thing. This would be the last thing. I I don't want to drag this thing out. And as important as this means um to my spirit, I want to say I just looked around. I'm the only black man here. I'm the only black man in this chamber right now. And the vote is going to come up to silence one of those expressions. And I find that very troubling. I find it very troubling. some of the backend culture of Ithaca and I think everybody knows what I'm talking about. Um, I find it extremely deeply troubling and I think that to paint this mural to bring things to the surface, if that is what I'm called to do by the creator I've been sent here by, whatever label you want to put on that, then I'm going to do it. If it means we have to have these discussions to have discourse about an extremely relevant historical moment, then so be it. Um, but I really ask everyone to really, and I'm sure we've all ruminated on this in different ways, but I think the spirit of Ithaca, the spirit of humanity, and I'm not saying this against anyone specifically, but again, um, there's things that I think in this city, I've I've been a resident. I haven't been a lifelong resident, but I've seen things that do need to come to the surface, and if they have to, so be it, because they should. That's what someone told me I was all about. Um, and that has proven to not

necessarily be the case. And why is that? I don't know. That's for everyone here to discuss in their own homes and amongst their community and friends and in their silos. But I find it deeply troubling as the only black man in this chamber. I feel the need to say that. Miss Mtos,

thank you to Caleb Ter Terrence Mariam um for your words. Um Terrence, I'm here with you right now because the first thing I wanted to say was sorry to Mariam at the fact that you just tried to tell your truth and white women behind you try to silence you. I am sorry. Secondly, sorry to both of you guys for having to defend your form of your expression. Sorry. But then also at the same time, thank you for creating controversial art that allows these conversations and these these decisions to happen and be made. So, thank you. Thank you. My next speaker is Mr. Shapiro.

Thank you. Um, tonight's vote isn't about foreign policy and it's not about adjudicating the Israeli Palestinian conflict. And it isn't about anyone who holds any particular point of view. It's about whether us as a council will retroactively expand an approval for a project that's already been completed. The Underground Railroad mural came before us as a with a clearly defined scope, imagery, and footprint. We reviewed that application. It was an easy vote, and we approved it because it was specific and it was intentional. The mural was created to honor two extraordinary black Americans, Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas, and to recognize the profound historical significance of the Underground Railroad in our own community. Ithaca was part of that community. The local connection is what made this project powerful and very appropriate. The free Gaza language not was not part of that submitted application. It wasn't refu reviewed. It wasn't approved. It was added afterwards simply because the artist chose to. And now we're being asked to declare that that's acceptable. Process matters, especially when projects involve city property and carry the endorsement of this body. But beyond process, there is a deeper concern. The mural was meant to honor black history in Ithaca. And it was meant to stand as a tribute to Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas, to their courage, to their leadership, and their lasting impact on this nation and our community. Introducing messaging about an unrelated international conflict, it shifts the focus. It dilutes the clarity of that tribute and it risks diminishing the singular power of the story the mural was created to tell. The legacy of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas should stand on its

own. It should not be merged with or co-opted by unrelated international political debates. Who was he to say that? Who were you to say? Sir, you're not recognized.

There's also another community impact we must acknowledge. And in the city of Ithaca, we pride ourselves on being a welcoming community for all. That commitment must include our Jewish residents and community members, many of those who who support the existence of Israel. Many have shared that this added language feels divisive and makes them feel less welcome in their own city. And whether you share that perspective or not, it's still true for some people. When public art bears city approval, it signals our endorsement. That endorsement should not leave members of our community feeling excluded. Individuals are free to advocate for the causes they believe in and nothing about this vote restricts that freedom. But city sanctioned projects should be different. They must remain faithful to what was approved. They must reflect our responsibility to the full community that we serve. Tonight's vote is about integrity. Integrity of process, integrity of purpose, and integrity in our values of being a welcoming community for all. And for those reasons, I cannot support the inclusion of the free baza portion in the in the resolution. Um, with that, I'd like to move that we scr that we remove the free Gaza portion from the fifth whereas in the resolution. Um,

do we have opportunity to respond?

You've been to enough of these meetings to know the answer to that. You can be recognized momentarily. We have a motion. Um, I'm going to I'm going to ask for a second, although I'm going to first point out for the older person that it is citing that that is additional text. It is it is distinguishing. I I don't think that the intent of your motion is what you mean for it to be. It says that the mural included the proposed design as well as additional text including free Gaza, Black Lives Matter, and Choose Love. It is just descriptive about what is there presently. Fair. So, what this resolution is trying to do is retroactively approve those language into a proposal that was no that was previously improved without that language. What I'd like to do is remove that free Gaza language from this whereas and direct DPW to remove um remove that language from the existing law within the next two weeks. So as a matter of so so this is just procedurally two things. One you removing free Gaza from the whereas will have no material impact on what No. That's like it's just it is purely just descriptive about what is there presently. Right. So like deleting that and what will happen is if this is not approved the mural as uh produced will be non-conforming and not sanctioned right which I think would be the outcome that you're advocating for of of of removing the unapproved parts but the the whereas

I want to site correction there but let me you're being plural in the way you described it. I'm not asking for un several unapproved parts which is why I was specific here. the fact that other things were added to the mural that weren't approved, they seem very appropriate for what was created.

And I hear that and we can work, you can while I recognize others who are in the queue to speak, you can work with the city attorney to clarify the language mean. But like the removing it from the whereas has no material impact on what happens that is just a description of what is presently there. So I will maybe just encourage you two to step into my office so that you can maybe explain this a little bit further. And my next speaker, well, I I understand. I see you jumping out of your seat. That's copyright infringement on you, by the way, all the person for Britzio. I said him jumping out of his seat with his hand, that's copyright infringement. Um, Mr. Keel, you are patiently waiting to be next.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you again everyone for coming. Um, I was not planning on speaking on this tonight, but I feel so moved as to uh do so. Um that said, I don't have prepared comments, so this might be a little uh all over the place, so you'll have to bear with me. Um uh in what during October 7th, um I had just uh been elected to as the head of the student body at Cornell. Um and that was not something I was expecting, uh to deal with. It was obviously, um there was a lot of different perspectives. It was it was a crazy time to be in that position. Um, and so I've spent a lot of time thinking about these issues over the last several years. Um, and my opinions have shifted dramatically um, over the course of that time as as the world has evolved and as as everyone's opinions have evolved. Um, and one of the things that I've thought a lot about um, throughout the last couple years um, is the power that we've given to words and the power we've given to statements. Um and um I was really moved by some of the speakers tonight who who spoke about um the the tragedies that happened across the United States against Jewish people. Um and and from my perspective, um when we start to take slogans which are are maybe not completely politically neutral, um but also certainly not uh um descriptions of terrorism and ascribe them to terrorist acts, it begins to give those words extra power away from the original meaning um and kind of take something in in the case of for Gaza. Um that I think that a lot of people would in a contentneutral environment agree with. Um I think that uh nobody is for for killing babies. Nobody's for killing other people. Um at least nobody in this

room, I would hope. Um, the same maybe can't be said for Palanteer, but um um and I think we need we as a community need to to give the words the power they deserve in the community that we love. Um, and for me that has been a process of development over the last couple years and and thinking about um about what that looks like. Um, and it also has been a crazy couple years because we're in a new environment where uh we've never seen so much death in our entire lives. You know, all of this is main streamed right into our phones and um I certainly didn't expect uh at my age to be seeing multiple people die a day on my Instagram feed. Um and so um I'm going to support this amendment tonight. Um that said, um I'm also really frankly frustrated um that we are in this position at all. Um I I think we did take a vote as a council to put up a mural that we had a clear picture of. Um and then that mural was different when it was put up than what was originally approved. Um I I think it sends a worse picture to the community for us to vote against this tonight. Um, and that said, I think we need to strengthen our processes for future um, art installations. Um, I think I I just I really am frustrated uh that this is happening. Um, I'm really frustrated that uh we were given an opportunity to look over something. I wish this had been included in in the original designs because I think it would have passed, frankly, and I think we would have been able to have a discussion about at that time. Um, and um, with that said, again, I'm going to vote for this tonight and and I'm going to vote for it with all the with all of the um, improvements. Um, um, so thank you for being here and thank you again for everybody showing up.

My next my next speaker is Mr. Defendini. I'll be brief because I know we have a lot to get to, but in 19

just as a I I appreciate I appreciate but but just folks cannot approach the the the council like that's just says it right up there. Nope, it's okay, but I'm trying to hold everybody on both sides of this issue accountable to the same rules. Apologies for interrupting you, Mr. Dini. In 1948, um, the United States passed the gag law, um, on Puerto Rico, making it illegal, uh, a federal crime for Puerto Ricans to fly the flag in an attempt to suppress the independence movement. Um, Puerto Rico is the oldest colony in the world. Um, and I'm the proud son of Puerto Rican parents. It would go against everything that I am, believe in, and have been made into up to this point uh to try to suppress uh an artist's vote here uh and wishes and intent and uh to not show solidarity uh with the intent because I share those beliefs as well. So, I'm going to support this resolution. I appreciate the work of the artist.

Next is Miss Fettz followed by Mr. I think it is absolutely important for the city to make sure that Etha is safe for our Jewish community and to address um and oppose all anti-semitism. And I think it would be great if we had a mural painted against anti-semitism. But as we heard today, there is far from consensus in the Jewish community that a Palestinian flag is anti-semitic. And I, as a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and daughter of parents who fled anti-semitism in Eastern Europe, am not offended by the idea of a free Palestine or a free Gaza, as many other Jews in this audience. And I think um the artists used their artistic expression to create something that honors black history. It included some of the original parts and it also expanded what it means to have justice for everybody. Um, so, um, yeah, I just want to say that you can't speak for all Jews when you say that this is offensive because many Jews, like when I walk down the street and I see a Ukrainian flag next to a Palestinian flag, as a daughter of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, I feel safer in this community. So, I appreciate that we're able to have this conversation and talk about the fact that justice means different things and Black History Month um and honoring Black History does not mean just what you think it is or necessarily what the original um proposal was. It's been expanded. Um and if members of the community feel that it addresses black history, then I think we should not be voting to remove it and that would be inappropriate.

Mr. Sul, what are we discussing? I mean, are we discussing the amendment? I'm confused. We're discussing the main motion, not the not the amendment. The amendment was withdrawn. Uh, it was never seconded. Uh, it was. No, he wasn't seconded. He raising his hand to speak. Thank you. Um, so I'm going to move to amend the proposal to do what? Uh, real real quick. Yeah. I think Mr. But you have the language you want in front of you. He's welcome to. I just

Okay. So, um, and I the background to this is that, um, we've heard a lot of people speak on this issue tonight. I have zero interest in relitigating, um, the Gaza Palestine, Israel issue. Um, and I know that it's a very important issue to lots of parties. Um, it's also clearly divisive. I mean, it's obviously divisive. It was divisive when it went in. Um, the only language on the mural being raised an issue as an issue is the free Gaza language. The love matters language that is not an issue. The Black Lives Matter language not an issue. It's only free Gaza. Um, my opinions on this don't matter even. I'm going to leave them aside. But because this was highly political when the mural was being painted, it should have gone through the proper political discussion. cities. This city in particular has state has taken stances on controversial issues. We do it quite a bit and I think that's one of the things that makes us a great city. But when we do it, we do it openly and we do it with great deliberation. Um especially if the city's going to be endorsing it. So, I think it's really important that this city have a conversation about this if it's really important to us, not to retroactively approve it without the city's knowledge of it actually even going on or approval of it. So, um, the resolution I wrote says it's changing the resolves. Resolve that the city of Itha common council retroactively approves amending the Underground Railroad mural painted by artists um, Miriam Adib Cypress Wright and Terrence Van in collaboration with Ithaca Murals and Southside Community Center. This amendment includes the text black lives matter and choose love but does not include the free Gaza text and be it further resolved that the free

Gaza text will be removed by DFPW within the next two work weeks and resolved that the city shall execute an updated agreement with Itham Murals as reviewed by the city's attorney's office. Can I get a second? Thank you. You are out of order. Oh, I can't say that. Do not look for seconds. Sorry. I appre well I app this I appreciate the third incorrect jumping on the procedure part there Mr. Mr. but please stop seconded by Mr. Shapiro discussion on the amendment um respectfully you can be recognized for uh substantive input on questions but this is a debate for the council I appreciate that uh no Mr. debating motion.

I had a question that never got answered. Was the um did the free Gaza text cover up an approved mural design? Mr. Thomas, you may answer that. Could you could you ask that again? Yeah. So, the speaker, some of the speakers said that the free Gaza text covered up an approved mural design. That wasn't in our like packet or whatever. So, I'm just trying to get clarification. Is that correct? No. I would actually say that the the mural as it is is actually very much in line with what the proposal was. Can I embellish on that? Is that

um so with any of the murals in the city um we actually yeah what's what's proposed what's put forward is a sketch and when when the artist is there you know there might be a pipe there there there's some architectural elements um you know that the the blackeyed Susan mural that was the proposal was just for the facade and she wrapped the mural into the stairwell. Um there is um and also Yeah. Yeah. If a child walks by and talks about ladybugs and that artist incorporates a ladybug into the mural, it's actually something that we we encourage. Um, and so as as the original proposal that went for for common council actually said that this is the mural proposal, it's a sketch. The the side panels and the mural will be embellished to incorporate um to recognize um what is the Underground Railroad of today. And so for me in in speaking to what is there is is exactly that is is that when Mariam Madib and Terrence Van were there um they worked with the surface and they worked with the community and they worked with with um yeah to to embellish it um in the way just as as in line with the mural that you propose that um you voted on um many many months ago. Do you have anything to say?

No.

Yeah. So, um I'm just going to briefly add to that in what Caleb's saying about what is the Underground Railroad of today, as I was talking about before, we felt like adding um free Gaza and mentioning Sudan was very in line with the beliefs of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas. So, this is why that was added to the mural. Like what Caleb was saying, like this is a sketch. Artists, you know, often improvise and they feel as they're going through the project. This project was, I believe, proposed in 2020. It got approved in 2025. I mean, a 5-year gap is going to inspire a lot of thought and discussion. And in those 5 years, I mean, we saw a lot of changes in our worlds after the the shutdown, as we're seeing the results of escalations after October 7th. Like again, this was a sketch. This was not a final like everything is going to be included. As we see, Black Lives Matter was not in the sketch. the heart with the love or whatever it says and end was not in the sketch. Frigaza was not in the sketch because it is a sketch and yet there's only push back to one of those aspects. I mean, if we want to pull up the sketch, we can, but it looks very different from what the mural is today. In the main mural, it looks very different from what we proposed. The sidewalls look different from what we proposed. That's what art is. It's improv improvisation. It's inspiration as you go. It's not, okay, I have this design and I'm going to mechanically reproduce it as a mural. you're you're reminding me that in 2010 when common council voted uh for the Underground

Railroad originally the the first mural by by Jonathan Mattis and um it was on a almost on a on a napkin and it had um Harriet Tubman and John Brown um where the was the sketch and then you know we saw and it and it had a a tiganic was the um was between them and and how it was embellished to what it was for for about 13 years or so or longer. Thank you. Further questions on Mr. Su's amendment or comments? Mr. Trumbull?

Um yeah, I'll just chime in really quick to um as one of the other Jewish voices on council um and that I think um it is important to not directly correlate anti-semmitism and anti-ionism as to Terren's point earlier. Um, I think that's a really dangerous line of thinking and I think it continues to complicate what's obviously an already extremely complicated topic. Um, but I'm also, um, think that, you know, artistic expression, um, and artistic interpretation is something that's hard to dictate on a policy floor. Um, that we should be open to projects consistently changing because that's art.

Further discussion on the amendment. Seeing none, we'll go to a roll call. Um, let me just get my thing ready. Mr. Defendini, uh, as as as pertains to Mr. Su's amendment. No. Miss Montos, no. No. Mr. Kirby? No. Mr. W? No. Mr. Su, yes. Mr. Keel, nope. Uh, Mr. Trumbull. No. Uh, Miss Fabitzio, no. Uh, Miss Schvettz, no. Mr. Shapiro. Yes.

And the mayor votes no. That fails two to nine. We return to the main motion. Further debate. Seeing none. Go to a roll call. Mr. Defendini. I. Miss. Mtos. Yes. Mr. Kirby. Nope. Mr. W. I. Mr. Su. No. Uh, Mr. Keel. Yes. Mr. Trumbull. Yes. Miss Fitzio. Yes. Miss Fettz. Yes. Mr. Shapiro no and the mayor votes yes that carries 9 to2 given what time gentleman who was here earlier

I don't know the answer to that question find out so that we can feel safe we'll walk you're welcome Jeffction they're all parked in different places

well you can we we can take we can escort you to the front of the building I I don't know this ter I I am not the chief administrative officer of the city nor do I have a detailed understanding of the city's contract. We provide security within the building and security is w is is is will accompany you out of the building. Um, my next can I have order in the chamber, please? Mr. Keel, I move for a fiveminute recess to clear the chambers. Seconded by Mr. Su. All those in favor? We are adjourned for f uh opposed. Uh we are unanimous. We're we are in fivem minute recess. That's

Yeah. I hate That's more I mean Sorry.

due to concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and reported misuse of its license plate leader and detection systems nationwide. The resolution would immediately suspend use of the equipment and require its removal from city property upon contract termination. I get a second. Seconded by uh old person and bear with me. I uh was just told this moments ago, so I'm going to try to keep a list about all the person in trouble.

Thank you. Um yeah, so hello everyone. Thank you guys all for coming out. Um I think we've all heard a lot of substantive arguments today um as well as at our common council last month um as well as in our inboxes. Flocks a company that in my endeavors at writing this resolution, I've realized make themselves as hard to get out of the community as possible. The notion that we as owners of this camera system can't turn off or even touch these cameras suggests to me that this isn't a company interested in making its income setting up cameras with municipalities. It's a company interested in data collection whether by neglig negligence or omission despite claims otherwise. As Anne Johnson pointed out earlier in her public comments, we have already at one point been seen or seen on public audit records that national camera access has occurred. For those a little out of the loop, it's a two-way street. So that means that our data was also accessible. And when these concerns were brought up, camera counts were instead taken down off the public audit pages. So now we don't even know whether or not that's the case. And while I respect Chief Kelly immensely in the challenging role he serves in, we've seen that public records indicate he's been mistaken by his prior assertions that these channels have not been open. Similarly, as others have mentioned earlier, this is not a company that has shown to be transparent in its data collection and who it cho chooses to share that with, including sneaky pilot programs with the Department of Homeland Security, amongst others that were only discovered by state officials. Finally, we've heard from several of our colleagues on the county levels about how concerns on this could impact grant funding for the gun involved violence elimination funding. All of us on council re received an exchange today from Charles Tyrie who directly oversees the give initiative where he talked about how the decision on the city council level would not impact their decision to provide funding for other violent reduction efforts through give and that furthermore if the sheriff's office were to not decide to use the system it should also have no impact on give funding as they could use that money for other eligible expenses. With that said, I do not want to risk potentially jeopardizing any of the other amazing programs supported by this initiative. So, I've come to the floor today with a slight amendment to the first resolve in our language that

should ensure these programs are protected, but similarly should allow us to move forward for the termination of our contract. Therefore, be it resolved that the or um I move to amend. You move to amend your own motion. Yes.

Okay. Recognized. Um so for the first line I would like to amend it to therefore be it resolved that the city of Ithaca common council directs the city acting manager to work with the office of the city attorney to take all legally available steps to terminate the contract at the earliest possible opportunity to do so provided that such termination shall be implemented in a manner consistent with the city's obligation under any existing memorandum of understanding related to gun involved violence and elimination funding shall not constitute a breach of intermunicipal agreements or grant conditions and further direct direct staff to consult and coordinate in good faith with Tomkins County and other gift partners to pursue any necessary grant modifications, budget reallocations, or amendments to maintain compliance.

So moved and seconded by Mr. Keel. Um very quickly, first I'm going to turn to the uh acting mayor. Is there a cue that I have to be aware of? Order President Shapiro is next. Thank you. And then secondly, I do want I see chief is here. I'd like him to be up here to answer questions on this item. Um Mr. Mr Shapiro, you're recognized and that Mr. Keel, you're recognized.

Um, so I minor point. I don't remember hearing remember I don't remember seeing that Chief Kelly was wrong or mistaken in his reporting to us. So I'm happy to be um um corrected on that, but I don't remember seeing mistakes and how you've reported things to us. Excuse me. Um, but I really just have a question like and and I'm glad Katherine's back in the room. I don't know if we need an advice of counsel to u respond to this question, but I'm really just curious what what are the legally available options to us. I would recommend we have an advisor council to discuss that. Okay. Well, can I do I have to move for that or?

Um, you do need to move for us to enter into an advice of council session and then we'll go to your office because we are vanishingly we're running out of space with the other thing happening in there. Um, so moved by Mr. Shapiro, seconded by Miss Schvettz. All those in favor of entering into advice of council that carries unanimously. Don't change that channel, folks. We'll be right back.

May I have a motion to exit advice of council? Moved by Mr. Defendini, seconded by Mr. Trumbull. All those in favor of exiting exe uh advice of council, unanimous. Uh the floor belongs to Mr. Shapiro. You were the you were recognized when we moved in. Yep. Have any further questions? Thanks. Right. In that case, Mr. heal.

Um, I spoke on this a little bit at the start. Um, and I think everyone in this room uh should know at this point where I stand. Uh, I'm going to be voting for this, supporting this very strongly. Um, I think that we need to get mass surveillance out of our community. I think that is especially true um when it could be possibly used for nefarious purposes. Um and um flock off Mr. Deep and Deini then Mr. Kirby. No speech by flock. Mr. Kirby speech. Um some of you may recall last time Eve Kelly was here. I put him on the spot and asked, you know, whether the benefits that the city was receiving from these cameras being up outweighed the obvious trust concerns was how I phrased it at the time. And you gave a fairly long answer. And I I'm not going to lie to you, Chief. I did find it to be mostly anecdotal. And I think that was largely because you had no idea I was going to ask you that. Um I don't know how many people outside in the community. I think all of my me my uh older people here know I am a defense attorney by trade. As this has come up, uh the powers that be in the defense world have reached out to me to inform me of the dimminimous results we are seeing in our discovery that we get as it relates to flock. I can tell you I have never had any of these forms of surveillance sent to me in a discovery drop related to one of my criminal defense cases. Uh I reached out to several colleagues just today who do much more defense work than I do. Uh one

of them who does almost exclusively defense work was the only one who could recall a single case where they received I'll call it flock information in a discovery drop to them. Although admittedly it was a precursor before it was flock cameras. That causes me a fair amount of alarm because it means in my brain one of two things. either it is ineffective and therefore not something that is getting to our cases because if it is being used to build a case against one of my clients it would be in there. So it's absence raises that question in the alternative and I truly don't think it's this um cases are being built using flock information or the precursors to it. Uh and then once somebody is identified, confirmed to be a suspect, actual legal work, law enforcement work is done to arrest that person or search that person or whatever the case may be. Um, so I'm either left in a position of seeing it as ineffective or I'm not getting legally required documentation and I don't like either of those answers. So I'm voting hard to eliminate our contacts with Flock.

Chief, you like to respond?

Uh, yes. And so as you're aware of your defense attorney, it's Rosario. It absolutely should be there. And oftentimes as technology changes um everybody else around has to catch up with that and defense attorneys are asking for this material and it if a case starts with flock it it is a part of that case. So so you're correct and and to hear that you know over the last six months there's been 125 instances where unique instances where it's been utifi you utilized. Um, one of the things that I I wanted to talk about briefly and at least share with the council is because like many of the members of the the audience here, like I I believe in supporting and enhancing safety for a vulnerable population and I think everybody here has has the best intentions in in doing that. But at times like we make mistakes and I'm not I'm talking about we in general with best intentions of supporting a vulnerable population uh back in 23 uh around the time Thomas Wrath was killed there Angela Bez sat in this room and told everybody how great that the jungle was and shortly after he was the second person that was arrested that was involved in a homicide and he was very convincing you know he was a very charismatic person to to listen to and speak. Right now, we are working on a a a tremendous mess next door at a staring. We have been trying to support and and stand that building up for since since it opened. And there were a lot of people with a lot of great ideas that didn't want to listen to the need for support in that building. And once it was open and they started just filling it with people who didn't have the programs, didn't have the the means to pay. Some were taken advantage of by representatives from the building, money was taken from them. And now here we

are, this most vulnerable population. There's so many success stories next door that nobody will ever hear about. And we're doing an emergency evacuation because of the status of the building and how dangerous it is. I my last job I worked in a city where the city had approved a building uh for fire safety and two weeks later 12 people died in a fire in that building. So we have an obligation. We're not forcibly compelling people to to leave that building but we're making them aware of how dangerous is it and trying to connect them with resources to get a safe place to stay tonight. So I I bring that up because it is very easy to to to talk in a bubble, but many of the people that that speak about this on the different issues, like we do need to to dig into them. We do need to figure out what's what's been spun up in rumors, what the truth is, what the risks are, but we need to do that in in in a setting where we have all of that information. We're not relying on anecdotal stories. We're not relying on hearsay. Some of the things that were shared with me during the last the last meeting I looked into. There were some great people that gave me information and things to explore online and some of the things like wow this is interesting like that department really screwed up. Other things were not what they were purported to be. Uh I for us now in the issue with the count on cameras being run. We we have locked down our site to the ca to the county agencies and to the New York State Crime Analysis Center. The reference to I think it was January data. We were still able to run nationwide. We were still allowing that. It doesn't mean that people could run ours. Ours was shut down last fall to New York State only. And like I said, now it's only for the county. The reason those numbers aren't up there now is we

actually just added the incident numbers on there so people can see specific cases. The data that we get back is is not just a blanket video of all the vehicles that pass by the camera. It is a specific search for a specific vehicle or description of vehicle and then the key that we have, the digital key unlocks that data for us to see. But it's not an open service where we can just do random surveillance like and the system they can't even get past the open scream and they don't fill all the boxes on it. Chief, I'm just going to wrap this up. I want to say like I don't really think too many I Well, I'm not going to speak for anybody. My concerns aren't particularly with you. I have the utmost respect for what you do and and the people underneath you and our law enforcement officers in town. Truthfully, it's it's lock. It's the company. That's I think at least for me that that's the bigger concern. I I mean I I think that we're at or near the end of the contract and exploring those options, but I I wouldn't cut off nose despite the face, you know, and at this point right now, and I've been asked this, we, you know, we have department head meetings and occasionally there's a question, an icebreaker, and people go around the room and what keeps you up at night? And the first time I was asked a question, I you know, I was kind of like, ah, no. I I sleep I sleep like a baby. You know, I no problem. I'm home. I'm lights are out. But the reality is for me and and from day one in talking to the different members of the community at you know the meet and greet uh just a few years ago uh when I was processing here. What keeps me up is is not being able to to do my job and it's not being able to have the resources to accomplish that. And because there are so many people and you know I've worked

with so many families and victims that that have had losses that were were irreparable but to actually bring closure and have that person not able to do it again is like the one piece that they that they have. I have me next and then I have Mr. Keel. Um, I heard something very troubling from one of the comments today and I'm trying to excavate that comment to better understand. Is there any way that we could know with certainty whether or not information collected in our city was shared with federal agencies without our knowledge? And if we don't know the answer to that question, is there any way that when warrants are executed with other technologies that law enforcement utilize, are you apprised of when that is shared with federal law enforcement agencies? when federal agencies are and we have a a regional uh field office in a city of the FBI. Uh but when federal agencies are working cases, I am apprised of those cases. I appreciate that, Chief. I'm not trying to be uh argumentative. That is a relational way. You are apprised due to our relationship with that field office. There is not a legal requirement that we would know if that is if that was shared. They could withhold that information from us should they so choose.

This is a contract with with Flock and it just went into the meeting like this data belongs to ours. Flock is not authorized to share our data nor are other a agencies authorized to access it even if they have a federal warrant. That that would be a attorney question. I mean that's

Aaron I appreciate it. You know, you're not allowed to be recognized from the floor. Thank you. I, as I think many people who have been here more than once know, have obsessivempulsive disorder. I spend an enormous amount of time thinking about decisions that I make throughout my life and really struggling to sleep knowing what the counterfactual could be. I try to make the best choice at every opportunity. And I am deeply concerned that taking away a tool could have a negative impact on our community. I also know that I do not trust this administration at the federal government to follow the law. They're murdering people. And I really I've tried to get right with this and try to find a way forward, but I don't know that I could live with myself. if I allowed something to exist in our community that directly or indirectly led to someone's civil liberties being violated. And I really I really struggle with this. I I want to figure out how we can utilize technology to enhance public safety in our community. But to Mr. to Kirby's point like you know and I hope your officers know the enormous amount of respect I have

for you all. I do not trust this company and the more that I learn about it, the more I distrust it. And I'm going to hit the pillow tonight worried that I made the wrong decision. But I've always said we have to make the best decision we have with the information before us. Based on what I've heard from my colleagues, based on what I've heard from my colleagues on their research, based on what I you and I have talked about, chief, the trade-off I have to make here is that I just don't think this partnership can continue. I'm sorry, Mr. Keel. Um, I just wanted to add on to what the mayor was saying and also um add on to my comments from earlier and say that um again I think that my decision tonight is not because of anything that the police department has done wrong or that you have done wrong or or anything. I know you guys are dealing with a lot of different situations right now. And I also want to make sure that you have have access to resources that can kind of um that are both helpful to you and in line with our community values. And if there are in lie of flock other things, more personnel officers or or whatever you are thinking, um I would love if you would bring that as a proposal to council so we can weigh that. Um, I don't think you should see this as as uh spec specifically my vote um a condemnation on the Itha Police Department. It's certainly not. Um, it's a condemnation on flock. Um, and I would love um if if we saw more from that. Thank you.

I'm going to first just recognize uh acting city attorney Muskin who has an answer to my question. Section 5.3 of our contract has a a section called disclosure of footage and it reads, "Subject to and during the retention period, Flock may access, use, preserve, and/or disclose the footage to law enforcement authorities, government officials, and/or third parties if legally required to do so. or a flock has a good faith belief that such access, use, preservation, or disclosure is reasonably necessary to comply with the legal process, enforce this agreement, or detect, prevent, or otherwise address security, privacy, fraud, or technical issues or emergency situations. Thank you, uh, Mishvettz.

I was just going to read that.

Oh, Mr. Trumbull. Um yeah, I just want to reiterate to a lot of my colleagues have been saying that um this is not at all attack on IPD or law enforcement and I in fact think you've been doing an amazing job so far in what's again a very challenging role. Um but yeah, I mean this is clearly an anti-flock issue. I think they're a really strong company too to the point where maybe they've even like you know led you astray at times. Um but that you know this is to me a data collection company. I mean 4.3 even talks about how flock shall have the right to collect, analyze and anonymize customer data and customer generated data to the extent that such anonymization renders the data nonidentifiable. I mean they are using these for trainings. There is just so many aspects of this that are hidden into super specific contract law that makes me extremely uncomfortable with them as a company. Um but I feel like earlier I may have came off as if this was a fault on you and the department's fault. I think mistakes happen all the time like you said. We're all human. Um, but I do think that flock um is not a mistake worth making. All the birds m we're probably going to go to a vote right now. I know it's your it it I don't see any further debate. Oh, Mr. Su, you could have let all the persons get her lunch or dinner. All Mr. Mr. Su's first and then Mr. Shapiro.

I just quickly want to add what they're saying as well. This is not a disparagement of IPD or frankly the Tomkins County uh sheriff's office. I think it's good for all of us to remember that last year the Department of Justice opened an investigation to prosecute Sheriff Osborne, our sheriff. And uh because he was following our laws, our sanctuary city laws, and Sheriff Osborne put his reputation, his occupation, his liberty on the line to defend our laws. And I want to make sure that we recognize and acknowledge that. So, this is not a statement about IPD or um the Tomkins County Sheriff's Office. It's a statement about uh a company. Mr. Shapiro,

I mean, I'm going to vote for this and I agree with everything everyone's saying, but like there hasn't been any example where our chief has been led astray by the company. And I appreciate you trying to clarify your comments, but you kind of put them down in the middle of those comments. And I don't think there's been any example where our chief has been led astray. I think we all agree this is a bad company. We all agree that we should um I think we all agree that we should end the contract with the chief. But I wish with the with Flock,

but we should stop there. There's no example that the chief has done anything wrong in any of this. And I just want to, you know, clarify that because I think it was mistakenly in input when we were trying to acknowledge that you've done a good job here. Six out of 10. Well done. Yes. It's been a long day. Uh, Miss Fitzio.

Yeah. Thank you so much, Chief. Um, this is this is a really, you know, it's a really tough one. I agree with everybody's worries and fears and I know that you have worked very hard to try to secure our information as tightly as you can. Um, and I totally appreciate that and I know that the community appreciates that. Um, I would like to echo the mayor's comments about wanting to support technology that is useful to to help our community. I think that's really important. This has so many negatives. So maybe this isn't the one, but I am I am really hopeful that um I feel like we're tying your hands in many ways uh by voting to to cancel this. Um but it does I am convinced that this is uh this is just not a company that that we can work with. That said, I I also want to say that I very much appreciate uh Robin's work and and Katherine's work and and everybody else who's who's been working really hard to um to get the information that we need. And I think it's really important for the public to know that this the way this contract is set up is kind of there's a lot of intricacies to it with regard to the county and and other services that are receiving money including services for people who um are in diversion programs who instead of you know serving time in prison for weapons possession charges are actually going through diversion programs. There's money in here for connected to this for um youth employment services. So all of for all of these reasons until probably 25 minutes ago, I really was very firm on trying to convince us to postpone a decision. Know that this

is where the direction we're moving, but I think it's really really important for us to work closely with the county. So my preference would have been for us to have tabled this and for several council members to have been assigned to work with the county's working group um to have figured out all the details and I mean at this point our you know our city attorney has not seen um documentation from the state uh with regard to uh promises of uh our funding that we're relying on for these services that I've just mentioned. for those not being withdrawn or cancelled. We we think that it sounds like we're in pretty good shape. And again, I really appreciate the effort that people have made to try to get this information, but we got this information super late. I mean, like just before we came into this meeting, we haven't had the opportunity to um for the city attorney and the county attorney to to talk with each other. So, I think this is very premature. Um, but I I know that I am not I I think I am the minority opinion on this, so I'm not going to like belabor it, but I just want to I say it for the community because we are living in a time that it feels like such a desperate time. And so we want we want to fix what we can fix and we want to fix it like right now. And I totally get that. But I actually think that um if we were to postpone this for, you know, until our next meeting even that we would be making a smarter, more informed decision. So I'm I'm disappointed that that's not um where this is going to go. And again, it's not because I support Flock or support keeping it in place. I just think that um a more informed governance is is what we should be aiming for.

Any further comments? I respectfully, Chief, if there are questions posed to you, yes. Okay. Um All right. All those in favor? That carries unanimously. Order in the chamber, please. You know, that's my favorite line. Um, with that, oh, no, wait. We got a we got a mayoral appointment that was delivered on time with all the information everybody needed. Um, uh,

the amended

with the amend. Yeah, the amended version. Yes. You didn't pass it before I I wasn't in here the room recall. Okay. So, that was the amendment. Okay. Main motion. All those in favor. I've already called a vote and your hand is in the air. So, no. It's passed unanimously. There's like sometimes you get me, but when you're actually voting for it, there's no debate to change anything. You may change your vote to no if you'd like, but 10 other people have voted yes. Um uh that carries unanimously for real this time. Uh now I move is Mitch right? My computer is not opening. All right. I move former planning board chief uh chair rather uh Mitch Glass who had to resign because uh he went on soatical with his spouse. He is back in Ithaca and would love to continue to volunteer his time on the planning board. Is there a question for Mr. Defendini?

You don't need It's an appointment. You don't need to. Any questions on this appointment? All those in favor? That carries unanimously. Um, we have several executive sessions. There is one for which there will be a vote coming out of it. That's right.

And that is going to be me calling for us to move into an executive session to discuss collective bargaining, which we can probably public figure out what that's about. Um, so I am going to uh call for the motion to enter into executive session and then I'm going to kind of just stare at the journalists and see if they're going to wait for the uh prospective result of the discussing collective bargaining and if not maybe ask you all to leave the chamber and if so that's fine. We'll move and go somewhere else. But uh Mr. Su this is a procedural question.

Yeah. Um, I move to have 11.1 taken out of uh consent agenda. Where did it end up? I'm sorry. Right. You did. I I I am trying to get back into my laptop right now. Oh. So, and admittedly, I've grown weary. So, um I don't know if I have the energy to actually talk about it, but just for procedural reason. No, no, you're right. I just I just literally don't have my computer open. Um, I'm still gonna wait while the room clears out. If folks could clear the room before having conversations though, because we do have more business to conduct. Um, Mr. Su, you are correct. Mr. Defendini, can you just Yeah.

read the titles of your resolutions and moves since they're statement resolutions. You have a mouthful of chicken. I'm sorry. A resolution of support for New York legislation, the rent emergency stabilization for tenants, rest and permanently affordable social housing for New Yorkers passionate acts.

Is there a second? Seconded by all the person Moss. Yeah, I know. We're going to continue to conduct. Thank you, Mr. Shapiro. Mr. Keel, you got the floor. Um, I'll just ask um is there I I actually would like to talk about this a little bit. Thank you. Um, I support this, but admittedly, like I'm pretty tired tonight. Is there a reason we have to pass this tonight or can we discuss this at a committee meeting?

Council always has the prerogative to to, you know, I would just choose to Well, I'm answer I'm answering your question, which is like council has a prerogative, always has prerogative. My understanding is that this legislation is not uh ripe for a full chamber vote. Um, at the same time, my personal opinion, which you're not asking for, is what are we gonna substantively, you know, whatever. The answer to your question is procedurally, no. There's no reason. Okay. Well, I'm just wondering I know there's no procedural procedurally there's no like I could do it. I just was wondering if like there was a vote in the New York State Assembly or something tomorrow that we need to have this. No.

Um, with that, then I'll move to postpone this to next week's agenda. discussion on that motion, Miss Moss. Um, I rather I'm voting no. Uh, simply because I brought this uh statement resolution forward, I believe in like maybe June or so when they were just getting out of legislation uh session last year and it was tabled back then or voted down. So, I'd rather we do this now.

I think we just vote on the motion and then we can Yeah. So, all those in favor of uh Mr. Keel's motion to postpone this until next week, those opposed. That fails 3 to8. Uh debate on the main motion. Mr. Su.

Yeah, I just um I'm I think I if folks don't know, I'm wary of rent stabilization and I'm definitely concerned at the about the Passion Act. Uh basically I think both of them run contrary to our city's determination to increase housing. Um and strongly the Tomkins Weekly just sent out a report saying that housing or house we have not gotten anywhere near our goal for housing. Uh Pashny in particular creates a public authority that uh builds, acquires and rehabilitates permanently affordable ecologically sustainable unable union built housing. all excellent attributes, all um impediments to development and uh we need to just drive housing as fast as we can and I'm not I think these are fine ideas. It's just contrary to the idea of development uh or housing development. So that's my concern with this.

Um Mr. Shapiro was next. Thanks. I have a question perhaps for the chair or or the person who wrote the resolution. Um sorry um Kayla. Um, it just mentions the ETPA a few times and it mentions the $50,000 from 2024, but I don't see it directing the Department of Public Works to do anything. I just want to make sure I'm clear. We're like saying we like these things, but we're not saying staff do something.

Yeah. And in fact, uh, I think I think I mean, without speaking for the which I will now do, um, that is a historical fact that those monies were encumbered. They have long since been unencumbered to address last year's budget issue. Um it is just similarly whereas just defining the context of where we how where we are how we got to where we are today. That's how I read it. I just wanted to make sure after a long day I was still reading it the right way. Absolutely. Statements of support or lack thereof. Um Miss Fbritzio were you next? You were. I'm sorry. Mvatz Mitzio just to clarify Pat. Uh Pashny doesn't say that all housing must be ecological union. Please address your comments to the chair.

Oh sorry. Um I just wanted to respond to that. Um it's simply uh I guess saying to the state that we would like passion which would allow the state to take out bonds to build social housing. So private development should not be impacted and will continue as usual. There would just be additional funding for social housing which would be affordable and ecological. So it shouldn't affect the housing supply. I'll just quickly actually jump in with the chair prerogative here um because that reminded me for whatever it's worth Mr. Sul um the director of the IUR thinks this is a good thing for housing supply. Um Miss Rozio.

Yeah, I'm just um concerned about it too because of the rent stabilization concept. I mean this looks like we're signing on to that and I think that that's you know we may decide ultimately that we want that but we may not. And I think that that's a broader community discussion that we haven't had. And I think this would imply that we support that. And so for that I don't you know I don't I think we want that to be an inclusive broad discussion and uh you know that's going to happen at some point in the future but we haven't done it yet. And so I think that this would um sign us on to saying that we supported that when we haven't. So I think it would be a a dishonest statement.

Any further discussion on this before we go to a vote? Uh sure. Uh Mr. Mr. Defendini and Mr. Aquiel.

Uh I agree with the um alder person Vericio's uh assessment. I think that the that supporting the statement would suggest that we are in favor of uh of rent stabilization and uh pursuing social housing and I am uh I helped secure the funding for us to pursue uh the vacancy study for ETPA. Uh the fact that that did not happen because of our budgetary issues is indicative of the fact of it is very difficult uh for any city to pursue uh rent stabilization through the ETPA act which I would remind council is targeted rent stabilization um that this legislation would seek to expand. And so what it's doing is making legislation that has been intended to stabilize rents for uh tenants who could not afford them uh a lot more accessible um for municipalities that are not New York City to participate in them. Um and we desperately need a public sector intervention into uh housing to make it viable for our communities. uh if you need any reason for that, you could look at the lack of available housing when left completely in the hands of the private sector for that. So, I absolutely support private development. Uh we absolutely need it. Um but we also need government intervention. That's why I think we're all here in government. So, I'll leave it at that.

Mr. heal.

Um, I really wish that we could talk about this another time because I actually do have a lot of things I don't really understand and uh a lot of like a lot more substance questions that I wish I had frankly had more time to look into. Um, which I didn't and that's on me. Um, with that said, I I do think that I support passing more than I support the rest act. Um, and so I'm going to move to divide the questions so we can vote on them separately. um seconded by all the person for Britzio. Uh, I am hoping that the older person has in advance drafted alternative language cuz that will strongly inform my vote on that division because if there is not if we're just going to respectfully if we're just going to just like wing it.

Well, that's what I'm about to do. But well, if you're about to do it, then I appreciate that. But I we have many more hours of things to do tonight. And I think from from my personal perspective, right, this is a statement resolution. Our two members support these things already. This is unlikely to actually have any substantive impact on the state legislature. I would I'm ready to vote and I would as a rare moment. I mean, there's a motion on the table. There's a motion on the table, but yes, you're going to do what I want you to do. Uh but you're recognized uh to comment on the motion. You seconded it. Um, no, no. Mr. Ritzio is recognized to comment. I was going to make the the actual motion since she wanted me to.

Oh, well, I mean, the motion to divide is is valid. I just was wondering if you had the exact language yet, so I'll just let her speak to it and then you can let me know what the language is. Well, it was something that I had talked about with Jorge earlier today. So, I totally support dividing it. Okay. Uh because again I think that um that saying that we support that we support uh rent stabilization is not something that we've decided as a as a community. Mr. Ke. Um okay I was just going to separate and work but I'll just do it on the fly. Um any basically the the the substantive uh the substantive amendment is any clause that mentions passion goes in one and anything that mentions rest or ETI goes in the other and then the final resolve clause is the same which is the transmission of the resolutions.

Just really quick I support the procedural approach to this. Just make sure that after we vote on it you if it passes especially you send it to the council and the deputy clerk just so she has a record of it. Yes. I'll do it as like literally right now. Thank you.

All right. So that is the language as moved. We're just divi. This is just a question. A vote on dividing the question. All those in favor of dividing the question. One, two, three, four, five. Those opposed. Okay, that carries uh seven to four. Um questions are divided. Uh the first will be passion because it's the first one. No, rest is first. Rest. Uh uh we're debating that motion now. Uh um I'd like to call the question.

Is there a second? Second by Mr. Win. All those in favor of calling the question. Those opposed? Nobody carries unanimously. All right. All those in favor of the resolution endorsing the rest act. Those opposed. That carries. Seven to four. Um I'm just going to go right into the Passion one because I think that was the All those in favor of the resolution supporting Pashnney. Those opposed. That carries 9 to2. Now we're actually done with the public business. Nine to four. 9 to2. 7 to four. 9 to2. Here we go. That's what I said. I mean, I'm I'm just delusional.

It's just a Pat thing tonight. Um, now we are going to move into executive session, discuss collective bargaining. Um, our fans out there in the chamber, we would respectfully ask that you clear it so that we can just do that meeting here. There will also be some other executive sessions, but there will be no voting items coming out of them. May I have a motion to enter into executive session to discuss collective bargaining? I'm going to give that to Mr. Schul if he wants it because he actually tried to move it before. Moved by Mr. Sule, seconded by Mr. Kirby. All those in favor? That carries unanimously? Thank you.