TompkinsWeekly for the week of November 23rd

Download the newspaper in Acrobat Format Here IC President Draws Protests Ithaca College president Tom Rochon faces two separate votes of no confidence, from students and faculty, for what some call his topdown, non-inclusive and autocratic leadership style. The votes are likely to express faculty and student sentiment, but they are not binding. Full Story »   County Mulls Biggs Property Sale The Tompkins County Legislature’s Government Operations Committee recently heard, but took no action on, a request from Planning Commissioner Ed Marx to authorize the listing for sale of 26 acres at the former Health Department (Biggs) property on Harris B. Dates Drive on Ithaca’s West Hill. Full Story »   Microbeads law is approved by county lawmakers page 2 The Tompkins County Legislature, by unanimous vote on Nov. 17, adopted a new local law that will prohibit the sale in Tompkins County of personal care products containing microbeads. Full Story »   IPD body cameras bring benefits, concerns page 3 Ithaca Police Department (IPD) officers have been using body-worn cameras for three weeks, since Nov. 2, following over a year of preparation and collaboration among the IPD, the Ithaca City Attorney’s office, camera industry representatives, and other police departments already using the technology. Full Story »   2016 county budget is approved by the legislature page 5 The Tompkins County Legislature, after two-and-a-half months of deliberation and review, on Nov. 17 adopted the county’s 2016 budget and the capital program for the next five years. The budget was approved by a 13-1 vote, with Dooley Kiefer voting no. Full Story »   A poignant drama about the early struggle for women’s rights page 8 The stirring mini-epic “Suffragette,” now playing at Cinemapolis, should be on short Oscar-watch lists for its brilliant, moving recreation of a key moment in the movement for women’s right to vote in the United Kingdom. Instead, it is likely to be shunted aside, much like last year’s “Selma.” In part, because like that film, its director is a woman, Sarah Gavron. Full Story »   Do we have the courage to truly celebrate Thanksgiving? page 10 This Thanksgiving we need new foods to feed our families. The old comfort foods won’t sustain us in a world of refugees, terror, race and class issues, climate disturbances and partisanship. Full Story »   Cornell student projects earn Family Service Awards page 11 The Ewing Family Service Awards will be bestowed this year on five candidates who seek to use the funds on a diverse assortment of projects set to enrich and improve the Cornell landscape. Full Story »