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Nursing home families grateful, hurting during COVID-19 visit bans DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

County starts the slow climb to normalcy

Trends County sees 20 percent rise in calls

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Cherry’s event shifts online

How bad has local economy gotten?

Jay Buhner? A farewell to Jerry Stiller

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POP’D

WRECKAGE

WHY DID

YOU TRADE

ORDER BY PHONE ORDER ONLINE

Alley Cat Cafe DELIVERY CURBSIDE PICKUP

Curbside pickup and delivery W, F, & Sa 12 E Seneca St, Ithaca 607-319-5006 alleycatcafe.square.site

Bet the Farm Winery FREE Friday Delivery. Order by noon. 4204 Krum’s Corners Road, Trumansburg 607-387-6548 betthefarmny.com

The Falls WINE ROOM

Cayuga Ski & Cyclery

Ithaca’s only full service cycling & skiing store. 624 West State St 607-277-6821 • CayugaSkiandCyclery.com

Kirksway Farm

Topsoils, Mixes, Compost, Mulches, Stone, Septic Systems, Driveways, Drainage 400 Auburn Rd, Lansing 607-533-7866 kirkswayfarm.com

Edible Arrangements Open for deliveries. 2300 N Triphammer Rd, Ithaca 607-391-2227 EdibleArrangements.com

Sea Change Chiropractic We’re OPEN! Safely restoring health & hope during this challenging time. 821 Cliff Street • 607-256-9355 SeaChangeIthaca.com

The Falls Wine Room FREE Delivery or Curbside Pickup! 726 W Green St 607-256-7145 theFallsWineRoom.com

Sumo Hibachi•Sushi Delivery and pickup. 2309 N Triphammer Rd, Ithaca 607-257-7777 • 607-257-555 IthacaSumo.com

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Hector Wine Company Full Market open. Curbside pickup avail. 5610 State Route 414, Hector 607-387-1045 • Mon-fri 3-6pm Sat-sun 2-6 www.HectorWineCompany.com

Many of Ithaca’s businesses are open for curbside pick-up or home delivery. Save this page for an up-to-date guide to our city’s listings during this health crisis.

Newsline

VOL.XL / NO. 38 / May 13, 2020 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

Forced Isolation �� 8

Open Up

Nursing home visit bans weigh on local families

Southern Tier region has met all criteria to begin re-opening May 15

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he Southern Tier region has met the criteria to begin a phased re-opening of businesses on May 15, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, when the statewide On Pause order is set to come to an end. Cuomo had set out seven categories of criteria that regions of the state must meet before they would be eligible to start re-opening. Southern Tier and the Finger Lakes region both met all seven of the categories. The Southern Tier, which includes Tompkins County, has been able to primarily avoid the worst impacts of the public health crisis from a medical standpoint, as Tompkins County still has no resident deaths, though economically the devastation has been indelible and widespread. “Local officials in each region should prepare,” Cuomo’s infamous slideshow stated. “Some regions are ready to go today, they just need to get some logistical things ready by the end of the week.” Perhaps sensing the announcement coming, Tompkins County officials announced over the weekend that they would be re-opening

some of their departments for staff and clients as part of the Reconstitution of Operation Plans (ROOP). Cuomo called the re-opening the “next step in a historic journey.” The criteria, laid out early last week, were:

• A 14 day decline in hospitalizations or under 15 new hospitalizations • Under two hospitalizations per 100k residents

• Above 30 percent of available hospital beds • Above 30 percent share of ICU beds available • 30 per 1,000 residents tested monthly • 30 contact tracers per 100k residents or to meet current infection rate

The phased re-opening will still be a deliberate process and it’s not entirely clear what must happen for regions to move past phase one of the re-opening plan. Cuomo was vague when pressed on the question at his Monday press briefing. “It depends on the facts,” Cuomo said. “You’ll know.” For now, though, Cuomo said phase one would include the reintroduction of construction, retail curbside and in-store pick up, agricultural businesses, etc., all while maintaining social distance guidelines. “The floodgates are not open, be smart,” Cuomo said. “Nobody’s going to take care of your children’s health but you.” Low risk businesses like landscaping and gardening, drive-in movie theaters, etc.,

T a k e ▶ Tompkins County Public Library- is pleased to host a Virtual Panel by Panel Graphic Novel Book Club on Monday, May 18 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Adults are invited to celebrate their love of this diverse and subversive medium. During

will be allowed to reopen. Cuomo said local officials will have to constantly ensure that testing/tracing is in place, monitoring infection rates with hospitals, enforcing business compliance, communicate with other local governments and regional control centers. The local region control center will be in communication with local officials in case of a reappearance of outbreak indicators, under which case re-opening measures would be slowed or reduced again. “We want to monitor our reopening so if there’s any change, we can recalibrate,” Cuomo said. He said he does not want the state to open county-by-county, but instead stick to the regional approach continued on page 7

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this virtual meeting, attendees are asked to bring their favorite graphic novel to discuss. This book discussion will be offered via Zoom. Register through the online calendar at https://www.tcpl.org/events/ virtual-panel-panel-graphic-

novel-book-club and registered participants will receive an email with details on how to access the workshop. For more information contact Sophia McKissick at smickissick@tcpl.org.

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M a t t B u t l e r , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r , x 224 E d i t o r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m J a i m e C o n e , E d i t o r , x 232 SouthReporter@flcn.org C a s e y M a r t i n , S ta f f P h o t o g r a p h e r P h o t o g r a p h e r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m C h r i s I b e r t , C a l e n d a r E d i t o r , x 217 A r t s @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m A n d r e w S u l l i v a n , S p o r t s E d i t o r , x 227 Sports@flcn.org Steve L awrence, Spo rts Co lumnist St e v e S p o r t sD u d e @ g m a i l .co m M a r s h a l l H o p k i n s , P r o d u c t i o n D i r ec t o r / D es i g n e r , x 216 P r o d u c t i o n @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m A u s t i n L a mb , C o p y E d i t o r E me r i t u s AL a m b @ i t h a c a t i m e s . c o m E r i n S t e w a r t , A cc o u n t R ep r ese n ta t i v e , x 220 E r i n @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m L i s a B i n g a m a n , A cc o u n t R ep r ese n ta t i v e , x 218 l i s a @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m I r e n e B r a d l e y , x 211 A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Chris Eaton, Distribution J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r , x 210 j b i l i n s k i @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m L a r r y H o c h b e r g e r , A ss o c i a t e P u b l i s h e r , x 214 l a r r y@ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m F r e e l a n c e r s : Barbara Adams, Rick Blaisell, Steve Burke, Deirdre Cunningham, Jane Dieckmann, Amber Donofrio, Karen Gadiel, Charley Githler, Linda B. Glaser, Warren Greenwood, Ross Haarstad, Peggy Haine, Gay Huddle, Austin Lamb, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Lori Sonken, Henry Stark, Dave Sit, Bryan VanCampen, and Arthur Whitman

All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $7ll9 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607-277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972-1978) and The Good Times Gazette (1973-1978), combined in 1978. F o u n d e r G o o d T i m e s G a z e tt e : Tom Newton

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INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER By C a se y Mar tin

YOU GET TO CHOOSE THE FIRST PLACE YOUR FAVORITE BAND GETS TO PLAY WHEN VENUES REOPEN. WHAT BAND AND WHAT VENUE DO YOU PICK?

“Fletcher’s Pool @ Bike Bar Ithaca” -Lilac O’Brien

“Bernie Milton on a sunny cool day with Galactic Escort Service and allllllllll the special guests. All of them.” -Ashley Cake

N e w s l i n e

Domestic Violence

Uptick in domestic violence during quarantine in Tompkins County

ne of the more disturbing trends that has arisen during the two months or so of quarantine has been a rise in domestic violence nationwide, usually attributed to people spending so much more time inside together. While Tompkins County has been able to largely avoid the most harmful medical impacts of the outbreak, law enforcement statistics show that the county has not been immune to the wave of domestic violence that has accompanied COVID-19’s spread. Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne said his department had seen an uptick in incidents year over year during the last two months, when people have been self-quarantining

COVID Demographics

Tompkins County finally releases demographic data on local COVID-19 positives

“Christian Scott Quintet at The State Theatre of Ithaca!” -Jacob L. Charles

uring last week’s Tompkins County Legislature meeting, Public Health Director Frank Kruppa released the long-awaited demographic information for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Tompkins County, showing the age, racial and geographic distribution of positive tests so far. The charts show some surprising information, like that the most at risk group for

“Jason Isbell at The State.” -Jean McPheeters

“Any band. Any Venue.” -Dan Smalls

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and social distancing rules have taken hold. Osborne said a snapshot from March 1 to May 2 in both 2019 and 2020 showed an overall increase in calls and arrests,up 20.5 percent. It was reported late last month that domestic violence cases in New York State were up 30 percent in April 2020 compared to 2019. Osborne reported that from March to May in 2019, Tompkins County police responded to 49 total domestic incident calls, including 36 verbal disputes and 13 that turned to a physical altercation, resulting in five arrests. During the same time in 2020, there were 59 total calls, 40 being verbal, 19 turning physical and resulting in 11 arrests.

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infection so far has been ages 20-29 -- representing the highest percentage of the population in Tompkins County, but still overrepresented with 31.5 percent of the total positive tests, or 42 of the 133 total positive cases. It’s far and away the highest number, more than double the next closest, which is people between the age of 40-49. Of the 134 cases, 114 have been classified as recovered. Fortunately, young children both seem to have largely avoided the illness. Despite

Osborne further noted that there had been an increase in February 2020 over February 2019 also, before the COVID lockdown began. In contrast, Ithaca Police Department chief Dennis Nayor said that his department had not seen a notable rise compared to its statistics from the last two years. “In looking at domestic incidents at the same time last year and in 2018, it appears that the numbers are relatively steady without any dramatic increases,” Nayor said. Like Osborne, local advocates said they are also seeing rising domestic violence incident rates during quarantine, including those that might not be reported to law enforcement for any number of reasons, though the significance of the rise varies across their statistics. The number of calls received by the Tompkins County hotline, which deals with calls about child sexual abuse, sexual violence and

domestic violence, is slightly higher than last year around this time, an increase of just about two percent. But the content of the calls being received is shifting, presumably due to the pandemic and shelter-in-place orders. “We’re getting about the same number of calls, but the proportion of those calls that are people calling us about domestic violence is higher than usual,” said Heather Campbell, executive director of the Tompkins County Advocacy Center. “What we’re also concerned about is that there are definitely people contacting us that are sheltering in place with people who are unsafe with them and then we have not heard back from them. We’re really concerned about the people we’re not hearing from.” When Gov. Andrew Cuomo first issued stay-at-home orders across the state, which

making up 25 percent of the county’s total population, children from ages 0-19 make up 10 percent of the county’s positive cases, just 13 positives overall. Equally lucky is that the elderly population in the county haven’t been disproportionately affected, as it has long been the narrative that people over 60 years old stood a greater risk of COVID-19 being lethal. However, Kruppa did note that there’s currently a large-scale testing effort going on at local nursing homes, and when they are returned those numbers could change. Beyond that, the county also released racial and geographic demographic information. The racial distribution basically represents the county’s overall population and its distribution: far more white people have contracted the illness than any other racial group, with about 71.5 percent of the positive tests (95 cases) while making up 76.8 of the population. Asian people, who make up 10.2 percent of the population, represent just 7 percent of the total positives (9 cases); black people, who make up 4 percent of the population, make up 4.5 percent of the positives (6 total). Among minorities,

the largest (though still quite small) disparity in representation comes from the Hispanic community: representing 5.3 percent of the population, they have accounted for 8 percent of the positive cases. There have been concerns elsewhere about racial minorities, particularly black people, suffering higher positive test rates and subsequent fatality rates, though that does not appear to be the case in Tompkins County (and, again, there has still not been a COVID-19 related fatality among local residents). In terms of geography, the densest areas showed the highest COVID-19 incidence rate, which Kruppa said made sense when considering the ways the disease is spread. The City and Town of Ithaca accounted for 40 and 39 positive tests, respectively, easily the most in the county. Otherwise, the Village of Lansing and the Town of Dryden both followed behind with 11, then the Village of Cayuga Heights with 7. All other county municipalities have had under five confirmed cases; the Village of Dryden is the only one that has remained completely untouched by the disease.

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UPS&DOWNS

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Care during COVID

Veterinary Medicine Gets Approved to Go Online

hen the Mr. Mo Project decided to rescue a French bulldog named Mercury in October, they expected to have a tough year ahead of them. Four months prior, Mercury had been diagnosed with a spinal compression, which had left him with severely limited mobility in his hind legs. The project saved him in order to give him a fighting chance at life but their hopes rested on whether or not they could get him to even stand. Briefly, after a course in puppy school with his new canine mobility cart, Mercury was walking on all-fours, said Mariesa and Chris Hughes, co-founders of the Mr. Mo Project. But as Mercury grew, his spinal compression worsened. By December, he was pretty much paralyzed in his back legs, said Mariesa. Surgery wasn’t an option because Mercury’s condition was too severe, so continuing his physical rehabilitation was his only hope. But it was taking a financial toll on the organization. ”He’d done rehab and water therapy at a vet’s office prior to COVID, but it’s very expensive to do. It was 1,200 dollars for 10 sessions, and they wanted him to go two to three times a week. It was also 45 minutes away,” Chris Hughes said. “We did that for a couple of months and then we decided to get our own unit.” To cut the cost of his therapy, the couple purchased an underwater treadmill for animals. They said that it seemed like a worthwhile purchase since they currently house 19 dogs and care for 103 in total. But they quickly realized that they lacked the essential knowhow when it came to helping their pet use the machine; they still needed professional guidance. Then, just as Mercury’s first consultation date at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals approached, the hospital closed its doors to non-essential procedures. Normally, this would’ve spelled defeat for Mercury and dogs facing similar obstacles. But on March 24, the FDA announced that it would

temporarily loosen “certain requirements in order to allow veterinarians to better utilize telemedicine to address animal health needs during the pandemic.” Dr. Meg Thompson, Associate Dean for Hospital Operations and Corporate Relations for the Cornell University School of Medicine, said that the changes to the law effectively allow vets to offer telemedicine to animals for purposes such as consultations and follow-ups. Prior to the temporary adjustment, laws regarding veterinary medicine only allowed for teleconsultation to occur vet to vet. The VCPR (veterinarian client-patient relationship), the basis for standard interaction between veterinarians, patients and clients, required that veterinarians have a basic personal familiarity with the animal of concern. This meant that any veterinarian who served as a clients primary contact for all veterinary services was expected to be familiar with

their client, their livestock/ animals, and their operation. The law primarily pertained to livestock, but limited all animal medicine equally. “The interesting part about the VCPR is that the FDA said that it’s okay, in the [context of the] pandemic you can do what you need to do,” Thompson said. “It was felt by us that we needed to provide care as best we can for people who cannot travel, or who we don’t want to travel because they live in NYC.” For Mercury and the Hughes family, who reside three hours away from the Cornell hospital in Clifton, NY, the new temporary adjustment is a godsend. They’re now able to access Mercury’s doctor for consultations and perform his therapy at home without having to make the long drive to Ithaca. “We were very lucky to connect with Dr. Frye when we did because he told us what speed to put the treadmill at, how to keep Mercury’s legs from crossing, how long to do each

An examination provided by the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. (Photo provided)

session, what exercises to do before and after,” Chris Hughes said. “To be able to have access to [Cornell vets] without having to make the three-hour trip every time is really an awesome opportunity.” Teleconsulting isn’t a perfect alternative to in-person appointments, said Dr. Christopher Frye, who is overseeing Mercury’s treatment. The appointments take longer because instead of assessing the patient’s problem through personal observation and a feel that he’s gained over the years, he relies heavily on his client to tell him what they’re noticing and perform tests the way he needs them to. He described the experience as similar to playing a game Helping Hands. “I think a big obstacle for me is describing how I want the family to move and position the patient for my visual assessment and then to try to get feedback from them: ‘how does the dog feel to you in this position? Is he able to maintain balance or do you have to help him a lot?’” Frye said. “It’s interesting to try to get someone to describe that in words as feedback when normally I would do it in seconds myself and know exactly what it is.” He said the process required a lot of patience. Using his own dog on camera to model what he wanted the Hughes family to mimic with Mercury was a great advantage. “The family was really capable of doing a described task,” Frye said. “I would demonstrate it on my own dog in front of the camera and then they would mimic that, and I could watch them and give them suggestions on how to improve their technique, and they were very responsive to that. I thought that was fun, and we had to think a little bit out of the box, and it worked.” Since his first consultation in early April with Dr. Frye, Mercury’s hind leg strength has improved significantly. “I don’t think Mercury will ever walk but he’s got strength in his back legs now,” Hughes said. “He’s able to stand for quick seconds.” Glenn Epps May

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Coronavirus Round-Up - Here’s some other stories we covered this week that you can read more about online. You can see all of our coverage of the coronavirus outbreak at our special page ithaca.com/news/ coronavirus. Six more COVID -19 deaths in Tioga County - Tioga County Legislative Chairwoman Martha Sauerbrey reported another two COVID-19 deaths on May 11, increasing the total to 20 in the county. Sauerbrey said these two people were residents of the Elderwood nursing home in Waverly, where 19 of the county’s deaths have occurred. Ithaca establishes emergency rent relief fund - Following in the footsteps of Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca voted last night to establish a fund which will help people struggling economically from the COVID-19 outbreak to pay their rents. The city will allocate $190,000 to the fund, which will allow support for 50 households for three months. The structure is similar to what Tompkins County passed two weeks ago. Alternatives establishes $1.4 million fund for loans to fight COVID -19 impacts - Alternatives Federal Credit Union has established a “historic” fund to help people and businesses struggling as a result of COVID-19’s economic impacts. AFCU announced the creation of the $1.4 million fund for loans that come with a 0 percent interest rate called the Alternatives Federal Credit Union Community Assistance Loan Fund.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Why do you break quarantine? 18.2% Liquor run 63.6% Groceries 9.1% Fresh air 9.1% Waving at passers by

N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

Where do you stand on reopening Ithaca?

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GUEST OPINION

ITHACA NOTES

In support of Matt Van Houten for District Attorney

Addiction in Pandemic By St e ph e n P. Bu r k e

L e ge sl at or s M a rt h a Robe rts on, D ist r ict 1 3, A m a n da C h a mpion, D ist r ict 1 2 , D e bor a h Daws on, D ist r ict 10, R ich Joh n, D is t r ict 4 , Da n K l e i n, D ist r ict 7, a n d M ich a e l L a n e , D ist r ict 14 e, the undersigned Democrats on is fully engaged in our felony and misthe Tompkins County Legislademeanor treatment courts, and he has ture, urge voters to re-elect Matt advocated for implementation of the Law Van Houten as Tompkins County District Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Attorney. The Democratic primary is June program. 23, and your vote is essential. Please visit Pursuit of “progressive prosecution.” https://www.mvh4da.com/ for Matt’s bio Matt knows that putting someone in jail and statements on the issues. because of a drug problem doesn’t solve We have worked with Matt for the the problem, that people need meaningpast four years, and have direct experiful support to turn their lives around. ence with how he runs his office, manMatt has demonstrated a willingness to ages his budget, and most important of seek out and try the best evidence-based all, pursues justice for all residents of our innovations. community. Intelligence. Matt is thoughtful, takes A lifelong Democrat, graduate of time to consider all the angles, and never Dryden High School, and Army veteran, stops analyzing. For example, knowing Matt Van Houten exemplifies the qualithe gap we had in helping individuals ties we think are essential in a district facing mental health challenges, he helped attorney: establish the Ithaca City Wellness and Deep commitment to justice. Matt Recovery Court. has been a leader in transforming our Humility and willingness to collabolocal criminal justice system, for example rate. Never one to toot his own horn, Matt implementing bail reform here a year before NYS took the step. Matt’s office

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fter many years of drug and alcohol abuse, Alex (not her real name) has been in recovery now for many

more. Alex says she does not feel especially affected or threatened by the coronavirus pandemic, either physically or mentally, but empathizes with and understands drug users and problem drinkers who do. “I’m lucky,” Alex says. “I have an ‘essential’ job and I’m working. I have an income and insurance. I can pay for my treatment, which I’ve had for years. I have a great relationship with my therapist and a place in the recovery community. But what about people who don’t? “No doubt the pandemic will turn people, some people, towards alcohol and drugs, or deeper into them, especially people who aren’t working, and are broke and anxious, with too much time on their hands, and massive problems and no hope. There will be relapses and new cases. Meanwhile, with lockdowns, help and support might be harder to find. “People with drug and alcohol problems, except us lucky ones - or even us lucky ones - I think are very vulnerable right now.” Has there, in fact, been a surge in drug and alcohol abuse in Ithaca since the start of the pandemic? “I can’t quantify the situation exactly,” Angela Sullivan says. Ms. Sullivan has been the executive director of the Alcohol and Drug Council (ADC) of Tompkins County since 2011. The agency started in 1965. It has a prominent central location in downtown Ithaca on E. Green St., near the public library. “Certainly things are different and in ways more difficult,” Sullivan says. But she stresses the wide range of options for people seeking help. In mid-March, the council responded to the pandemic by becoming fully remote. But telephone counseling and email contact are available consistently, seven days a week. Sullivan says the council is trying to “do all the same things” it always has. “We deal with everything” regarding substance problems, Sullivan says. Many of the agency’s clients have insurance or Medicaid, but not all. Whatever the situation, the ADC “serves everyone,” Sullivan says, which is in fact

a requirement of its funding status with New York State. For the uninsured, the agency’s fees are on a sliding scale. The council initially provides information and referrals. It helps set up evaluations and treatments. “We do a good job connecting people,” Sullivan says. “They might not see a pathway, but there is always a pathway. Addiction is a disease of isolation. We provide connection.” Sullivan says that, with the pandemic, she is “concerned about the increase of drug and alcohol use as a coping mechanism. I’m definitely worried about that.” Sullivan cites alcohol as society’s leading substance abuse problem by far. Of New York’s classification of liquor stores as essential businesses, she says she is “both sad and relieved. I’m sad that we need them open. But I’m relieved people are not detoxing” unpreparedly (or unwillingly) at a time when hospital spaces, and even sufficient outpatient services, are sparse or non-existent. The role of addiction counselors is no doubt growing in importance and scope. With a shattered national economy, however, Sullivan says she is “fearful about finances drying up” at a time when support is needed most. Nevertheless, Sullivan says that ADC is prepared “to reach more people. We are always trying to do that, to extend our resources and tools.” Volunteers are needed, although Sullivan notes theirs is not as simple as other volunteer work: “peer-training,” she says, is necessary for the critical, sensitive services the council provides. There are important ancillary concerns such as anonymity, strict confidentiality, and other aspects of professionalism. Financial donations are perhaps the simplest, most direct way to contribute to the council’s work. Sullivan says that of course they are always welcome. She speaks in terms of social connection. “The cure for addiction is connection,” Sullivan says. “Finding ways to connect is how we break the cycle.” If you or someone you know needs help, ADC is there for you. If you are in a position to help, perhaps you can be there for them, as they strive to bring care and cure to the community.

GUEST OPINION

Out of an outbreak, a chance for change W

By Su jata Gi b s on, C a n di dat e for N YS A s se m bly, 1 2 5T H D ist r ict local county and city government officials, hen I announced my candidacy for example, all say that they are committed for a seat on the New York State

Assembly in February, I focused on the need to build more resiliency into our systems, noting we were one major challenge away from collapse on nearly every front including healthcare, food security, heat security, economic security, and environmental devastation. A few weeks later, the novel coronavirus arrived and not only crashed our inadequate healthcare system but also toppled our economy. One bright spot in this painful moment: this pandemic has generated widespread public awareness not only of how vulnerable our systems have become, but also how much structural injustice is built into them. We have a real opportunity right now to radically change how we do things. Our number one priority has got to be rebuilding healthy, resilient, sustainable communities that can withstand the many more challenges that we can expect in the coming years as the climate crisis unfolds. Governor Cuomo invited us the week before last to start re-imagining what life should look like in New York post pandemic. His NY Forward Advisory Board is comprised of 113 members of whom over 80 have CEO, COO, President or Executive in their title. Unfortunately, most of his “imagining” strategy appears thus far to be filling task forces full of elites and special interests who will advocate for more of the same aggressive trickle-down economics and austerity measures that got us here in the first place. We need a better imagination. If we are going to survive, now is the time for New York to stop spending our resources to prop up big corporations and start spending them on a guaranteed jobs program focused on building sustainable communities. We currently spend more money than any other state on corporate welfare (averaging $11.3 Billion dollars a year) all in the name of “job creation” that rarely comes close to promised results. This failed trickle-down strategy is thwarting us at all levels. Our

to affordable housing, good jobs, and environmental sustainability. Yet year after year, most tax abatements and funding incentives they give out go to big development that is not sustainable, fails to provide truly affordable housing and does not pay a prevailing wage. Our communities have seen little material benefit from these substantial public investments. Instead of focusing on the voices of billionaires, we should be listening to the people on the ground doing the work and we should be talking to each other about what we need and want. In the coming weeks, I will utilize my platform as a candidate for NYS Assembly to launch a series of live streamed community conversations about what truly “reimagining” New York ought to look like. What we are calling the “Green New Dream” forums will explore where we are now, where we need to be and how we get there. Different aspects of this subject will be explored each week. The series launches this Thursday, May 14, at 8 p.m. This week is about an overall vision for the creation of sustainable and just systems which our communities deserve and need. We will be speaking with a panel of leaders who have dedicated their hearts, minds, and work to transformative community building. Joining us via zoom will be Chief Sam George of the Cayuga Nation, Gay Nicholson of Sustainable Tompkins, Kirby Edmonds, of Training for Change and the Dorothy Cotton Institute, Karim Beers from Get Your Green Back Tompkins, and Professor Mechtild Nagle, longtime activist and a professor at SUNY Cortland. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube. As Arundati Roy so eloquently described, the “pandemic is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next. We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us.

MATT VAN HOUTEN Contin u ed From Page 6

is a team member who listens and learns from others, with deep respect. He has worked with police agencies, the courts, Probation, defense attorneys, local government, and the community to radically reduce the number of people being held in jail while awaiting trial. Integrity and honesty. No spin, is what you’ll get from Matt. He’ll always base his opinions on the facts and the law. You can trust that Matt will give you his honest

evaluation, even if it’s not the most popular or easy message to hear. As a county we’ve made great strides in transforming our local criminal justice system; none of it would have been possible without Matt as DA. The number of inmates in our jail has not been this low in decades, without a rise in our crime rate. Please help return our District Attorney to the office for another four years, so we can continue this success.

In response to “GreenStar expansion set to open May 6”

THE TALK AT

YOUR LETTERS In response to “Ithaca establishes emergency rent relief fund, votes to allow 5G”

urge everyone to ask the Common Council to revisit this decision! There is very credible cause for concern based on scientific studies that this technology has deleterious effects on the health of humans and other species, cited in recent publications by the European Parliament Research Service in March 2020 or the National Toxicology Program of the Department of Health and Human Services. 5G has particular risks because of the pulsation and it is pervasive- everyone will be constantly exposed. We could even have fiber optic networks that would be safer, more secure and could be upgraded to superior speeds whereas you have to change the whole system for wireless technologies. Cynthia Stevens, via Ithaca.com

on’t conspiracy theorists seem to miss the point - if they have a cell phone/laptop, there is no escape? We lost our privacy years ago. I think it’s great that Ithaca is joining the rest of the world technologically. The lack of reliable connectivity in this area is a true limitation to living in this area - especially if you consider that Cornell is here. Tracey Glen, via Ithaca.com

“The store’s health and wellness section will include more medicinal herbs and body care products, as well as a wider array of homeopathic remedies, some supplied by local purveyors.” Ugh. It amazes me that such a large part of an educated community like Ithaca holds on to such anti-science garbage like homeopathy. For those that think that homeopathy is just “natural medicine” or something like that, it’s not even that. It’s the belief in magic water. It’s pure snake oil witchcraft. It has as much basis in reality as Trump’s cures for Covid-19. Okay, it won’t cause as much harm as drinking bleach (because it really is usually just water, literally), but in some ways it’s just as dangerous because it promotes pseudoscience rather than legitimate medicine. The fact that Greenstar is not just continuing to promote homeopathy, but actually expanding their offerings in that area, is embarrassing. Some info on homeopathy: https://theness.com/neurologicablog/ index.php/the-inherent-contradiction-ofmarketing-homeopathy/ Ithaca Jack, via Ithaca.com

Write to us! Say something or respond to an article by writing editor@ithacatimes.com. Letters must be signed and include an address and phone number. We do not publish unsigned letters. Letters may be edited for length and readability. To the Editor, Ithaca Times, 109 N Cayuga St., Ithaca, NY 14850

SOUTHERN TIER Contin u ed From Page 7

that he has pursued so far. With businesses opening yet schools remaining closed for the rest of the academic year, Cuomo was asked if there were childcare re-openings planned as childcare needs would increase as businesses opened. Cuomo said it’s unlikely that regions would move beyond phase one or phase two before the scheduled end of the school year, due to childcare concerns, and that those childcare plans would be included under the purview of the regional control centers. How Tompkins County specifically will proceed remains to be seen, though more will likely be known at a public information session being held Monday afternoon with County Administrator Jason Molino and Public Health Director Frank Kruppa. After Cuomo’s press conference, Molino said he would be representing Tompkins May

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County on the Southern Tier’s regional control center, working with other county leaders from the region to monitor healthcare metrics every day. “I think this is a reasonable approach, a regional approach and a phased approach makes sense,” Molino said. “And monitoring the impacts of those changes makes sense, to determine if you should move to the next step of things or if there should be changes to make sure the public health is not at risk. [...] I think it’s fair and reasonable, and we’ll see how it goes. We’re committed, here in Tompkins County, working with our region to ensure that testing capacity at Cayuga Health System is intact and testers and tracers are in place in case there’s an uptick in cases.”

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On the Other Side O

By M att Bu tler

n Saturday afternoon, in the midst of an on-andoff hail storm, a group of about a dozen people gathered outside of the Beechtree Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in downtown Ithaca armed with pots and pans, signs and masks. To passers-by, it could have looked like one of the small protests that have popped up around the country to argue for reopening the economy, or even the few people who rode around downtown Ithaca objecting to the introduction of 5G to the area. But a glance at their signs would have made the group’s intentions clear: to thank 8 T

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the staff of the Beechtree Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center as they changed their shifts on Saturday afternoon. One of the families in attendance were the Hugos. Steve and Sarah Hugo had brought their children, Iona and March, toting signs with slogans like “Thank You Heroes;” Iona held a sign that said “Thank You 4 Caring 4 My Grandma” while March banged a pot with a spoon. Their grandmother, Donna Hugo, is a long-term Beechtree resident suffering from dementia, but due to the coronavirus outbreak they’ve only been able to visit her through a window for almost the last two months. 13–19,

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Donna’s husband, Stan Hugo, used to visit his wife twice a day during the fiveplus years that she’s lived at Beechtree, stopping in at lunch and dinner to eat with her and feed her. He thinks the isolation over the last two months has weighed on her as well as him, even as he supports the decision to keep outsiders out of the facility. Hugo’s situation is similar to countless people nationwide who have relatives in nursing homes. As more of the country locked down, the focus shifted promptly to nursing homes. The homes were already under scrutiny due to the vulnerability of their populations, particularly as early understanding of the virus posited that el-

derly people and senior citizens were at far higher risk of contracting and dying from the infection. Soon, outside visitation was banned in most cases, as was group dining among residents, compounding the isolation. Those fears have been realized during the outbreak, as several nursing homes in New York have become hotspots for coronavirus infection and death, even as close as Elderwood Nursing Home in Waverly in Tioga County, which has seen 19 deaths. Overall in New York, more than 5,400 people have died from coronavirus in nursing homes, which accounts for 20 percent of the state’s total deaths as of May 11. There

have been no reported nursing home cases in Tompkins County so far. “I don’t like it, but I thoroughly understand why I can’t go in,” Hugo said. “I do call two or three times a week to find out how she’s doing and also they have a window visit set up, which I do at least once a week.” Her dementia has advanced to the point that she’s unable to respond to him and needs total care, making the window visits and other forms of communication that much more difficult compared to how he had already adapted to connecting with her during his visits. “It’s a little heartbreaking to look through the window and not be able to touch her or talk to her, and she can’t respond to me at all,” Hugo said. “So it’s just a matter of visualizing her. It’s not been easy.” He worries, too, that staff might be overwhelmed tending to the needs of other patients, worsening the fact that he isn’t allowed to go inside. It all culminates with a rising level of anxiety for Hugo, who now feels the brunt of an increasingly vulnerable wife paired with the fact that he can’t physically touch or comfort her, barring an imminent end-of-life situation. There’s not necessarily a scientific way to measure the impact of Hugo’s presence on his wife’s condition, though he does feel as if there’s been an effect. He connects the absence of his regular visits, which could theoretically serve as a grounding experience for his wife with a more familiar face around, with a slight recent deterioration in her behavior, though he allows that it could also be unrelated. “Within the last week, she seems to be showing some decline,” Hugo said, saying his wife had been eating less for a few weeks just before the outbreak hit a trend that has continued as he’s been unable to see her. “I’m very nervous about it. [...] It’s not anger, I understand. It only takes one person to infect everybody else. I’m not an-

gry about it. Helpless is a good way to put it.” Nursing homes have been able to make some adjustments in order to connect families while operating within the confines of the restrictions. As Hugo mentioned, Beechtree, one of a dozen Tompkins Coun-

“During this time, facilities, residents, and resident representatives who would otherwise visit in-person, need to use alternative means of communication such as phone, Facetime, Skype, email, etc.,” Royal wrote in the letter, posted to Longview Ithaca’s website early in the pandemic. “One of

L e f t : Th e H u g o fa m i ly h a s a w i n d ow v i s i t w i t h D o n n a , t h e fa m i ly ’s m at r i a r c h . A b ov e : A g r o u p o f t h a n k f u l r e l at i v e s o f B e e c h t r e e r e s i d e n t s ( P h o t o s b y C a s e y M a r t i n)

ty nursing homes, has instituted a window visit station around the side of its building. The setup allows families to gather at a door-length window where residents can sit or be wheeled and see their relatives from a safe distance and without the chance of airborne transmission of COVID-19. Nurses and staff have also attempted to keep residents’ minds off of the isolation with a stream of activities. Other nursing homes in the area have had to navigate similarly difficult situations, using alternative and creative means to allow outside caretakers, often family members, to check on their relatives and the care their relatives are receiving, as well as getting in touch with their loved ones as much as possible. Generally speaking, they are guided by a letter from New York State Long Term Care Ombudsman Claudette Royal that lays out a set of suggestions for nursing homes to implement.

the chief concerns resident representatives have is their anxiety of not knowing how their loved one is being cared for during this time. To proactively address this, facilities should provide alternative means of communication to ensure residents and their representatives are staying informed and maintaining regular contact.” Some people feel the ban is too damaging to families, even while it is well-intentioned, and that people who serve as caregivers should be allowed to venture inside the facility to tend to their loved ones as they always have. Sandy Ferreira, a longtime patient advocate, found herself actually living in Beechtree for several months after breaking her femur and developing an infection, but was able to move out just before the pandemic began. “There’s no way I would have been able to stay there during the close-down, it would have been so, so difficult,” Ferreira said, contending that the emotional supMay

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port offered by one’s caretaker should be enough to allow them to come inside the facility and be with their spouse, parent, child or otherwise while following some level of precautions. “No visitors and people confined, pretty much, to their rooms. Stanley [Hugo] and a couple others would come every day to feed their loved ones, and they were told they couldn’t come anymore. The benefits of them coming outweigh the risks.” Gail Butts also has a relative in Beechtree, her 87 year old mother, who’s lived in the facility for just over a year. Like Hugo, Butts used to visit her mother daily, feeding her at dinner time, until the visitation ban was enacted. “It’s been hard,” Butts said. “Beechtree has been very cooperative in helping try to relieve some of that, they knew it was hard. [...] She’s just not getting as much one-on-one contact as she was used to getting, and I think it was a little hard for her to understand.” Her mother’s moods have been up and down during the isolation period. Butts had been preparing for a visitation ban before the quarantine began in earnest, but she was only able to explain it to her mother once it had already gone into effect. “One day, we talk to her on the phone, she’s very upbeat and happy, things are fine,” Butts said. “Then we had a window visit with her and she was uncomfortable and didn’t feel well.” Like Hugo, any struggle her mother has weighs a bit more heavily on Butts because of the added detachment element. But, as admirable as the efforts and work of nursing home staffs have been, Butts said to her it’s still a moot point: they could be the best doctors in the world, and Butts would still have a level of apprehension because she can’t be by her mother’s side, soothing, comforting and helping. “Nobody thinks that anyone can take as good care of your family as you can,” Butts said.

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B usiness T imes

BusinessTimes Tompkins County maps out reopening plans BY MATT BUTLER Tompkins County is developing a framework to reopen its departmental operations, currently called the Reconstitution of Operation Plans (ROOP), which the county said would consist of a reopening for staff and clients.

o be clear, this does not signify a full-fledged reopening of businesses or other non-essential places, though Gov. Cuomo did announce on Monday that a gradual re-opening can take place on May 15. Factors the county will consider in its plans to re-open will be: staffing considerations, employee engagement, facility considerations, office operations and field operations. The ROOP, which the health department has set up a website for at https:// tompkinscountyny.gov/health/movingforward, will also serve as a template of sorts for businesses to follow as they plan to re-open in accordance with the ongoing guidelines from New York State, which

will hopefully continue to lessen as time goes on and the outbreak dissipates. The health department is working with the county, as well as the planning team of the Emergency Operations Center on the ROOP. “Our departments and staff have been extremely flexible over the past few months as we worked to shift operations under our continuity of operations planning. We followed a similar process in developing this reconstitution plan.” said Jay Franklin, Tompkins County Assessment Director and Planning Chief of the Emergency Operations Center. He continued, “We are happy to share this framework so that businesses and organizations can have a point of reference as they begin to make

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their own operational plans. We recognize it is designed for our organization’s structure, but believe the concepts are transferable to most situations.” Frank Kruppa, Tompkins County Public Health Director shared “It’s important that everyone stays vigilant and plans carefully for reopening, following guidelines and requirements from New York State. Public health is our top priority, and this plan was created with that in mind.” Kruppa continued. “Considering density reduction, social distancing, face coverings, and hygiene will be necessary to ensure the safety of our staff and the people we serve. Even as we consider reopening, we can’t become complacent.” Kruppa named those four tenets as the main priorities for businesses going forward. How to move beyond the first phase isn’t quite clear right now, though it will likely take a significant amount of time and show further positive trends in terms of keeping infection spread down. “I would imagine that would also include state approval to move forward,” Molino said. “One would suggest that a two week measurement period would be fairly reasonable.” Kruppa said employers can use screening questions instead of a thermometer, if they are unable to get their hands on such equipment. Kruppa added that businesses can consult with the Health Department website about receiving personal protective equipment, and the Tompkins Chamber of Commerce has maintained a list of where protective gear can be found. “Social distancing is with us for a while, as long as we’re still waiting for a vaccine and treatments,” Kruppa said. “While we’re entering this first phase and future phases, that social distancing is going to be core to every step that we take. As much as we can keep six feet between us, and when not we’re wearing cloth facemasks, we can move through the phases and hopefully keep COVID-19 at bay.” There’s still a lot of murkiness around the immediate future and what shape it will take, particularly in terms of directives from the state. Molino said himself that there were still questions about several of the state’s guidelines regarding re-opening that will hopefully become clear this week.

Molino said, as the county currently understands it, New York State will be establishing a website that will provide some clarity on certain details of the path forward, such as which businesses or industries would be included in more advanced phases of re-openings. There will also be ways for businesses to submit their re-opening plans to the state that will be conducted online, but those plans will not be approved or certified by Tompkins County. “They will be defining it a lot more,” Molino said. “I would expect this week you’re going to see a lot more definitive answers in terms of what will be included in Phase One and Phase Two and so on.” The overarching theme of the messaging from the county on Monday was that although a reopening is beginning, there will need to be strict adherence to the guidelines that are still in place, like the four priorities Kruppa laid out, to keep on a path to an outbreak-free future. “The steps that you take before you have a case will help limit the impact if you do,” Kruppa said. “We can put in all the precautions we want, but the thing that’s going to have the biggest impact is if you’re sick, you have symptoms, stay home and get tested. Isolate yourself from others. All the precautions will be for naught if we have sick folks in our workforce.” Molino said there haven’t been many issues with businesses complying with the governor’s executive orders for nonessential businesses to close, even with social media rumors revving up as another week of quarantine begins. If a business was to open before it was approved to do so, Molino was vague regarding what the recourse would be. “The first approach has been education,” Molino said. “The expectation now is that businesses will have reopening plans that we can review with them. For the most part, we’ve had good compliance [...] It points to a bigger aspect, which is that everyone has a personal responsibility to take ownership over this.” To conclude, Kruppa repeated what promises to continue to be the most important, and likely oft-repeated, mantra over the next several weeks and months, and hopefully not longer. “If you’re sick, stay home,” Kruppa said.

The faster, easier, online way to get a business loan. Loans subject to credit approval. May

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B usiness T imes

A helping hand

96 LOCAL BUSINESSES RECEIVE LOANS FROM SMALL BUSINESS RESILIENCE FUND by Matt Butler

Text ITHACA to 22828 to sign up!

he City of Ithaca announced on Thursday that 96 local businesses had been awarded funding through the newlyestablished Small Business

To all of you at Cayuga Health:

for your dedication, courage and commitment during this trying time! For more employee photos, follow us on:

cayugamed.org

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Resilience Fund, founded to assist small Tompkins County-based businesses that are facing difficulties from the COVID-19 outbreak. The fund provides forgivable loans, in amounts up to $5,000, to local businesses. The total fund was $390,000, much of which was donated by Cornell University, with several other community partners involved. According to the city, 160 small local businesses had applied during the 48 hours that the application period was open. The city closed the application period early due to the “overwhelming” demand. Recipients were recommended by a panel of judges. “The committee had a difficult task, and many eligible applicants were unable to be funded,” the release said. “Priority was given to ground floor storefront businesses open to the general public and businesses in established commercial districts.” The release also said that businesses which supply owners with a primary source of income, businesses owned by women or people of color and businesses that need the resources to stay operational were given priority. The loans have zero interest rate, an 18 month term and “will be forgiven for businesses open and in operation on Dec. 1, 2020,” who have also otherwise complied with the program’s rules. The announcement included testimonials from local businesses that received SBRF funding: “For me, this means my transition into a more efficient space is not compromised, my new employee who I just hired right before all of this has a promised job to come back to on the call date of her furlough,” Adrina Graham said, of Adrina Dietra Luxury Lingerie and Apothecary Goods. “This loan is an important piece of the puzzle in getting Benjamin Peters up and running successfully in the near future,” Peter Parkes of men’s clothier Benjamin Peters said. “I also see it as a good faith agreement between a local business, local government and other interested local parties to invest in the future of Ithaca.” “Each day into each week gets tougher,” Chuck Dogn of Shortstop said. “But with programs like the SBRF, it keeps us going, it helps keep employees, and it gives us hope. All of the funders and partner organizations coming together to create this fund really exemplify the uniqueness of Ithaca and Tompkins County and how much of a supportive community we are.”

B usiness T imes Ithaca Business Index

Breadth of economic crash starts to become clear locally By Eli a K a c ap y r

he Ithaca Business Index sank 2.8 percent in March to a level of 167.88 from a revised mark of 172.65 in February. Hours worked increased, but five other indicators declined. Compared to March 2019 the index was down 3.2 percent. The number of jobs in the Ithaca metropolitan area decreased by 100 to a level of 63,500 in March. All the figures in this report are seasonally adjusted so that any month can be compared with any other without regard to seasonal factors. Ithaca’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent compared to 4.5 percent in New York state and 4.4 percent in the nation. The survey for the employment data was conducted in the second week of March. The full force of the COVID-19 shut down will be reflected in the April numbers. The size of Ithaca’s labor force decreased by 768 persons to a level of 48,668. Anyone residing in Ithaca with a part-time or full-time job is in the labor force. In addition, anyone residing in Ithaca without a job, but actively seeking employment, is also included in the labor force. A smaller labor force means less

economic potential. Retail sales in Ithaca were down significantly in March. Sales volume fell 13.8 percent lowering total sales to $139 million. Compared to March 2019 sales volume was down 13.2 percent. The retail sector lost 300 workers in March. The average work week in Ithaca lengthened to 32.9 hours from 32.7 hours in March. This figure is indeed an average that includes both full and part-time employees in the private sector. Compared to March 2019, the average work week was half and hour longer. Home sales in Ithaca sagged 11.5 percent in March. This is a moderate change for this volatile indicator. Comparing March 2020 to February 2019, home sales were off 18.5 percent. The median home’s price fell significantly over the course of the year to $208,000 from $262,000. Help wanted advertising shriveled 33.1 percent in March. Compared to March 2019, help-wanted advertising was down 51.4 percent. These are unusually large changes, even for this volatile indicator. Declines in help

wanted advertising may signal bad news ahead for the job market. The data for March reflected some, but hardly all, the effects of social distancing. The service sector can, and must, react quickly to a halt in sales. Other industries, such as higher education, can be more deliberate. Indeed, the full effect on Ithaca’s economy depends on students being able to return in late August. Economists have no experience with an economic shock as abrupt and pervasive as social distancing. College towns are especially vulnerable, but the damage will be limited if students can return for the fall semester. In that case, Ithaca’s economy will experience a recession, not a depression. In January 1985 the Ithaca Business Index stood at 100.00. In March 2020 the Index reads 167.88. This means that the Tompkins County economy has grown 67.88 percent in those 423 months. From 1985 until 1988, the Ithaca metro region grew at a rapid clip. The average annual growth rate was 6.0 percent. The Ithaca Busi-

ness Index reached a peak of 129.25 in April 1989. A recession brought the Index down to a level of 111.32 in February 1992. This 34-month slide was much longer and more severe than the national recession which lasted only 8 months. Since then, the County economy has recovered, but annual growth rates of 1.5 percent are more typical these days. There was a less severe version of the Great Recession here in Ithaca that started in April 2008 and ended in July 2009. The most recent recession began in April 2014 and ended in March 2015. There was no national recession during this time, but economic activity in Ithaca stalled in the latter half of 2014 and fell 1.5 percent in 2015. The Ithaca economy had been expanding since the summer of 2015. The Ithaca economy grew 3.7 percent in 2017, 0.7 percent in 2018, and 1.8 percent in 2019. The all-time high for the Ithaca Business Index is 176.75, its reading in April 2019.

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B usiness T imes

Biz Briefs Tompkins Trust Company to Aid Their Employees Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic

In an effort to assist its employees with unexpected financial burdens faced during the current COVID-19 crisis, Tompkins

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Financial is offering a discount loan program to employees who have encountered increased expenses or decreased income. These include spouse or domestic partner’s job loss, and unexpected costs for elder care or child care. In addition, Tompkins has instituted up to 25% premium pay model for employees whose essential work requires them to be on-site. “Banks have been deemed to provide an essential service to our customers and communities and this is a way we can show our appreciation to our employees,” said Stephen Romaine, president and CEO, of Tompkins Financial. “We understand that while we as a company are fortunate enough to maintain our workforce during this time, our team members may have spouses or partners who experience job loss. We also appreciate that they may experience unexpected costs related to the pandemic. We want our team members to know that Tompkins is standing by them in the same way they are standing by our customers.” The premium pay model will apply to both exempt and non-exempt employees whose work requires them to report to a Tompkins location to perform essential job duties.

Contin u ed From Page 4

requested that people stay in their homes unless they were venturing out for essential reasons, Campbell said there was a corresponding spike in requests for shelter. “We definitely had a sharp increase in the first two weeks in the number of people who were calling and asking about shelter and saying they needed shelter,” Campbell said. “But very few people came into shelter that were new during that time.” Part of the lack of follow-through on shelter calls, Campbell said, can certainly be explained by acknowledging that shelter living is group living, and some people were hesitant to enter a situation like that during an infectious pandemic. More troublingly, though, were others who reached out to inquire about shelter and then haven’t been back in touch without explanation. While the stay-at-home strategies have almost certainly curtailed an even worse public health outbreak, Campbell said isolation can also directly worsen the power and control dynamics that are at the center of domestic violence situations. Campbell cited another uneasy development over the last several weeks: a significant drop in reports of child abuse and child sexual abuse. Normally, this might be cause for optimism, but quarantine’s impact is felt here too. Those reports are normally made by mandated

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reporters, like teachers or counselors, but with children out of schools and nearly all activities, they have almost no contact with those mandated reporters. “We don’t think that abuse isn’t happening [...] based on research from other pandemics and natural disasters, abuse, domestic violence and sexual violence doesn’t stop, and it often becomes more dangerous for youth and adults who are sheltering in place,” Campbell said. “We are preparing for a surge in need for services when things start to normalize and people are less isolated and able to reach out for support.” In response to the statewide rise, Cuomo announced new methods for victims to reach resources in the form of new text and online chat options through the Office of the Prevention of Domestic Violence (ODPV). The new lines are designed to reduce the chance that a victim is discovered when calling for help, or in the case of an abuser monitoring phone calls. “New Yorkers seeking help can text 844-997-2121 or chat with a professional on the new confidential website at www. opdv.ny.gov,” an announcement from the state said. “The text and online services will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with OPDV staff who are experts in the area of domestic violence.”

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Get ready for June 6

By Adam Messinger

thaca’s own 18+ pop-up, inclusive dance club is going virtual with all of the proceeds going to The Advocacy Center. In the past, Pop’d has been held at The Cherry Artspace, but to accommodate the social distancing guidelines, it has been moved to Zoom after their April event was cancelled. The new event, the first of which will take place June 6, will serve a slightly different purpose than before, while still functioning as a way to connect with the nightlife community and raise money for a good cause while having fun. “We started looking at what Pop’d really is, and it’s not just a dance party,” said local performer and artistic director of the event Mickie Quinn. “It’s about community and creating a safe space for people to come and be themselves while watching fabulous performances.” Quinn will be the emcee for the evening, and the event will feature live go-go dancers, live DJs, and pre-recorded performances from drag and burlesque performers. An LED hula-hoop bonfire experience has also been promised. And all of this will occur while par-

ticipants of the virtual event have their own festivities from wherever they are quarantining. “Clear out your living room, set up some lights, and make your own little dance club,” Quinn said. “We’re encouraging people to get invested and be a part of the night with us. We want to bring the visual of the whole community dancing together.” Pop’d is known for its glittery, and funky aesthetic, with many of the events having themes that allow the club goers to express themselves through their outfits and fashion. The theme of this year’s event will be “At Home Quarantine Realness.” “Be you, be at home,” Quinn said. “You can dance in your pajamas. Or you can wear a full body latex bondage suit! Whatever works.” Pop’d has always had a focus on consent within its events. In the past they have had consent monitors throughout the space that attendees could go to if they felt uncomfortable or witnessed anything. “We’ve been talking about what that looks like online and making sure that continues,” said Sarah Chaneles, the treasurer and aesthetic director. “We probably will have some online version of the monitors on the communal chat feature.” While the challenge of bringing a social event to a virtual scene is one that the team

has embraced forthright, it also brings about its own advantages in terms of accessibility. The absence of crowds allows for individuals to participate who would not normally be able to. “I have one friend who has always wanted to come to Pop’d, but cannot handle loud music, so this is an opportunity for her to just turn the volume down and enjoy,” Chaneles said. Organizers are optimistic that the event will also reach far beyond Ithaca as individuals quarantined all over the United States now have the opportunity to tune in with no worry about travel or room capacity limits. “I’m excited to see new faces, as well as old faces, because who has seen people recently? No one,” said Katt “Double T” Hass, the production manager for the event. Tickets are sold on a sliding scale basis with all proceeds going to the Advocacy Center, aside from direct tips for performers. VIP ticket buyers will receive their own choice of Pop’d branded backgrounds to use, and local folks will get a Pop’d goodie bag delivered to them that includes a bottle of champagne. The performer set list has not been finalized, but will be released in the upcoming week. For ticket information visit The Cherry Artspace webpage or the Facebook event for “Virtu-Pop’d June 6.” May

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I t h a c a T i m e s 15

sports

Transferable Skills By Steve Lawrence

have interacted with athletic trainers in quite a few capacities—athlete, parent of an athlete, sports fan, sportswriter—and I have seen them ply their trade in oppressive heat, in bitter cold and in driving rain. I have seen them deal with everything from minor sunburns to compound fractures to life-threatening injuries, and I held my breath while watching two trainers carry my own daughter off a softball field after a full-speed outfield collision. So, when Adrian Western said to me during our interview on Sunday, “We’re accustomed to going into the unknown,” I believed him. Western, a Certified Athletic Trainer

and the Director of Sports Medicine and School Health at the Cayuga Health Systems Sports Medicine Clinic, is one of many CATs who have been called into action to help Cayuga Health Systems address the community’s needs during the Covid-19 crisis. In Western’s case, he has been assigned to help facilitate the mass screening effort, managing patient flow and logistics. I asked Adrian (who did his undergrad work at West Virginia University and got his Masters at Ithaca College) about his “regular” work life and how his experience had helped him in his new role. He said, “Normally, I oversee the program that provides Sports Medicine services

Adrian Western (left) examines a patient at Cayuga Medical Center. (Courtesy of CMC)

and physical coverage to many area high schools, as well as Ithaca College, Wells, TC3 and SUNY Cortland. A lot of us (at Cayuga Health Systems) have been asked to fill roles that are not typical.” He added, “Fortunately, we are accustomed to being nimble, and to think on our feet.” : “A typical day now,” Western stated, r fo all begoniass, leu co , ns tie “involves helping manage the mass testing pa im s, Annualssmos, snapdragon co s, sites, making sure we are efficient, that we nia tu pe , ds ol shade. Marig d more all love sun. an are running smoothly and that we are gets nia zin a, ian ot gazanias, nic ting results quickly. ” s, okra, When asked about dealing with the ard, spinach, lettuce vegetables- swiss ch cchini and winter squash. anxiety that accompanies uncertainty, zu er, m m su , uliflower, cucumbers Western spoke of many different “transfermelons, cabbage, ca Goose Street, Locke tomatoes, peppers, s, kale. Lots of herbs-sage, able skills.” He said, “Athletic Trainers are ussel sprout br li, ! e! co or oc well-equipped to step up and help in this m br h uc 315-497-1347 rsley, m ary, thyme, basil, pa m kind of situation. We often see people who se ro Take Rt. 34 . 12 miles shrubs. are not having their best day, and what d an look for our sign s ial nn re pe d M-Sat 8-5 • Sun 10-5 Hanging baskets an they want to hear is, ‘I’ve got you, and I will take care of you.’ It all comes down to patient care, and that personal interaction makes a big difference.” New Delhi Wondering how the collective attitude surrounding the Covid-19 crisis has *Doctors, Thanks Nurses, - 10% offBest with Buffet ID for Best Indian Food & forshifted 2010!! lunch for Paramedics choosing New Delhi Diamond’s over the weeks, I asked Western Order by phone. Buffet only for his take on it and he offered, “The first Newfor Delhi Best Indian Food & Delivery Best Buffet 2010!! lunch throughfor GrubHub $7.99 Buffet only and IthacaToGo. 2 weeks were, frankly, very scary. UnNew Delhi Dinner menu $7.99 7 days 5-10pm Mon-Sun: 11:30-3:00 p.m. derstandably, there was a very high level Dinner menu 7 days 5-10pm Dinner Hours 4:30-9:00 p.m. of uncertainty and concern, but as we

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have progressed, I am proud to say that we—thanks to a very coordinated effort from CMC staff from across many departments—have done a great job of flattening the curve, and you can tell that there is not the same level of anxiety.” Asked to give a glimpse into what to expect, Western said, “There is a lot of discussion and planning for what’s next. We are doing our best to prepare for the reopening of schools and businesses, and we are addressing how we can keep the curve as flat as possible.” ● ● ●

I often use this column to say farewell to people, and while this “Adios” does not involve anyone’s passing, I am still sad to see Jeff Tilton pack it up and leave Ithaca. Jeff and his wife have retired (he was an Ithaca Housing Authority guy) and they have relocated to Florida. Jeff has been an incredible resource for me over the years, as he has been involved in coaching youth sports in many different capacities. He coached football at Newfield, at Ithaca High, helped out with Sprint Football at Cornell, and he was a great advocate for kids facing challenges. Jeff knew that sports could be a valuable tool in teaching discipline and teamwork and dedication, and went many extra miles to help young people understand the importance of those traits while urging them to keep their grades up to the best of their ability. I saw Jeff around town a few times per year, but the detail with which he gave me feedback about my articles made me realize that this column really does connect me to people. Some people actually read this stuff, and they really do “get it” that sports really do matter. The scores and stats and standings don’t necessarily matter, but sports can play a huge role in shaping young people into productive and well-adjusted citizens. Thanks for helping me spread that message, Jeff. I’ll miss you, my friend.

film

Serenity Now

Rest in Peace to Jerry Stiller By Br yan VanC ampe n

wasn’t sure what to write about this week, but this morning I learned that Jerry Stiller passed away at the age of 92. When I was a kid, Jerry Stiller was just some goofy guy who appeared with his wife Anne Meara on TV game shows. I had no idea that he and Meara were a celebrated comedy duo, that he studied theater at Syracuse University, founded the Compass Players, which morphed into Second City, and that he was New York City’s premiere Shakespearean clown in the first Central Park productions in the 1950s. I learned all of this when I read Stiller’s wonderful memoir “Married to Laughter.” I’ve read many such books, but once I’ve gleaned a performer or filmmaker’s career, the books generally get regifted or packed off to the Friends of the Library Book Sale. I still have Stiller’s book, because it really digs into the insecurities and fears that all actors must deal with. Just as I was finishing the book, Cornell Cinema brought in a new Jerry Stiller film called “The Independent,” and Stiller was available for an interview. Had I not read his book, I wouldn’t have had much to say, but we ended up having a pretty deep conversation about the film, his career and a life in show business. A few weeks after the article appeared, I received a thank you note from Jerry. In all my years of talking to show biz people, he was—and still is— the only one to do so. So, while we’re getting our “Seinfeld” and “King of Queens” DVDS off the shelf for a rewatch, I thought I’d commemorate Jerry Stiller’s passing with a few thoughts

Jerry Stiller at a book signing in New York City (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

on three of his best film performances. Jerry Stiller gives my favorite performance as schlock movie director Morty Fineman in the mockumentary The Independent (2000, Arrow Entertainment, 80 min.). The genre suffers when it gets too mean or cynical, but this faux chronicle of Fineman’s spotty film career is just about the perfect blend of sweet and sour comedy. Fineman has more than 400 films in his vault, the worst in flea-bag cinema: biker movies, horror flicks and other exploitation titles. We see meticulously re-created clips from movies like “The Foxy Chocolate Robot” and “Christ for the Defense” as Fineman tries to produce his latest movie and lobbies for a slot at a film festival. The movie boasts great performances from Janeane Garofalo, Max Perlich and a terrific cameo from son Ben Stiller. Joseph Sargent’s The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974, United Artists, 104 min.) is my favorite 1970s crime thriller and David Shire’s iconic horn-driven score is better than “The Theme from Shaft” and “Across 110th Street” combined. Robert Shaw and Martin Balsam lead a crew of crooks in hijacking a New York City subway car: they demand $1 million or they’ll start executing the passengers. Walter Matthau is a transit authority cop trying to stop them,

and Stiller has a great comedic supporting role as Matthau’s partner. John Waters spent so many years trying to shock movie audiences with movies like “Pink Flamingos” and “Multiple Maniacs”, the most shocking thing he could have done was make a sweet teenage musical comedy like Hairspray (1988, New Line Cinema, 92 min.), which has taken on new

life as its own musical stage adaptation. Set in 1962 Baltimore, the film stars Ricki Lake as “pleasantly plump” Tracy Turnblad, who pursues stardom as a dancer on a local teen TV show and rallies against racial segregation. Divine co-stars as Lake’s mom, and Jerry is goofy and sweet as her dad, who runs the local novelty shop.

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kirkswayfarm.com

2300 N. Triphammer Rd.

312 E. Seneca St.

607-272-0114

Emotional, Physical & Spiritual Well Being

607-227-3025 / 607-697-3294

(607) 280-4729

admin@peacefulspiritacupuncture.com

Taught by experienced Computer Science graduate

(607) 257-7777 (607) 257-5555

rothgerry@yahoo.com

ithacasumo.com

www.hectorwinecompany.com

Check out our Yes! We’re Open guide on PAGE 2 and online @ ithaca.com /M arketplace /YesW ereO pen 20 T

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Many of Ithaca’s businesses are open for curbside pick-up or home delivery. Save this page for an up-to-date guide to our city’s listings during this health crisis.