THE TALK AT
CUOMO Contin u ed From Page 6
homes data, the use of state resources for a personal book deal, and withholding of information about the structural integrity and contracts with the Mario Cuomo bridge. I support and agree with the sentiment of my constituents that the impeachment proceedings should move
forward. We should be as expeditious and thorough as possible. It is the Assembly’s responsibility to present a strong and thorough case to the Senate where an impeachment trial will take place if they choose to pursue this course of action.”
Stop dumping trash in Fall Creek
ALGAE BLOOMS Contin u ed From Page 3
mowing their lawn all the way down to the water and instead consider growing a buffer of flowers to prevent fertilizer from the lawn from running into the lake when it rains. She added that they’ve been working with farmers as well to make sure they aren’t letting things like animal waste or fertilizer from their farms get into the lake, but “when it rains two inches in two hours, farm fields get overwhelmed and soil sweeps into the lake.” But some factors at play are a lot bigger than fertilizer and farming fields — climate change is also a cause of the increase in HABs, Launer said. “These blooms like warmer water, so the faster it warms up and the later it stays warm, that really helps blooms do well,” he said. “And also the rain storms are a factor of climate change that we’re facing and will continue to face. They can cause erosion and run off and will force more nutrients into our streams and lakes.” Lambert noted that the lake has risen a couple degrees in recent years, and at the shallow shelves on either end, volunteers were reporting temperatures of 70 degrees by June, which is “way above what you would expect.” While preventing HABs is difficult, spotting them is pretty easy. “These blooms have pretty striking appearances,” Launer said. “It can look like spilled green paint on the water, deep green pea soup, or sometimes it looks like green dots dispersed throughout the water column. They show a streakiness on the water, with parallel streaks almost like an oil appearance.” He added that cyanobacteria are single-celled organisms, so they have no structure. If it’s something that looks like it could be scooped up, it’s not a bloom. Unfortunately, once there’s a bloom, there’s no way to treat it. “You just have to wait it out,” Launer said. Lambert said a change in weather can often help, such as rain, wind or a drop in temperature, but admitted sometimes it takes a while for them to dissipate. Launer said a good rule of thumb is to wait until 24 hours after the bloom has disappeared before going in the water. The blooms have been particularly intense this year, with Launer noting that around the third week of July the lake had widespread blooms on the southern end of the lake with more than 25 reports coming in over a few days. Lambert added that
YOUR LETTERS
the first widespread bloom of that type occurred in 2017, and that it’s been a problem around the world in recent decades. “Globally this is a rising problem with warming trends, and we are unfortunate that it’s finally arrived on our beautiful lake,” she said. If you are exposed to a bloom, Launer said you should immediately rinse off in clean water and then call the Health Department for next steps. He and Lambert noted that the HABs produce a lot of chemical compounds and not all of them are toxic to humans, but that it’s better to be safe than sorry. The Tompkins County Health Department lists some of the symptoms to be aware of as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, skin, eye or throat irritation, allergic reactions or breathing difficulties. It’s also important to note that HABs are also toxic, and often fatal, to dogs. However, despite the seemingly sinister nature of the algal blooms, Lambert doesn’t want people to panic. “People should not be frightened or decide they’re never going swimming again,” she said. “Don’t panic. It’s going to be around for a while but the lake is healthy.” To track and monitor HABs in Cayuga Lake, the Community Science Institute has a team of volunteers called HABs Harriers. The volunteers cover about 60% of the shoreline and report once a week on their designated section. They monitor the water for blooms, and if they see one they report it to Launer, describe it and take a sample, and it gets recorded and analyzed in the lab. Members of the public can also make a report if they suspect a bloom by taking a photo, noting the location and sending an email to habshotline@gmail.com or by filling out the form at http://www.communityscience.org/cayuga-lake-2018-harmfulalgal-blooms-results/report-a-hab/. That page also has an interactive map with confirmed locations of HABs, so people can check online before heading to the water to swim. You can find it at http:// www.communityscience.org/volunteer/ harmful-algal-bloom-monitoring/cayugalake-habs-reporting-page/. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation also has a map to track reported blooms. That can be found at https://nysdec.maps.arcgis.com/ apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=ae9114 2c812a4ab997ba739ed9723e6e. -Ta n n e r H a r d i n g
I
live in the Fall Creek neighborhood and have been concerned by the amount of trash that has been dumped in the past couple weeks as people’s leases have ended. Although I enjoy the common custom for neighbors to leave out free items to score like books, tennis racquets and lamps, the trash in question is far beyond a few household items to be donated after a few days when they remain unwanted. In several locations there are currently massive amounts of refuse including furniture and other strewn household items left behind on the curb by the exiting July tenants. Now these items are rain damaged and dirty. As the trash has sat for two weeks in some places, I looked into complaining about the detritus. A nice worker at the Tompkins County Recycling and Solid Waste Center informed me that the former illegal dumping enforcer retired a year ago. The folks over there stated they don’t know who enforces dumping fines after he left, and they suggested I call the Ithaca police non-emergent phone line. The person at the police department I spoke to also seemed unsure about who, if anyone is enforcing illegal dumping fines. He did, however, say he would look into this complaint. I passed along the info I heard about the dumping enforcer retiring one year ago. This gap in enforcement explains the astounding breadth of dumping I’ve seen in the Fall Creek area in the last few weeks! A walk in the neighborhood around Farm/Tioga/Aurora streets might have some interesting pictures for an article. -Emma D., Fall Creek Resident, Ithaca, NY
Re: Where are all the bikes?
I
don’t miss ‘em one bit. I am a strong advocate for bicycling and all human powered modes of transportation to help us enjoy the world around us as we move from point A to Point B... but, and this is an all caps BUT, I am not an advocate for dockless bikes. My primary issue is my concern for user and other traveler safety, and because I believe that this type of use-and-abandon transportation system encourages irresponsibility on the part of both the user and owner. In regard to safety, it has been my observation that dockless bikes are most frequently utilized by “casual” users, who do not wear helmets, and likely have limited “investment” in learning (and following) bicycle safety etiquette. As another reader pointed out, people who are Au gu s t
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ill prepared (dress, level of intoxication, or who lack bike handling skills) are the most likely users. As to “responsibility”, I came of age in the ‘70’s and I worked all summer in order to buy my first ten speed. It was awesome! But I quickly learned that with my new found freedom, came responsibility... I learned to maintain my bicycle, and I learned and followed the rules of the road. These investments have paid off by providing me with a life-long and sustainable transportation option. My fear is that dockless biking systems encourage the “bad egg” irresponsible riders, who inadvertently stoke the critics of biking. And as to the owners of dockless bike programs, most of these owners are nonlocal, stock market investers with little regard for local concerns or for proper bicycle maintenance etiquette (it pains me to see their bikes left out in all weather, and be regarded as disposable) . I also would like to point out that these bikes are each rolling/stationary advertisements for a business, given their distinctive colors and signage. No other local business enjoys this level of free advertising, nor storage and display... and lastly, it is my belief that the dockless bikes are an insult to both aesthetics and function (one size does not fit all, and it pains the eye to see these neon, clunky beasts scattered about). If our goals are health and safety and sustainability, then that is not what this industry is offering. There are better ways to achieve these goals for a much wider spectrum of our community and its guests, and at nominal cost to us. For example- Guest houses can maintain a small number of their own bikes to offer their customers, commuters can own and maintain their own bicycles, and casual users can instead simply walk the 1/2 mile (average distance traveled by LimeBike users) on our wonderful sidewalks. And with our encouragement and support, our own local bike shops could provide appropriate equipment and services to those residents and guests wishing to experience both traditional and specialized biking (Ebikes, trikes, and equipment suited for longer road distances, and off road bicycling). -John G. Wertis, 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
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