LETTERS TO THE EDITOR U

S Rep. Marc Molinaro (RNY19), after years of campaigning for numerous offices as a champion of lower costs for New Yorkers, has shown his loyalty when voting against lowering gas prices in regards to HR 21 and subsequent amendments.

In 2022, when gas prices around the country surpassed $4 per gallon, our government released portions of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to ease pressures on consumers. Some GOP members blame this action for their poor results in the 2022 midterm elections. Thus, HR 21 was introduced to hinder the governments ability to use the SPR to ease prices in an emergency. The bill requires the government to issue more leases on federal land for drilling despite over 9,000 leases issued being unused or abandoned. Rep. Molinaro voted to slow the government’s ability to help consumers with this energy stockpile.

Furthermore, Amendment 31 would prohibit gas companies that operate on federal land, from hiking prices during a time of conflict or supply chain shortages. Last year, one major gas company enjoyed a 142% profit increase from $23 billion in 2021 to $55.7 billion in 2022. Rep. Molinaro voted against this amendment.

But don’t worry, in a 2/8/23 tweet, Mr. Molinaro joined his mentor, Elise Stefanik (R-NY), in picking a fight with the NYC Mayor over… Chocolate Milk. Quite a man of the people.

Jonathan Ojerholm

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West Downtown a place people desire to live, visit, work, and patronize. We have a well-thought-out, community-driven plan for improving West Downtown and making it a destination and a place that will serve all Ithacans. With a DRI, we could tackle this challenge head-on and all at once. Without this support, we must once again become creative and

Response to “Cornell’s Tax-Exempt Status & Ithaca’s Bottom Line”

Well written and insightful article. Important conversation... Until June 2024 MOU is in place as is. If there is to be change it will need council sponsors. It will also need to deal with how Cornell perceives its economic reality as it relates to the City and County.

https://economicimpact.cornell.edu/local/

Much is of course up in the air in terms of municipal leadership. All seats up for reelection. 2024 will start the era of City Manager.

Other than taxes what other creative approaches would deliver yearly value... If Cornell were to build housing for low to moderate income workers on Cornell property and do what they did with Maplewood that delivers tax revenue to the Town of Ithaca?

What if part of its agriculture patent licensing revenue were donated to food security?

Not sure about going forward with the adversarial "You owe us!" approach. Can't offer a win-win strategy at this time... food for thought.

Fred Schoeps