TCDC News, Events and Opinion

2025: Time together, share, begin healing and take action!

The New Year will find the entire Tompkins County Legislature up for election. In addition, changes in boundaries have increased the number of districts from 14 to 16.

Assemblymember Anna Kelles will wrap up the year with an initiative to save and reuse holiday wrapping paper.

•     Wednesdays, December 4, 11 and 18, noon to 4:00 p.m.: Donate your excess wrapping paper, ribbons, boxes, etc. to Anna’s Ithaca office at 130 East State Street, and/or drop by to pick up donated items instead of buying new ...

“Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination by President-elect Donald Trump for U.N. ambassador brings up the inevitable conversation about who will replace her. While the official process of selecting a replacement has not yet begun, speculation certainly has,” Spectrum News 1 reported in mid-November. …

“On the Republican side, one name in particular shot to the front of the conversation, and that is Schoharie area Assemblymember Chris Tague ...

Governor Kathy Hochul has predicted that at least three GOP-held House seats will flip—and City & State New York thinks one of the Dems who'll win is our own Josh Riley in the 19th Congressional District.

Democrat Josh Riley and Republican Congressman Marc Molinaro met for a debate October 10, moderated by area journalists, posing questions selected by a panel of reporters from contributions from the general public. Watch it here.

State Senator Lea Webb debated challenger Mike Sigler Thursday, Oct. 17, on WSKG. Watch the debate here.

TCDC Chair Linda Hoffmann received the following letter from an organization that seeks to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in the House this year.

Dear Linda,

You may have read the recent article in the Ithaca Times about the Common Council reaffirming their support for the federal Equal Rights Amendment thanks to the leadership of Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo.

Here is a link to the story: Ithaca Times.

Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro is just as apt to leverage racism and xenophobia as any other motley member of the formerly Grand Old Party. Molinaro proved it last month, by adopting the anti-Haitian libel spread by Republican V.P. candidate J.D. Vance and his running mate, Donald Trump.

Democrats offer high-quality candidates and an optimistic platform

Early voting begins Saturday, October 26. Voters face stark choices among candidates: Democrats campaigning on an optimistic, can-do platform; Republicans offering a dystopian vision based on fears buttressed by lies.

If you want to link an external news source, use the “link” icons on the sidebar. Anything linked externally will automatically be listed as “news” and any article you create on the site itself will automatically be listed as a “press release.”

Local artist In Shik Lee designed an eye-popping Harris-Walz yardscape, visible to everyone flying into or out of the Tompkins County airport. Her equally talented husband, local carpenter Stephen Merwin, executed it at the couple’s property outside of Freeville. View it on YouTube.

Stories like Ryan Hamilton's are not unique in Texas, thanks to that state's abortion laws. They expose the lie that exceptions are made for rape, incest and life of the mother. They also prove that abortion is not just “a woman’s issue.”

Ithaca's Southside Community and State Senator Lea Webb will mark the first day of Early Voting in New York with a "Golden Day for Democracy" Saturday, October 26, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Southside Community Center, 305 South Plain Street, Ithaca.

We can make the federal ERA happen this year by recruiting enough members of the House of Representatives to bring up a House Joint Resolution for a vote. If it passes, the ERA becomes the 28th Amendment.

Of course, there’s a catch ...

Ithaca's Robert Cantelmo joins other NYS mayors in supporting congressional action on the Equal Rights Amendment this year. The Sign4ERA tour was in Ithaca Tuesday to drum up interest in the amendment, which has been in constitutional limbo since the 1920s.

State Senator Lea Webb announced that she has secured $120,000 apiece to support infrastructure projects at two Ithaca venues: the Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC) and Stewart Park.

Marc Molinaro talks a good game on abortion rights. In fact, he's come out with a new ad claiming that he believes that reproductive choices are between a woman and her doctor. While I appreciate the sentiment, I just don't believe that he is sincere.

(Rain date.) Noon to 5:00 p.m. at 111 Genung Road in Dryden. Democratic candidates Josh Riley, Lea Webb and Anna Kelles may make appearances. If you’re going, stop by the Dryden Dems booth where members will be registering and chatting with voters.

7:00 p.m. in the new Downtown Conference Center, 116 East Green Street, Ithaca. Members: A quorum is necessary. If you can't attend, please ask another member to serve as your proxy. Contact your town/ward committee chair if you have questions.

Newfield Democrats will hold a Meet the Candidates event Wednesday, September 18 from 5:00 7:00 p.m. Candidates for Congress, state office and District Attorney will attend.

Noon to 6:00 p.m. A free celebration of local music.  Performances take place on porches and in yards and driveways. You can help TCDC register voters there by signing up here.

The Caroline and Dryden Democratic Committees will host a Meet and Greet event for members and Democratic officials Tuesday, September 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Brookton's Market.

5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Salt Point Brewery, 6 Louise Bement Lane, just off Route 34B in Lansing. Close out the work week with a craft brew and political gab with other TCDC members.

September 27, 28 and 29 in downtown Ithaca. A family-friendly event with music, street performers and food, much of it apple-oriented. Sign up here to help TCDC register voters all three days.

6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the large pavilion at Stewart Park, 1 James L. Gibbs Drive, Ithaca. Live music! Members: Please bring a dish to pass or drinks to share.

The Enfield Democratic Committee will host a lecture and Q&A on New York's Proposition One on Sunday, October 13 at 3:00 p.m. The event, which features Mickey Belosi from the National Organization for Women, will be held at the Enfield Community Center, 162 Enfield Main Road in Ithaca, 14850.