Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Safety Asteri topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Former Asteri security team urges Ithaca council to intervene after resignations and a recent fire
Summary
Former head of security for the Asteri building reported that the entire security staff resigned and said residents and staff face unsafe conditions, asking the council to ‘take back’ the building or intervene with stronger management oversight.
A former head of security at the Asteri building told the Ithaca Common Council that the building’s entire security team resigned after alleging unsafe conditions and management inaction, and asked the council to step in. Jared Bentley said he and the departed security staff had filed a class-action lawsuit and that management had not addressed repeated safety complaints. “We are asking that the common council take back over the city of this building. Take it back over, put a proper management company in here, and make sure that this does not happen again,” Bentley said.
Bentley referenced a fire at the building on Aug. 4 and described assaults and high stress on staff and residents. Mayor Cantelmo responded during the meeting that the Asteri is privately owned and that the city cannot take the building by reasserting control except via “some sort of monumentally expensive, eminent domain case.” The mayor said the city is aware of the issues and would need to address community challenges without taking ownership of the property.
The council did not vote on any specific remedy; the matter remained an unresolved complaint raised during public comment. Bentley’s comments prompted councilors to acknowledge the seriousness of the allegations and request administrative follow‑up.
