Southside Community Center leaders press Ithaca council for immediate repair of fire and electrical panel

The president of the board of the Southside Community Center told the Ithaca Common Council Tuesday that repeated requests to the city manager’s office for replacement of the center’s fire and electrical panel have not been answered and urged immediate action before children return to programs. Leon Holden, identified in public comment as president of the Southside Community Center board, said he and the center’s leadership had sent repeated emails that had not received a response. “It is September, and the kids will be back in that building next week,” Holden said. “Safety is not an option. Delaying maintenance is not neutral.”

Holden framed the repair as urgent and tied it to concerns about equitable treatment: he said the building serves a majority of Black and Brown residents and that deferring maintenance would be an unacceptable safety risk. “God forbid an incident happens there that requires a fully operational fire and electric panel, which would be tragic but completely preventable,” he said.

Councilors acknowledged the concern and invited further direct communication. Mayor Cantelmo told Holden, “Please just email me. I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I want to have a conversation with you.” Aldersperson Shapiro later said the councilor who had been referenced could reach out directly. The matter was raised during the public-comment portion of the meeting; there was no formal council motion or vote recorded that night to fund or direct immediate repairs.

Speakers at the meeting repeatedly urged the council to move from words to action on public‑safety and equity issues. The council did not record a follow-up timetable at the meeting; Holden was told by the mayor to email the office for follow-up conversations.