Advocates press council for water, services at sanctioned encampments; city names response coordinator

Ithaca — Community members and service providers told the Ithaca Common Council on Feb. 5 that sanctioned encampment sites lack basic services and urged immediate fixes, including a permanent water source and better outreach; the city announced a new encampment response coordinator.

Theresa Fulton, coordinator of the mutual-aid food-sharing cabinets and vice chair of the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission, told the council a sanctioned encampment near Walmart lacks drinking and washing water and that volunteers currently deliver and refill plastic jugs. “A faucet would be a huge benefit,” Fulton said, adding that the plastic waste created by jug deliveries is “notable” and that people and animals at the…