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Ithaca committee reaffirms sanctuary commitments, asks administration to recommend policies
Summary
The committee voted unanimously to move to the Feb. 5 consent agenda a resolution reaffirming the city's sanctuary commitments and, as amended, asking the administration to implement administrative policies and recommend further council policies to uphold non-discrimination and access to health and gender-affirming care.
The Ithaca Common Council Committee of the Whole voted to refer to the Feb. 5 consent agenda a resolution reaffirming the city’s commitments to protections for people regardless of nationality, citizenship, reproductive health decisions and gender-affirming care. The committee adopted an amendment requesting that the administration implement appropriate administrative policies and recommend additional policies to the council; the amendment and the main motion carried unanimously in committee.
The resolution cites the city code’s anti-discrimination provisions and references prior council actions: a 2017 ordinance on immigration enforcement, a July 2022 ordinance on reproductive health care, and a September 2023 council resolution supporting access to gender-affirming care. Committee members discussed next steps such as expanding language access and exploring municipal ID programs, and several members emphasized moving from symbolic statements to actionable steps.
The amendment instructs the mayor and administration to implement administrative policies and procedures as appropriate and to recommend additional council policies that reflect the city’s commitments. The committee voted 10–0 to approve the amendment and then 10–0 to move the amended resolution to the Feb. 5 consent agenda.
