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Public commenters press Ithaca council on audits, newspaper notices, unpaid nonprofit payments and encampment safety
Summary
During public comment, residents urged the council to prioritize delayed audits, consider designating the Ithaca Voice for legal notices, resolve unpaid reimbursements to a community nonprofit and act to reduce fire and exposure risks in encampment areas now that Code Blue shelter is open.
Four members of the public used their allotted time to press the council on transparency, public‑notice practices, nonprofit reimbursements and public‑safety risks at encampments.
Emily Thuja urged the council to hire a controller and finish outstanding municipal audits, saying timely financial reporting is a fundamental responsibility of local government and warning that prolonged delays can be an early indicator of financial distress or concealment. The mayor responded that the council would continue to make audits a priority and asked contractors with unresolved reimbursements to submit any outstanding documentation.
Theresa Alt raised two items from the consent agenda: the council’s designation of the Ithaca Journal as the city’s official newspaper for legal notices and the list of official banking depositories. Alt said the Journal’s paywall limits public access and recommended the city pursue allowing the Ithaca Voice to meet statutory notice requirements; she also urged the council not to increase deposits with JPMorgan Chase because of its fossil‑fuel financing record.
Jordan Clemens, founder of the Unbroken Promise Initiative (UPI), asked the city to "make UPI whole" for services rendered over the past five years, saying UPI delivered pandemic‑era and other community supports but has not received full payment. Clemens said previous discussions with the mayor’s office and references to ARPA funding shaped the expectation of payment; he asked the city to resolve outstanding reimbursements so UPI can serve other communities.
Zach Wynne described a Nov. 26 fire that destroyed a campsite in the area behind big‑box retailers, reported no known major injuries, and asked the city and outreach teams to encourage those sleeping outside to use the county’s newly opened 24/7 Code Blue shelter and the sanctioned camping area, where recent infrastructure improvements (water, camera coverage, electricity, Wi‑Fi) have been installed. Wynne noted the potential for serious harm from fire and exposure.
The council acknowledged the concerns: the mayor said audits remain a priority and offered to follow up on reimbursement processes; council members thanked volunteers and community partners for sheltering work; no immediate new policy was adopted during public comment.
