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Residents urge permanent, expanded funding for Community Justice Center
Summary
Multiple public commenters and legislators urged sustained and expanded funding for the Community Justice Center, calling for broader restorative programs, more staffing and continued law-enforcement engagement in healing sessions.
Several speakers during the privilege-of-the-floor public-comment period urged the legislature to not only renew funding for the Community Justice Center (CJC) but to expand and make it permanent. Susan Eschbach, who identified herself as an advisory-board member, asked the county to "amplify" the CJC and expand its purview to reach more youth, elders and restorative processes rather than treat it as a short-term extension.
Laura Branca and Tali Mugambi also voiced support, with Branca noting the impact of community healing sessions and urging law-enforcement participation across agencies. "When officers are familiar faces in the community and smile and know you and nod and are not afraid to get out of their cars, it makes a difference to the community," Branca said. Leaders acknowledged the need to balance fiscal constraints in the budget season with continuity of the CJC's shared funding model with the City of Ithaca.
