“It seems like some of the people that have been traditionally camping inside the city are actually moving to the Town of Ithaca,” Legislator Shawna Black said at the October 19th meeting of the Tompkins County Legislature.
Black relayed constituent concerns about a drug encampment across from Buttermilk Falls, and another located underneath a bridge on Elmira Road.
Town of Ithaca Supervisor Rod Howe echoed Black’s concerns, recounting similar issues raised by constituents regarding illegal encampments along Floral Ave.
City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca and Tompkins County officials appear to be pinning much of their hopes on the TIDES program.
TIDES is a planned sanctioned encampment where there will be no requirement of sobriety. The hope is to create a safe environment where services can be offered to those suffering from addiction.
Concerns about the viability of the project and potential sites have been raised since the plan was first officially discussed at the April meeting of the Planning and Economic Development Committee.
