Public forum looks to improve flow of information

Lansing resident Michael Koplinka-Loehr has seen information spread in a variety of ways during his time in the small town he calls home, and he’s found most sources are not properly vetted.

As can happen in many communities across the United States, information regarding important town issues may be subject to gossip and misinformation.

“In the big picture, we all get our news from a variety of sources. Friends over the back fence, social media, newspapers, when you drive by a town or school district’s electronic bulletin board – it comes to us in a variety of different ways,” he said. “Often, we’re all very busy and modestly overwhelmed and sometimes we hear about things at the last minute because a concerned friend will say, ‘Did you hear about?” So, we tend to get involved because someone more passionate about it will tell us and we tend to get involved, sometimes, too late in the game.”

Koplinka-Loehr is hoping to take the first step toward solving this problem by hosting a public forum called ‘How Do We Know What’s Happening in Lansing?’ on Feb. 16 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at Lansing Town Hall, located at 27 Auburn Rd. Refreshments will be served.

A Zoom link is available for the meeting live at bit.ly/LansingForum.

As a matter of disclosure, Vizella Media, the company that owns Tompkins Weekly, is a media sponsor of the event.

The forum will be facilitated by Robert Rieger, president of Friends of Salt Point, and Chris Pettograsso, superintendent of Lansing Central School District (LCSD). Following a 15-minute presentation, small breakout groups will be formed to address questions about how, where and when people get information.

“You can think of any number of issues in Lansing where people think, ‘We weighed in; it was too late in the game,’” Koplinka-Loehr said. “This kind of forum is more ‘How do you find information? How would you like to find information? And do you have ideas for increasing effectiveness of getting information in both directions?’”

Koplinka-Loehr said that information from the sessions will be shared with the Lansing Town Board, Lansing Fire Department, LCSD and the Lansing Public Library.

“The idea is that people love Lansing; how can we stay in tune with what’s going on in a timely way?” Koplinka-Loehr said. “In a secondary way that’s not necessarily part of this meeting, once we know what’s going on, how can we become meaningfully engaged?”

He said that issues like the Dandy Mini-Mart proposed for the corner of East Shore Drive and Ridge Road (Route 34 and Route 34B) or the  BOBCAT project proposed by LCSD, which was recently approved by one vote after two recounts, are often followed by concerned citizens too late in the process.

“We had a vote that passed by one vote. We have 11,000 residents. We may have 3,500 voters, and not even 1,000 people voted,” he said, referencing the results of the Jan. 24 election that approved LCSD spending $17 million on capital improvements that include a new track and turf field at Sobus Field, as well as a bathroom facility at the baseball field. 

“This is asking basic, fundamental questions, but then following up,” Koplinka-Loehr said. “If we do come up with some ideas about improving [communication], the next step is saying, ‘Now that I know what’s going on in Lansing, how do I weigh in meaningfully?’”

Koplinka-Loehr said that the flow of information in rural communities like Lansing used to be a higher priority, and he’s hoping that public forums like “How Do We Learn About What’s Happening in Lansing?” can help restore trust between public officials and the citizens of Lansing.

“Years ago, there was more of a centralized way in rural areas that towns would get their information out,” he said. “ We don’t really have that. We don’t really have a way for people to find out.”

“We don’t want people to get discouraged,” he added. “We want people to participate.”

Lansing At Large appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Email story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com

In brief:

Town Board to hear public comments on amendment to Code Chapter 108: Building Codes

On Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. the Lansing Town Board will hear public comments on an amendment to change to the Code of the Town of Lansing Chapter 108: Building Codes. The meeting will take place at Lansing Town Hall, located at 29 Auburn Rd. More information on the amendment can be found on Lansing’s town website. The amendment is set to define what the terms Assembly Area, Building Permit, Certificate of Compliance and Certificate of Occupancy, mean according to local law. According to the Town of Lansing website, “The Town Board will take statements, testimony, and evidence from all persons interested in the subjects thereof and concerning the same, and all residents of the Town and the general public are invited to attend this public hearing. “Interested parties may submit written comments addressed to the Lansing Town Clerk, 29 Auburn Road, Lansing NY 14882. Individuals with visual, hearing, or other impairments or disabilities that require or request assistance should contact Town Clerk Deborah Munson at the Town of Lansing, (607) 533-4142 at least 48 hours prior to the time of the Public Hearing.”