Republican View: Ithaca’s ‘homeless encampments’ are about to go from bad to worse

Code Blue, a New York state program that provides shelter to those without during winter, concludes in April. Approximately 150 individuals are slated to be displaced onto the streets. Many will be directed towards the City of Ithaca’s newly sanctioned camping area, dubbed the “Exception Zone” or the Green Zone, situated behind Walmart. This area lacks basic infrastructure such as buildings, running water, sewer, or electricity. Historically part of Ithaca’s “Jungle,” a collection of makeshift camps spanning from Cass Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park, the “Exception Zone” is inaccurately named, suggesting it is an exception to a no-camping policy, which does not exist.

While often referred to as “homeless encampments,” these areas are more accurately described as Open Drug Scenes. An Open Drug Scene is defined as “a geographic area, sustained in space and time, where drug use and dealing occur publicly and are perceived as problematic by authorities and/or the public.”

Jungle #1 occupies a triangular plot of land behind Agway, adjacent to the train tracks by the inlet, on a combination of railroad and City of Ithaca property. Jungle #2 is situated behind Lowes, notorious as the site where Thomas Rath was abducted before his murder. Visible from the edge of Nate’s Floral Estates, a mobile home park for seniors over 55, Jungle #2 is associated with activities beyond theft and drug use, including reports of human trafficking, sexual assault, and methamphetamine production. Fires are also a recurring issue, often from arson, part of a cycle of retribution among residents of the Jungle.

At a recent meeting of the Tompkins County Legislature, residents of Nate’s voiced concerns about the impact of these open drug scenes on their daily lives. Dave Bulatek, a resident of Nate’s, highlighted a litany of challenges, including break-ins, assaults, threats, vandalism, thefts, broken fences, drug deals, roaming aggressive pit bulls, and litter. “The seniors here have enough struggles without this added burden. In case you are not aware of our location, Nate’s is immediately to the west of Wegman’s, sandwiched between Jungle 1 off of Cecil Malone Drive and Jungle 2 behind Nate’s,” Bulatek said. “In both cases, these ‘Jungles’ are literally adjacent to Nate’s.” Nancy Raza, another resident, described a constant state of vigilance against burglary, theft, and assault, lamenting the lack of protection from law enforcement. “I am 71,  but I never thought I’d have to advocate for my own safety,” Raza said.

Law enforcement’s hands are tied. Ithaca’s community of Marxist-Communists, including current First Ward Alderperson Kayla Matos, successfully lobbied for the removal of any enforcement policy from the sanctioned encampment plan when it was voted in last year. The police are unable to act. Additionally, District Attorney Van Houten is unable to prosecute individuals for illegal camping.

Last October, approximately 60 first responders expressed opposition to the sanctioned encampment policy in a letter to the City of Ithaca, warning of its potential to attract more individuals to the Jungle, further straining their limited resources. Their concerns were disregarded.

There is seemingly a total lack of cooperation between the City and County on this issue, with Legislator Rich John saying the county is “in a stalemate with the city.”  Tompkins County Homeless Services Coordinator Tammy Baker resigned from her position just four months after assuming it. Nobody is in charge.

In response to these challenges, Legislator Greg Mezey proposed that the county fund an extension of Code Blue to prevent a surge in the Jungle population during the summer. However, this approach would come at a significant cost and fail to address issues such as overdoses and assaults, which have become routine occurrences at the EconoLodge, where Code Blue recipients are housed.

This entire situation is funded by taxpayer dollars, covering expenses such as syringes, harm reduction supplies, hotel rooms, and outreach worker salaries, amounting to millions of dollars enabling the crisis. When you sit down to pay your taxes this year, remember what you are paying for. The county urgently needs a secure psychiatric facility and detox center. Individuals addicted to substances like Methamphetamine, Crack, and Tranq will not stop unless forced to do so. Those with a genuine desire to stop using need a place to live outside of downtown Ithaca and away from the easy availability of drugs. Ithaca is the worst place to try and stay sober. Warehousing people with addictions using the ‘Housing First’ approach means people die of overdoses behind closed doors, often being found days after they have died.

The effects of these encampments extend beyond their immediate vicinity. Whether it’s explosions from propane tanks reverberating across downtown, machete-wielding meth addicts wandering around Walmart, or businesses closing due to constant theft, ignoring this crisis is a luxury no one can afford.