Republican View – Rebuild public safety

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of author Zachary Winn and are not representative of the thoughts or opinions of Tompkins Weekly. 

The recent tax increases by both Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca are driving many longtime residents to leave the area. The county’s 2.72% tax hike accompanies the city’s 8% increase, which will raise property tax payments for city residents by approximately 13%. These annual compounding tax increases are unsustainable for many. Those who sell their homes will not only leave behind their community but also contribute to further property assessment inflation, raising taxes for their neighbors and accelerating a cycle of financial strain.  

As the city and county squander funds on things like studies on reparations and raising the minimum wage, at $50,000 each, public safety resources remain critically understaffed. The Ithaca Police Department, already stretched thin, is anticipating the loss of six officers in 2025. This will offset any potential gains from the anticipated hiring of seven new recruits. Chronic understaffing means the department cannot even apply for grants that could bolster its law enforcement capacity. The city’s vulnerability was made clear with a recent break-in at its Water & Sewer facility—its second in just a few months—where millions of dollars in inventory are stored. This break-in is part of a wider pattern of criminality that is playing out across the city.

The city and county response to homelessness and addiction exacerbates these issues. Unlike Elmira, NY, which recently passed a law penalizing homeless camping with fines or jail time, Ithaca’s approach is one of permissiveness. Elmira’s decision may lead to an increase in Ithaca’s homeless population, as individuals relocate to a city that offers fewer restrictions and consequences. Jungle 2, a longstanding encampment behind Lowes, reflects the city’s ineffective policies. This area is not just a haven for illegal camping but a hub for criminal activity, including the kidnapping and eventual murder of Thomas Rath. Like with Jungle 1, Tompkins County Health should issue another citation to the City of Ithaca ordering a cleanup of Jungle 2, where piles of garbage, stolen bicycles and toxic fires spoil wildlife habitat.

Framing the issue as homelessness oversimplifies the reality. Many of those living in encampments are there due to drug addiction, which often leads to estrangement from family and friends and forces individuals into transient lifestyles. Programs offering free housing, such as the Asteri building on Green Street, have failed to address the root cause. Instead, the building has become a public safety and public health crisis. Despite being adjacent to City Hall, Asteri has become a magnet for emergency service calls. It is rife with syringes, human waste, and squalor. At least one resident has already died of a suspected overdose.  

This crisis is compounded by the presence of dangerous drugs across the county, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and xylazine. Xylazine, often mixed with fentanyl into a drug cocktail called “Tranq,” causes severe side effects, including tissue necrosis that can require amputation. These drugs fuel the cycle of addiction, homelessness, and public mental health emergencies while placing immense pressure on first responders.

The broader consequences of Ithaca’s policies are evident downtown, where deteriorating conditions impact residents, businesses, and community spaces. The library, once a cornerstone of the city, now struggles to attract visitors because the surrounding area feels unsafe. Panhandlers occupy street corners, and public spaces are littered with animal feces. Crime is pervasive, from package thefts and shoplifting to assaults and break-ins. Businesses in the West End face daily thefts, and gang activity tied to drug trafficking threatens the broader community.  

The current trajectory is unsustainable. Rising taxes are driving away the middle class, leaving behind only the very wealthy and those in poverty. Meanwhile, the city and county continue to invest in programs that not only fail to address root causes, but enable the crisis.

Even if you do not live in the City of Ithaca, it is important to understand that your fate is tied to the decisions made by the Ithaca Common Council. The city needs to prioritize public safety by bringing an end to the Jungle encampments. Resources currently diverted to failed approaches like Asteri must be reallocated to initiatives that treat addiction and provide meaningful paths to recovery. Tougher enforcement against illegal camping, coupled with mandatory rehabilitation, could address the dual crises of addiction and homelessness without incentivizing destructive behavior.  

People who want change need to get involved. Speak at the Legislature, Common Council and Public Safety meetings. Pressure needs to be focused on the decision makers in the city and county. Their failure and mismanagement must not go unanswered and without consequence. Without decisive action, the city and county will continue to see a rise in crime, addiction, and financial hardship, pushing more residents to leave. Rebuilding public safety and addressing addiction as the root of homelessness are critical steps to restore quality of life. Every resident and taxpayer deserves better.